scholarly journals Pest Damage Incidence in Natural and Thinned Lodgepole Pine in Alberta

1985 ◽  
Vol 61 (3) ◽  
pp. 233-238 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. E. Bella
Keyword(s):  
Forest Management ◽  
Key Words ◽  
Small Mammals ◽  
Pinus Contorta ◽  
Lodgepole Pine ◽  
Red Squirrels ◽  
Pest Damage ◽  
West Central ◽  
Snowshoe Hares ◽  
Management Implication

Thinned stands of young lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Dougl. var. latifolia Engelm.) in west-central Alberta had a higher incidence of attack by common pest organisms than unthinned stands. Based on a sample of nearly 3000 potential crop trees (on 240 temporary plots) growing on 120 naturally regenerated cut blocks, the rate of attack in thinned vs. unthinned stands was 30% and 18% for western gall rust (Endo-cronartium harknessii (J.P. Moore) Y. Hiratsuka) and 25%. and 16% for leader damage due to terminal weevil (Pissodes terminalis Hopp.) and pitch twig moth (Petrova spp.) Damage from other agents, including that from small mammals, was low and little affected by thinning. Forest management implication of these results are discussed. Key words: western gall rust terminal weevil, pitch twig moth, snowshoe hares, red squirrels.

scholarly journals Influence of Fertilization on Feeding Attacks to Lodgepole Pine by Snowshoe Hares and Red Squirrels

1982 ◽  
Vol 58 (6) ◽  
pp. 263-266 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas P. Sullivan ◽  
Druscilla S. Sullivan
Keyword(s):  
Pinus Contorta ◽  
Lodgepole Pine ◽  
Growth And Yield ◽  
Tamiasciurus Hudsonicus ◽  
Average Amount ◽  
Red Squirrels ◽  
Animal Damage ◽  
Snowshoe Hares ◽  
Yield Responses ◽  
And Control

Lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Dougl.) shows favourable growth and yield responses to spacing (thinning) and potentially to fertilization, but is susceptible to feeding injuries by snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus Erxleben) and red squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus Erxleben). This study was designed to determine the incidence of animal damage to crop trees in a fertilized-spaced stand, compared with those in spaced only and control (unspaced) stands. There was little variation in the percentage of crop trees (range 53.6% to 63.3%) damaged by hares in the three stands. Hares removed an average of 92.2 cm2 of bark and associated vascular tissues per attack from fertilized stems compared with 46.2 cm2 in the spaced only stand. This latter value was nearly double that recorded in the control stand (27.4 cm2). Squirrels damaged more fertilized trees (38.9%) than trees in the spaced (30.9%) or control (14.3%) stands. Squirrels removed the largest average amount of bark (66.9 cm2) per attack from fertilized stems with little difference between spaced (41.6 cm2) and control (42.3 cm2) stands. We conclude that hares and squirrels clearly prefer to feed on fertilized lodgepole pine stems over those in non-fertilized or un-managed stands.

scholarly journals A Possible Role for Red Squirrels in Structuring Breeding Bird Communities in Lodgepole Pine Forests

The Condor ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 108 (1) ◽  
pp. 232-238 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam M. Siepielski
Keyword(s):  
Nest Predation ◽  
Pinus Contorta ◽  
Lodgepole Pine ◽  
Bird Communities ◽  
Pine Forests ◽  
Tamiasciurus Hudsonicus ◽  
Breeding Bird ◽  
Bird Abundance ◽  
Red Squirrels ◽  
Cavity Nesters

Abstract Nest predation is thought to play an important role in structuring certain breeding bird communities. One potential consequence of nest predation is lower recruitment in breeding birds, which may be manifested as lower breeding bird abundance. Lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta ssp. latifolia) forests east and west of the Rocky Mountains became isolated following glacial retreat 12 000 years ago and differ in whether or not red squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus), which are a key nest predator, are present. Breeding bird abundance in lodgepole pine forests was compared between four ranges with red squirrels and four ranges without red squirrels. Species grouped into canopy and understory nesting guilds were, on average, two and three times more abundant, respectively, in forest ranges without red squirrels than in ranges with red squirrels; no statistically significant differences were found for midstory, ground, or cavity nesters. These results suggest that geographic variation in the presence or absence of red squirrels is likely important in structuring breeding bird communities in lodgepole pine forests across the landscape.

