Rocky Mountain CESU Grant: Investigating Mountain Pine Beetle Impacts on Ponderosa Pine Ecosystems

Although ponderosa pine is widely distributed in the eastern Front Range, a few isolated stands also exist on the west slope which may be particularly vulnerable to local extinction as they experience the combined effects of MPB, warming climate trends, and other disturbances. Little evidence exists from previous studies or experience to predict the probable impacts of MPB on ponderosa ecosystems, or to inform development of effective management and resource conservation strategies in light of projected climate change. For agencies such as the National Park Service, identification of the past disturbance history and probable future threats to isolated and/or rare populations of species on their lands is critical when planning ecosystem conservation or restoration actions.

Research objectives
The CESU recipient will conduct research that complements ongoing investigations of potential MPB impacts in the eastern Front Range by investigating the following questions:

a) What is the current status and regeneration potential of rare ponderosa pine stands on the west slope of the Continental Divide, e.g. in Rocky Mountain National Park?

b) Which disturbance events and/or trends appear to have affected the past population dynamics of west-slope ponderosa pine stands?

c) How could current or future disturbance events (MPB-caused mortality; warming climate trends, etc) increase the vulnerability of these populations to local extinction?

d) What are the implications of these findings for future ecosystem management options of these stands by Rocky Mountain National Park (and/or other resource managers)?