DOCSLIB.ORG

Proceedings-Symposium on Whitebark Pine Ecosystems

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Proceedings-Symposium on Whitebark Pine Ecosystems This file was created by scanning the printed publication. Errors identified by the software have been corrected; however, some errors may remain. POSTFIRE VEGETATIVE RESPONSE IN A WHITEBARK PINE COMMUNITY, BOB MARSHALL WILDERNESS, MONTANA Maria Ash and Richard J. Lasko On June 28, 1985, lightning ignited three small fires resprouted from surviving roots (table 1). Six percent on the ridge just west of Charlotte Peak in the Bob were onsite (residual) colonizers, plants which germinated Marshall Wilderness, MT. These three fires were man­ from seeds that were in existence either in the ground or aged collectively as the Charlotte Peak Prescribed Fire in tree crowns before the fire. Thirty-five percent were and were part of a program to restore fire to the Bob offsite colonizers, species which germinated from seeds Marshall Ecosystem. The Charlotte Peak fire burned that were brought to the plot by either animals or wind. nearly 5,400 acres before it was extinguished by heavy Six percent were of unknown origin. rains in late July and early August. One of the more notable offsite colonizers was Pinus A field study was initiated in the summer of 1986 for albicoulis. Since Pinus albicaulis has an indehiscent the purpose of measuring vegetative response to fire in cone, it is probable that seedlings were established from several different community types. A plot in a whitebark Clark's nutcracker seed caching. This most likely oc­ pine (Pinus albicaulis) community type was located near curred in 1987, since it was not until the third year (1988) the point of ignition, just below the main ridgeline west of that any conifer seedlings were noted (densities in 1986, Charlotte. Peak (Plot 114). 1987, and 1988 were 0, 0, and 264 seedlings per acre, The criteria for placing this plot were that the preburn respectively). It appears that cone crop production was community was a mature stand dominated by Pinus albi­ poor in 1985 and 1986 but good enough in 1987 to provide caulis and was completely consumed by fire. The plot was enough seeds to explain the 1988 surge in Pinus albicau­ permanently marked and has been remeasured annually lis seedlings. This was also true for Abies lasiocarpa, but since the fire (1986-1988). The study site is located at an since its seed dispersal mechanism is by wind from elevation of 7,320 fl; with an easterly aspect on a 40 per­ the nearest unburned area it appeared in much lower cent slope. The Montana Forest Habitat Type most densities. closely resembles Abies lasiocarpa I Luzula hitchcockii I Two other species of particular significance are Vaccinium scoparium, though postfire determination is Epilobium angustifolium and Carex rossii. Epilobium difficult. The preburn stand was approximately 195 years angustifolium's seeds are windblown onto the site after old with a mixed Pinus albicaulis and Abies lasiocarpa the fire, subsequently providing vegetative and litter overstory. cover. Carex rossii usually does not occur in the prefire stand vegetatively, but does in the form of a residual seed METHODS in the ground awaiting fire to create the proper germina­ tion conditions. Plot 114 was sampled using Ecodata Classification Canopy cover and vegetative production showed sig­ Sampling Methods. Species' frequencies and canopy cov­ nificant increases each year (figs. 1 and 2, respectively); erages were measured within 25 microplots on a lOth-acre however, nested rooted frequency (fig. 3) did not change macroplot. Ground cover and production by life form was significantly. This is primarily due to the fact that the also measured. Tree and shrub densities were measured plants with the highest coverages and densities were by age class. Other data were also taken for each species, resprouts, therefore not increasing in numbers of plants, including canopy coverage by age/size class, distribution, only in size in later years. Most of the plants present in phenology, height, and hedging class. postbum years 1 through 3 became established in year 1 with very little colonization occurring in subsequent RESULTS years. Only four new species with very little cover were It was observed that, even though a stand-replacing recorded after year 1: Tragopogon dubius, Epilobium fire occurred, fire severity was low due to (1) low mineral watsonii, Abies lasiocarpa, and Pinus albicaulis. Three soil (1 to 5 percent) and high litter and