Long-term responses of mammalian herbivores to stand thinning and fertilization in young lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta var. latifolia) forest

2010 ◽  
Vol 40 (12) ◽  
pp. 2302-2312 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas P. Sullivan ◽  
Druscilla S. Sullivan ◽  
Pontus M.F. Lindgren ◽  
Douglas B. Ransome
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Use ◽  
Pinus Contorta ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Stand Structure ◽  
Lodgepole Pine ◽  
South Central ◽  
Commercial Thinning ◽  
Snowshoe Hares ◽  
Understory Shrubs

Snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus Exrleben, 1777), mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus (Rafinesque, 1817)), and moose (Alces alces (L., 1758)) commonly occur in young coniferous forests. This study was designed to test the hypothesis that large-scale pre-commercial thinning (PCT) and repeated fertilization 15–20 years after the onset of treatments in young lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta var. latifolia Engelm. ex S. Wats.) stands would enhance relative habitat use by hares, deer, and moose compared with unmanaged stands. Study areas were located in south-central British Columbia, Canada. Habitat use was measured by fecal pellet and pellet-group counts. Understory vegetation and coniferous stand structure were measured in all stands. Habitat use by deer and moose was highest in heavily thinned stands, probably due to the higher levels of forage and cover provided by understory shrubs and conifers in thinned stands. Habitat use by snowshoe hares was highest in high-density stands, but also in lower-density (≤1000 stems·ha–1) stands where an increase in understory conifers provided essential cover for hares. Managers should consider the long-term nature of understory development in young stands managed for timber production. Heavy thinning (≤1000 stems·ha–1) will generate suitable understory habitat for these herbivores sooner than conventional PCT at higher stand densities.

Influence of repeated fertilization on forest ecosystems: relative habitat use by snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus)

2006 ◽  
Vol 36 (9) ◽  
pp. 2080-2089 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas P Sullivan ◽  
Druscilla S Sullivan ◽  
Pontus MF Lindgren ◽  
Douglas B Ransome
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Use ◽  
Pinus Contorta ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Lodgepole Pine ◽  
Structural Diversity ◽  
Lepus Americanus ◽  
Volume Index ◽  
South Central ◽  
Crown Volume ◽  
Snowshoe Hares

This study was designed to test the hypothesis that large-scale precommercial thinning (PCT) and repeated fertilization of lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Dougl. ex Loud. var. latifolia Engelm.) would enhance relative habitat use by snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus Erxleben) in managed stands. Study areas were located near Summerland, Kelowna, and Williams Lake in south-central British Columbia, Canada. Each study area had nine treatments: four pairs of stands thinned to densities of 250, 500, 1000, and 2000 stems/ha, with one stand of each pair fertilized five times at 2-year intervals, and an unthinned stand. Understory vegetation and relative habitat use by snowshoe hares were measured annually from 1999 to 2003, 6–10 years after the onset of treatments. Mean crown volume index of herbs was significantly higher in fertilized than unfertilized stands, but density had no effect. Shrub volume was not affected by either treatment. Mean crown volume index of trees was significantly greater in the fertilized and high-density stands. Mean total richness of vascular plants was significantly reduced by fertilization. Mean total structural diversity of vegetation was highest in the low-density stands but was not affected by fertilization. Relative habitat use by hares, based on fecal pellet counts, was highest in the 2000 stems/ha and unthinned stands in summer. This pattern also occurred in winter when hare use was higher in fertilized than unfertilized stands. Overall, fertilized 2000 stems/ha stands provided habitat for hares to a degree comparable with unthinned stands of lodgepole pine.

scholarly journals The Role of Red Squirrels (Tamiasciurus Hudsonicus) in Shaping Spatial Patterns of Serotiny in Lodgepole Pine (Pinus Contorta) Forests

2011 ◽  
Vol 34 ◽  
pp. 139-145
Author(s):  
Matt Talluto ◽  
Craig Benkman
Keyword(s):  
Seed Predation ◽  
Pinus Contorta ◽  
Lodgepole Pine ◽  
Canopy Cover ◽  
Ecosystem Processes ◽  
Tamiasciurus Hudsonicus ◽  
Individual Species ◽  
Red Squirrels ◽  
Long Term Storage ◽  
Sapling Density

