Treesearch

Characterizing pre- and post-fire fuels remains a key challenge for estimating biomass consumption and carbon emissions from wildfires. Airborne laser scanning (ALS) data have demonstrated effectiveness for estimating canopy, and to a lesser degree, surface fuel components at fine-scale (i.e., 30 m) across landscapes. Using preand post-fire ALS data and corresponding field data, this study estimated consumption of canopy fuel (ΔCF), understory fuel (ΔUF), total fuel (ΔTF), and canopy bulk density (ΔCBD) for the 2012 Pole Creek fire in Oregon, USA (10,760 ha), and portions of the 2011 Las...

Historically, Cytospora canker of quaking aspen was thought to be caused primarily by Cytospora chrysosperma. However, a new and widely distributed Cytospora species on quaking aspen was recently described (Cytospora notastroma Kepley & F.B. Reeves). Here, we show the relative pathogenicity, abundance, and frequency of both species on quaking aspen in portions of the Rocky Mountain region, and constructed species-level phylogenies to examine possible hybridization among species. We inoculated small-diameter aspen trees with one or two isolates each of C. chrysosperma and C. notastroma in a...

Four freshwater mussel species native to western North America, Gonidea angulata, Margaritifera falcata, Anodonta nuttalliana, and Anodonta oregonensis, have experienced dramatic declines over the last century and are currently threatened in many portions of their ranges. Therefore, improved tools for detecting and monitoring these species are needed. We developed multiplexed, species-specific, quantitative PCR assays for the detection of these species from environmental DNA (eDNA). We empirically tested species specificity and sensitivity of assays in the lab, and we also validated...

Whitebark pine (WBP; Pinus albicaulis) is a critical keystone forest species of U.S. Northern Rocky Mountain subalpine ecosystems (Tomback et al. 2001). There is growing concern that WBP may be largely extirpated from its current habitat over the next century due to cumulative impacts of climate change, insect-related mortality, changing fire regimes, increased competition from shade-tolerant species, and the invasive exotic pathogen white pine blister rust (Cronartium ribicola). While insects, fire, disease, and drought have contributed to recent mortality of WBP, these processes are also...

Ensuring the availability of adequate seed supplies of species and sources appropriate for restoration projects and programs necessitates extensive science-based planning. The selection of target species requires a review of disturbance conditions and reference areas, development of a reference model, and consideration of specific objectives, timeframes, available resources, and budgets as well as the performance of prospective species in past restoration efforts. Identification of seed sources adapted to site conditions is critical to provide for short-term establishment and long-term...

Fernleaf biscuitroot is widespread with scattered populations throughout the western US and adjacent parts of southwestern Canada. Populations occur from British Columbia to Saskatchewan and south to New Mexico and California (Tilley et al. 2010; Welsh et al. 2016; BONAP 2017). Variety dissectum occurs primarily west of the Cascade Mountains where the average annual precipitation typically exceeds 39 inches (1,000 mm). Variety multifidum is most common east of the Cascade Mountains in semiarid habitats (Scholten et al. 2009; Serpe and Novak 2011). Though common, populations can be small,...

Gray’s biscuitroot is one of the most widespread Lomatium species (Thompson 1987a). It is most common in the western US from eastern Washington and Oregon south to northeastern Nevada, western Wyoming, western Colorado, and northwestern New Mexico (Coulter and Rose 1900; Hermann 1966). Populations occur from near sea level to near alpine habitats. Populations on the Saltspring and Galiano islands of British Columbia represent disjunct populations that are the northernmost and coastalmost. Populations in California, like those in British Columbia, are rare and disjunct (COSEWIC 2008)....

The global push to achieve ecosystem restoration targets has resulted in an increased demand for native seeds that current production systems are not able to fulfill. In many countries, seeds used in ecological restoration are often sourced from natural populations. Though providing seed that is reflective of the genetic diversity of a species, wild harvesting often cannot meet the demands for large-scale restoration and may also result in depletion of native seed resources through over harvesting. To improve seed production and decrease seed costs, seed production systems have been...

Rocky Mountain beeplant (Peritoma serrulata [Pursh] de Candolle) is a member of the Cleomaceae or spiderflower family (Vanderpool and Iltis 2010) but was formerly placed in family Capparaceae. The earliest specimen was collected in 1804 by Meriwether Lewis along the Missouri River near Vermillion in Clay County, South Dakota (Reveal et al. 1999). Recent molecular work leaves the taxonomic placement of the family, genus, and species in question (see Hall 2008; Iltis et al. 2011; Roalson et al. 2015).

Seed delivery to site is a critical step in seed-based restoration programs. Months or years of seed collection, conditioning, storage, and cultivation can be wasted if seeding operations are not carefully planned, well executed, and draw upon best available knowledge and experience. Although diverse restoration scenarios present different challenges and require different approaches, there are common elements that apply to most ecosystems and regions. A seeding plan sets the timeline and details all operations from site treatments through seed delivery and subsequent monitoring. The plan...