duff (85 to 95 per­ species displayed a sporadic occurrence pattern, occurring cent) ground coverages, and (2) the high number of spe­ in one year and not the next. This is probably due to the cies that resprouted, including XerophyUum tenax, which inability to locate every single plant on the lOth-acre plot has a rhizome highly susceptible to severe fires. This low each year. These species were Senecio triangularis, fire severity influenced the types of species that returned. Pyrola secunda, and Viola orbiculata. In plot 114, 53 percent of the species found after the fire Maria Ash is Biological Technician and Richard J. Lasko is Resoun:e Assistant, Spotted Bear Ranger District, Flathead National Forest, Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Hungry Horse, MT 59919. 360 Table 1-Survival strategies for plant species occurring on plot 11 4 Onslte colonizer Offslte colonizer Resprout Unknown origin Carex rossii Abies lasiocarpa Menziesia ferruginea Viola orbiculata Pinus albicaulis Vaccinium globulare Epilobium angustifolium Vaccinium scoparium Epilobium watsonii Luzula hitchcockii Hieracium albiflorum Arnica latifo/ia Tragopogon dubius Pedicularis racemosa Pyrola secunda Senecio triangularis Xerophyllum tenax 20 100 ~-----------------, CJ L. hitchcockii 90 E2l L. hitchcockii 111111 V. scoparium miD V. scoparium 16 80 15 • X. te nax • X. tenax 70 1- z !z 60 w w 50 0 50 a:0 10 a: w n. ~ 40 30 5 20 10 0 ....L...-----1""""- 1986 1987 1988 1986 1987 YEAR YEAR Figure 1-Canopy cover for Luzula hitchcockii, Figure 3-Nested rooted frequency for Luzu/a Vaccinium scoparium, and Xerophyllum tenax on hitchcock.ii, Vaccinium scoparium, and Xero­ plot 114 from 1986 to 1988. phyllum tenax on plot 114 from 1986 to 1988. 3000 II] Graminoid 2500 mml Forb • Shrub 2500 w a: 0 ._ct 1500 a:l ...J 1000 500 0 1986 1987 1988 YEAR Figure 2-Total production for Luzula hitchcockii, Vaccinium scoparium, and Xerophyl/um tenax on plot 114 from 1986 to 1988. 361 RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN WHITEBARK PINE CONE PRODUCTION AND FALL GRIZZLY BEAR MOVEMENTS Bonnie M. Blanchard Whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis) nuts are an impor­ matured approximately 2 weeks earlier than normal, tant and preferred food for Yellowstone grizzly bears probably due to favorable spring "weather conditions; and (Ursus arctos horribilis). Bears will consume these nuts transects were on the average read later than was ideal. to the near exclusion of other food items when they are Also, production was spotty that year and apparently available in sufficient quanticy. High fat content of the poorest in xeric, pure to nearly pure whitebark pine nuts can supply the calories needed to accumulate critical stands. The majority of transects were in those types fat reserves during fall in preparation for hibernation. In of stands, and cones were often noted on trees outside years of exceptional production, nuts will also be con­ transects. This prompted the establishment of additional sumed in the spring and summer of the following year. transects in mesic, mixed species stands previously To monitor annual cone production and subsequent unmonitored. availability of nuts to grizzly bears, 90-m transects of 10 Low amounts of nuts were consumed by grizzly bears trees each were established in whitebark pine stands until the mean number of cones per transect approached throughout the study area: nine in 1980, eight in 1987, 200. Red squirrels and Clark's nutcrackers were probably and two in 1988. Cones were counted in July and early able to consume nuts produced up to that level prior to August before appreciable harvesting by red squirrels caching of excess cones and nuts. Since grizzly bears (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) and Clark's nutcrackers obtained nuts primarily by raiding squirrel caches, this CNucifraga columbiana) had begun. food source was largely unavailable until production ap­ proached 200 cones per transect. Above that level, the PRODUCTION-CONSUMPTION amount of pine nuts consumed would theoretically in­ crease with production until bears had maximized con­ Generally a significant relationship existed between sumption and extra cones would not be used that fall. cone production on transects and frequency of nuts in Maximized consumption was apparently reached in scats deposited during fall (September to November) 1985 when frequency of nuts was 0.81 in all fall scats and when the scat sample was more than 15 (fig. 1). An 1.00 in October scats alone (n =9). Maximum cone pro­ exception was 1987 when the transects failed to reflect duction on one transect was 625. A main diet item the fol­ actual cone availability for two primary reasons. Cones lowing spring and summer was whitebark pine nuts­ those remaining in caches from the fall of 1985. Fre­ quency of nuts in scats increased from 0.06 in May (n =32) to 0.29 in July (n =154), compared to the 1979 to 1987 average frequency of 0.17 in May and 0.19 in July. 1.00 ...,.