scholarly journals Drought Impacts and Compounding Mortality on Forest Trees in the Southern Sierra Nevada

Forests ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 237 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lauren Pile ◽  
Marc Meyer ◽  
Ramiro Rojas ◽  
Olivia Roe ◽  
Mark Smith
Keyword(s):  
Sierra Nevada ◽  
Tree Mortality ◽  
Forest Stand ◽  
Abies Concolor ◽  
Forest Trees ◽  
Insect Outbreaks ◽  
Important Species ◽  
Forest Stand Structure ◽  
Tree Survival ◽  
Pine Species

The increase in compounding disturbances, such as “hotter droughts” coupled with insect outbreaks, has significant impacts on the integrity of forested ecosystems and their subsequent management for important ecosystem services and multiple-use objectives. In the Southern Sierra Nevada, years of severe drought have resulted in unprecedented tree mortality across this mountainous landscape. Additionally, past land management practices, including fire suppression, have led to overly stocked, homogenous forest stand structures, dominated by small diameter, shade-tolerant and fire-intolerant tree species. Thus, the current condition of the landscape has further increased the susceptibility of forest trees to multiple stressors. We sought to determine the effects of extreme drought and insect outbreaks on tree mortality and their influence on forest stand structure and composition. To characterize mortality patterns, we monitored the condition of mature forest trees (>25.4 cm diameter at breast height) across 255 monitoring plots with four repeated measurements from 2015 through 2017. Tree mortality varied by species and through time. Reductions in pine species (Pinus lambertiana Douglas and P. ponderosa Lawson & C. Lawson) occurred earlier in the study period than Abies concolor (Gord. & Glend.) Lindl. Ex Hildebr. or Calocedrus decurrens (Torr.) Florin. Across species, larger tree size, most often associated with tree height, was consistently related to increased survival in mature, overstory trees. As expected, sites with greater pine stocking and subsequently more bark beetle (Curculionidae: Scolytinae) host availability had increased pine mortality, especially for P. ponderosa. For Abies concolor, lower overstory basal area increased tree survival for this species. This study highlights the importance of effective forest monitoring, especially during a period of unprecedented ecological change as the compounding disturbance had a disproportional effect on pine species in smaller diameter classes. Proactive forest management may be necessary to maintain and promote these ecologically important species in heterogeneous mixtures across the landscape.

Improving estimates of tree mortality probability using potential growth rate

2015 ◽  
Vol 45 (7) ◽  
pp. 920-928 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adrian J. Das ◽  
Nathan L. Stephenson
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Sierra Nevada ◽  
Tree Mortality ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Growth Index ◽  
Diameter Growth ◽  
Potential Growth ◽  
Mortality Probability ◽  
Growth Metrics ◽  
Tree Survival

Tree growth rate is frequently used to estimate mortality probability. Yet, growth metrics can vary in form, and the justification for using one over another is rarely clear. We tested whether a growth index (GI) that scales the realized diameter growth rate against the potential diameter growth rate (PDGR) would give better estimates of mortality probability than other measures. We also tested whether PDGR, being a function of tree size, might better correlate with the baseline mortality probability than direct measurements of size such as diameter or basal area. Using a long-term dataset from the Sierra Nevada, California, U.S.A., as well as existing species-specific estimates of PDGR, we developed growth–mortality models for four common species. For three of the four species, models that included GI, PDGR, or a combination of GI and PDGR were substantially better than models without them. For the fourth species, the models including GI and PDGR performed roughly as well as a model that included only the diameter growth rate. Our results suggest that using PDGR can improve our ability to estimate tree survival probability. However, in the absence of PDGR estimates, the diameter growth rate was the best empirical predictor of mortality, in contrast to assumptions often made in the literature.

Does coring contribute to tree mortality?

