Topographic influences on the distribution of white pine blister rust in<i>Pinus albicaulis</i>treeline communities

Smith-McKenna, Emily K.; Resler, Lynn M.; Tomback, Diana F.; Zhang, Huaiye; Malanson, George P.

doi:10.2980/20-3-3599

Cited by 22 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 66 publications

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“…These study areas comprise ATE with conifers growing as solitary krummholz trees and in tree islands primarily composed of krummholz P. albicaulis, P. engelmannii, and A. lasiocarpia. Previous research in both study areas established that P. albicaulis is the majority tree island initiator, and P. engelmannii is the second most abundant conifer overall for both study areas (Resler and Tomback, 2008;Smith-McKenna et al, 2013;Tomback et al, 2014: Wyoming Creek = Line Creek Research Natural Area). Data from randomly placed sampling transects indicated that the proportions of solitary trees of P. albicaulis were significantly greater than P. engelmannii or A. lasiocarpa on 16 of 19 transects at Divide Mountain and on 12 of 15 transects at Line Creek (Blakeslee, 2012).…”

Section: Study Areasmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…However, P. albicaulis mortality from Cronartium ribicola, the non-native pathogen that causes white pine blister rust, is increasing in this region (Smith et al, 2008Smith et al, 2011). Mortality of P. albicaulis reduces facilitative interactions at treeline Resler and Tomback, 2008;Smith-McKenna et al, 2013), which potentially alters community development and the response of treeline to climate warming Smith-McKenna et al, 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 93%

“…This effect may result from reduced sky exposure: overhanging canopies could intercept precipitation and reduce infiltration in leeward microsites. A better determinant of local soil moisture might be microtopographic "concavities" and "convexities," which influence moisture distribution regardless of type of nurse object (e.g., Smith-McKenna et al, 2013).…”

Section: Importance Of Protected Micrositesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Importance of Conifers for Facilitation at Treeline: Comparing Biophysical Characteristics of Leeward Microsites in Whitebark Pine Communities

Pyatt

Tomback

Blakeslee

et al. 2016

Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research

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Section: Study Areasmentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 93%

Section: Importance Of Protected Micrositesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Importance of Conifers for Facilitation at Treeline: Comparing Biophysical Characteristics of Leeward Microsites in Whitebark Pine Communities

Pyatt

Tomback

Blakeslee

et al. 2016

Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research

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“…We also (3) review the literature for information on the contribution of treeline communities to snow retention and local hydrological processes, and connect this information to ATE whitebark pine communities. Furthermore, previous studies in the ATE across the distribution of whitebark pine indicate that C. ribicola is present in nearly every community examined [45], with the highest infection levels in the ATE of Glacier National Park [38,48,49]. Blister rust potentially threatens both the biodiversity supported by whitebark pine as a keystone and foundation species and the ecosystem services that whitebark pine communities provide.…”

Section: Ecosystem Servicesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Community Structure, Biodiversity, and Ecosystem Services in Treeline Whitebark Pine Communities: Potential Impacts from a Non-Native Pathogen

Tomback

Resler

Keane

et al. 2016

Forests

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Whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis) has the largest and most northerly distribution of any white pine (Subgenus Strobus) in North America, encompassing 18˝latitude and 21˝longitude in western mountains. Within this broad range, however, whitebark pine occurs within a narrow elevational zone, including upper subalpine and treeline forests, and functions generally as an important keystone and foundation species. In the Rocky Mountains, whitebark pine facilitates the development of krummholz conifer communities in the alpine-treeline ecotone (ATE), and thus potentially provides capacity for critical ecosystem services such as snow retention and soil stabilization. The invasive, exotic pathogen Cronartium ribicola, which causes white pine blister rust, now occurs nearly rangewide in whitebark pine communities, to their northern limits. Here, we synthesize data from 10 studies to document geographic variation in structure, conifer species, and understory plants in whitebark pine treeline communities, and examine the potential role of these communities in snow retention and regulating downstream flows. Whitebark pine mortality is predicted to alter treeline community composition, structure, and function. Whitebark pine losses in the ATE may also alter response to climate warming. Efforts to restore whitebark pine have thus far been limited to subalpine communities, particularly through planting seedlings with potential blister rust resistance. We discuss whether restoration strategies might be appropriate for treeline communities.

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“…Such microrefugia are most likely found in wind-swept, high elevation sites where WBP currently forms the upper tree line. These drier and cooler sites are also less favorable for white pine blister rust attack on WBP [96].…”

Section: Microrefugiamentioning

confidence: 95%

Complex Challenges of Maintaining Whitebark Pine in Greater Yellowstone under Climate Change: A Call for Innovative Research, Management, and Policy Approaches

Hansen

Ireland

Legg

et al. 2016

Forests

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Climate suitability is projected to decline for many subalpine species, raising questions about managing species under a deteriorating climate. Whitebark pine (WBP) (Pinus albicaulis) in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE) crystalizes the challenges that natural resource managers of many high mountain ecosystems will likely face in the coming decades. We review the system of interactions among climate, competitors, fire, bark beetles, white pine blister rust (Cronartium ribicola), and seed dispersers that make WBP especially vulnerable to climate change. A well-formulated interagency management strategy has been developed for WBP, but it has only been implemented across <1% of the species GYE range. The challenges of complex climate effects and land allocation constraints on WBP management raises questions regarding the efficacy of restoration efforts for WBP in GYE. We evaluate six ecological mechanisms by which WBP may remain viable under climate change: climate microrefugia, climate tolerances, release from competition, favorable fire regimes, seed production prior to beetle-induced mortality, and blister-rust resistant trees. These mechanisms suggest that WBP viability may be higher than previously expected under climate change. Additional research is warranted on these mechanisms, which may provide a basis for increased management effectiveness. This review is used as a basis for deriving recommendations for other subalpine species threatened by climate change.

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Topographic influences on the distribution of white pine blister rust inPinus albicaulistreeline communities

Cited by 22 publications

References 66 publications

The Importance of Conifers for Facilitation at Treeline: Comparing Biophysical Characteristics of Leeward Microsites in Whitebark Pine Communities

The Importance of Conifers for Facilitation at Treeline: Comparing Biophysical Characteristics of Leeward Microsites in Whitebark Pine Communities

Community Structure, Biodiversity, and Ecosystem Services in Treeline Whitebark Pine Communities: Potential Impacts from a Non-Native Pathogen

Complex Challenges of Maintaining Whitebark Pine in Greater Yellowstone under Climate Change: A Call for Innovative Research, Management, and Policy Approaches

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