-------------------. y cs-o.sas + 0.15 (1o-7 )x4 - ,------ ALTERNATE SOURCES rc0.90 ./' 0.80- P<O.OS When whitebark pine nuts were unavailable to grizzly - bears, they sought alternate food sources, often associated with human activities. A significant correlation existed >- 0.60- • M - 1987 I I• between mean number of cones produced per transect and a numbers of grizzly bears trapped in management actions w 0.40 I after August 1 for 1980 to 1986 (,-2 =-0.815, p < 0.05) IE - (fig.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Table of Contents
    Appendix C Botanical Resources Table of Contents Purpose Of This Appendix ............................................................................................................. Below Tables C-1. Federal and State Status, Current and Proposed Forest Service Status, and Global Distribution of the TEPCS Plant Species on the Sawtooth National Forest ........................... C-1 C-2. Habit, Lifeform, Population Trend, and Habitat Grouping of the TEPCS Plant Species for the Sawtooth National Forest ............................................................................... C-3 C-3. Rare Communities, Federal and State Status, Rarity Class, Threats, Trends, and Research Natural Area Distribution for the Sawtooth National Forest ................................... C-5 C-4. Plant Species of Cultural Importance for the Sawtooth National Forest ................................... C-6 PURPOSE OF THIS APPENDIX This appendix is designed to provide detailed information about habitat, lifeform, status, distribution, and habitat grouping for the Threatened, Proposed, Candidate, and Sensitive (current and proposed) plant species found on the Sawtooth National Forest. The detailed information is provided to enable managers to more efficiently direct the implementation of Botanical Resources goals, objectives, standards, and guidelines. Additionally, this appendix provides detailed information about the rare plant communities located on the Sawtooth National Forest and should provide additional support of Forest-wide objectives. Species of cultural
    [Show full text]
  • Representativeness Assessment of Research Natural Areas on National Forest System Lands in Idaho
    USDA United States Department of Representativeness Assessment of Agriculture Forest Service Research Natural Areas on Rocky Mountain Research Station National Forest System Lands General Technical Report RMRS-GTR-45 in Idaho March 2000 Steven K. Rust Abstract Rust, Steven K. 2000. Representativeness assessment of research natural areas on National Forest System lands in Idaho. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-45. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 129 p. A representativeness assessment of National Forest System (N FS) Research Natural Areas in ldaho summarizes information on the status of the natural area network and priorities for identification of new Research Natural Areas. Natural distribution and abundance of plant associations is compared to the representation of plant associations within natural areas. Natural distribution and abundance is estimated using modeled potential natural vegetation, published classification and inventory data, and Heritage plant community element occur- rence data. Minimum criteria are applied to select only viable, high quality plant association occurrences. In assigning natural area selection priorities, decision rules are applied to encompass consideration of the adequacy and viability of representation. Selected for analysis were 1,024 plant association occurrences within 21 4 natural areas (including 115 NFS Research Natural Areas). Of the 1,566 combinations of association within ecological sections, 28 percent require additional data for further analysis; 8, 40, and 12 percent, respectively, are ranked from high to low conservation priority; 13 percent are fully represented. Patterns in natural area needs vary between ecological section. The result provides an operational prioritization of Research Natural Area needs at landscape and subregional scales.