2004 ◽  
Vol 34 (11) ◽  
pp. 2394-2398 ◽  
Author(s):  
Phillip J. van Mantgem ◽  
Nathan L Stephenson
Keyword(s):  
Life Span ◽  
Sierra Nevada ◽  
Tree Mortality ◽  
Mortality Rates ◽  
Permanent Plots ◽  
Abies Concolor ◽  
Maximum Life Span ◽  
Coniferous Species ◽  
Abies Magnifica ◽  
White Fir

We assess the potential of increment coring, a common method for measuring tree ages and growth, to contribute to mortality. We used up to 21 years of annual censuses from two cored and two uncored permanent plots in the Sierra Nevada of California, to detect changes in mortality rates 12 years following coring for individuals >5 cm DBH from two coniferous species, Abies concolor (Gordon & Glend.) Lindl. (white fir) and Abies magnifica A. Murr. (red fir). Using a randomized before-after control impact (BACI) design, we found no differences in mortality rates following coring for 825 cored and 525 uncored A. concolor and 104 cored and 66 uncored A. magnifica. These results support the view that collecting tree cores can be considered nondestructive sampling, but we emphasize that our 12-year postcoring records are short compared with the maximum life-span of these trees and that other species in different environments may prove to be more sensitive to coring.

Growth rate predicts mortality of Abies concolor in both burned and unburned stands

2003 ◽  
Vol 33 (6) ◽  
pp. 1029-1038 ◽  
Author(s):  
Phillip J. van Mantgem ◽  
Nathan L Stephenson ◽  
Linda S Mutch ◽  
Veronica G Johnson ◽  
Annie M Esperanza ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Sierra Nevada ◽  
Tree Mortality ◽  
Abies Concolor ◽  
Stress Growth ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Crown Scorch ◽  
White Fir ◽  
Probability Of Death

Tree mortality is often the result of both long-term and short-term stress. Growth rate, an indicator of long-term stress, is often used to estimate probability of death in unburned stands. In contrast, probability of death in burned stands is modeled as a function of short-term disturbance severity. We sought to narrow this conceptual gap by determining (i) whether growth rate, in addition to crown scorch, is a predictor of mortality in burned stands and (ii) whether a single, simple model could predict tree death in both burned and unburned stands. Observations of 2622 unburned and 688 burned Abies concolor (Gord. & Glend.) Lindl. (white fir) in the Sierra Nevada of California, U.S.A., indicated that growth rate was a significant predictor of mortality in the unburned stands, while both crown scorch and radial growth were significant predictors of mortality in the burned stands. Applying the burned stand model to unburned stands resulted in an overestimation of the unburned stand mortality rate. While failing to create a general model of tree death for A. concolor, our findings underscore the idea that similar processes may affect mortality in disturbed and undisturbed stands.

Guides for Estimating Forest Stand Losses to Gypsy Moth

1984 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 21-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
David A. Gansner ◽  
Owen W. Herrick
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Gypsy Moth ◽  
Tree Mortality ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Forest Stand ◽  
Measure Data ◽  
Effective Management ◽  
Field Plot ◽  
Crown Condition ◽  
As Species

Abstract People who have to make decisions about cost-effective management for gypsy moth need help in predicting and evaluating its effects. Field plot data collected during recent outbreaks in Pennsylvania are being used to develop guides for predicting forest stand losses to the pest Presented here are some of the more useful products of that effort to date. Easy-to-measure data for forest characteristics such as species composition and crown condition can be collected and applied in models that estimate potential stand and tree mortality and changes in timber value. North. J. Appl. For. 2:21-23, June 1984.

scholarly journals Cross-scale interaction of host tree size and climatic water deficit governs bark beetle-induced tree mortality

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael J. Koontz ◽  
Andrew M. Latimer ◽  
Leif A. Mortenson ◽  
Christopher J. Fettig ◽  
Malcolm P. North
Keyword(s):  
Water Deficit ◽  
Sierra Nevada ◽  
Bark Beetle ◽  
Ponderosa Pine ◽  
Tree Mortality ◽  
Mortality Rates ◽  
Dendroctonus Brevicomis ◽  
Scale Interactions ◽  
Climatic Water Deficit ◽  
Host Mortality

AbstractThe recent Californian hot drought (2012–2016) precipitated unprecedented ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) mortality, largely attributable to the western pine beetle (Dendroctonus brevicomis; WPB). Broad-scale climate conditions can directly shape tree mortality patterns, but mortality rates respond non-linearly to climate when local-scale forest characteristics influence the behavior of tree-killing bark beetles (e.g., WPB). To test for these cross-scale interactions, we conduct aerial drone surveys at 32 sites along a gradient of climatic water deficit (CWD) spanning 350 km of latitude and 1000 m of elevation in WPB-impacted Sierra Nevada forests. We map, measure, and classify over 450,000 trees within 9 km2, validating measurements with coincident field plots. We find greater size, proportion, and density of ponderosa pine (the WPB host) increase host mortality rates, as does greater CWD. Critically, we find a CWD/host size interaction such that larger trees amplify host mortality rates in hot/dry sites. Management strategies for climate change adaptation should consider how bark beetle disturbances can depend on cross-scale interactions, which challenge our ability to predict and understand patterns of tree mortality.

