Drought as an Inciting Mortality Factor in Scots Pine Stands of the Valais, Switzerland

During the 20th century, high mortality rates of Scots pine (Pinus silvestris L.) have been observed over large areas in the Rhône valley (Valais, Switzerland) and in other dry valleys of the European Alps. In this study, we evaluated drought as a possible inciting factor of Scots pine decline in the Valais. Averaged tree-ring widths, standardized tree-ring series, and estimated annual mortality risks were related to a drought index. Correlations between drought indices and standardized tree-ring series from 11 sites showed a moderate association. Several drought years and drought periods could be detected since 1864 that coincided with decreased growth. Although single, extreme drought years had generally a short-term, reversible effect on tree growth, multi-year drought initiated prolonged growth decreases that increased a tree’s long-term risk of death. Tree death occurred generally several years or even decades after the drought. In conclusion, drought has a limiting effect on tree growth and acts as a bottleneck event in triggering Scots pine decline in the Valais.     

Latest developments of dendro-archaeology in the French Alps: Assessing changes in mountain forests exploitation over the last millennium

Dendrochronological studies are carried out on rural buildings in the French Alps for twenty years. In this contribution, we examine an extensive dataset of larch timbers (n = 1294) that were dendrochronologicaly dated at 139 buildings. This material yielded felling dates spanning the 11th century to the 20th century and contributed to improve our knowledge of human occupation and exploitation of mountain forests during the second millennium CE. From the 11th to the 14th century, rural populations increasingly exploited older forests. The crises of the 14th century led to a significant decrease in construction and by extension in tree cutting. The beginning of the 15th century marks a resumption of construction and felling which is continuous until the beginning of the 20th century. There is a relationship between the age of harvested trees, the number of dates and population fluctuations, which corroborates findings at the European scale. Regional trade probably influenced the stem diameters used in constructions in the immediate vicinity of the forests. Logging regulations can be perceived through variations in the age of harvested trees. The 14th century gap in felling dates would also mark a transition period in the exploitation of mountain forests and by extension a transformation of the economy.     

Buildings and wood trade in Aix-en-Provence (South of France) during the Modern period

Many buildings are being restored in the city of Aix-en-Provence, southeastern France and allowed systematic dendrochronological analyses. 144 fir timbers (Abies alba Mill.) were examined and dated between 1303 and 1933. They highlight three felling phases (Medieval period, 17th-18th century, and 19th century). The best documented one corresponds to the 17th-18th centuries and coincides with significant building activity connected to the status of Aix, which is the parliamentary capital of Provence. Around Aix-en-Provence, it is difficult to find timbers with good dimensions. Our results show that timbers were transported from the Alps to Aix’s buildings. Potential testimonies of this timber trade have been found, such as raft assemblage marks, and carved signs and letters. A dendroprovenancing case study shows that between 1810 and 1890, some of Aix’s timbers could have come from the Northern French Alps or the Verdon-Durance region. Finally, the lack of timbers with good dimension and the difficulties of timber supply contributed to the development of reuse economy and technical innovation. These results are the foundation of a future well-established dendroprovenancing approach in the Southern Alps.     

Larch- and pine-feeding host races of the larch bud moth (Zeiraphera diniana) have cyclic and synchronous population fluctuations

Population cycles of many forest-defoliating insects often show synchronous fluctuations at both intra-specific (spatial synchrony) and inter-specific levels. However, population dynamics of different host-associated biotypes of the same species, such as those of the larch budmoth (LBM), Zeiraphera diniana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), have never been compared. This species causes extensive defoliation of larch forests every 8 to 9 years in the Alps, but it consists of two genetically-differentiated host races, the first one developing on European larch, Larix decidua , and the other one developing on Swiss stone pine, Pinus cembra . The dynamics of Zeiraphera populations have been extensively studied on larch, whereas little is known about larval density and possible population fluctuations on sympatric pines. A larval census on Swiss stone pine was conducted in the Swiss Alps intermittently between 1958 to 2004 and in the French Alps from 1992 to 2004. Population density of Zeiraphera on pine varied up to 5000-fold and showed periodic oscillations, with five peaks in Switzerland and one in France. Because the feeding activity of the pine race is restricted to the elongating shoot of the current year, no conspicuous defoliation of pine trees was noted during years of high larval densities. Zeiraphera populations on pine oscillated in significant synchrony with larch-associated populations, and peak densities were observed either the same year or shifted by±one year. Our results did not allow any explanation for cyclic fluctuations of LBM on pine, but the synchrony with the larch race's cycle suggests that studies on genetics as well as on parasitism should be intensified.     

