Disturbance Interactions: Mountain Pine Beetle & Blister Rust in Whitebark Pine

Abstract

Whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis Englem.) is a keystone species of many high elevation ecosystems in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE) and directly influence watershed quality by regulating snow accumulation and retention, facilitating regeneration after a disturbance, and stabilizing soil and rock on steep, harsh sites.