Using Paleoecological Methods to Study Long-Term Disturbance Patterns in High-Elevation Whitebark Pine Ecosystems
<i>Pinus albicaulis</i> (whitebark pine) is a keystone species, providing food and habitat to wildlife, in high-elevation ecological communities. In recent years, this important species has been negatively impacted by changes in fire regimes, increased <i>Dendroctonus ponderosae<...
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| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2024-11-01
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| Series: | Fire |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2571-6255/7/11/411 |
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| Summary: | <i>Pinus albicaulis</i> (whitebark pine) is a keystone species, providing food and habitat to wildlife, in high-elevation ecological communities. In recent years, this important species has been negatively impacted by changes in fire regimes, increased <i>Dendroctonus ponderosae</i> (mountain pine beetle) outbreaks associated with human landscape and climate modification, and the continued impact of the non-native <i>Cronartium ribicola</i> (white pine blister rust). This research investigates changes in fire occurrence, the establishment of <i>Pinus albicaulis</i>, and fuel availability at a high-elevation site in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area, Idaho, USA. Charcoal and pollen analyses were used to reconstruct fire and vegetation patterns for Phyllis Lake, Idaho, USA, over the past ~8200 cal y BP. We found that significant fire episodes occurred when the pollen accumulation rates (PARs) indicated more arboreal fuel availability, and we identified that <i>Pinus albicaulis</i> became well established at the site ~7200 cal y BP. The high-elevation nature of Phyllis Lake (2800 m) makes this record unique, as there are not many paleorecords at this high elevation from the Northern Rocky Mountains, USA. Additional high-elevation sites in <i>Pinus albicaulis</i> habitats will provide critical insight into the long-term dynamics of this threatened species. |
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| ISSN: | 2571-6255 |