Mycorrhizal fungi, mountain pine

beetle, and seedling establishment

Justine Karst, Paul Cigan, Gregory Pec, Nadir Erbilgin, Suzanne Simard*, Janice

Cooke, JC Cahill

University of Alberta *University of British Columbia

Research team

Supporting organizations: Alberta SRD

Mikro-Tek

ANC Timber Ltd

Sundre Forest Products Inc

Millar Western Forest Products Ltd

Weyerhaeuser Company Ltd

Canadian Forest Products Ltd

Collaborator: Foothills Research Institute

Funding: NSERC

AB Conservation Association

light

nutrients

neighbors

light

nutrients

light

nutrients

neighbors

deemy.de

Ectomycorrhizas

• Sensitive to soil nutrient levels

• Dependent on trees for carbon

• Responsible for seedling nutrient & water

uptake

• Critical for seedling establishment and

survival

deemy.de

Ectomycorrhizal networks

Ectomycorrhizal networks

Ectomycorrhizal networks

Ectomycorrhizal networks

Ectomycorrhizal networks

Beiler et al. 2010

nutrients

neighbors

light

nutrients

Project scope

• Surveys & experiments in the field

• Greenhouse experiments

• Next generation sequencing technology

• Focal species

– lodgepole pine

– white spruce

Field site selection

2010 red tree survey

• > 80% lodgepole pine

• ≥ 70 years old

• Mid-low elevations; ≤1470 m

• Mesic

11 sites in different stages of

attack, adjacent to PSPs

Alberta SRD

KB1 61 59 56 62A 57 63 70 62 70A 69

MPB Attack Intensity & Stage

0

10

2

0

30

4

0

50

6

0

70

To

tal P. co

nto

rta b

asal are

a (

m2/h

a)

2011 Survey Data – Cigan et al.

To

tal P. conto

rta b

asal are

a (

m2/h

a)

MPB attack intensity & stage

KB1 61 59 56 62A 57 63 70 62 70A 69

MPB Attack Intensity & Stage

0

10

2

0

30

4

0

50

6

0

70

To

tal P. co

nto

rta b

asal are

a (

m2/h

a)

2011 Survey Data – Cigan et al.

To

tal P. conto

rta b

asal are

a (

m2/h

a)

Non-attacked

0-10 m2/ha

Green-

attacked 15-20 m2/ha

Red-attacked 25-55 m2/ha

Forest mortality