Chapter 33 - Jack Pine Cover Type

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Chapter 33

Jack Pine Cover Type

Chapter Index

Type Description……………………………………...……………………………….33-2

Silvical Characteristics………………………………………………………………...33-8

Management Goals and Objectives………………………………………………..…33-12

Silvicultural Systems………………………………………………………………....33-14

Management Recommendations……………………………………………….….…33-14

Regeneration Systems………………………………………………………….….…33-16

Conditional Management Recommendations………………………………………..33-27

Management Decision Model……………………………………………...….....…..33-29

Rotation Lengths………………………………………………………………….….33-30

Management Considerations……………………………………………………..…..33-31

Landscape Considerations………………………………………………………...….33-46

Forest Health Guidelines……………………………………………………….…….33-53

Charts (Stocking, Site Index)…………………………………………………..….....33-60

References……………………………………………………………………………33-62

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Jack Pine Cover Type

TYPE DESCRIPTION

Stand Composition

Jack pine (Pinus banksiana) comprises 50% or more of the basal area in poletimber or

sawtimber stands, or 50% or more of the stems in seedling and sapling stands.

Associated Species

Jack pine frequently occurs in dense, even-aged stands that originate from major

disturbances, such as fire or logging. In stands dominated by jack pine, the most

common associates are oak (Quercus spp.), red pine (Pinus resinosa), white pine (Pinus

strobus), aspen (Populus spp.), and white birch (Betula papyrifera). Occasional

associates include red maple (Acer rubrum), black cherry (Prunus serotina), balsam fir

(Abies balsamea), and white spruce (Picea glauca).

Soil Preference

Jack pine grows most commonly on level to gently rolling sand plains, usually of glacial

outwash, fluvial, or lacustrine origin. These sandy soils are typically of the Spodosol or

Entisol soil orders. Best growth occurs on well-drained loamy sands where the

midsummer water table is within 4 to 6 feet of the soil surface. Jack pine will persist on

very dry sandy or gravelly soils where other species can scarcely survive. It also grows

on loamy soils, thin soils over bedrock, and peats.

Jack pine has been managed successfully on moist sands and peats, where seasonally

high water tables can provide suitable conditions for seed germination and seedling

development.

Abundance and Range of Habitat Types

The range of jack pine is primarily located in Canada, extending from the Northwest

Territories east to Nova Scotia, and then south into the New England and Great Lake

states (Figure 33.1). At the northwest extremities of the range in Alberta, jack pine

hybridizes with lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) (93). In the United States, the largest

acreages of jack pine are located on sandy soils in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan.

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Figure 33.1 – Native range of jack pine (57)

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The jack pine cover type occupies approximately 2 percent (i.e., 307,500 acres) of the

forestland acres in Wisconsin (64). Jack pine’s statewide distribution is concentrated in

the Northwest Sands, Central Sand Plains, Northeast Sands, and Northern Highlands

ecological landscapes (Figure 33.2). Approximately three-quarters of the jack pine

volume is found on the sandy soils of northwest and central Wisconsin, with lesser

amounts in the northeast, north-central and on other suitable habitats.

Figure 33.2 – Volume of jack pine (cubic feet) by Ecological Landscape in Wisconsin from

USDA FIA (64).

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Jack pine is a pioneer tree species that historically regenerated almost exclusively after

forest fires. Fire regimes of varying intensity and frequency resulted in pine-dominated

ecosystems ranging from open Pine Barrens to very dense jack pine stands (83). Still

today over three-quarters of all jack pine in Wisconsin is naturally occurring (i.e., not

planted), a result of fire or scarification treatments and logging disturbance. However

with the advent of modern fire suppression practices, conditions for successful jack pine

regeneration have been greatly diminished, resulting in a decline of the jack pine cover

type. In the Northwest Sands, for example, the area of jack pine has decreased by 30%

since pre-European settlement (83).

The volume of jack pine growing stock has been steadily decreasing in Wisconsin for

poletimber and sawtimber (Figure 33.3). The ratio of removals to growth has more than

doubled since 1983 and currently stands at 213% (64), meaning that harvesting removes

twice as much volume as is being replaced by growth (Figure 33.4). The loss of jack

pine acres and volume in Wisconsin is a result of high removals and high natural

mortality (e.g., insects, disease, wind), coupled with poor regeneration and conversion to

other species, such as red pine.

Figure 33.3 – Growing stock volume (million cubic feet) by inventory year from USDA FIA

(64).

