Sensitivity of berry productivity to climatic variation in the Cabinet–Yaak grizzly bear recovery zone, Northwest United States, 1989–2010

Abstract Berry‐producing shrubs are culturally, economically, and ecologically important for both people and animals in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. We examined huckleberry (Vaccinium membranaceum) and serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia) productivity across the Cabinet–Yaak grizzly b...

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Main Authors: Zachary A. Holden, Wayne F. Kasworm, Christopher Servheen, Beth Hahn, Solomon Dobrowski
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2012-06-01
Series:Wildlife Society Bulletin
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.128
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author Zachary A. Holden
Wayne F. Kasworm
Christopher Servheen
Beth Hahn
Solomon Dobrowski
author_facet Zachary A. Holden
Wayne F. Kasworm
Christopher Servheen
Beth Hahn
Solomon Dobrowski
author_sort Zachary A. Holden
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Berry‐producing shrubs are culturally, economically, and ecologically important for both people and animals in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. We examined huckleberry (Vaccinium membranaceum) and serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia) productivity across the Cabinet–Yaak grizzly bear recovery zone in Northern Idaho and Western Montana. An index of annual berry productivity was measured at field plots from 1989 to 2010. Temperature, precipitation, and snow indices were derived from nearby Snowpack Telemetry (SNOTEL) stations. Huckleberry production was highest during cool springs with high July diurnal temperature ranges. April–June growing‐degree days and July temperature range explain 70% of the inter‐annual variability in huckleberry productivity. Serviceberry production was correlated with maximum snow‐water equivalent and April–June growing‐degree days, which explained 86% of the variance in annual serviceberry production. These models show potential to forecast annual berry production and to anticipate potential bear–human interactions. Further development of models is essential to better predict the potential changes in important wildlife resources in the context of climate change. Published 2012. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
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spelling doaj-art-dee4640bc5fd4babab090087bbe5d5b72025-08-20T01:56:32ZengWileyWildlife Society Bulletin2328-55402012-06-0136222623110.1002/wsb.128Sensitivity of berry productivity to climatic variation in the Cabinet–Yaak grizzly bear recovery zone, Northwest United States, 1989–2010Zachary A. Holden0Wayne F. Kasworm1Christopher Servheen2Beth Hahn3Solomon Dobrowski4United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service, 200 E Broadway Street, Missoula, MT 59807, USAUnited States Fish and Wildlife Service, 385 Fish Hatchery Road, Libby, MT 59923, USAUnited States Fish and Wildlife Service, University of Montana, University Hall Room 309, Missoula, MT 59812, USAUnited States Department of Agriculture Forest Service, 200 E Broadway Street, Missoula, MT 59807, USAUniversity of Montana College of Forestry and Conservation, 32 Campus Drive, Missoula, MT 59812, USAAbstract Berry‐producing shrubs are culturally, economically, and ecologically important for both people and animals in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. We examined huckleberry (Vaccinium membranaceum) and serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia) productivity across the Cabinet–Yaak grizzly bear recovery zone in Northern Idaho and Western Montana. An index of annual berry productivity was measured at field plots from 1989 to 2010. Temperature, precipitation, and snow indices were derived from nearby Snowpack Telemetry (SNOTEL) stations. Huckleberry production was highest during cool springs with high July diurnal temperature ranges. April–June growing‐degree days and July temperature range explain 70% of the inter‐annual variability in huckleberry productivity. Serviceberry production was correlated with maximum snow‐water equivalent and April–June growing‐degree days, which explained 86% of the variance in annual serviceberry production. These models show potential to forecast annual berry production and to anticipate potential bear–human interactions. Further development of models is essential to better predict the potential changes in important wildlife resources in the context of climate change. Published 2012. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.128climate changegrizzly bearhuckleberrysnowmelttemperature rangevapor pressure deficit
spellingShingle Zachary A. Holden
Wayne F. Kasworm
Christopher Servheen
Beth Hahn
Solomon Dobrowski
Sensitivity of berry productivity to climatic variation in the Cabinet–Yaak grizzly bear recovery zone, Northwest United States, 1989–2010
Wildlife Society Bulletin
climate change
grizzly bear
huckleberry
snowmelt
temperature range
vapor pressure deficit
title Sensitivity of berry productivity to climatic variation in the Cabinet–Yaak grizzly bear recovery zone, Northwest United States, 1989–2010
title_full Sensitivity of berry productivity to climatic variation in the Cabinet–Yaak grizzly bear recovery zone, Northwest United States, 1989–2010
title_fullStr Sensitivity of berry productivity to climatic variation in the Cabinet–Yaak grizzly bear recovery zone, Northwest United States, 1989–2010
title_full_unstemmed Sensitivity of berry productivity to climatic variation in the Cabinet–Yaak grizzly bear recovery zone, Northwest United States, 1989–2010
title_short Sensitivity of berry productivity to climatic variation in the Cabinet–Yaak grizzly bear recovery zone, Northwest United States, 1989–2010
title_sort sensitivity of berry productivity to climatic variation in the cabinet yaak grizzly bear recovery zone northwest united states 1989 2010
topic climate change
grizzly bear
huckleberry
snowmelt
temperature range
vapor pressure deficit
url https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.128
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