Biophysical characteristics influencing growth and abundance of western white pine (Pinus monticola) across spatial scales in the Coeur d'Alene River Basin, Idaho

Abstract

During the past 50 years the moist forests of northern Idaho changed from being dominated by western white pine (Pinus monticola), an early sera! species, to ones dominated by late serial species, grand fir (Abies grandis) and western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla). Variable fire regimes, successional processes and endemic insects and pathogens worked in concert to produce the stable and resilient forests of the past. This conversion to late seral species would take 200 to 300 years depending on fire regime but because of the destabilizing impacts primarily from white pine blister rust (Cronartium ribicola), it took less than 50 years in many places. To reverse these trends and elevate forest stability and resiliency, there is considerable interest in increasing western white pine's abundance.

Citation

Jain, Theresa, B. 2001. Biophysical characteristics influencing growth and abundance of western white pine (Pinus monticola) across spatial scales in the Coeur d'Alene River Basin, Idaho. Moscow, ID: University of Idaho. 221 p. Dissertation.