Reciprocal Disturbance Interactions in Pinus albicaulis Ecosystems Nancy Bockino

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Reciprocal Disturbance Interactionsin Pinus
albicaulis Ecosystems Nancy Bockino M.S.
CandidateDaniel Tinker AdvisorUniversity of
Wyoming Department of Botany
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• Ecosystem Introduction
• Function
• Disturbance
• Quantitative Analysis Results
• Implications
• Ecosystem
• Management

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Black Bear Harvesting Cones Photo Ryan Sims
Seed Dispersal Vector Clarks Nutcracker Photo
A. Wilson
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Ecological Background
Whitebark Distribution
Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem Northwest Wyoming
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Ecological Background

• Mountain Pine Beetle
• Native insect

Photo from Allen Carroll
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Ecological Background

• Blister Rust
• Exotic Pathogen

Photo Susan Hagle, USFS
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Which tree stand characteristics determine
beetle selection and the resulting mosaic of
mortality?
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Project Objectives

• Quantify
• Whitebark characteristics related to beetle
  selection
• Beetle host-selection patterns
• Relationship between blister rust beetle
  selection
• Provide
• 1. Summary of whitebark condition in the GYE
• Predictions of beetle selection
• Ecosystem familiarity to aid restoration
  strategies

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Study Sites
Sylvan Pass
Breccia
Teewinot
Mt. Leidy
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Three Stand Types
Whitebark Non-Beetle Host
Whitebark Alternate Beetle Host
Pure Whitebark
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Data Collection

• Within A Stand (2-3 ha)
• 24 plots systematically distributed
• Variable radius
• Tree replicate

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Whitebark Status in theGreater Yellowstone
Ecosystem
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Step 1 Chi-Square
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Step 2 Selection Ratio

• ( preferred host attacked total
  attacked)
• ( preferred host available total
  available)

• Accounts for
• 1. stand density
• 2. species composition
• 3. sequence of attack
• Selection Ratio 1.0 No Preference
• Host characteristics
• blister rust severity
• tree species

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• Step 2 Selection Ratio

Sylvan Pass
Selection Ratio 1.0 No Preference
a 0.05
Teewinot
Breccia
Mt. Leidy
Beetles prefer 1. whitebark over lodgepole 2.
whitebark with heavy blister rust
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Step 2 Selection Ratio
1.0
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Step 3 Multiple Logistic Regression

• Response Variable
• Binary Selected OR Not Selected
• Predictor Variables
• Stand type (pure vs. non-host mix)
• Blister rust severity (light vs. heavy)
• Tree diameter

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Step 3 Multiple Logistic Regression
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Conclusions

• Beetles select whitebark over lodgepole
• Blister rust influences selection probability
• Positive relationship between heavy rust
  beetle selection.

Interactions Between Blister Rust Beetle
Selection Enhance Disturbance Severity
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Implications

• Barometer of change
• Spatial temporal prioritization of restoration
  sites
• Alteration of genetic structure of remaining seed
  source
• Redirection of succession

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Acknowledgements

• Funding sources
• Joint Fire Science Program Grant
• H1200040001
• UWYO NPS Research Grant
• Wyoming Native Plant Society
• Dan Tinker
• Ken Gerow
• David Legg
• Cory Bolen
• Bill Romme
• Kelly McCloskey Grand Teton NP
• Liz Davey
• Andy Norman
• Contact Info nbockino_at_uwyo.edu

Michael Straw
UWYO
Ryan Sims
CSU
Bridger-Teton NF
My Mom, Alida