Series: Whitebark Pine Monitoring in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem

Whitebark pine trees are vital to the health of subalpine environments throughout the western US. Their persistence is threatened, however, by a convergence of stressors, including infection by white pine blister rust, mountain pine beetle attack, and more. This article series describes why and how the Greater Yellowstone Network monitors whitebark pine throughout the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and what they are finding. Data summary articles in this series are updated each year.

• Article 1: Interagency Whitebark Pine Monitoring Program in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem - Overview

  

  Changes to whitebark pine forests in the western US over the past several decades have led to a multiagency collaboration to track their health in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. This Interagency Whitebark Pine Monitoring Program has several objectives, including documenting stressors, mortality, and regeneration. Read more

• Article 2: White Pine Blister Rust Infection in Whitebark Pine in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem – Data Summary of Monitoring in 2023

  

  White pine blister rust has caused widespread damage to whitebark pine in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. NPS scientists track its spread and severity as part of a multiagency long-term monitoring program for whitebark pine. This article summarizes data collected about white pine blister rust in whitebark pine during the 2023 field season by Greater Yellowstone Network field crews. Read more

• Article 3: Whitebark Pine Mortality in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem – Data Summary of Monitoring in 2023

  

  Several stressors are lethal to whitebark pine, a declining keystone species of the western US. NPS scientists track these stressors, including mountain pine beetle attack, white pine blister rust infection, and fire to track mortality of whitebark pine in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. This article summarizes mortality related data collected for whitebark pine during the 2023 field season by Greater Yellowstone Network field crews. Read more

• Article 4: Whitebark Pine Recruitment in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem – Data Summary of Monitoring in 2023

  

  The persistence of whitebark pine forests in the face of current stressors is influenced by the recruitment of seedlings into the mature, reproducing population. NPS scientists document young trees as well as cone-bearing mature trees in plots throughout the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. This article summarizes recruitment data collected for whitebark pine during the 2023 field season by Greater Yellowstone Network field crews. Read more

• Article 5: Methods for the Interagency Whitebark Pine Monitoring Program in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem

  

  The Interagency Whitebark Pine Monitoring Program in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem follows a published protocol to track whitebark pine conditions. This article provides a detailed description of the methods used to document white pine blister rust spread and severity, mortality, and recruitment into the reproducing population of whitebark pine forests. Read more

• Article 6: Whitebark Pine Conservation in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem

  

  Whitebark pine conservation in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem has been a collaborative effort spanning multiple jurisdictions and involving public and private entities. Learn about current and past planning for whitebark pine conservation, as well as how these efforts are connected to whitebark pine conservation outside the region. Read more