    [Show full text]
  • Appendix a List of Preparers and Reviewers
    Glossary adfluvial —Referring to fish that live in lakes and no significant impact, aids an agency’s compliance migrate to rivers and streams. with the National Environmental Policy Act when Beyond the Boundaries —National Wildlife Refuge no environmental impact statement is necessary, Association program to expand conservation work and facilitates preparation of a statement when to areas outside national wildlife refuge borders. one is necessary. BRWCA —Bear River Watershed Conservation Area. fluvial —Referring to fish that live in rivers and candidate species —A species of plant or animal for streams. which the USFWS has sufficient information on GCN —(A species of) greatest conservation need. their biological status and threats to propose them HAPET —Habitat and Population Evaluation Team. as endangered or threatened under the Endan- Important Bird Areas Program —A global effort to gered Species Act, but for which development of find and conserve areas that are vital to birds a proposed listing regulation is precluded by other and other biodiversity sponsored by the National higher priority listing activities. Audubon Society. CFR —Code of Federal Regulations. Intermountain West Joint Venture —Diverse partner- CO2 —Carbon dioxide. ship of 18 entities including Federal agencies, conservation easement —A legally enforceable State agencies, nonprofit conservation organiza- encumbrance or transfer of property rights to a tions, and for-profit organizations representing government agency or land trust for the purposes agriculture and industry. IWJV was founded in of conservation. Rights transferred could include 1994 to facilitate bird conservation across the vast the discretion to subdivide or develop land, change 495 million acres of the Intermountain West.
    [Show full text]
  • Conservation Strategy for Spokane River Basin Wetlands
    CONSERVATION STRATEGY FOR SPOKANE RIVER BASIN WETLANDS Prepared by Mabel Jankovsky-Jones Conservation Data Center June 1999 Idaho Department of Fish and Game Natural Resource Policy Bureau 600 South Walnut, P.O. Box 25 Boise, ID 83707 Jerry Mallet, Interim Director Report prepared with funding from the United States Environmental Protection Agency through Section 104(b) (3) of the Clean Water Act Grant No. CD990620-01-0 SUMMARY The Idaho Conservation Data Center has received wetland protection grant funding from the Environmental Protection Agency under the authority of Section 104 (b)(3) of the Clean Water Act to enhance existing wetland information systems. The information summarized here can be applied to state biodiversity, conservation, and water quality enhancement projects on a watershed basis. Previous project areas included the Henrys Fork Basin, Big Wood River Basin, southeastern Idaho watersheds, the Idaho Panhandle, and east-central basins. This document is a summary of information compiled for the Spokane River Basin. We used the United States Fish and Wildlife Service National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) to gain a broad perspective on the areal extant and types of wetlands in the survey area. Land ownership and management layers were overlaid on the NWI to determine ownership and the protected status of wetlands. Plant communities occurring in the survey area were placed into the hierarchical NWI classification and provide information relative to on-the-ground resource management. Assessment of the quality and condition of plant communities and the occurrence of rare plant and animal species allowed us to categorize twenty-four wetland sites based on conservation intent.
    [Show full text]
  • The Genus Vaccinium in North America
    Agriculture Canada The Genus Vaccinium 630 . 4 C212 P 1828 North America 1988 c.2 Agriculture aid Agri-Food Canada/ ^ Agnculturo ^^In^iikQ Canada V ^njaian Agriculture Library Brbliotheque Canadienno de taricakun otur #<4*4 /EWHE D* V /^ AgricultureandAgri-FoodCanada/ '%' Agrrtur^'AgrntataireCanada ^M'an *> Agriculture Library v^^pttawa, Ontano K1A 0C5 ^- ^^f ^ ^OlfWNE D£ W| The Genus Vaccinium in North America S.P.VanderKloet Biology Department Acadia University Wolfville, Nova Scotia Research Branch Agriculture Canada Publication 1828 1988 'Minister of Suppl) andS Canada ivhh .\\ ailabla in Canada through Authorized Hook nta ami other books! or by mail from Canadian Government Publishing Centre Supply and Services Canada Ottawa, Canada K1A0S9 Catalogue No.: A43-1828/1988E ISBN: 0-660-13037-8 Canadian Cataloguing in Publication Data VanderKloet,S. P. The genus Vaccinium in North America (Publication / Research Branch, Agriculture Canada; 1828) Bibliography: Cat. No.: A43-1828/1988E ISBN: 0-660-13037-8 I. Vaccinium — North America. 2. Vaccinium — North America — Classification. I. Title. II. Canada. Agriculture Canada. Research Branch. III. Series: Publication (Canada. Agriculture Canada). English ; 1828. QK495.E68V3 1988 583'.62 C88-099206-9 Cover illustration Vaccinium oualifolium Smith; watercolor by Lesley R. Bohm. Contract Editor Molly Wolf Staff Editors Sharon Rudnitski Frances Smith ForC.M.Rae Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2011 with funding from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada - Agriculture et Agroalimentaire Canada http://www.archive.org/details/genusvacciniuminOOvand
