Ruth continues with the series on UBC research:

Dr. Sally Aitken is a member of the UBC Faculty of Forestry. She heads many research initiatives through the Centre for Forest Conservation Genetics.

Sally writes: "Whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis) is a keystone species of many high-elevation environments in British Columbia and the western United States. The wingless seeds of this pine are dispersed by the Clark's nutcracker (Nucifraga columbiana), and these seeds are also a key pre-hibernation food for grizzly bears in some regions. Populations of this five-needled pine are being decimated by a combination of the introduced fungus, Cronartium ribicola, which causes the disease whitebark pine blister rust, as well as the current epidemic of the mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae). Rapid climate change presents yet another threat to this species."

"At the Centre for Forest Conservation Genetics in Forest Sciences at UBC, we are evaluating levels of genetic diversity and developing models to predict the distribution of habitat for this species under various climate change scenarios. PhD candidate Sierra Curtis-McLane is testing these predictions by planting seeds in subalpine habitats within the current species range and in model-predicted areas north of the range. She is also growing seedlings in controlled growth chamber experiments under different temperature and drought regimes. We hope the results will assist in restoration efforts for this ecologically important species."