Observations on the life cycle and pathogenicity of Paralongidorus maximus in a forest nursery in Scotland

Soil samples from a forest nursery growing Scots pine were collected at monthly intervals at five different depths during 1975 and examined for Paralongidorus maximus: 49% occurred at the 10–19 ^cm depth. The fluctuation in the numbers of the larval stages suggested that a complete life cycle from egg to adult probably took more than 1 yr. Growth in the second year after planting and overall height of Scots pine seedlings was inversely related to the numbers of P. maximus. In a glasshouse experiment using varying numbers of P. maximus the growth of Scots pine and European larch but not of Sitka spruce were decreased by increasing numbers of nematodes. A possible relationship between P. maximus, Cylindro-carpon destructans and the death of small numbers of Scots pine is discussed.     

Natural durability of selected larch and Scots pine heartwoods in laboratory and field tests

The aim of this study was to compare natural durability of Siberian larch heartwood grown in Siberia and Sweden as well as European larch and Scots pine heartwood grown in Sweden. The study was based on standard in- and above ground tests lasting 12 years but laboratory decay tests with white and brown rot fungi was also included. Field test results showed that Siberian larch heartwood from Siberia was the most durable among the studied heartwoods with a decay index of 60 after 12 years in Simlångsdalen (Sweden), while European larch heartwood grown in Sweden, was decayed to failure before the end of the test. Scots pine heartwood was found to perform similarly to Siberian larch from Siberia. No relationship could be established between natural durability of examined heartwoods and their water absorption behavior; however, strong correlation to the total amount of extractives was observed. Scots pine and Siberian larch heartwood from Siberia had 12.7 and 19.6% total extractives content respectively but the extractives composition differs. The study revealed also that lignin and monosaccharide content could not explain the variations in decay resistance of the studied heartwoods. No similarities in the natural durability revealed by laboratory and field tests were observed.     

High genetic diversity and distinct origin of recently fragmented Scots pine (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus sylvestris</Emphasis> L.) populations along the Carpathians and the Pannonian Basin

Historical evolutionary events highly affect the modern-day genetic structure of natural populations. Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), as a dominant tree species of the Eurasian taiga communities following the glacial cycles of the Pleistocene, has survived in small, scattered populations at the range limits of its south-eastern European distribution. In this study, we examined genetic relationships, genetic divergence and demographic history of peripheral populations from central-eastern Europe, the Carpathian Mountains and the Pannonian Basin. Four hundred twenty-one individuals from 20 populations were sampled and characterized with both nuclear and chloroplast simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. Standard population genetic indices, the degree of genetic differentiation and spatial genetic structure were analysed. Our results revealed that peripheral Scots pine populations retained high genetic diversity despite the recently ongoing fragmentation and isolation of the persisting relict populations. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) showed 7% among-population genetic differentiation, and there was no isolation by distance among the island-like occurrences. Genetic discontinuities with strong barriers (99–100% bootstrap support) were identified in the Carpathians. Based on both marker types, populations of the Western Carpathians were delimited from those inhabiting the Eastern Carpathians, and two main genetic lineages were traced that most probably originate from two main refugia. One refugium presumably existed in the region of the Eastern Alps with the Hungarian Plain, while the other was probably found in the Eastern Carpathians. These findings are supported by recent palynological records. The strongest genetic structure was revealed within the Romanian Carpathians on the basis of both marker types. With only some exceptions, no signs of recent bottlenecks or inbreeding were detected. However, Carpathian natural populations of Scots pine are highly fragmented and have a small census size, though they have not yet been affected by genetic erosion induced by isolation.     

Reproductive development and maternal effects in the pine weevil Hylobius abietis

1. In a laboratory study of maturation feeding of female pine weevil Hylobius abietis on current and 1‐year‐old stem bark of transplants of Scots and Corsican pine, Norway and Sitka spruce, Douglas fir, and hybrid larch, the length of the pre‐oviposition period was influenced by the species on which weevils fed. The shortest pre‐oviposition period was on hybrid larch (11.8 days) and the longest on Douglas fir (15.5 days). 2. The species on which weevils fed also affected fecundity but there was evidence of a species–year interaction. Over a period of 36 days, most eggs were laid by weevils feeding on current stem of Norway spruce and Corsican and Scots pine and fewest on current stem of Sitka spruce. 3. Significant maternal effects on egg size were observed both in relation to female size and conifer species. The largest eggs were laid on Corsican pine and the smallest on Douglas fir, with no evidence of a trade‐off between number of eggs laid and their size. 4. There was a positive relationship between egg and larval size and between larval size and survival on logs of four conifer species. Residual resistance mechanisms in the bark of recently cut stumps and larval competition are discussed briefly in relation to the importance of the observed maternal effects on weevil population dynamics.     

