Late Holocene expansion of ponderosa pine (<i>Pinus ponderosa</i>) in the Central Rocky Mountains, <scp>USA</scp>

Norris, Jodi R.; Betancourt, Julio L.; Jackson, Stephen T.

doi:10.1111/jbi.12670

Cited by 14 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 51 publications

(102 reference statements)

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“…Our estimates of growth also do not consider potential threshold responses of mortality. For example, paleo‐reconstructions have found that ponderosa pine distribution has decreased with decreasing July precipitation (Norris, Betancourt, & Jackson, 2016).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Low stand density moderates growth declines during hot droughts in semi‐arid forests

Andrews

D’Amato

Fraver

et al. 2020

Journal of Applied Ecology

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Increasing heat and aridity in coming decades is expected to negatively impact tree growth and threaten forest sustainability in dry areas. Maintaining low stand density has the potential to mitigate the negative effects of increasingly severe droughts by minimizing competitive intensity. However, the direct impact of stand density on the growing environment (i.e. soil moisture), and the specific drought metrics that best quantify that environment, are not well explored for any forest ecosystem. We examined the relationship of varying stand density (i.e. basal area) on soil moisture and stand‐level growth in a long‐term (multi‐decadal), ponderosa pine Pinus ponderosa, forest management experiment. We accounted for the influence of stand‐level density on moisture availability by measuring and modelling soil moisture using an ecosystem water balance model. To quantify the growing environment, we developed metrics of ecological drought that integrate the influence of moisture availability in the soil with moisture demand by the atmosphere. We paired these results with stand‐level dendrochronological data, avoiding the potential bias introduced from individual tree‐based assessments, and used critical climate period analysis to identify the timing and duration of these drought metrics that most relate to forest growth. We found that stand‐level growth is highly responsive to the combination of high temperature and low soil moisture. Growth in all stands was negatively related to temperature and positively related to moisture availability, although the sensitivity of growth to those conditions varied among stand density treatments. Growth enhancement during cool years is greatest in low density stands. In addition, low density stands displayed substantially higher long‐term average growth than higher density stands and maintained higher growth even when temperatures were high. Growth in low density stands also increased more than higher density stands in response to greater long‐term moisture availability. Synthesis and applications. We quantified the influence of stand‐level density on the environmental conditions that determine tree growth and related forest growth to patterns of moisture supply and demand. Our drought metrics, and analytical approach for quantifying drought impacts on forest growth, are a novel approach for assessing forest vulnerability to drought under climate change. These results provide new perspective on the potential for density management to mitigate drought stress and maintain forest stand growth during and after drought events in water‐limited forests.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Low stand density moderates growth declines during hot droughts in semi‐arid forests

Andrews

D’Amato

Fraver

et al. 2020

Journal of Applied Ecology

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“…Pleistocene populations of Haplotype 3 were likely separated from haplotype 6 by the Rocky Mountains during glacial periods, and refugial locations may have occurred in Arizona and New Mexico [ 9 ], where our models now predicted the highest probability of occurrence for the haplotype, in summer monsoon-dominated climates. Norris et al [ 7 ] reconstructed the northward expansion of P . p .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This broad distribution reflects not only the influence of contemporary climate and environmental settings, but also the influence of past climate variability that forced range expansion and contraction and limited some populations to spatially isolated refugia [ 4 ]. Climate-induced range shifts combined with topographic isolation likely contributed to intraspecific genetic diversification over time [ 5 ], and spatial patterns among both historical and contemporary ponderosa pine populations suggest that genetic divisions occupy well-defined climate niches [ 4 – 7 ]. A clear understanding of the relationships between genetically distinct populations and climate may be key to management and conservation of ponderosa pine under future climate change [ 6 , 8 – 9 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring Climate Niches of Ponderosa Pine (Pinus ponderosa Douglas ex Lawson) Haplotypes in the Western United States: Implications for Evolutionary History and Conservation

