Rocky Mountain Research Station Publications
RMRS Online Publication
RMRS-RP-54: Mountain pine beetle-caused tree mortality in partially
cut plots surrounded by unmanaged stands
Schmid, J.M.; Mata, S.A. 2005. Mountain pine beetle-caused tree mortality in partially cut plots surrounded by unmanaged stands. Res. Pap. RMRS-RP-54. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 11 p.
Mountain pine beetle activity was monitored in one set of 2.5 acre plots in the southern por-tion of the Black Hills National Forest over a 17-year period. Beetles attacked 77 percent of the trees in the uncut control, 48 percent of the trees in the growing stock level (GSL) 100/110, 53 percent of the trees in the GSL 80/90, and 9 percent of the trees in the GSL 60/70. The percentages of MPB-attacked trees in each 1 in diameter class were lowest in the GSL 60/70, intermediate in the GSL 80/90 and GSL 100/110, and highest in the uncut control. Live basal area was significantly reduced in the GSL 80/90, GSL 100/110, and control but not in the GSL 60/70. Partial cutting to reduce beetle-caused mortality may be ineffective for partially cut parcels of <10 acres if the partially cut stands are surrounded by unman-aged susceptible stands. To increase the effectiveness of partial cutting, stands should be managed on a landscape basis. A 100-ft-wide strip with stand density of less than or equal to GSL 70 between unmanaged and man-aged stands may be sufficient to limit the spread of beetle-caused mortality from unmanaged stands to adjacent partially cut stands.
Keywords: mountain pine beetle, ponderosa pine, stand management
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http://www.fs.fed.us/rm/pubs/rmrs_rp054.pdf
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Title: RMRS-RP-54:
Mountain pine beetle-caused tree mortality in partially cut plots
surrounded by unmanaged stands
Publish Date: August 12, 2005
Last Update: January
15, 2010