100

200

300

400

500

600

1983 1996 2004 2009 2013

million cft

Growing Stock Volume of Jack Pine

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Figure 33.4 – Ratio of volume harvested annually to net growth from USDA FIA (64).

Habitat Types

Figure 33.5 – Percent jack pine volume by habitat type group from USDA FIA (64).

*Undefined groups contain FIA plots where no habitat type could be determined. Note: See

Chapter 12 – Forest Habitat Type Classification System for information summarizing the system

and the habitat type groups.

99%

179%

247%

213%

50%

100%

150%

200%

250%

300%

1983 1996 2009 2013

Ratio of Removals to Growth: Jack Pine

0% 10% 20% 30% 40%

S. Mesic to Wet-mesic

S. Dry-mesic

S. Undefined*

S. Dry

N. Mesic

N. Mesic to Wet-mesic

N. Undefined*

N. Dry to Dry-mesic

N. Very Dry to Dry

Percent of total volume by habitat type group

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Northern Habitat Type Groups

Approximately 48% of the statewide jack pine volume occurs on northern habitat type

groups, with most of that volume occurring on the northern very dry to dry (36%) and

northern dry to dry mesic groups (7%). A small percentage occurs on the northern

mesic to wet mesic group (4%), often associated with poorly drained sandy soils with

ground water influences and low nutrients (Figure 33.5).

The northern very dry to dry habitat types are often associated with glacial outwash

deposits of deep, excessively drained sands and include the driest and most nutrient poor

ecosystems in northern Wisconsin. Jack pine is a common cover type on many of the

habitat types in this group, but can also occur in mixed stands with pin, red, and bur oak,

as well as with red and white pine. Jack pine and jack pine-oak mixtures are common on

the PQE, PQG, PQGCe, PArV, PArV-U, PArVAo, and QAp habitat types (53). Jack

pine ecosystems are dependent on fire or logging for regeneration and in the absence of

these disturbances oak, white pine, and red maple become more abundant on this habitat

type group.

The dry to dry-mesic habitat types have somewhat improved moisture and nutrient levels

and therefore better growth potential for jack pine. This habitat type group includes

glacial outwash sands, as well as moraines and lake plains with excessively to moderately

well drained loamy sands and sands. Jack pine can be found on the PArVAm, PArVHa,

PArVAa, PArVAa-Po, PArVAa-Vb, and PArVPo habitat types, but often in mixtures

with competing associated species due to the improved growing conditions (53). All the

habitat types in this group have the potential to grow large diameter, high quality jack

pine. In the absence of disturbance, competition can be moderate to strong from red

maple, white pine, and oak, contributing to continued losses in jack pine acreage due to

natural conversion. In addition, jack pine stands are sometimes converted to red pine

plantations due to its growth potential on these habitat types.

The northern mesic to wet-mesic habitat types where jack pine is found include poorly

drained, sandy soils with high or perched water tables and poor nutrient regimes. Some

habitat types in this group include ArVRp and PArVRh. Red maple and white pine

usually develop in these stands in the absence of fire.

Southern Habitat Type Groups

Approximately 39% of the statewide jack pine volume occurs on southern habitat type

groups, with most of that volume occurring on the southern dry (25%), southern mesic to

wet-mesic (8%), and southern dry mesic groups (6%) (Figure 33.5).

The southern dry habitat types are located on nutrient poor sandy soils, often associated

with glacial outwash deposits or residual material over sandstone. Topography is level to

gently rolling, but these habitat types can also occur on steep slopes and narrow ridges.

Jack pine in south-central Wisconsin exhibits less growth potential along the southern

edge of its range, and is commonly associated with pin oak, white oak, black oak, aspen,

red maple, red pine and white pine. Common habitat types in this group where jack pine

are found include PVGy, PEu, PVCr, and PVG (52). In the absence of fire disturbance,

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white pine has become increasingly abundant on this habitat type group, especially in the

central sands.

Jack pine occurs as an associate on the southern dry mesic habitat type, PVRh. This

habitat type is similar to the dry types, except for ground water influences within 1-3 feet

of the surface. White pine and red maple usually develop in these stands in the absence

of fire.

SILVICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Note: The primary source for the following descriptions and tabular summary is from

Silvics of North America – Jack Pine (94). Visit Silvics of North America website for

additional information:

http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/silvics_manual/Volume_1/pinus/banksiana.htm

Flowering and Fruiting: Jack pine is a monoecious species; meaning an individual has

both male and female stobili (cones). The female (ovulate) cones are usually borne on

primary and secondary branches in the upper tree crown. Male (staminate) cones are

usually borne on the lower crown. Jack pine trees, particularly under good early growing

conditions, begin to flower at a younger age than most other pine species. In the Lakes

States, flowers become visible in mid to late May and pollination occurs shortly

thereafter. Fertilization occurs about 13 months after pollination when the female cone is

approaching its maximum size of 1 to 2 inches. Jack pine is normally a wind-pollinated,

cross-fertilizing species, but natural self-fertilization can occur (rarely more than 25

percent). Under natural conditions survival of self-fertilized seedlings is severely reduced

by natural selection, as a result of inbreeding depression.

Once cone production in jack pine begins (typically 5-10 years), it is fairly regular and

increases until crown competition becomes a factor. Jack pine cones take two growing

seasons to mature. Cones are approximately ¼ inch long by the end of the first season

and reach a mature size of 1 to 2 inches by the end of the second growing season.

Moisture content of cones and viability of seed decrease as cones age, with cone color

changing from green to brown to gray. Some cones fall to the ground each year but some

cones remain on the tree for 20 years or longer.

Based on a cone study of Lake States jack pine provenances, the best indicators of cone

and seed ripeness are cone color; 75 percent brown and insides of the cone scales, reddish

brown; seed coat color, dark brown or black; and cone moisture content, less than 45

percent of fresh weight. These indicators of cone and seed ripeness coincide with the

beginning of cone harvesting by squirrels in September (19).

Over much of its natural range jack pine bears predominantly serotinous cones, but along

the southern range limit cones are sometimes non-serotinous. A survey of serotiny in

jack pine across Wisconsin’s Northwest Sands showed the highest levels of serotiny in

the northeast portion and lowest in the southwest portion. A possible explanation for the

gradient in serotiny levels may be the difference in forest density and corresponding fire

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regimes across this landscape. Historical vegetation patterns indicate forest density to

have been highest in the northeast and lowest in the southwest portions. The savanna-type

landscape of the southwest Pine Barrens experienced frequent, non-lethal surface fires

that may have favored trees with non-serotinous cones. High density tree cover in the

northeast portion of the Pine Barrens would have allowed for stand replacing crown fires

that may have favored trees with serotinous cones (87).

Serotinous cones may remain closed for 10 to 25 years until they are exposed to fire or

high temperatures near the ground after wind breakage or logging. Some serotinous cones

open during hot, dry weather (temperatures of at least 80°F). Up to 50 percent of cones

may open on the sun-exposed portion of the crown. The resin of serotinous cones melts at

temperatures of 122-140° F or higher, but it is likely that the bonding resin softens at

lower temperatures in the non-serotinous types. The mechanism of cone opening in both

serotinous and non-serotinous cones is hygroscopic. Once the bonding material of the

cone scales is broken, the quantity of water in the scales is the limiting factor in scale

movement and flexing outward under drying condition.

Seed Production and Dissemination: In naturally regenerated stands, seed production

begins at 5 to 10 years in open-grown stands and at 10 to 25 years in closed stands. Best

seed production is from trees between 40 and 50 years old. A well-stocked stand can

produce 13 pounds of seed per acre with seed numbers averaging 131,000 seeds per

pound. Good seed years occur every 3 to 4 years with light crops in most intervening

years. Crop failures are rare.

Seeds retained in cones maintain high viability for at least 5 years and sometimes for

more than 15 years. However because viability after 5 to 10 years may be significantly

reduced, only cones 6 years old or less should be collected. Cone and seed crops in jack

pine may be reduced by numerous agents, including insects and rainy weather at time of

pollination.

In the Lake States, where non-serotinous or partially serotinous cones may be present,

seed can be disseminated during any season. The winged seeds are the smallest of the

native pines and are dispersed by gravity and wind. The range of seed dispersal is about

two tree-heights (110-130 feet). Birds and rodents can consume up to 75 percent of

dispersed seed.

Seed yields per cone range from about 15 to 75. Strongly curved cones yield less seed

than straight ones. Well-stocked, mature stands in the Lake States dispersed an annual

average of 2,700 to 10,500 seeds per acre over 5 years, but much of the total crop

remained in the unopened cones. Seed viability is not markedly affected by heating,

unless the cone ignites, which kills the seed. Crown torching does not ignite cones

because the high temperatures are unlikely to last more than 3 minutes.

In cones exposed to fire, seeds are uninjured by temperatures that do not cause actual

cone ignition (e.g., 60 sec at 700°F, 30 sec at 900°F, 2 sec at 1200°F). Seed can be shed

for 3 years after a fire event.

