Research BranchResearch Branch

Forest Health ResearchForest Health ResearchJanuary 30, 2008January 30, 2008

Gerry StillGerry Still

(presentation prepared by Jennifer Burleigh)(presentation prepared by Jennifer Burleigh)

Presentation Objectives

• Overview of research Branch-related forest health activities

• Update on status of activities re: MPB stewardship research strategy

Seed & Cone PestsSeed & Cone Pests

Continued development of the Cone & Seed Continued development of the Cone & Seed Pest research program, with an office and Pest research program, with an office and lab at the Kalamalka Research Station. lab at the Kalamalka Research Station.

Established a host-finding study for the western conifer Established a host-finding study for the western conifer seedbug, in partnership with SFU. This project has seedbug, in partnership with SFU. This project has strong management implications for the monitoring strong management implications for the monitoring and control of this insect. A major breakthrough in and control of this insect. A major breakthrough in 2007 was the discovery that 2007 was the discovery that LeptoglossusLeptoglossus finds finds cones by detecting the infra-red radiation they emit. cones by detecting the infra-red radiation they emit. (Ward Strong, Dr Gries, SFU)(Ward Strong, Dr Gries, SFU)

Seed & Cone PestsSeed & Cone Pests

Completed a life history and pheromone Completed a life history and pheromone characterization study of the Douglas-fir characterization study of the Douglas-fir coneworm, with the University of California coneworm, with the University of California and the CFS. A description of phenological trends and the CFS. A description of phenological trends across BC contributed to the development of across BC contributed to the development of effective pheromone trapping protocols (Ward effective pheromone trapping protocols (Ward Strong).Strong).

Continued systemic pesticide trials to test sprayable Continued systemic pesticide trials to test sprayable and injectable formulations at both interior and and injectable formulations at both interior and coastal British Columbia orchards (Ward Strong).coastal British Columbia orchards (Ward Strong).

GeneticsGenetics

The supply of weevil resistant Sitka spruce The supply of weevil resistant Sitka spruce seed for the coast continues to increase, seed for the coast continues to increase, and for interior spruce, weevil tolerant and for interior spruce, weevil tolerant seed is plentiful (John King).seed is plentiful (John King).– Working on technical report summarizing workWorking on technical report summarizing work

Recently completed selections for a western gall rust Recently completed selections for a western gall rust resistance seed orchard for the Prince George low resistance seed orchard for the Prince George low elevation Seed Planning Unit (Mike Carlson).elevation Seed Planning Unit (Mike Carlson).

White pine blister rust resistance material is increasing White pine blister rust resistance material is increasing in availability, and should see wider use soon (John in availability, and should see wider use soon (John King).King).

GeneticsGeneticsMPB resistance research is continuing; MPB resistance research is continuing;

current studies are looking at the physical current studies are looking at the physical features of bark and it’s chemical features of bark and it’s chemical composition of genotypes that are avoided composition of genotypes that are avoided by MPB within seed orchards. by MPB within seed orchards. (Alvin Yanchuk)(Alvin Yanchuk)

Two small research projects in root rot resistance Two small research projects in root rot resistance continue in conjunction with the CFS. Phellinus on continue in conjunction with the CFS. Phellinus on the coast (Michael Stoer) and Armillaria in the interior the coast (Michael Stoer) and Armillaria in the interior (Barry Jaquish).(Barry Jaquish).

Developing markers to select for deer and heartwood Developing markers to select for deer and heartwood rot-resistant individual from the Western Red Cedar rot-resistant individual from the Western Red Cedar breeding programs. (FIA - Jim Mattsson, SFU, with breeding programs. (FIA - Jim Mattsson, SFU, with John Russell) John Russell)

Growth and YieldGrowth and Yield

Incorporating the effects of windthrow Incorporating the effects of windthrow after variable retention harvesting into TASS and after variable retention harvesting into TASS and TIPSY (Mario Di LuccaTIPSY (Mario Di Lucca))

Development of residual trees and regeneration Development of residual trees and regeneration following MPB attack in thinned lodgepole pine following MPB attack in thinned lodgepole pine standsstands - stand recovery after mountain pine beetle - stand recovery after mountain pine beetle attack; rates of natural regeneration by species and attack; rates of natural regeneration by species and quality (FIA - Rob Brockley).quality (FIA - Rob Brockley).

