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Abstract
Bark beetle-caused tree mortality in conifer forests affects the quantity and quality of forest fuels and has long been assumed to increase fire hazard and potential fire behavior. In reality, bark beetles and their effects on fuel accumulation and subsequent fire hazard have only recently been described. We have extensively sampled fuels in three conifer forest types (lodgepole pine, Engelmann spruce and Douglas-fir) and described bark beetle/ fuels/fire interactions within the context of intermountain disturbance regimes. Our data sets were developed by measuring the forest biomass in stands with endemic, epidemic and post-epidemic bark beetle populations and comparing the quantity and quality of fuels present within each beetle population phase. Surface and canopy fuels data were used to create fuel models that are customized to represent the actual fuel conditions created by the bark beetles.
Parent Publication
Keywords
high elevation five-needle pines,
threats,
whitebark,
Pinus albicaulis,
limber,
Pinus flexilis,
southwestern white,
Pinus strobiformis,
foxtail,
Pinus balfouriana,
Great Basin bristlecone,
Pinus longaeva,
Rocky Mountain bristlecone pine,
Pinus aristata
Citation
Jenkins, Michael J. 2011. Fuel and fire behavior in high-elevation five-needle pines affected by mountain pine beetle. In: Keane, Robert E.; Tomback, Diana F.; Murray, Michael P.; Smith, Cyndi M., eds. The future of high-elevation, five-needle white pines in Western North America: Proceedings of the High Five Symposium. 28-30 June 2010; Missoula, MT. Proceedings RMRS-P-63. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. p. 190-197.