Contrasting climate-growth relationship between Larix gmelinii and Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica along a latitudinal gradient in Daxing’an Mountains,China

The Daxing’an Mountains is one of the areas with the most serious climate warming in northern China. Dahurian larch (Larix gmelinii) and Mongolian Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica) are two major coniferous species in boreal forests of the region. Their growth-climate relationship is crucial for understanding the effects of climate change on boreal forest ecosystems. To examine and compare the changes of climate-growth relationship between larch and pine, a total of 418 tree-ring cores of the two species were collected at six sites in the Daxing’an Mountains, and the tree-ring chronologies were developed. The results showed that water availability (Palmer Drought Severity Index, PDSI) played a key role in the stable growth of larch and pine. The temperature and precipitation in January, June-August are important factors affecting the radial growth of the two coniferous species along the latitude gradient. The correlation coefficients of growth and the seasonal temperature and precipitation of larch and pine showed a completely opposite trend with the increase of latitude. In summer and autumn, the correlation coefficients between larch growth and seasonal mean temperature decreased first and then increased with the increase of latitude, while that of pine, on the contrary, increased first and then decreased. In winter, spring and autumn, the correlation coefficients between larch growth and seasonal total precipitation decreased first and then increased with the increase of latitude, while that of pine was opposite. However, the correlation coefficients between larch and pine growth and PDSI showed the same trend with the increase of latitude, decreasing at first and then increasing. Before and after rapid warming (around 1980), the correlation coefficients between larch and pine growth and PDSI showed a completely opposite change. Our findings emphasize that the growth-climate relationships of Dahurian larch and Mongolian Scotts pine shows an opposite trend with latitude, which means that the two species may exhibit a completely opposite response with climate change along the latitude gradient.     

The effect of the pine woolly aphid (Pineus pini) on survival,growth and natural selection in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) in Iceland

1. Scots pine Pinus sylvestris was originally introduced to Iceland in the beginning of the 20th Century. Extensive plantings started in the late 1940s and, in total, 2–3 million Scots pine seedlings were planted, mainly originating from two counties in northern Norway. Part of this plant material was imported as seedlings.
2. Pine woolly aphid Pineus pini was introduced to Iceland before 1940, most likely on imported seedlings in 1937.
3. High mortality of Scots pine, concurrent with high infestation of the pine woolly aphid, was observed in Iceland during the late 1950s and 1960s and planting was discontinued.
4. Provenance trials with Scots pine were established in Iceland in 2004–2006. They consisted of 15 provenances from Norway, four from Finland, four from Scotland, one from Russia, one from the Austrian Alps and three first generation Scots pine provenances from Iceland, collected from survivors of the epidemic in the 1950s and 1960s. In total, there were 28 provenances.
5. The Icelandic provenances had significantly lower P. pini infestation than all the provenances of non‐Icelandic origin, which indicates that natural selection in Scots pine in Iceland has occurred in favour of individuals less susceptible to P. pini.

     

The role of larch budmoth (Zeiraphera diniana Gn.) on forest succession in a larch (Larix decidua Mill.) and Swiss stone pine (Pinus cembra L.) stand in the Susa Valley (Piedmont, Italy)

