Does the differential gene flow of lodgepole pine into the hybrids represents the movement of beneficial genes across species boundaries (Martinsen et al. 1985), or is this simply owing to the differences in tree distribution and density?
While the suitability of jack pine as a major host for MPB and the ability of these trees to survive during outbreak of MPB are unknown, host range expansion of MPB from lodgepole pine into jack pine forests has heightened the risk of increased environmental impact of the MPB epidemic.
On Aug. 6, 2012, the weather in Lassen Volcanic National Park changed: the wind turned around and picked up significantly, blowing the fire across the road and into the lodgepole pines.
A striking illustration is the devastating expansion of mountain pine beetle into mature lodgepole pine forests over much of the interior of British Columbia (Logan and Bentz 1999).
Then came the resort: dozens of log cabins and cedar chalets of various sizes and ages tucked into stands of lodgepole pines, a golf shop that doubles as a ski shop in winter, and, at the end of the road, the main lodge looming over exquisite Lac Beauvert.
Lodgepole pine occurs throughout British Columbia, south into the United States following the Rocky Mountains and into western and central Alberta, and is found at a wide range of elevations (Carlson et al. 2002).
Every window looks out into a forest of lodgepole pines, aspen and spruce.
The mountain pine beetle, a native insect that burrows into and kills primarily lodgepole, ponderosa, Scotch and limber pines, has damaged about 3.4 million acres, the Colorado State Forest Service said in its annual report released Wednesday.
For example, lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) populations transferred south 5 10o latitude into a common garden experiment produced less than half as many male and female strobili, on average, as populations originating from more southerly environments (Hannerz et al. 2001).
From this, there could be an increased risk of spread with increasing distance from lodgepole pine, not taking other factors such as climate suitability into account.
