The mountain pine beetle is damaging forest rangeland systems in the Rocky Mountains. Rising temperatures have caused the beetle population to increase and spread to more tree species. This has led to widespread tree mortality that decreases stocking rates and increases problems like erosion, poor water quality, and wildfire risk. The effects of mountain pine beetle damage on forest ecosystems can be mitigated through pest deterrent techniques and improved forest management practices.

1. THE EFFECTS OF THE
MOUNTAIN PINE BEETLE
ON FOREST RANGELAND
SYSTEMS
Sierra Curtis

5. Mountain Pine Beetle

6. Healthy Forests

7. Mountain Pine Beetle

8. What’s going on
• Rising Temperatures - 1986 to 2007 temperatures in
the winter’s of the Rocky Mountains have risen by
an average of 2.5° F
• Other host trees - not infesting just the mature
Lodgepole Pines but also young Lodgepoles,
Ponderosa, Jack, and Western White Pines
• Drought
• Going to effect all the users groups, ranchers and
their livestock, wildlife, recreators, loggers, etc.

9. Breakdown
•Specific Effects of the Mountain Pine Beetle
on Forest Rangeland Systems
•Ways to deter Mountain Pine Beetles
•Future of Forest Rangelands

10. Effects of the Mountain Pine Beetle

11. Effects of the Mountain Pine Beetle

12. Decreased
Stocking
Rate
Increased
Erosion
Poor
Water
Quality
Dead
Down
Snags
Warmer
Forests
Violent
Wildfires
Increased
CO2
Emissions

13. The Effects of the Mountain Pine Beetle

14. Decreased
Stocking
Rate
Increased
Erosion
Poor
Water
Quality
Dead
Down
Snags
Warmer
Forests
Violent
Wildfires
Increased
CO2
Emissions

15. Deterring the Beetle
• Spray the tree - Applied on living trees prior to bark
beetle flights
• Treat the soil - treat soil with chemicals that will be
absorbed into the roots
• Pheromone pouches - pouches that release a
pheromone that discourages beetle from entering
the trees
• Thinning - strong trees can fight the beetle, remove
the weak, sick, infested trees

16. Pheromone Pouches

17. Thinning

18. The Future of Forest Rangeland
•Use of deterrent techniques
•Decrease carbon footprint - Wildfires
•Aware forest management practices

19. Conclusion
• Negative Effect on Forest Rangeland
• Rising temperatures
• Tree Mortality- Decreased Stocking Rate
• Water quality
• Erosion
• Dead Down Snags
• Warmer Forests
• Wildfires
• CO2 Emissions
• Correct Practices
• Protect the Forests

20. Reference Page
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• Color Photo of Mountain Pine Beetle. 2009. Photograph. Http://www.beatthebeetles.com. USDA Forest Service, 2009. Web. 3 Jan. 2014.
• Commons, Flickr Creative. Forest Fire. 2010. Photograph. Tree Hugger. Web. 12 Jan. 2014. <http://www.treehugger.com/natural-sciences/nasa-satellites-
reveal-connection-between-mountain-pine-beetle-infestation-and-wild-fires-video.html>
• Forests and Rangeland. Http://www.forestsandrangelands.gov, 13 Nov. 2013. Web. 22 Dec. 2013.
• Hinz, Claudia. Cow of the Forest. 2009. Photograph. Bavaria, Germany. Animal of the Day. Web. 5 Jan. 2014.
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<csfs.colostate.edu/pdfs/preventive_spraying_mpb2.pdf>.
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2011. Web. 31 Oct. 2011. <http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/Insect/05528.html>.
• Milton, Kyle. Personal interview. 2 Jan. 2012.
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USA | Global Warming Effects. Union of Concerned Scientists, 2011. Web. 5 Jan. 2014.
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<www.beetlebusters.net/Referenced/q&a.pdf>.
• "Mountain Pine Beetle." Rocky Mountain National Parks. National Park Service, n.d. Web. 2 Jan. 2014.
• Pargiter, Jane. Mountain Pine Beetle Forest Mortality. 2007. Photograph. Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. IForests. SISEF, 2009. Web. 31 Jan.
2014.
• "Parts of a Tree Descriptions." North Carolina Forestry Association Home Page. North Carolina Forestry Association, n.d. Web. 4 Feb. 2012.
<http://www.ncforestry.org/WEBPAGES/CLASSROOM%20ACTIVITIES/Trees/PartsOfTree/parts.htm#Phloem/Inner%20Bark>.
• Pratt, Mindy , Jim Bowns, Roger Banner, and Allen Rasmussen. "Lodgepole Pine." Cooperative Extension - extension.usu.edu. Utah State
University, n.d. Web. 4 Feb. 2012. <http://extension.usu.edu/range/woody/lodgepolepine.htm>.
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National Park Service, 02 Apr. 2010. Web. 31 Oct. 2011. <http://www.nps.gov/romo/naturescience/mtn_pine_beetle_background.htm>.
• Stephens, S. "Product Use to Prevent Mountain Pine Beetle." Colorado State Forest Service. Web. 31 Oct. 2011.
<http://csfs.colostate.edu/pdfs/Web_MPB_Prev_Products_QG.pdf>.
• "Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest - Home." Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest - Home. USDA Forest Service, 2010. Web. 3 Jan. 2014.
• "Welcome to Rangelands!" USDA Forest Service Rangelands. United States Forest Service, 1 Oct. 2013. Web. 2 Jan. 2014.