Understanding the effects of individual species on community- and ecosystem-level processes is of critical importance in ecology. Recent work has demonstrated that variation in genetically controlled traits within foundation species can have large implications for ecosystem processes. Identifying these traits and the selective pressures on them is crucial in understanding how ecosystems are structured and how the systems will respond to disturbance. Serotiny, the long-term storage of seeds in the canopy, is thought to be an adaptation to stand replacing fire. Seeds from serotinous plants are released following a fire, and the proportion of serotinous trees determines sapling density following a fire. The effects of serotiny are not limited to the serotinous species, as sapling density is an important determinant of plant community structure and ecosystem processes (including primary productivity and nutrient cycling). Seed predation may select against serotiny, however, no studies have addressed how the relative strengths of selection from fire and seed predation combine to produce the spatial pattern of serotiny on the landscape. Here, we report on an ongoing study of the effects of selection from seed predation in lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta), a serotinous North American conifer. Red squirrels are negatively associated with serotiny at broad geographic scales, and may select against the serotinous trait. This project examined the correlation between red squirrel density and the frequency of serotiny in lodgepole pine forests and the mechanisms underlying potential selection against serotiny by red squirrels. Specifically, we tested whether this correlation was present at landscape scales, whether the fitness of serotinous trees was reduced in the presence of red squirrels, and what factors controlled the density of red squirrels. Preliminary results indicate that serotiny and squirrel density is negatively correlated, but only at low elevations. In the presence of squirrels, we observed significantly lower cone survival in serotinous trees, suggesting reduced fitness. Squirrel density was strongly affected by several measures of forest structure, including species composition, overhead canopy cover, and tree size (mean DBH).

Reduced Volume, Grade and Value of Lodgepole Pine Lumber Caused by Atropellis Canker and Stalactiform Blister Rust

1989 ◽  
Vol 65 (1) ◽  
pp. 36-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. J. Nevill ◽  
J. H. Borden ◽  
H. Merler
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Key Words ◽  
Pinus Contorta ◽  
Lodgepole Pine ◽  
Infection Rates ◽  
Blister Rust ◽  
Reduced Volume ◽  
Management Measures ◽  
Pine Lumber

In a stand of 45-65-year old lodgepole pine, Pinus contorta Dougl. var. latifolia Engelm., in the interior of British Columbia, Atropellis canker, Atropellis piniphila (Weir) Lohman and Cash, and stalactiform blister rust, Cronartium coleosporioides Arth., reduced the volume of infected trees by 7.9% and 6.2%, respectively. Manufacture of lumber from these trees increased volume losses by up to 28.7% and 26.4%, respectively. Atropellis canker reduced the volume of Standard and Better grade lumber by up to 40.1% and stalactiform blister rust by 33.3%, with corresponding relative increases in the volume of Utility grade up to 80%. The reduction of lumber volume and grade decreased the value of Atropellis-infected trees by 33.4% and stalactiform blister rust-infected trees by 28.7%. Based on the density of stems per hectare and infection rates, the two diseases reduced the potential lumber value of lodgepole pine by $508.40 per hectare. Thus management measures to reduce the incidence and impact of these diseases may be economically justified. Key Words: Lodgepole pine; Pinus contorta; Atropellis piniphila, Cronartium coleosporioides; lumber volume, grade, value.

Barking damage by snowshoe hares and red squirrels in lodgepole pine stands in central British Columbia

1982 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 443-448 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas P. Sullivan ◽  
Druscilla S. Sullivan
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Animal Species ◽  
Lodgepole Pine ◽  
Red Squirrels ◽  
Control Programs ◽  
Snowshoe Hares ◽  
Average Proportion ◽  
Pine Stands

Barking damage by snowshoe hares (Lepusamericanus Erxleben) and red squirrels (Tamiasciurushudsonicus Erxleben) is common in overstocked stands of juvenile lodgepole pine (Pinusconforta Dougl.) in central British Columbia. Average proportion of potential crop trees damaged by hares was 30.0% and by squirrels was 37.7%. Most hare feeding injuries occurred in heavily stocked (> 20 000 stems/ha) stands, whereas squirrel damage was most common in less dense stands. Both animal species damaged trees in thinned stands, and hence may have a serious impact on stocking control programs in lodgepole pine.

scholarly journals Seed Stratification of Engelmann Spruce and Lodgepole Pine: The Effect of Stratification Duration and Timing of Surface-drying