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Seedling Development: Light, moisture, air temperature and seedbed conditions influence

germination and seedling survival. Optimum conditions for jack pine seedling

establishment and survival are provided by exposed mineral soil and burned seedbeds

where competition from other vegetation is not severe, the water table is high (within 6

feet), and there is light partial shade.

Seeds germinate within 15 to 60 days when conditions are favorable. Germination rates

are reduced if seed is exposed to direct sunlight more than four hours per day or in full

shade conditions. The shade cast by slash and snags on burned-over or cut-over areas

reduces surface temperatures and drying, contributing substantially to the good

germination often observed on such areas. Jack pine seedlings are most abundant in the

understory when light intensity is 11 to 30 percent of full sunlight, but height growth is

greatest in light intensities of 52 percent or more.

Highest germination and seedling survival rates are observed for seeds that fall in April,

May, June, and November. Numerous factors hinder seedling survival: drought, high soil

surface temperatures, vegetative competition, prolonged flooding, insects, diseases, deer

browse, ice damage, and nipping and girdling by snowshoe hares.

Under forest conditions, seedling growth is slow in the first 3 years but increases rapidly

beginning in the fourth and fifth years. During the first season the root system penetrates

to a depth of 5 to 10 inches. By the end of the second season, on typical sandy soils,

seedlings are 3 to 4 inches tall, and roots are 11 to 13 inches deep with a lateral spread of

18 to 24 inches. By the fourth year wild seedlings are usually 1 to 3 feet in height. Early

growth of 2-0 seedlings in plantations is more rapid, amounting to 12 to 18 inches per

year on medium quality sites.

Although jack pine seeds usually germinate following fire, most of the seedlings die

unless the organic matter left on the soil is less than 0.5 inch thick. Most germination

occurs the first and second season following fire, with most mortality between the first

and second growing season. Unless conditions for germination and early survival are

favorable, good regeneration does not necessarily follow burns.

Growth and Development: In well-stocked stands, jack pine is short to medium tall,

slender, with a narrow open crown covering 30 to 45 percent of stem. In open growth, it

tends to be stocky, with poor form and a wide spreading crown with persistent branches,

often to the ground. Overstocked stands produce weak, spindly stems that are susceptible

to breakage by wind, ice, and snow. Normally, mature trees are 55 to 65 feet tall and 8 to

10 inches DBH, although some trees have attained greater than 100 feet in height and 25

inches DBH.

During the first 20 years, jack pine is one of the fastest growing conifers, being second

only to tamarack. Seedlings reach breast height in 5 to 8 years. On average sites, growth

averages about one foot a year to 50 years of age. Annual height growth on medium sites

averages from 13 inches at age 30 to 9 inches at age 50. At age 80 years, annual height

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growth is only 5 inches. On the best sites stands begin to decline in growth and vigor

after 80 to 100 years; on poor sites after 60 years. Vigorous trees 185 years old have been

found in northeastern Minnesota. Most older jack pine stands in the Lake States were

established following fires.

Reaction to Competition: Jack pine is one of the most shade-intolerant trees in its native

range. It is ranked as less tolerant than red pine and is slightly more tolerant than aspen,

birch, and tamarack. Jack pine may be more tolerant in the seedling stage and often

requires some shade on dry sites to reduce surface temperatures and evapotranspiration.

Soon after seedlings are established, however, they should receive full sunlight to assure

survival. Overall, jack pine can be classed as intolerant of shade.

Overstocked jack pine seedling and sapling stands with 2,000 or more trees per acre may

be thinned to improve growth and development. Otherwise such stands may stagnate

because natural thinning in jack pine stands is slow except on the best sites. Planting,

direct seeding, and precommercial thinning should have a goal of 600 to 1,200 trees per

acre (plantations 400-1200).

Jack pine is a pioneer species on burns or exposed sandy sites. In the absence of fire or

other disturbances, jack pine is succeeded by more tolerant species, but on the poorest,

driest sites it may persist and form a localized climax community.

Damaging Agents: Jack pine is subject to many agents that cause damage or mortality.

Young jack pines are especially susceptible to early spring fires. Severe drought may kill

many seedlings, particularly on coarse soils. High populations of white-tailed deer can

kill young jack pines up to 7 feet tall, retard total height growth to half its potential, and

deform most trees so they have little future value for timber products. Snowshoe hares

can severely damage jack pine reproduction, particularly in dense stands of trees.