In the Alps, larch (Larix decidua Mill.) is severely affected by larch budmoth (Zeiraphera diniana Guénée) (LBM) attacks. The impact of these outbreaks on the Swiss stone pine (Pinus cembra L.) and on the dynamic processes acting in subalpine forest stands are still not well known. Dendroecological methods were used in this study to reconstruct past LBM outbreaks in Susa Valley, Piedmont, Italy. The analysis was carried out on 62 cores from larch and 101 cores from stone pine. The length and severity of each outbreak was quantified for both species and for each tree by means of the programme OUTBREAK. The frequency of the outbreaks was determined using singular spectral analysis and superposed epoch analysis was used to test the significance of the associations between outbreaks and tree-ring growth. In order to verify if trees belonging to different age classes are differently affected by LBM, the reconstructed outbreaks are then classified taking into account the cambial age of the tree at the moment of the outbreak. From 1760 to 1999, 19 outbreaks were recorded in the larch chronologies, while only three outbreaks in the stone pine chronologies. The larch growth is strongly influenced by LBM and the identified outbreaks are equally distributed in all the three age classes. On the stone pine the sporadic occurrence of the identified events made difficult any interpretation of the eventual effect of LBM. Our results lead us to argue that LBM has not played an important role both in determining the stone pine growth rate and in influencing the present observed succession from the stage dominated by larch, to a stage dominated by stone pine or by a mixed stone pine-larch forest.     

Soil-moisture conditions indicated by field-layer plants help identify vulnerable forests in the forest-steppe of semi-arid Southern Siberia

High variability in soil-moisture conditions is typical for semi-arid forest-steppe ecosystems where precipitation varies greatly over time. Plant species that inhabit these environments integrate responses to broadly fluctuating wetness conditions. Indirect assessment of contrasting habitat wetness based on plant indicator values, species frequency, and species coverage was carried out in two sites representing the larch (Larix sibirica) and pine (Pinus sylvestris) forest-steppe communities. For the larch forest-steppe, we found that plant community composition and spatial structure depended strongly on wetness. In addition, we found that the vegetation was clearly differentiated into forest stands and steppe communities, depending on the slope aspect. There was also a strong correlation between dissimilarities of species composition and differences in habitat wetness revealed in the larch forest-steppe. In contrast, soil properties, such as gravel and stone content were found to be a key factor in the spatial distribution of plant species composition in the pine-forest-steppe communities. Indirect assessment of moisture conditions in the forest-steppe habitats, based on the field-layer plant species, was found to be preferable for indicating soil water deficits in the forest. Furthermore, as long-term observational data is often lacking, indirect assessment of the forest-steppe vegetation provides an opportunity to identify vulnerable forests at the marginal distribution. Based on indirect assessments of soil-moisture conditions, and taking into account differences in potential drought resistance between larch and pine forests, we concluded that increasing aridity will cause the replacement of Siberian larch by Scots pine in the South Siberian forest-steppe landscape. Consequently, in the future it is likely that forest-steppe typological diversity will decrease, and the semi-arid landscape may become more monotonous.     

Drought response of five conifer species under contrasting water availability suggests high vulnerability of Norway spruce and European larch

The ability of tree species to cope with anticipated decrease in water availability is still poorly understood. We evaluated the potential of Norway spruce, Scots pine, European larch, black pine, and Douglas‐fir to withstand drought in a drier future climate by analyzing their past growth and physiological responses at a xeric and a mesic site in Central Europe using dendroecological methods. Earlywood, latewood, and total ring width, as well as the δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O in early‐ and latewood were measured and statistically related to a multiscalar soil water deficit index from 1961 to 2009. At the xeric site, δ¹³C values of all species were strongly linked to water deficits that lasted longer than 11 months, indicating a long‐term cumulative effect on the carbon pool. Trees at the xeric site were particularly sensitive to soil water recharge in the preceding autumn and early spring. The native species European larch and Norway spruce, growing close to their dry distribution limit at the xeric site, were found to be the most vulnerable species to soil water deficits. At the mesic site, summer water availability was critical for all species, whereas water availability prior to the growing season was less important. Trees at the mesic were more vulnerable to water deficits of shorter duration than the xeric site. We conclude that if summers become drier, trees growing on mesic sites will undergo significant growth reductions, whereas at their dry distribution limit in the Alps, tree growth of the highly sensitive spruce and larch may collapse, likely inducing dieback and compromising the provision of ecosystem services. However, the magnitude of these changes will be mediated strongly by soil water recharge in winter and thus water availability at the beginning of the growing season.     

