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
INTRODUCTION
METHODS
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. Determine correlations between stand and site
conditions and pine mortality.
3. Mensurational (tree size, density and damages) and regeneration
(species and abundance) data collected from plots.
4. Bark beetle-attacked trees tallied in 1-ac swath between plot centers.
September 20, 2003 North of San Francisco Peaks
May 17, 2003 North of San Francisco Peaks
Bark Beetle Activity in
Ponderosa Pine and Pinyon Pine
(2003 Aerial Detection Survey)
Bark Beetle Plots in Pinyon Pine Forest Type,
Coconino National Forest
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Figure 3. Plots installed
within a 3 mile grid over
pinyon pine stands.
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Bark Beetle Plots in Ponderosa Pine Forest Type
Coconino National Forest
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Tri-cluster Plots
Single Plots
Bark Beetle Activity 2002/2003
Pinyon Pine Range
RESULTS
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Figure 4. Plots installed
within a 3 mile grid over
ponderosa pine stands.
2. 401 plots were revisited in 2005 on the Prescott, Kaibab & Coconino
NF’s.
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1.There have been 402 Pinyon pine and 779 Ponderosa pine plots
established on five National Forests in Arizona during 2003 & 2004.
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Avg Plot TPA
Avg Ponderosa TPA
% TPA Ponderosa Killed
Avg Plot BA
Avg Ponderosa BA
% BA Ponderosa Killed
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Pinyon Pine Bark Beetle Activity
Ponderosa Pine Bark Beetle Activity
Pinyon Pine Range
Ponderosa Pine Range
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National Forest Boundary
Reservation Boundary
Figure 1. Bark beetle-caused tree mortality in pinyon (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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3. 2003 & 2004 plot data indicate basal area mortality rates on some
Forests as high as 48 percent in pinyon pine and 23 percent in
ponderosa pine, Figures 6-9.
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Figure 6. Ponderosa pine plots on Arizona
National Forests showing basal area parameters
and percent mortality.
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CONCLUSIONS
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Figure 8. Ponderosa pine plots on Arizona
National Forests showing trees per acre parameters
and percent mortality.
Avg Plot TPA
Avg Pinyon TPA
% TPA Pinyon Killed
Avg Plot BA
Avg pinyon BA
% BA pinyon Killed
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3.Low to mid elevation pine forests were
impacted greater than high elevation forests,
Figure 10.
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Figure 10. Average percent mortality over all Forests for
Ponderosa and Pinyon by at Low (<6000’), Moderate (6001’7000’) and High (>7000’) elevation.
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Figure 7. Pinyon pine plots on Arizona National
Forests showing basal area parameters and
percent mortality.
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1.Results will be incorporated into Regional
strategic communication plan to provide land
managers and the public with better and
consistent information.
2.Development of predictive models relating
stand and site conditions to bark beetle-caused
tree mortality.
160
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Tri-plot Clusters
Single Plots
Bark Beetle Activity (2002/2003)
Ponderosa Pine Range
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Figure 9. Pinyon pine plots on Arizona National
Forests showing trees per acre parameters and
percent mortality.
4.Overall pinyon woodlands were impacted more
severely than ponderosa pine forests.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Forest Health Monitoring Evaluation Monitoring grant INT-EM-03-01
Kelly Barton, Steve McKelvey, Brian Howell, Joleen Atencio, Ally & Atom for
field work, data entry and GIS maps