Clark’s nutcracker and whitebark pine: Can the birds help the embattled high-country pine survive?

Gail Wells; Martin G. Raphael; Teresa Lorenz

Treesearch

Clark’s nutcracker and whitebark pine: Can the birds help the embattled high-country pine survive?

Informally Refereed

Authors:

Gail Wells, Martin G. Raphael, Teresa Lorenz

Year:

2011

Type:

Science Findings

Station:

Pacific Northwest Research Station

Source:

Science Findings 130. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 5 p.

Download (PDF 1.26 MB)

Download (PDF 1.26 MB): https://research.fs.usda.gov/download/treesearch/37291.pdf

Abstract

Whitebark pine inhabits some of the most pristine high-elevation areas of the West. Despite being protected from direct human influence, the tree is declining from indirect effects of fire suppression and climate change. As a keystone species, its decline has widespread ramifications. Successful restoration requires understanding the behavioral ecology of Clark’s nutcracker, a bird that plays a key role dispersing whitebark pine seeds.

Based on science by Martin Raphael, and Teresa Lorenz.

Keywords

Whitepark pine, regeneration, Clark's nutcracker, telemetry, Martin Raphael, Teresa Lorenz

Citation

Wells, Gail. 2011. Clark’s nutcracker and whitebark pine: Can the birds help the embattled high-country pine survive? Science Findings 130. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 6 p.