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Nov 20, 2009: Caltha leptosepala var. leptosepala
Nov 21, 2007:
Adansonia digitata
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Juncus sp.
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Nerine pudica
March 16, 2009 : Pinus albicaulis
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Plant Family / Families: Pinaceae
Scientific Name and Author: Pinus albicaulis Engelm.
Ruth continues with the series on UBC research:
Dr. Sally Aitken is a member of the UBC Faculty of Forestry. She heads many research initiatives through the Centre for Forest Conservation Genetics.
Sally writes: "Whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis) is a keystone species of many high-elevation environments in British Columbia and the western United States. The wingless seeds of this pine are dispersed by the Clark's nutcracker (Nucifraga columbiana), and these seeds are also a key pre-hibernation food for grizzly bears in some regions. Populations of this five-needled pine are being decimated by a combination of the introduced fungus, Cronartium ribicola, which causes the disease whitebark pine blister rust, as well as the current epidemic of the mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae). Rapid climate change presents yet another threat to this species."
"At the Centre for Forest Conservation Genetics in Forest Sciences at UBC, we are evaluating levels of genetic diversity and developing models to predict the distribution of habitat for this species under various climate change scenarios. PhD candidate Sierra Curtis-McLane is testing these predictions by planting seeds in subalpine habitats within the current species range and in model-predicted areas north of the range. She is also growing seedlings in controlled growth chamber experiments under different temperature and drought regimes. We hope the results will assist in restoration efforts for this ecologically important species."
Posted by Daniel Mosquin at March 16, 2009 3:18 PM
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Comments
Posted by: Bob Wilson at March 16, 2009 4:54 PM
Sadly, I believe the beautiful whitebark pine at Crater Lake featured on the cover of the report mentioned by Bob Wilson at is now dead.
Posted by: Sally Aitken at March 16, 2009 5:01 PM
Bob, what is the difference between Pinus aristata and Pinus longaeva??
Posted by: Christian at March 16, 2009 5:39 PM
Bird, cone, picture of tree - all marvellous!
Posted by: Annie Morgan at March 16, 2009 5:40 PM
This wonderful dark colored cone also shatters at maturity - unusual for a typical North American pine - maybe there are others that behave so from far away places?
The Clark's Nutcracker also pushes Stellar's Jays around (love 'em both but the Stellar's deserve it in turn for all of the pushing around that THEY commit lower down the mountain!).
Posted by: Quin at March 16, 2009 6:17 PM
Beautiful pine cones.The burned tips and chlorotic needles resembles salt damage we sometimes see in irrigated landscapes
Posted by: Greg Gatwood at March 16, 2009 6:21 PM
"Bob, what is the difference between Pinus aristata and Pinus longaeva??"
Pinus aristata: Needles with one or one-and-a-half resin ducts, often perforated, the perforations resulting in the white resin spots characteristic of the species; cones broad-based (U-shaped base), scale bristles over 5mm long. Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona.
Pinus longaeva: Needles with two resin ducts, not perforated so no resin spots; cones narrow-based (more or less V-shaped base), scale bristles mostly under 5mm long. Utah, Nevada, E California.
Posted by: Michael F at March 17, 2009 2:42 AM
"This wonderful dark colored cone also shatters at maturity - unusual for a typical North American pine - maybe there are others that behave so from far away places?"
Pinus cembra in Europe (Alps, Carpathians), and P. sibirica, P. koraiensis and to a lesser extent (less fragile) P. pumila in northern Asia. They are also all dispersed by nutcrackers, in this case Spotted Nutcracker Nucifraga caryocatactes.
Posted by: Michael F at March 17, 2009 2:47 AM
Micheal, do they hybridize where their ranges overlap, or are they geographically distinct?
Posted by: Christian at March 17, 2009 2:52 PM
They're geographically distinct, separated by a 250km gap, so no opportunities for hybridisation.
Posted by: Michael F at March 17, 2009 5:51 PM
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A recent (2006) Forest Service publication by John Schwandt -- Whitebark Pine in Peril --discusses these threats as well as restoration strategies. There is also a great photo of a mature tree on the cover exhibiting a high elevation growth form reminiscent of bristlecone pines, P. longaeva
http://www.fs.fed.us/r1-r4/spf/fhp/whitebark_pine/WBPCover_4.htm