The effect of single tree species on soil microbial activities related to C and N cycling in the Siberian artificial afforestation experiment

The effects of grassland conversion to forest vegetation and of individual tree species on microbial activity in Siberia are largely unstudied. Here, we examined the effects of the six most commonly dominant tree species in Siberian forests (Scots pine, spruce, Arolla pine, larch, aspen and birch) on soil C and N mineralization, N₂O-reduction and N₂O production during denitrification 30 years after planting. We also documented the effect of grassland conversion to different tree species on microbial activities at different soil depths and their relationships to soil chemical properties. The effects of tree species and grassland conversion were more pronounced on N than on C transformations. Tree species and grassland conversion did significantly alter substrate-induced respiration (SIR) and basal respiration, but the differences were not as large as those observed for N transformations. Variances in SIR and basal respiration within species were markedly lower than those in N transformations. Net N mineralization, net nitrification, and denitrification potential were highest under Arolla pine and larch, intermediate under deciduous aspen and birch, and lowest beneath spruce and Scots pine. Tree species caused similar effects on denitrification potential, net N mineralization, and net nitrification, but effects on N₂O reduction rate were idiosyncratic, indicating a decoupling of N₂O production and reduction. We predict that deciduous species should produce more N₂O in the field than conifers, and that Siberian forests will produce more N₂O if global climate change alters tree species composition. Basal respiration and SIR showed inverse responses to tree species: when basal respiration increased in response to a given tree species, SIR declined. SIR may have been controlled by NH₄ ⁺ availability and related therefore to N mineralization, which was negatively affected by grassland conversion. Basal respiration appeared to be less limited by NH₄ ⁺ and controlled mostly by readily available organic C (DOC), which was higher in concentration under forests than in grassland and therefore basal respiration was higher in forested soils. We conclude that in the Siberian artificial afforestation experiment, soil C mineralization was not limited by N.     

Estimating missing sapwood rings in three European gymnosperm species by the heartwood age rule

Precise dating of the year of felling is one intended outcome of dendrochronology. However, occasionally some or all sapwood rings might be missing, either due to deterioration or because they were carved off, or for some other reason. Consequently, while heartwood is preserved, sapwood might be fully or partially missing. In such cases, the year of felling must be estimated by adding a suitable number of sapwood rings. A heartwood age rule (HAR) has been advocated for Scots pine and adapted to European larch and Cembra pine, implying a linear relationship between sapwood ring count and the square root of heartwood ring count, largely irrespective of position in the stem. The same rule applied to all observations of a species, irrespective of silviculture, location or fertility of the growth site. Scots pine had twice or thrice as many sapwood rings as Cembra pine, which had 10% more rings than larch. The magnitude of model residuals was proportional to estimated sapwood ring count. Relative residuals were roughly normally distributed. To be applicable in Bayesian modelling in dendrochronology analyses, detailed information on model errors has been provided.     

大兴安岭北部樟子松树木生长与气候因子的关系

 在大兴安岭北部漠河(MH I、MH II 2个样点)、塔河蒙克山(MKS)、满归(MG)地区共采集樟子松(Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica)年轮样芯139个, 成功地建立了MH I、MH II、MKS和MG 4个样点的樟子松差值年表, 最长达377年(1631–2007年, 有效年表为1743–2007年)。樟子松年轮指数与气候因子的响应函数分析表明, 气温是这4个样点樟子松径向生长的主要限制因子。但4个样点限制其生长的月份有所差异, 漠河的2个样点樟子松年轮指数与6月气温负相关, 满归和塔河蒙克山樟子松年轮指数与前一年10月气温正相关。樟子松年表与区域气候的冗余分析(redundancy analysis, RDA)基本与响应函数分析的结果一致, 进一步验证了气温对大兴安岭北部樟子松生长的限制作用。该研究为全球变暖下大兴安岭北部樟子松林的经营管理及区域气候重建提供了基础数据。     

Patterns of Land-use Abandonment Control Tree-recruitment and Forest Dynamics in Mediterranean Mountains

Abstract Mediterranean ecosystems have been impacted for millennia by human practices, particularly agricultural and pastoral activities. Since the middle of the nineteenth century, land-use abandonment has lead to scrubland and forest expansion, especially in mountain areas of the northern Mediterranean basin. This study aimed at analyzing how grazing history affects subsequent forest dynamics at a site located in the limestone foothills of the Southern Alps (France). The approach combines archival documents and dendroecology to investigate the origin, establishment and development of forest following land-use abandonment. Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) started to colonize quickly in the 1870s, with the recruitment rate increasing during the first decade of the 1900s, associated with a decline of the local human population and regional livestock. Since the 1960s, European beech (Fagus sylvatica) and silver fir (Abies alba) have regenerated in the understorey of Scots pines. Regeneration is controlled by a threshold of grazing pressure. Noticeably, the rate of reforestation differs according to the former land-use, with pastures being colonized more quickly than ploughed areas. Different previous land-uses leading to different times of grazing cessation, combined with variable herbaceous competition explain the contrasting micro-scale regeneration patterns. Agricultural land-use and abandonment are both significant driving forces of vegetation dynamics. Knowledge of these factors is thus necessary to understand present patterns and to predict future forest pathways in the Mediterranean mountains.     