    [Show full text]
  • Proceedings, Western Section, American Society of Animal Science
    Proceedings, Western Section, American Society of Animal Science Vol. 54, 2003 INFLUENCE OF PREVIOUS CATTLE AND ELK GRAZING ON THE SUBSEQUENT QUALITY AND QUANTITY OF DIETS FOR CATTLE, DEER, AND ELK GRAZING LATE-SUMMER MIXED-CONIFER RANGELANDS D. Damiran1, T. DelCurto1, S. L. Findholt2, G. D. Pulsipher1, B. K. Johnson2 1Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center, OSU, Union 97883; 2Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, La Grande 97850 ABSTRACT: A study was conducted to determine consequences on the following seasons forage resources. foraging efficiency of cattle, mule deer, and elk in response Coe et al. (2001) concluded competition for forage could to previous grazing by elk and cattle. Four enclosures, in occur between elk and cattle in late summer and species previously logged mixed conifer (Abies grandis) rangelands interactions may be stronger between elk and cattle than were chosen, and within each enclosure, three 0.75 ha deer and cattle. Furthermore, the response of elk and/or pastures were either: 1) ungrazed, 2) grazed by cattle, or 3) deer to cattle grazing may vary seasonally depending on grazed by elk in mid-June and mid-July to remove forage availability and quality (Peek and Krausman, 1996; approximately 40% of total forage yield. After grazing Wisdom and Thomas, 1996). In the fall, winter, and spring, treatments, each pasture was subdivided into three 0.25 ha elk preferred to forage where cattle had lightly or sub-pastures and 16 (4 animals and 4 bouts/animal) 20 min moderately grazed the preceding summer (Crane et al., grazing trials were conducted in each sub-pasture using four 2001).
    [Show full text]
  • Draft Plant Propagation Protocol
    Vaccinium scoparium Leib. ex Coville - Plant Propagation Protocol ESRM 412 – Native Plant Production TAXONOMY Family Names Family Scientific Name: Ericaceae Family Common Name: Heath Family Scientific Names Genus: Vaccinium Species: scoparium Species Authority: Leib. ex Coville Variety: Sub-species: Cultivar: Authority for Variety/Sub-species: Common Synonym Genus: Species: Species Authority: Variety: Sub-species: Cultivar: Authority for Variety/Sub-species: Common Names: Grouse Whortleberry, grouse huckleberry, littleleaf huckleberry, whortleberry, red huckleberry Species Code (as per USDA Plants VASC database): GENERAL INFORMATION General Distribution: British Columbia to Northern California, Idaho to Alberta, South Dakota through the Rockies to Colorado, generally at higher elevations.i Climate and elevation range: Found in the Pacific Northwest from 700-2300 meters and in Colorado from 2600-3800 meters.ii Local habitat and abundance; may Growing on rocky subalpine to alpine woods and include commonly associated slopes, V. scoparium is found in acidic soils on moist species and dry sites, though more commonly on well drained sites and especially in association with lodgepole pine (P. contorta).iii Plant strategy type: Vaccinium are poor competitors, often struggling with perennial weeds. While common in fire adapted eastside ecosystems, burned plants can take 10-15 years to recover.iv PROPAGATION DETAILS Ecotype: Propagation Goal: Plants Propagation Method: Seed (note vegetative method available at http://www.nativeplantnetwork.org)v
    [Show full text]
  • F. Key to Abies Lasiocarpa Habitat Types
