Rate of deterioration, degrade, and fall of trees killed by mountain pine beetle

Abstract

The information presented in this paper results from a review of published articles on deterioration of dead wood, and interviews of people with forestry and (or) mill experience from the 1980s Cariboo Plateau mountain pine beetle outbreak. The literature review focussed on mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae) and lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Dougl. ex Loud. var. latifolia Engelm.), but also included papers on other conifer species. Most of the existing research has focussed on utilization of trees that have been dead for less than 5 years. The general conclusion was that reduced moisture content, checking (related to moisture content), and bluestain were the most important factors involved in loss of product opportunities and quality. Decay of standing pine was slow (at least in the regions studied), and trees were more likely to fall over before significant losses of wood volume due to decay fungi. Once trees were on the ground, decay rates accelerated substantially.