scholarly journals Forest stand structure and coarse woody debris determine the biodiversity of beetle communities in Mediterranean mountain beech forests

2021 ◽  
pp. e01637
Author(s):  
Francesco Parisi ◽  
Michele Innangi ◽  
Roberto Tognetti ◽  
Fabio Lombardi ◽  
Gherardo Chirici ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Coarse Woody Debris ◽  
Stand Structure ◽  
Woody Debris ◽  
Forest Stand ◽  
Beech Forests ◽  
Forest Stand Structure

Post-fire survival and flushing in three Sierra Nevada conifers with high initial crown scorch

2009 ◽  
Vol 18 (7) ◽  
pp. 857 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chad T. Hanson ◽  
Malcolm P. North
Keyword(s):  
Sierra Nevada ◽  
Pinus Ponderosa ◽  
Fire Severity ◽  
Conifer Species ◽  
Mature Trees ◽  
Salvage Logging ◽  
Abies Magnifica ◽  
Crown Scorch ◽  
Tree Survival ◽  
Large Trees

With growing debate over the impacts of post-fire salvage logging in conifer forests of the western USA, managers need accurate assessments of tree survival when significant proportions of the crown have been scorched. The accuracy of fire severity measurements will be affected if trees that initially appear to be fire-killed prove to be viable after longer observation. Our goal was to quantify the extent to which three common Sierra Nevada conifer species may ‘flush’ (produce new foliage in the year following a fire from scorched portions of the crown) and survive after fire, and to identify tree or burn characteristics associated with survival. We found that, among ponderosa pines (Pinus ponderosa Dougl. ex. Laws) and Jeffrey pines (Pinus jeffreyi Grev. & Balf) with 100% initial crown scorch (no green foliage following the fire), the majority of mature trees flushed, and survived. Red fir (Abies magnifica A. Murr.) with high crown scorch (mean = 90%) also flushed, and most large trees survived. Our results indicate that, if flushing is not taken into account, fire severity assessments will tend to overestimate mortality and post-fire salvage could remove many large trees that appear dead but are not.

scholarly journals Laurel Wilt: Current and Potential Impacts and Possibilities for Prevention and Management

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 181
Author(s):  
Rabiu O. Olatinwo ◽  
Stephen W. Fraedrich ◽  
Albert E. Mayfield
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Tree Mortality ◽  
The United States ◽  
Persea Americana ◽  
Laurel Wilt ◽  
Important Species ◽  
Invasive Insects ◽  
Raffaelea Lauricola ◽  
Redbay Ambrosia Beetle ◽  
The Impact

In recent years, outbreaks of nonnative invasive insects and pathogens have caused significant levels of tree mortality and disturbance in various forest ecosystems throughout the United States. Laurel wilt, caused by the pathogen Raffaelea lauricola (T.C. Harr., Fraedrich and Aghayeva) and the primary vector, the redbay ambrosia beetle (Xyleborus glabratus Eichhoff), is a nonnative pest-disease complex first reported in the southeastern United States in 2002. Since then, it has spread across eleven southeastern states to date, killing hundreds of millions of trees in the plant family Lauraceae. Here, we examine the impacts of laurel wilt on selected vulnerable Lauraceae in the United States and discuss management methods for limiting geographic expansion and reducing impact. Although about 13 species belonging to the Lauraceae are indigenous to the United States, the highly susceptible members of the family to laurel wilt are the large tree species including redbay (Persea borbonia (L.) Spreng) and sassafras (Sassafras albidum (Nutt.) Nees), with a significant economic impact on the commercial production of avocado (Persea americana Mill.), an important species native to Central America grown in the United States. Preventing new introductions and mitigating the impact of previously introduced nonnative species are critically important to decelerate losses of forest habitat, genetic diversity, and overall ecosystem value.

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