Monterey Pine Forest Ecology Cooperative

Research projects

Namandjé Bumpus, Dept. of Biology, Occidental College, Los Angeles CA

Advisor Gretchen North, Dept. of Biology, Occidental College, Los Angeles CA

“The effect of pH on seedling establishment in Monterey pine”

This study examined the relationship between a range of (relatively high) soil pH values and seed germination and early root growth in Monterey pine. Previous studies with other pine species had shown some relationship between substrate pH and seed germination. Soil pH is related to fire activity as ash deposits affect pH level. Soil pH was measured at sites in each of the three native populations of Monterey pine, in areas where there had not been a recent fire. The values were 7.3, 7.6, and 7.2 for Año Nuevo, Monterey, and Cambria, respectively (i.e., slightly basic). Seeds from each of the three native populations were set up in germination conditions that varied in pH (i.e., pH = 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and control). Because of problems with fungus (despite a bleach treatment), many of the seeds in the treatment dishes did not germinate, although there was 100% germination in the control dishes. Thus, results for the germination part of the experiment are inconclusive. In a separate experiment, seedlings from each population were grown under solutions of different pH (i.e., pH = 4, 7, 8, and control). There was no significant relationship between the pH level and the dry weights of roots and shoots in seedlings after three weeks of growth. In a third experiment, the number of brown needles per seedling were counted as a measure of seedling health. The seedlings in treatments of pH 7 and 8 had significantly more brown needles than those for the control or pH of 4.

For further information, contact Namandjé Bumpus.

Daniel Rubinoff, Dept. of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, University of California, Berkeley

“The systematics and conservation status of Syndemis (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) populations on endemic Monterey pine (Pinus radiata) in California”

Syndemis is a moth genus that apparently has only one species in North America: Syndemis afflictana. It has a widespread distribution, and in California it occurs in the northern mountains and along the western slope of the Sierra Nevada, apparently in association with fir species. It also has two other and disjunct California populations: one in association with coast redwood along coastal California, and one in association with Monterey pine along the central coast. Prior to this study, it was only known in the Cambria and Monterey areas, but this research confirmed its presence in the Año Nuevo population of Monterey pine as well. The moths that are associated with Monterey pine are the only populations of this species in which the adults fly throughout the warm months (i.e., most populations have a single early spring flight).

In this study, molecular data confirmed that the coast redwood and Monterey pine populations of the Syndemis moth are genetically distinct not only from the eastern California populations, but from each other. Further research is necessary to determine if the Monterey pine and coast redwood populations of this moth are closely related (i.e., the result of one colonization event) or not. There is also evidence of genetic differences among the moth populations at the three native Monterey pine populations. From a conservation perspective, these moth populations should be considered as independent units and should not be mixed. Both the Año Nuevo and Cambria moth populations appear to be robust, given the presence of large numbers of individuals during the survey, but the status is less clear for the Monterey area population. This study provides some of the first evidence for a pattern of insect endemism in the Monterey pine ecosystem.

For further information, contact Dan Rubinoff.

William Satterthwaite, Dept. of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz

In collaboration with Don Canestro, Kenneth S. Norris Rancho Marino Natural Reserve, University of California, Cambria, CA

Advisor Ingrid Parker, Dept. of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz
Collaborator Claudia Tyler, University of California, Santa Barbara

“Long-term demographic monitoring of Pinus radiata in Cambria, CA”

Monterey pine forests cover approximately 3500 acres (approximately 1400 ha) in and around Cambria. Development related to an increasing human population in the area has reduced both the extent and health of native Monterey pine forests. Despite its limited natural range and all the threats to native Monterey pine forests, little is known about the demography of native populations of this species. The size structure of forests, regeneration (recruitment), growth and mortality rates and how they vary over time are essential for understanding the dynamics of these populations. The site for this study includes approximately 126 acres managed by the University of California’s Kenneth S. Norris Rancho Marino Reserve, bordering Cambria to the south. During this project, a long-term monitoring program was established in the Reserve, including 12 permanent 90m-long, 20m-wide belt transects in the closed forest and 16 ha of grassland plots potentially being colonized by pine recruits (currently including over 1,150 young trees). Data are being collected to parameterize demographic models of these populations as well as to track the incidence of pitch canker at the Reserve. These models will allow us to assess whether Monterey pine populations at the Kenneth S. Norris Rancho Marino Reserve are increasing or decreasing, and whether this trend varies among stands. We can also perform sensitivity analyses to determine which life stages in Monterey pine are prime targets for management. We will be able to compare mortality rates in trees of all sizes with and without pitch canker, and because all trees are mapped we can parameterize models of pathogen spread by tracking infected trees through the years. Taken together, these analyses will provide important guidance to management priorities for Monterey pine conservation.

For further information, contact William Satterthwaite or Don Canestro.

Jianwu Tang, Dept. of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, University of California, Berkeley

Advisor Ye Qi, Dept. of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, University of California, Berkeley

“A preliminary study on soil and stem respiration in a native Monterey pine stand in California”

Forest ecosystem respiration—which includes leaf, branch, stem, and soil respiration—is an important component of global carbon cycling. Soil respiration is the largest single contributor among these four sources to the total carbon budget in temperate pine ecosystems. Unlike leaf respiration, soil and stem respiration can be studied independently from photosynthesis. The purpose of this study was to measure soil and stem respiration and model respiration with temperature in a native population of Monterey pine. Measurements were made over a two-month period during spring 2002, in the Año Nuevo population of Monterey pine, at the Rancho del Oso Nature and History Center located in the Big Basin Redwoods State Park, California.

The relationship between temperature and processes such as respiration are commonly represented by the quotient ‘Q10’. This value can be thought of as a measure of temperature sensitivity for the species under study, or as an indicator for increasing rate of respiration when temperature is increased by 10ºC. In this study, the variations of soil temperature and sapwood temperature were much less than that of air temperature. Soil temperature has a strong correlation with stem temperature. Soil respiration was derived from soil temperature at a 10-cm depth by an exponential function with a Q10 value of 3.08. The accumulated soil respiration during the monitoring period was 13.67 mol per m² with an average of 0.228 mol per m² per day. Stem respiration was also modeled with sapwood temperature by an exponential function with a Q10 value of 3.22.

Although there has been considerable research on respiration in Monterey pine plantations in the southern hemisphere, this study provides novel and important insight into respiration in a native Monterey pine forest ecosystem. Further studies of respiration across all seasons and of photosynthesis are important. Combining studies on photosynthesis and respiration, we may investigate the impact of global warming and climate change on the carbon cycle of Monterey pine forest and on the physiology and phenology of Monterey pines. Such studies also help to determine the vulnerability—or conversely, resilience—of native Monterey pines to climatic changes.

For further information, contact Jianwu Tang.

This page last updated October 11, 2002.
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