    F. Key to Abies lasiocarpa habitat types 1. Equisetum arvense abundant PICEA ENGELMANNII/EQUISETUN ARVENSE h.t. (p.36) 1. E. arvense not abundant 2 2. Caltha leptosepala common or Trollius laxus well represented PICEA ENGELMANNII/CALTHA LEPTOSEPALA h.t. (p.37) 2. ~. leptosepala scarce and!. laxus poorly represented 3 3. Carex disperma well represented PICEA ENGELMANNII/CAREX DISPERMA h.t. (p.38) 3. ~. disperma poorly represented. 4 4. Calamagrostis canadensis or Ledum glandulosum well represented ABIES LASIOCARPA/CALAMAGROSTIS CANADENSIS h.t. (p.4S) 4a. Ledum glandulosum well represented LEDUM GLANDULOSUM phase* (p.4S) 4b. Not as above; Vaccinium caespitosum common VACCINIUM CAESPITOSUM phase* (p.4S) 4c. Not as above in 4a or 4b CALAMAGROSTIS CANADENSIS phase (p.4S) 4. C. canadensis and L. glandulosum poorly represented 5 5. Streptopus amplexifolius or Senecio triangularis well represented either separately or collectively ABIES LASIOCARPA/STREPTOPUS AMPLEXIFOLIUS h. t.* (p.46) 5. Not as above 6 6. Menziesia ferruginea well represented ABIES LASIOCARPA/MENZIESIA FERRUGINEA h.t.* (p.47) 6. ~. ferruginea poorly represented 7 7. Actaea rubra common ABIES LASIOCARPA/ACTAEA RUBRA h.t. (p.47) 7. A. rubra scarce 8 8. Physocarpus malvaceus well represented ABIES LASIOCARPA/PHYSOCARPUS ~1ALVACEUS h.t. (p.48) 8. ~. malvaceus poorly represented 9 9. Acer glabrum or Sorbus scopulina well represented either separately or collectively ABIES LASIOCARPA/ACER GLABRUM h.t. (p.48) 9. Not as above . 10 10. Linnaea borealis common ABIES LASIOCARPA/LINNAEA BOREALIS h.t. (p.49) lOa. Vaccinium scoparium well represented VACCINIUM SCOPARIl~ phase (p.49) lOb. ~. scoparium poorly represented LINNAEA BOREALIS phase (p.49) 10.
    [Show full text]
  • Vascular Plant List Whatcom County Whatcom County. Whatcom County, WA
    Vascular Plant List Whatcom County Whatcom County. Whatcom County, WA. List covers plants found in Whatcom County. Combination of plant lists of areas within Whatcom County, made by various observers over several years, with numerous additions by Jim Duemmel. Plants collected in Whatcom County found in the UW and WSU herbariums have been added to the list. 1175 spp., 223 introduced. Prepared by Don Knoke 2004. These lists represent the work of different WNPS members over the years. Their accuracy has not been verified by the Washington Native Plant Society. We offer these lists to individuals as a tool to enhance the enjoyment and study of native plants. * - Introduced Scientific Name Common Name Family Name Abies amabilis Pacific silver fir Pinaceae Abies grandis Grand fir Pinaceae Abies lasiocarpa Sub-alpine fir Pinaceae Abies procera Noble fir Pinaceae Acer circinatum Vine maple Aceraceae Acer glabrum Douglas maple Aceraceae Acer macrophyllum Big-leaf maple Aceraceae Achillea millefolium Yarrow Asteraceae Achlys triphylla Vanilla leaf Berberidaceae Aconitum columbianum Monkshood Ranunculaceae Actaea rubra Baneberry Ranunculaceae Adenocaulon bicolor Pathfinder Asteraceae Adiantum pedatum Maidenhair fern Polypodiaceae Agoseris aurantiaca Orange agoseris Asteraceae Agoseris glauca Mountain agoseris Asteraceae Agropyron caninum Bearded wheatgrass Poaceae Agropyron repens* Quack grass Poaceae Agropyron spicatum Blue-bunch wheatgrass Poaceae Agrostemma githago* Common corncockle Caryophyllaceae Agrostis alba* Red top Poaceae Agrostis exarata*
    [Show full text]
  • Foods Eaten by the Rocky Mountain
    were reported as trace amounts were excluded. Factors such as relative plant abundance in relation to consumption were considered in assigning plants to use categories when such information was Foods Eaten by the available. An average ranking for each species was then determined on the basis Rocky Mountain Elk of all studies where it was found to contribute at least 1% of the diet. The following terminology is used throughout this report. Highly valuable plant-one avidly sought by elk and ROLAND C. KUFELD which made up a major part of the diet in food habits studies where encountered, or Highlight: Forty-eight food habits studies were combined to determine what plants which was consumed far in excess of its are normally eaten by Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus canadensis nelsoni), and the rela- vegetative composition. These had an tive value of these plants from a manager’s viewpoint based on the response elk have average ranking of 2.25 to 3.00. Valuable exhibited toward them. Plant species are classified as highly valuable, valuable, or least plants-one sought and readily eaten but valuable on the basis of their contribution to the diet in food habits studies where to a lesser extent than highly valuable they were recorded. A total of 159 forbs, 59 grasses, and 95 shrubs are listed as elk plants. Such plants made up a moderate forage and categorized according to relative value. part of the diet in food habits studies where encountered. Valuable plants had an average ranking of 1.50 to 2.24. Least Knowledge of the relative forage value elk food habits, and studies meeting the valuable plant-one eaten by elk but which of plants eaten by elk is basic to elk range following criteria were incorporated: (1) usually made up a minor part of the diet surveys, and to planning and evaluation Data must be original and derived from a in studies where encountered, or which of habitat improvement programs.