Dendrochronological analysis and dating of wooden artefacts from the prehistoric copper mine Kelchalm/Kitzbühel (Austria)

The potential of dendrochronological analysis of wood found in prehistoric and historic mining areas in Tyrol has remained unattended for a long time. For the first time, systematically analysed wooden artefacts from a prehistoric mining area in Tyrol (Kelchalm near Kitzbühel) can be presented here.The investigated artefacts, related to mining and everyday life, were found in the course of archaeological excavations, which were carried out between 1932 and 1953 by Richard Pittioni and Ernst Preuschen. Taking an adequate number of tree rings and well-preserved wood wane into account, 21 pieces of mining timber were pre-selected for a dendrochronological analysis. The identified wood species are spruce (Picea abies, n=18) and fir (Abies alba, n=3). The length of the established tree-ring series ranges from 13 to 145. We cross-dated the tree-ring series of seven wooden artefacts among each other, which resulted in a spruce-fir tree-ring record of 153 values (Kelchalm mean curve). The last tree ring measured of the Kelchalm spruce-fir mean curve dates back to 1237 BC. This accurate dendro-result dates the Bronze Age mining activities at the Kelchalm to about two centuries earlier than the long-lasting assumption proposed by Richard Pittioni. His assumption was based on the typology of ceramic and metal artefacts.The established dendro-date for the Bronze Age mine at the Kelchalm matches with available ¹⁴C results from other important copper-mining areas in the north-eastern Alps (NE Alps). The activities at these other sites are dated between the 17th and 6th century BC. Furthermore, the radiocarbon dating, as well as the dendro-result from the Kelchalm, suggests a transition from earlier mined copper-ore deposits in the eastern areas of the NE Alps, to the later mined ore deposits in the western section. This has led to both parallel and sequential mining activities in several ore districts during the last two millennia BC in the NE Alps.     

Investigations on natural durability of important European wood species against wood decay fungi. Part 1: Laboratory tests

The durability of heartwood from European larch, Sessile oak and Scots pine was tested in laboratory against wood decay basidiomycetes and soft rot. The durability test was performed according to CEN/TS 15083-1:2005 with Coniophora puteana, Oligoporus (Poria) placenta and Trametes (Coriolus) versicolor. CEN/TS 15083-2:2005 was applied in order to test the timber with a bioactive soil substrate against soil rotting organisms. For Sessile oak, a very high durability against basidiomycetes (DC 1) was found in contrast to a low durability (DC 4) against soft rot fungi. Furthermore the results indicated that the durability of European larch and Scots pine is slightly deteriorated after leaching according to EN 84:1997. Beside this a minor influence of raw density on mass loss was detected for larch.     

Variation in the suitability of Pinus contorta (lodgepole pine) to feeding by three pine defoliators, Panolis flammea, Neodiprion sertifer and Zeiraphera diniana

A series of experiments were carried out on Pinus contorta Dougl. in Scotland to establish if there were any inter-provenance differences in suitability to three major forest pests: the pine beauty moth, Panolis flammea (D and S) (Lep., Noctuidae), the European pine sawfly, Neodiprion sertifer (Geoff.) (Hym., Diprionidae), and the larch bud moth Zeiraphera diniana Guennée (Lep., Tortricidae). There were significant differences in the survival, weight, and development time of P. flammea on different provenances of seedling logepole pine. Southern interior lodgepole pine (ILP) proved to be the most resistant provenance. Larvae performed significantly better on Alaskan lodgepole pine (ALP) and Skeena River lodgepole pine (ELP). Panolis flammea larvae showed significant feeding preference for certain provenances of mature lodgepole pine, with ILP being preferred to ALP, north coastal lodgepole pine, and Scots pine. There were significant differences in the mean relative growth rate of N. sertifer on different provenances of seedling and mature trees. ALP was the most resistant provenance among seedling trees, but the least resistant among mature trees. There were also significant differences in survival on foliage from mature provenances. There were no significant differences in survival of second instar Z. diniana on different provenances of mature lodgepole pine.