1986 ◽  
Vol 62 (3) ◽  
pp. 147-151 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yasuomi Tanaka ◽  
L. M. Harper ◽  
N. J. Kleyn
Keyword(s):  
Key Words ◽  
Pinus Contorta ◽  
Lodgepole Pine ◽  
Early Spring ◽  
Picea Engelmannii ◽  
Cool Temperature ◽  
Standard Temperature ◽  
Engelmann Spruce ◽  
Surface Drying ◽  
Picea Engelmanni

Based on the speed and completeness of laboratory germination and nursery bed emergence, the present study showed that for both Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmannii [Parry] Engelmann) and lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Dougl.): (1) longer stratification generally improved the rate, and in some cases completeness, of germination more so under a cool temperature (15 °C/5 °C) regime than under a warm, standard temperature (30 °C/20 °C) regime emphasizing its importance for early spring outdoor sowing under suboptimal germination temperatures, (2) for a given stratification period, surface-drying at the end of stratification was at least as effective as surface-drying prior to or during stratification, and (3) stratification periods of 6 weeks or longer were generally the most effective. A 6- to 8-week stratification with seeds surface-dried at the end of stratification is recommended for nursery sowing of both species. Key Words: stratification, pinus contorta, Picea engelmanni, laboratory germination, nursery bed emergence.

Dissemination of the conifer seed fungus Caloscyphafulgens by small mammals

1984 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 134-137
Author(s):  
Thomas P. Sullivan ◽  
Jack R. Sutherland ◽  
T. A. D. Woods ◽  
Druscilla S. Sullivan
Keyword(s):  
Seed Germination ◽  
Small Mammals ◽  
Lodgepole Pine ◽  
Pathogenic Fungus ◽  
White Spruce ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Deer Mice ◽  
Red Squirrels ◽  
Conifer Seed

Field studies showed that the seed-pathogenic fungus Caloscyphafulgens (Pers.) Boudier was present in squirrel caches in 25% of the white spruce, Piceaglauca (Moench) Voss, stands in an area near Prince George, B.C. and in duff in 17 and 8% of the lodgepole pine, Pinuscontorta Dougl., clear-cuts there and at Williams Lake, respectively. In the laboratory, deer mice (Peromyscusmaniculatus Wagner), chipmunks (Eutamiastownsendii Bachman), and Douglas squirrels (Tamiasciurusdouglasii Bachman) consumed C. fulgens infested seeds of Douglas-fir, Pseudotsugamenziesii (Mirb.) Franco, lodgepole pine, and white spruce as readily as noninfested seeds. Squirrels also ate C. fulgens ascocarps and passed intact ascospores, but these were not observed to germinate. Red squirrels, T. hudsonicus Erxleben, moved, and ate seeds from, both infested and noninfested Douglas-fir cones in the field. It is proposed that C. fulgens is disseminated by squirrels, and perhaps other rodents, and that the fungus may preserve seeds in caches thereby ensuring squirrel food supplies between cone crops. Caloscyphafulgens may also prevent seed germination in direct seeding trials.

scholarly journals Effectiveness of a Physical Barrier in Deterring Vole and Snowshoe Hare Feeding Damage to Lodgepole Pine Seedlings

1998 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 12-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Todd N. Zimmerling ◽  
Linda M. Zimmerling
Keyword(s):  
Pinus Contorta ◽  
Lodgepole Pine ◽  
Protection Device ◽  
Feeding Damage ◽  
Physical Barrier ◽  
Snowshoe Hares ◽  
Pine Seedlings ◽  
Protection Devices ◽  
Study Sites ◽  
Seedling Protection

Abstract We examined the effectiveness of a tubular, polyethylene/polypropylene mesh seedling protection device in reducing overwinter feeding damage by snowshoe hares(Lepus americanus) and meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus) on spring planted, plug stock (1 + 0) lodgepole pine(Pinus contorta). Seedlings fitted with the seedling protection devices (SPD) had significantly lower levels of feeding damage (3 and 9%) than control seedlings (25 and 41%) on two study sites. Most of the feeding damage to treated seedlings was the clipping of the terminal leader or laterals that were not protected by the protection device. In two instances, a vole tunneled under the seedling protection device to damage the stem of the treated seedling; however, this was the exception. This physical barrier can be effective in reducing feeding damage by small mammals on lodgepole pine. West. J. Appl. For. 13(1):12-14.

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