Rocky Mountain Research Station Publications
RMRS Online Publication
RMRS-RN-32: Whitebark pine diameter growth response to removal
of competition
Keane, Robert E.; Gray, Kathy L.; Dickinson, Laura J. 2007. Whitebark pine diameter growth response to removal of competition. Res. Note RMRS-RN-32. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 9 p.
Silvicultural cutting treatments may be needed to restore whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis) forests, but little is known of the response of this species to removal of competition through prescribed burning or silvicultural cuttings. We analyzed stem cross-sections from 48 whitebark pine trees in Montana around which most of the competing vegetation was removed by timber harvest treatments. We compared tree ring growth rates before and after the harvest treatment using intervention analysis to determine 1) the potential of release for this littlestudied tree species and 2) whether the release is related to tree and stand characteristics. We defined release as a statistically significant increase in radial growth after competing trees were removed. All but one of our 48 sampled trees increased in diameter growth after competition was removed, while 40 trees showed a statistically significant (p<0.05) increase in growth. Diameter release was greatest in stands that were dense prior to tree cutting and greatest in old trees with large diameters. Recommendations for appropriate silvicultural cutting are included to aid managers in designing effective restoration treatments.
Keywords: whitebark pine, diameter release, logging, restoration treatments, intervention analysis, advance regeneration
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http://www.fs.fed.us/rm/pubs/rmrs_rn032.pdf
PDF File Size: 700 K
Title: RMRS-RN-32:
Whitebark pine diameter growth response to removal of competition
Electronic Publish Date: March 28, 2007
Last Update: March
27, 2007