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Whitebark Pine in Region 6 Background, Status, & Restoration

Whitebark Pine in Region 6 Background, Status, & Restoration. Andy Bower Area Geneticist – western Washington Olympic NF. Regional Silviculture Meeting Bend, OR November 16, 2010. WBP Distribution. Whitebark Pine 101. Only north American stone pine Cones that do not open when ripe

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Whitebark Pine in Region 6 Background, Status, & Restoration

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  1. Whitebark Pine in Region 6Background, Status, & Restoration Andy Bower Area Geneticist – western Washington Olympic NF Regional Silviculture Meeting Bend, OR November 16, 2010

  2. WBP Distribution

  3. Whitebark Pine 101 • Only north American stone pine • Cones that do not open when ripe • Wingless seed • Seed dispersed by Nutcrackers • Caches of multiple seed results in clumpy growth structure • Proposed for ESA listing – in 12 month review

  4. Clark’s Nutcracker

  5. Clumpy growth structure

  6. Threats • Mountain Pine Beetle • White Pine Blister Rust • Successional replacement • Climate change

  7. Region 6WBPRestorationStrategy

  8. Key Actions Prescribed • Collect seed for gene conservation and rust resistance screening • Assess stand conditions in priority management units • Develop plans for planting seedlings in priority management units • Continue a rust screening program with emphasis on seed zones in grizzly bear areas • Treat for mountain pine beetle in high risk management units • Develop an approach for planting seedlings in designated wilderness areas

  9. Region 6 ex situ gene conservation plan • 20 collection areas • Minimum of 25 trees per collection area • Min. 30 cones per tree • 800 seed for ex situ gene conservation • 500 to ARS NCGP in Ft. Collins, CO • 300 held in storage at Dorena GRC

  10. Gene Conservation Cone Collections

  11. Gene Conservation Cone Collections Target Met? Yes Almost No WBP Range Cone collection site

  12. Accomplishments – 2009-2010 • 464 seedlots from over 50 locations for gene conservation • 62 permanent monitoring plots at >25 different locations • ~100 site surveys • Verbenone treatments on Fre-Win • Seed planting trials on Mt. Bachelor & Mt. Hood

  13. WBP Planting Projects • 2009: “Opportunistic” planting projects on Fre-Win, Des, and GP • 12,000 seedlings on 37 acres on Mt. Hood NF • 2010: 50 accessions added to DES preservation arboretum • 2011: ~3000 seedlings on 5 ac. On Black Butte • Long term rust validation planting on Davis Mtn. and 2nd replicate • 2012: – 1000-2000 seedling from resistant families being grown for outplanting on DES

  14. Permanent Plots • 181 plots on Malheur NF installed mostly in 2004 some in 2009 • 200 plots on WAW NF – 100 in Eagle Cap, 100 in Elkhorns • 78 plots on DES, WIL, MAL, COL, OKA-WEN in 2008 • 62 plots in 2009 in OR and WA • 3 on Mt. Hood plus elsewhere?

  15. Permanent Plot Data – K. Chadwick and C. Jensen • Blister rust infection, regeneration, WBP stand density and mortality are highly variable especially in Oregon • Density – Avg: 350 wbp/acre (0-1442) • Mortality (WPBR & MPB) – 19% (0-77%) • WPBR – Avg: Cent OR: 25% (0-86) Malheur: 55% (35-71%) Oka-Wen: 56% (33-71%)

  16. Perm. Plot Results • Advanced regeneration was through out all plots, leaving us hopeful in the face of MBP • We have two non-natives changing these stands, Balsam Woolly Adelgid in subalpine fir and Whitepine blister rust. • Database to house region 6 data, across all land ownerships is currently being developed. • Now have regional protocol for installation and damage codes

  17. Genetic Diversity TestingMolecular Markers 4 marker types 88 populationsSeedling Traits 92 Families 50 locations

  18. Population Structure • Isozymes – • 2 population “groups” • cpDNA – • 3 population “groups”

  19. Date of needle flush

  20. Conclusions:Molecular markers • Average levels of genetic diversity overall • Genetic diversity lower in Olympic populations • Olympic populations genetically differentiated from “main” range • Limited genetic structure in non-Olympic populations

  21. Conclusions:Quantitative traits • Significant genetic variation among and within populations • Olympic populations not differentiated based on quantitative traits • Local adaptation driven by winter temperature • Population differentiation greater than “selectively neutral” molecular markers

  22. Conclusions • Info from molecular markers and quantitative traits is complimentary but incomplete independently • Olympic populations need special attention • Seed should not be moved into/out of Olympics • Seed can be moved within N. Cascades and SW Washington/Oregon, but probably not into/out of NE Washington and E. Oregon

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