Whitebark Pine in Region 6 Background, Status, & Restoration Andy Bower Area Geneticist – western Washington Olympic NF Regional Silviculture Meeting Bend, OR November 16, 2010

WBP Distribution

Whitebark Pine 101 Only north American stone pine – Cones that do not open when ripe – Wingless seed Seed dispersed by Nutcrackers Caches of multiple seed results in clumpy growth structure Proposed for ESA listing – in 12 month review

Clarks Nutcracker

Clumpy growth structure

Threats Mountain Pine Beetle White Pine Blister Rust Successional replacement Climate change

Region 6 WBP Restoration Strategy

Key Actions Prescribed Collect seed for gene conservation and rust resistance screening Assess stand conditions in priority management units Develop plans for planting seedlings in priority management units Continue a rust screening program with emphasis on seed zones in grizzly bear areas Treat for mountain pine beetle in high risk management units Develop an approach for planting seedlings in designated wilderness areas

Region 6 ex situ gene conservation plan 20 collection areas Minimum of 25 trees per collection area Min. 30 cones per tree – 800 seed for ex situ gene conservation 500 to ARS NCGP in Ft. Collins, CO 300 held in storage at Dorena GRC

Collection Area Seed Zone Conservation Areas # Seedlots >700 seed available pre-2009 Goal met? # Seedlots collected 2009 # Seedlots >700 seed available Goal met? # Seedlots collected 2010 Goal met? Olympic mtns NO010NO19YES Okanagan NF2E202, 203, 204, 2050NO1613NO26YES Wenatchee NF2W206, 20712NO012NO27YES Wenatchee NF2W2081NO01 24YES Bonaparte mtn.33010NO19 NO0 Kettle Crest33021NO1718NO0 Selkirk mtns.33030NO00 6 Mt. Rainier-Mt. Adams4401, 402, 404, 40524NO024ALMOST4YES Mt. Hood550118NO725YES9 Central OR Cascades5502, 503, 50425YES2649YES8 Newberry Crater55054NO26 YES9 Wallowa mtns.66010NO2521ALMOST NO Umatilla NF6602, 60349YES551YES Malheur NF66047NO2827YES Central OR Cascades77010NO2316NO** NO Southern OR Cascades77037NO2019NO22YES Mt. Ashland7704 * Yamsay Mtn.88010NO119NO~12YES Fremont NF88020NO19 NO~25YES Warner mtns.88030NO2421ALMOST0NO Gene Conservation Cone Collections

Target Met? Yes Almost No WBP Range Cone collection site

Accomplishments – seedlots from over 50 locations for gene conservation 62 permanent monitoring plots at >25 different locations ~100 site surveys Verbenone treatments on Fre-Win Seed planting trials on Mt. Bachelor & Mt. Hood

WBP Planting Projects 2009: Opportunistic planting projects on Fre- Win, Des, and GP 12,000 seedlings on 37 acres on Mt. Hood NF 2010: 50 accessions added to DES preservation arboretum 2011: ~3000 seedlings on 5 ac. On Black Butte Long term rust validation planting on Davis Mtn. and 2 nd replicate 2012: – seedling from resistant families being grown for outplanting on DES

Permanent Plots 181 plots on Malheur NF installed mostly in 2004 some in plots on WAW NF – 100 in Eagle Cap, 100 in Elkhorns 78 plots on DES, WIL, MAL, COL, OKA-WEN in plots in 2009 in OR and WA 3 on Mt. Hood plus elsewhere?

Permanent Plot Data – K. Chadwick and C. Jensen Blister rust infection, regeneration, WBP stand density and mortality are highly variable especially in Oregon Density – Avg: 350 wbp/acre (0-1442) Mortality (WPBR & MPB) – 19% (0-77%) WPBR – Avg: Cent OR: 25% (0-86) Malheur: 55% (35-71%) Oka-Wen: 56% (33-71%)

Perm. Plot Results Advanced regeneration was through out all plots, leaving us hopeful in the face of MBP We have two non-natives changing these stands, Balsam Woolly Adelgid in subalpine fir and Whitepine blister rust. Database to house region 6 data, across all land ownerships is currently being developed. Now have regional protocol for installation and damage codes

Genetic Diversity Testing Molecular Markers 4 marker types 88 populations Seedling Traits 92 Families 50 locations

Population Structure Isozymes – – 2 populationgroups cpDNA – – 3 populationgroups

Date of needle flush

Conclusions: Molecular markers Average levels of genetic diversity overall Genetic diversity lower in Olympic populations Olympic populations genetically differentiated from main range Limited genetic structure in non-Olympic populations

Conclusions: Quantitative traits Significant genetic variation among and within populations Olympic populations not differentiated based on quantitative traits Local adaptation driven by winter temperature Population differentiation greater thanselectively neutral molecular markers

Conclusions Info from molecular markers and quantitative traits is complimentary but incomplete independently Olympic populations need special attention Seed should not be moved into/out of Olympics Seed can be moved within N. Cascades and SW Washington/Oregon, but probably not into/out of NE Washington and E. Oregon