Whitebark Pine

A five-needle pine species able to survive the climatic conditions of the subalpine ecosystem, whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis) is an endangered species (British Columbia “blue listed”, BC CDC, 2015) that occurs in mountainous regions of British Columbia. It is a keystone species that allows the establishment of diverse plant communities through its role in moderating soil and snow conditions. It provides an important food source to wildlife through its seeds. The nutritional value of the seeds is higher than that of other conifer species and they are favoured by red squirrels (Tamaisciurus hudsonicus) grizzly bears (Ursus arctos), black bears (Ursus americanus) and importantly, the Clark’s nutcracker (Nucifraga columbiana). The whitebark pine and Clark’s nutcracker have a mutualistic relationship, where the nutcracker favors the seeds of the whitebark pine, that relies exclusively on the nutcracker for the dispersal of the seeds. The nutcracker caches the seeds for fall and winter food supply, providing some of the seeds with an opportunity to germinate.

Issues:

• White Pine Blister Rust is affecting the health of whitebark pine across most of its range and causing rapid decline of populations
• Mountain Pine Beetle can infest whitebark pine and has previously attacked those in the Chilcotin. Older trees and those that have previously been infected with blister rust are more susceptible
• Fire suppression allows shade-tolerant trees to compete with whitebark pine for habitat
• Climate change is expected to play an increasingly important role for future whitebark pine populations, which could result in shifts in suitable habitat locations

Goals:

• Blister rust screening
• Seed collection
• Seed propagation and planting to aid whitebark regeneration
• Monitoring health of whitebark stands