VARIATION IN CONE PRODUCTION OF RED PINE IN RELATION TO WEATHER
Variation in annual counts of 2-year-old cones was studied in 15-year records from 78 trees scattered over northern Wisconsin. For a 3-year period, 1-year-old cones were also counted and compared with the counts of 2-year-old cones in the following year. In addition to major losses of 2-year-old cones to insects, an average loss of 60% was noted between the 1st and 2nd year of cone development. Counts of 2-year-old cones nevertheless reflected the relative magnitude of the 1-year-old cone crop and thus were presumed to reflect the relative magnitude of the cone crop initiated 24 months before counting.Simple correlations of weather variables with counts of 2-year-old cones were computed for each of the 54 months before counting. Both April mean temperature and July–September mean temperature 2 years before counting were positively associated with variation in cone counts while potential cone crop already present was negatively associated. The use of three variables in multiple regression analysis revealed the predominant influence of July–September temperature and accounted for from 64 to 77% of the variance in counts of 2-year-old cones. Five correlations with less apparent biological explanation also were detected.