    [Show full text]
  • Flora, Chorology, Biomass and Productivity of the Pinus Albicaulis
    Flora, chorology, biomass and productivity of the Pinus albicaulis-Vaccinium scoparium association by Frank Forcella A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE in BOTANY Montana State University © Copyright by Frank Forcella (1977) Abstract: The Pinus dlbieaulis - Vacoinium seoparium association is restricted to noncalcareous sites in the subalpine zone of the northern Rocky Mountains (USA). The flora of the association changes clinally with latitude. Stands of this association may annually produce a total (above- and belowground) of 950 grams of dry matter per square meter and may obtain biomasses of nearly 60 kg per square meter. General productivity and biomass may be accurately estimated from simple measurements of stand basal area and median shrub coverage for the tree and shrub synusiae respectively. Mean cone and seed productivities range up to 84 and 25 grams per square meter per year respectively, and these productivities are correlated with percent canopy coverage (another easily measured stand parameter). Edible food production of typical stands of this association is sufficient to support 1000 red squirrels, 20 black bears or 50 humans on a square km basis. The spatial and temporal fluctuations of Pinus albicaulis seed production suggests that strategies for seed predator avoidance may have been selected for in this taxon. STATEMENT OF PERMISSION TO COPY In presenting this thesis in partial fulfillment of the're­ quirements for an advanced degree at Montana State University, I agree that the Library shall make it freely available for inspec­ tion. I further agree that permission for extensive copying of this thesis for scholarly purposes may be granted by my major pro­ fessor, or in his absence, by the Director of Libraries.
    [Show full text]
  • Proceedings-Symposium on Whitebark Pine Ecosystems
    Whitebark pine community types and their patterns on the landscape Authors: Stephen F. Arno and Tad Weaver This is a published article that originally appeared in Proceedings - Symposium on whitebark pine ecosystems: ecology and management of a high mountain resource, USDA Forest Service General Tech Report INT-270 in 1990. The final version can be found at https://doi.org/10.2737/ INT-GTR-270. S Arno and T Weaver 1990. Whitebark pine community types and their patterns on the landscape. p97-105. Schmidt, Wyman C.; McDonald, Kathy J., compilers. 1990. Proceedings - Symposium on whitebark pine ecosystems: Ecology and management of a high-mountain resource; 1989 March 29-31; Bozeman, MT. Gen. Tech. Rep. INT-GTR-270. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station. 386 p. Made available through Montana State University’s ScholarWorks scholarworks.montana.edu WHITEBARK PINE COMMUNITY TYPES AND THEIR PATTERNS ON THE LANDSCAPE Stephen F. Arno Tad Weaver ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION Within whitebark pine's (Pinus albicaulis) relatively Whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis) is a prominent spe­ narrow zone ofoccurrence-the highest elevations of tree cies in the upper subalpine forest and timberline zones on growth from California and Wyoming north to British high mountains of western North America. Here, a great Columbia and Alberta-this species is a member ofdiverse variety of tree-dominated and nonarboreal communities plant communities. This paper summarizes studies from form a complex vegetational mosaic on the rugged land­ throughout its distribution that have described community scape. While few studies have provided detailed descrip­ types containing whitebark pine and the habitat types tions of these communities or the causes of their distribu­ (environmental types based on potential vegetation) it tional patterns, it is possible to list the major community occupies.
    [Show full text]