Whistler`s Old Trees (cont.)
Transcription
Whistler`s Old Trees (cont.)
Whistler’s Old Trees (cont.) 2003 -2004 2012 Why not use existing age data? • Different goals (timber supply) • Different methods • Cut off at 250 years Historic Age Class Distribution ? Current Age Class Distribution Tony Moser 1. Fire 2. Floods 3. Insects and Pathogens 4. Human Impacts 5. Infrequent and small-scale disturbances Goals 1. Catalogue tree ages before the rings are lost. 2. Explore the stand ages and frequency of disturbances. 3. Help identify conservation priorities and apply them within the RMOW and CCF. Methods - Coring Coring Ring Counting Results, circa 2012 Size (diameter in centimeters 250 200 150 c 100 ~210 years-old 50 0 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 Age (years) 1. Big trees aren’t always old. 2. Small trees aren’t always young. >1,200 years-old Disturbances (Fires +?) 14 12 Number of Sites 10 1650-1700 8 6 Callaghan/Soo/Ancient Cedars 4 2 0 <999 1000- 12501249 1299 1300- 1350- 1400- 1500- 1550- 1575- 1600- 1625- 1650- 1675- 1700- 17501349 1399 1449 1549 1574 1599 1624 1649 1674 1699 1724 1774 Year 1775- 18001799 1824 1825- 1850- 18751849 1874 1899 19001924 Lost Lake Evidence of four fires: ~720, 470, 300, and 210 years ago. Decker Burn Douglas-fir Forests = Fire Train Wreck: 340 years Nita Lake: 600 yrs Cut Yer Bars: 315 years Alpha Lake Park: 300 yrs More Old Douglas-firs Suicide Hill: ~510 yrs 19-Mile Creek: ~670 yrs Cheakamus Trail: ~500 yrs Evidence of Floods Valleybottom Spruce = Floods? Edgewater: <1770 Spruce Grove: <1855 Fitzsimmons: <1770 Evidence of Insects & Pathogens Mountain Pine Beetle White Pine Blister Rust Evidence of Human Impacts • chart of age vs. size Unlogged Logged >1913 Human Impacts Rainbow Park Pines • Oldest tree dates to ~1913 5. Infrequent and small-scale disturbances Total Age ≈ 1,288 years (1,152 ‐ 1,673) How ancient are the Ancient Cedars? - 36 cores - Likely age 800 to 1,000+ years - Partial burn ~750 years ago? High-Elevation Yellow-cedars = Old Rainbow Trail: >800 years Hwy 86 (Lower VDs): >800 yrs Side Order: >1,200 years Low-Elevation Yellow-Cedars, too • >550 years • possibly >1,000 years Old Trees in the Callaghan “The oldest documented living tree in Whistler” Whistler Question, Oct.11, 2012 - Incomplete core from Hanging Creek - 1,017 rings - Total age ≈ 1,135 years (1,090-1,236) “True” (Multi-generational) Old-Growth Whistler Mountain Callaghan Valley Mid Cheakamus Lake Trail Ancient Cedars Rainbow Trail Historic Age Class Mapping Suggestions based on results… Current Age Class Mapping More Accurate Mapping of Historic Age Classes Tony Moser 1. Extend age class mapping Historic Data Current Data Extended Age Classes Tony Moser 2. Map at a more local scale, e.g., add mid-elevation to low- and high-elevation 3. Stratify by disturbance regime 4. Use forest management to help re-create old forests sooner. 5. Conserve Whistler’s remaining Old Forests Thanks Dr. Lori Daniels, UBC Tree Ring Lab Murray Dee Coring Volunteers: Murray Dee, Don Brett, Melanie Tardif, Adrien Baudouin, Claire Ruddy, Kristina Swerhun Paul Duncan In-Kind: Arthur deJong Claire Ruddy & Melanie Tardif Site Suggestions: Bryce Leigh, Paul Beswetherick, John Hammons, Arthur deJong, Brad Sills, Brad Kasselman, Eckhard Zeidler, and lots of others. Adrien Baudouin