Stand level impacts of Ips and Dendroctonus bark beetles
in pine forest types of Northern Arizona
Joel McMillin1, John Anhold1, Neil Cobb2, Jose Negrón3, Jesse Anderson2
1USFS Region 3 FHP, Flagstaff, AZ; 2MPCER, NAU, Flagstaff, AZ; 3USFS RMRS, Ft. Collins, CO
METHODS
INTRODUCTION
OBJECTIVES
Record low precipitation, increased temperatures, and dense forests have led to
tremendous bark beetle incidence across the Southwest. Aerial Detection
Surveys detected bark beetle activity on more than 2 million acres, killing more
than 20 million pine trees in Arizona during 2002 and 2003 (Figures 1 & 2). The
extent and severity of this mortality, and site factors contributing to mortality,
remain undetermined at the Forest and stand level. This information is needed
to accurately describe ecosystem changes that are occurring and to develop
predictive models for future disturbance events.
1. Quantify stand level impacts of bark beetles on
ponderosa and piňon pine ecosystems in Arizona’s
National Forests.
1. GIS maps used to determine plot location on 5 National Forests
(Figures 3 & 4 show Coconino NF). Coconino, Kaibab & Prescott
NF’s completed 2003. Tonto and Apache-Sitgreaves NF’s completed
2004. All plots on all Forests will be revisited in 2005.
2. Describe the forest and site conditions that have
experienced tree mortality caused by drought and
bark beetles.
2. Single (measures extent of outbreaks) and three plot clusters (stand
level impacts) installed. Plots are 1/20th acre fixed radius (Figure 5).
3. Mensurational (tree size, density and damages) and regeneration
(species and abundance) data collected from plots.
3. Determine correlations between stand and site
conditions and pine mortality.
4. Bark beetle-attacked trees tallied in 1-ac swath between plot centers.
BarkBeetlePlotsinPinyonPineForest Type,
CoconinoNational Forest
May 17, 2003 North of San Francisco Peaks
September 20, 2003 North of San Francisco Peaks
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BarkBeetleActivityin
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Figure 3. Plots installed
within a 3 mile grid over
piňon pine stands.
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March 6, 2002 Horsethief Basin, Prescott NF
August 21, 2002 Horsethief Basin, Prescott NF
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Figure 1. Bark beetle-caused tree mortality in piňon (top) and ponderosa (bottom) pine forests in
Arizona. Although engraver beetles are infesting most pine species (center-top), western pine beetle
(center-bottom) is also contributing to ponderosa pine mortality.
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Figure 4. Plots installed
within a 3 mile grid over
ponderosa pine stands.
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END PRODUCTS
Plots established by National Forest in Arizona
1.Results will be incorporated into Regional strategic
communication plan to provide land managers and the public
with better and consistent information.
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2. All 1,181 plots will be revisited in 2005.
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Pine Bark Beetle Infestation
FINAL DRAFT - May 30, 2003
Public Affairs Office
Southwest Region
USDA Forest Service
Account Manager: Jim Payne
(602) 225-5291 jwpayne@fs.fed.us
2324 E. McDowell Road
Phoenix, Arizona 85006
Forest Health Monitoring Evaluation
Monitoring grant INT-EM-03-01
Prescott
Coconino
Tonto
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Kaibab
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Tri-plot Clusters
SinglePlots
BarkBeetleActivity(2002/2003)
PonderosaPineRange
Prescott
Kaibab
Coconino
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Tonto
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10 chains, 660 ft, 200 m
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= infested tree tally, 1 chain wide
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
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1.There have been 402 Piňon pine and 779 Ponderosa pine plots
established on five National Forests in Arizona during 2003 & 2004.
2.Development of predictive models relating stand and site
conditions to bark beetle-caused tree mortality.
Strategic Communication Plan
Southwestern Region
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= 1/20th acre fixed radius plot
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Kelly Barton, Steve McKelvey, Brian
Howell, Joleen Atencio, Ally & Atom for
field work, data entry and GIS maps
Figure 7. Number of Piňon pine plots established
on each Arizona National Forest
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Figure 6. Number of Ponderosa pine plots
established on each Arizona National Forest
Figure 5. 3-plot cluster with dead
tree tally transects.