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Keywords

dendrochronolgy, whitebark pine, Great Basin bristlecone pine, interspecific interactions

Abstract

High-elevation five-needled pines are keystone species in mountain ecosystems, where they provide critical wildlife habitat, stabilize soils, and retain snowpack that prolongs streamflow downstream. As temperatures rise in response to climate change, these long-lived conifers face increasing pressures from wildfire, disease, and bark beetles. Understanding their interspecific interactions has become essential for conservation and effective forest management by determining if pine species compete with each other or facilitate each others growth and survival. The Ruby Mountains of northeastern Nevada represent the only known location where Great Basin bristlecone pine (Pinus longaeva) cooccur with whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis). Despite the ecological significance of these long-lived, high-elevation conifers, their potential interactions have never been studied. Findings from this study will provide critical insight for understanding conditions of coexistence and competition, directly informing conservation and restoration strategies for both species as they face accelerating climate and disturbance pressures.

Document Type

Poster

Publication Date

2026-03-26

Language

English

College

Life Sciences

Department

Plant and Wildlife Sciences

University Standing at Time of Publication

Senior

Interspecific Dynamics of Whitebark and Great Basin Bristlecone Pines in Nevada’s Ruby Mountains

Included in

Life Sciences Commons

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