SilvicultureSilviculture

Effects of different post-thinning Effects of different post-thinning densities on the susceptibility of lodgepole pine to densities on the susceptibility of lodgepole pine to attack by the mountain pine beetle (Rob Brockley).attack by the mountain pine beetle (Rob Brockley).

Effects of different fertilizer regimes on the Effects of different fertilizer regimes on the susceptibility of young lodgepole pine to attack by susceptibility of young lodgepole pine to attack by the mountain pine beetle (Rob Brockley).the mountain pine beetle (Rob Brockley).

To determine if MPB killed pines are less effective To determine if MPB killed pines are less effective repositories of Armillaria inoculum.repositories of Armillaria inoculum. A new trial will be A new trial will be established in cooperation with BCTS to assess established in cooperation with BCTS to assess Armillaria caused mortality in the vicinity of stumps Armillaria caused mortality in the vicinity of stumps of MPB killed trees versus trees killed by logging. of MPB killed trees versus trees killed by logging. (Bill Chapman)(Bill Chapman)

SilvicultureSilviculture

Recently completed projects:Recently completed projects:

Relationship between boron deficiency and Relationship between boron deficiency and top-dieback in lodgepole pine (Rob Brockley).top-dieback in lodgepole pine (Rob Brockley).

Interactions between fertilization and white pine weevil Interactions between fertilization and white pine weevil attack in young interior spruce plantations (Rob attack in young interior spruce plantations (Rob Brockley).Brockley).

Effects of thinning and fertilization on feeding damage Effects of thinning and fertilization on feeding damage by red squirrels in lodgepole pine stands (Rob by red squirrels in lodgepole pine stands (Rob Brockley).Brockley).

Climate ChangeClimate Change

Linking Linking Dothistroma Dothistroma outbreaks to outbreaks to climate variability through establishment of regional climate variability through establishment of regional paleoclimate baseline: Skeena Stikine Climate paleoclimate baseline: Skeena Stikine Climate Network. (FIA, Bulkley Valley RC (Rick Budhwa, Network. (FIA, Bulkley Valley RC (Rick Budhwa, FIA).FIA).

Another project will develop standard climate spatial Another project will develop standard climate spatial databases and climate change projection databases and climate change projection databases, and use them to predict the impacts of databases, and use them to predict the impacts of climate change on forest pests, using the western climate change on forest pests, using the western spruce budworm and spruce bark beetle as test spruce budworm and spruce bark beetle as test cases. (FIA, Harry Swain – UVIC/Pacific Climate cases. (FIA, Harry Swain – UVIC/Pacific Climate Impacts Consortium & CFS)Impacts Consortium & CFS)

White Bark PineWhite Bark Pine

Assessing the threat of MPB outbreaks Assessing the threat of MPB outbreaks to whitebark pine. A three-day workshop was held in to whitebark pine. A three-day workshop was held in Whistler to discuss research efforts in whitebark Whistler to discuss research efforts in whitebark pine genetics, ecology and developments in pine genetics, ecology and developments in restoration activities. (Elizabeth Campbell)restoration activities. (Elizabeth Campbell)

Field testing the climate change range-shift predictions Field testing the climate change range-shift predictions for whitebark pinefor whitebark pine . . Seeds from 7 populations are Seeds from 7 populations are being planted in 18 common gardens, distributed being planted in 18 common gardens, distributed within the current range, areas that are predicted to within the current range, areas that are predicted to have climates suitable under future climate have climates suitable under future climate scenarios, and areas outside the current & predicted scenarios, and areas outside the current & predicted range of the species. (Sally Aiken – UBC)range of the species. (Sally Aiken – UBC)

MPB Research StrategyMPB Research Strategy

HydrologyHydrology

Currently undertaking a review of research Currently undertaking a review of research undertaken since 2006 in support of strategyundertaken since 2006 in support of strategy

43+ projects initiated since 2006 that related to any 43+ projects initiated since 2006 that related to any one of a number of high priority hydrology one of a number of high priority hydrology knowledge gapsknowledge gaps Goal of the review is to identify where research has Goal of the review is to identify where research has addressed high priority gaps and where additional addressed high priority gaps and where additional works still needs to be done.works still needs to be done.

