Whitebark Pine

Whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis Engelm.) is a keystone species of the upper subalpine region throughout the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE) and areas of the Pacific Northwest and Canadian Coastal Ranges. While whitebark pine is a visually appealing aspect of the subalpine zone, its key role in the GYE is as a food source for the grizzly bear (Ursus arctos) and other wildlife species. Studies have shown that the availability of whitebark pine seeds is a reliable indicator of grizzly bear behavior and demography. Currently, whitebark pine is imperiled throughout its range by a host of different factors, including: 1) white pine blister rust, an introduced pathogen; 2) the endemic mountain pine beetle; and 3) changing climate and fire regimes.