Lodgepole Pine Cone Density By: Corey Slinkard EBIO 4100 Spring Semester 2012

Outline Hypothesis Hypothesis About the Lodgepole Pine About the Lodgepole Pine Location Location Importance Importance Reproduction Reproduction Cones Cones Methods Methods Results Results Discussion Discussion Citations Citations

Hypothesis Due to the strong westerly winds on Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, I hypothesize cone density on Lodgepole Pines will vary by hill slope direction, particularly on east-facing slopes in areas around MRS. Relates to winter ecology because the LP has ~26 month pollen-cone and seen-cone bud Initiation… (Owens, 2006)

More on Lodgepole Pine Location : Location : Pinus contorta extends from the Mackenzie district of the Yukon in Canada, to southern Colorado in the Rocky Mountains and northern Baja (Owens, 2006) Pinus contorta extends from the Mackenzie district of the Yukon in Canada, to southern Colorado in the Rocky Mountains and northern Baja (Owens, 2006) Lodge Pole pines are important because they account for about 7% of Rocky Mountain forests. Distribution map: Pinus contorta subsp. contorta Pinus contorta subsp. latifolia Pinus contorta subsp. murrayana

Lodgepole Importance Ecological Ecological Protective cover for watersheds Protective cover for watersheds Wildlife Habitat Wildlife Habitat Aesthetic value for recreation Aesthetic value for recreation Economic Importance Economic Importance Valuable source of timber products Valuable source of timber products One of the most extensively harvested trees in west. One of the most extensively harvested trees in west.

Points on Lodgepole Reproduction Reproduction Reproduction The cones are serotinous “Serotinous cones do not open at maturity, but remain closed until the resin bond between cone scales is melted.” (Knapp and Anderson, 1980) It is a fire adapted tree Lodgepole pines have fairly thin bark, which reduces their defenses against fires. Tend to outcompete each other for resources, often leaving many of them to dry up and die. These dead Lodgepoles then become a fuel source for a future fire, increasing the heat needed for reproduction.

Cones Opening the fire adapted cone Opening the fire adapted cone Temperatures ranging from 40-69º C have been reported as sufficient to open the cones. Temperatures ranging from 40-69º C have been reported as sufficient to open the cones. (104º-156ºF) (104º-156ºF) Seeds inside the cones DO NOT lose viability with age! Seeds inside the cones DO NOT lose viability with age! “Although direct sunlight can, in some circumstances, open the cones, fire normally releases the seeds to the favorable seedbeds.” ( “Although direct sunlight can, in some circumstances, open the cones, fire normally releases the seeds to the favorable seedbeds.” (Knapp and Anderson, 1980)

Methods Location: Surrounding areas of MRS Location: Surrounding areas of MRS 3.0m x 3.0m area 3.0m x 3.0m area How much shade? How much shade? Count number of Lodgepole Pines Count number of Lodgepole Pines Direction hill slope faces Direction hill slope faces South South North North East East Flat Flat Approximate tree height Approximate tree height Count number of cones on each tree Count number of cones on each tree Total number Total number Use binoculars Use binoculars

Results Avg. cones East: North: South: 49.08* Flat: *contained outlier South-face slope? What’s going on here?

Other Results Seems to be no correlation between slope-face direction and cone density… Seems to be no correlation between slope-face direction and cone density… Relationship? ”Lodgepoles are quick to occupy a site… full of sunlight” ( Owens, 2006) Does contain outlier

Discussion HYPOTHESIS FAILED? HYPOTHESIS FAILED? Why? Why? Cones only need to get to a certain temperature to release seeds. Cones only need to get to a certain temperature to release seeds. If ground is on fire, wind direction might not make a difference. If ground is on fire, wind direction might not make a difference. Remember: cones remain closed until the resin bond between cone scales is melted. (Knapp and Anderson, 1980) Remember: cones remain closed until the resin bond between cone scales is melted. (Knapp and Anderson, 1980) Relationship between shade and cones? Maybe… Relationship between shade and cones? Maybe… Future projects. Future projects.

Citations A.K. Knapp and J.E. Anderson. “Effect of Heat on Germination of Seeds from Serotinous Lodgepole Pine Cones.” American Midland Naturalist, Vol. 104, No. 2 (Oct., 1980), pp Owens, J. "The Reproductive Biology of the Lodgepole Pine." Forest Genetics Council of British Columbia. (2006): Print. Owens, J. "The Reproductive Biology of the Lodgepole Pine." Forest Genetics Council of British Columbia. (2006): Print.