Results will help focus future spending prioritiesResults will help focus future spending priorities

MPB Research StrategyMPB Research StrategySilvicultureSilviculture

Will be undertaking a review of research undertaken Will be undertaking a review of research undertaken since 2006 in support of thr research strategy.since 2006 in support of thr research strategy.

Bulk of work to date has focused on identifying and Bulk of work to date has focused on identifying and quantifying secondary structure across the outbreak quantifying secondary structure across the outbreak area.area.

Extending secondary structure analysis to Quesnel, Extending secondary structure analysis to Quesnel, Williams Lake and 100 Mile TSAs (Fed MPB, Coates Williams Lake and 100 Mile TSAs (Fed MPB, Coates et al.)et al.)

Development of Complex Stands Working Group Development of Complex Stands Working Group through FAIB to coordinate various aspects of through FAIB to coordinate various aspects of secondary structure work (Graham Hawkins).secondary structure work (Graham Hawkins).

Flathead Valley - MBP outbreak 1978-1980Flathead Valley - MBP outbreak 1978-1980– Current stand compositionCurrent stand composition– Current stand volumesCurrent stand volumes– Growth release of existing stemsGrowth release of existing stems– Regeneration delayRegeneration delay (FIA - Dave Coates)(FIA - Dave Coates)

Secondary Structure ProjectSecondary Structure Project

MPB Research StrategyMPB Research Strategy

SilvicultureSilviculture

Current project is under taking modelling of MPB Current project is under taking modelling of MPB affected stands using SORTIE to:affected stands using SORTIE to:

• ““grow” existing secondary structure to grow” existing secondary structure to produce future forest scenarios,produce future forest scenarios,

• adapt model to better track wildlife adapt model to better track wildlife attributesattributes (CWD, snags, crown closure) to (CWD, snags, crown closure) to feed into habitat supply modelsfeed into habitat supply models

(Don Morgan)(Don Morgan)

MPB Research StrategyMPB Research Strategy

Wildlife, ecology, range and biodiversityWildlife, ecology, range and biodiversity

Several projects examining effectiveness of WTPs Several projects examining effectiveness of WTPs and reserves in meeting biodiversity and habitat and reserves in meeting biodiversity and habitat requirementsrequirements

Greater coordination with MOE to integrate projects Greater coordination with MOE to integrate projects of mutual interest. Example:of mutual interest. Example:

Collaborating with MOE and NCC to develop Collaborating with MOE and NCC to develop habitat supply models for 13 wildlife specieshabitat supply models for 13 wildlife specieswithin the MPB outbreak area (Don Morgan).within the MPB outbreak area (Don Morgan).

MPB Research StrategyMPB Research Strategy

SoilsSoilsRefining a model that predicts loss of summer Refining a model that predicts loss of summer operating groundsoperating grounds based on soil conditions based on soil conditions (Stephane Dube).(Stephane Dube).

Entomology (high priorities wihtin MPB Entomology (high priorities wihtin MPB stewardship strategy)stewardship strategy)Much of the work spearheaded by Lorraine and Much of the work spearheaded by Lorraine and

colleagues (young stands) along with colleagues (young stands) along with researchers at UNBC (dispersal and genetics) researchers at UNBC (dispersal and genetics) and the CFS (jack pine and climate change).and the CFS (jack pine and climate change).

Summary

• Seed/cone pests• Genetics• Growth and Yield• Silviculture• Climate change• MPB Stewardship Research Strategy

– Hydrology– Silviculture– Wildlife/biodiversity– Soils