et al. 2016

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Ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa Douglas ex Lawson) occupies montane environments throughout western North America, where it is both an ecologically and economically important tree species. A recent study using mitochondrial DNA analysis demonstrated substantial genetic variation among ponderosa pine populations in the western U.S., identifying 10 haplotypes with unique evolutionary lineages that generally correspond spatially with distributions of the Pacific (P. p. var. ponderosa) and Rocky Mountain (P. p. var. scopulorum) varieties. To elucidate the role of climate in shaping the phylogeographic history of ponderosa pine, we used nonparametric multiplicative regression to develop predictive climate niche models for two varieties and 10 haplotypes and to hindcast potential distribution of the varieties during the last glacial maximum (LGM), ~22,000 yr BP. Our climate niche models performed well for the varieties, but haplotype models were constrained in some cases by small datasets and unmeasured microclimate influences. The models suggest strong relationships between genetic lineages and climate. Particularly evident was the role of seasonal precipitation balance in most models, with winter- and summer-dominated precipitation regimes strongly associated with P. p. vars. ponderosa and scopulorum, respectively. Indeed, where present-day climate niches overlap between the varieties, introgression of two haplotypes also occurs along a steep clinal divide in western Montana. Reconstructed climate niches for the LGM suggest potentially suitable climate existed for the Pacific variety in the California Floristic province, the Great Basin, and Arizona highlands, while suitable climate for the Rocky Mountain variety may have existed across the southwestern interior highlands. These findings underscore potentially unique phylogeographic origins of modern ponderosa pine evolutionary lineages, including potential adaptations to Pleistocene climates associated with discrete temporary glacial refugia. Our predictive climate niche models may inform strategies for further genetic research (e.g., sampling design) and conservation that promotes haplotype compatibility with projected changes in future climate.

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“…Pines were able to colonize large areas after the glacial era (Macdonald, Cwynar, & Whitlock, ). Pinus ponderosa experienced a long delay establishment, followed by rapid expansion across large parts of the central Rocky Mountains in North America, suggesting climate‐ rather than dispersal‐driven expansion (Norris, Betancourt, & Jackson, ). Desponts and Payette () reconstructed the postglacial history of P. banksiana and found that this species formed small stands from 300 to 2,400 B.P.…”

Section: Why Have Pines Become the Dominant Conifer Taxon In Many Envmentioning

confidence: 99%

Insights on the persistence of pines (Pinusspecies) in the Late Cretaceous and their increasing dominance in the Anthropocene

Singh¹,

Inderjit

Singh

et al. 2018

Ecology and Evolution

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Although gymnosperms were nearly swept away by the rise of the angiosperms in the Late Cretaceous, conifers, and pines (Pinus species) in particular, survived and regained their dominance in some habitats. Diversification of pines into fire‐avoiding (subgenus Haploxylon) and fire‐adapted (subgenus Diploxylon) species occurred in response to abiotic and biotic factors in the Late Cretaceous such as competition with emerging angiosperms and changing fire regimes. Adaptations/traits that evolved in response to angiosperm‐fuelled fire regimes and stressful environments in the Late Cretaceous were key to pine success and are also contributing to a new “pine rise” in some areas in the Anthropocene. Human‐mediated activities exert both positive and negative impacts of range size and expansion and invasions of pines. Large‐scale afforestation with pines, human‐mediated changes to fire regimes, and other ecosystem processes are other contributing factors. We discuss traits that evolved in response to angiosperm‐mediated fires and stressful environments in the Cretaceous and that continue to contribute to pine persistence and dominance and the numerous ways in which human activities favor pines.

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Late Holocene expansion of ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) in the Central Rocky Mountains, USA

Cited by 14 publications

References 51 publications

Low stand density moderates growth declines during hot droughts in semi‐arid forests

Low stand density moderates growth declines during hot droughts in semi‐arid forests

Exploring Climate Niches of Ponderosa Pine (Pinus ponderosa Douglas ex Lawson) Haplotypes in the Western United States: Implications for Evolutionary History and Conservation

Insights on the persistence of pines (Pinusspecies) in the Late Cretaceous and their increasing dominance in the Anthropocene

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