Meadow voles cause occasional damage and mortality by gnawing the bark off main

stems and lower branches. Porcupines can cause extensive damage in older stands. Jack

pine budworm can be a severe defoliator, with outbreaks occurring approximately every

10 years. Wind throw is not a serious problem in jack pine stands except on shallow soils

or when more than one-third of the stand basal area is removed in thinnings. Stem

breakage from wind, ice, and snow is more common.

Disease can impact both survival and growth of jack pine. Diplodia (Diplodia pinea) and

Sirococcus shoot blight (Serococcus conigenus) can cause significant losses in natural

and artificial regeneration. Rust fungi, such as pine-oak gall rust (Cronartium quercum),

can result in morality when galls form on the main stem.

Cone and seed production can be decreased by numerous factors. Seed and cone insects

may limit seed production. Red squirrels and other rodents destroy cones and consume

seeds. Birds may be important consumers of jack pine seeds that fall to the ground or are

directly sown. See Forest Health Guidelines section for more detailed information on

jack pine damaging agents.

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Table 33.1 - Summary of selected silvical characteristics.

Jack Pine (Pinus banksiana)

Flowers Monoecious spp; mostly wind-pollinated and cross-fertilizing;

some natural selfing occurs; pollination occurs mid-May to early

June

Fruit Cones 1 to 2 inches at maturity; 2 years to mature; color changes

from green to brown to gray as cones age; varying degrees of

serotiny

Seed Trees can produce seeds early (5 to 10 years) in open grown

stands; in closed stands seeds are produced at 10-25 years; good

seed crops occur every 3 to 4 years; fully stocked stands can

produce 13 pounds of seed per acre with 131,000 seeds per

pound; seed yields per cone range from 15 to 75; crop failures

are rare; seeds can remain viable in the canopy for many years

Seedlings Optimum conditions for seedling establishment and survival are

provided by exposed mineral soil and burned seedbeds where

competition from other vegetation is not severe, the water table

is high (within 6 feet), and there is light partial shade. Seeds

germinate within 15 to 60 days when conditions are favorable;

potential for delayed germination in first two years after seed

sow

Growth Fast growing conifer during the first 20 years. Seedlings reach

breast height in 5 to 8 years. On the best sites, stands begin to

break down after 80 to 100 years; after 60 years on poor sites.

Tolerance Shade-intolerant, although in the seedling stage often requires

some shade on dry sites to reduce surface temperatures and

evapotranspiration. Soon after seedlings are established,

however, they should receive full sunlight to assure survival.

Damaging

agents

Birds, rodents, deer, snowshoes hares, porcupines, wind, fire,

drought, ice, snow, insects and disease.

MANAGEMENT GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

Management objectives should be identified in accordance with landowner goals and

within a sustainable forest management framework, which gives consideration to a

variety of goals and objectives within the local and regional landscape. The silvicultural

systems described herein are designed to promote the optimum quality and quantity of

timber products. These silvicultural systems may be modified to satisfy other

management objectives, but vigor, growth, and stem quality could potentially be reduced.

Prior to development and implementation of silvicultural prescriptions, landowner

property management goals need to be clearly defined and articulated, management units

(stands) must be accurately assessed, and stand management objectives should be

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detailed. In-depth and accurate stand assessment will facilitate discussion of stand

management options and objectives in relation to realistic and sustainable management

goals. Jack pine stand assessment may include quantifying variables such as those

described in the following table.

Table 33.2 - Jack pine stand assessment considerations.

Species Composition

 Canopy, shrub, and ground layers

 Potential growth and competition

 Sources of regeneration, especially

non-target species that may

interfere with jack pine

regeneration (e.g., aspen coppice)

Stand Structure

 Size class distribution and density



Age class distribution

Stand and Tree Quality

 Overall stand health and vigor

 Crown form and vigor

 Stem form and quality

 Potential products (fiber vs. bolt

wood)

 Genetic potential of current stand

(Note – past improper seed source

selection may have resulted in

poorly adapted planting stock)

Regeneration Potential

 Cone production

 Serotinous vs. non-serotinous

 Seedbed condition – scarification

needs

 Depth to water table – available

moisture

 Competing vegetation (e.g., hazel,

sedge)

Site Quality

 Habitat type

 Site index



Soil characteristics

Damaging Agents

 Gall rust

 Jack pine budworm damage



Browse

Special Considerations

 Stand history

 Wildlife objectives

 Rare species presence or potential

habitat



Landscape context

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 Rare or declining natural

communities (e.g., barrens)

SILVICULTURAL SYSTEMS

A silvicultural system is a planned program of vegetation treatment during the entire life

of a stand. Silvicultural systems typically include three basic components: intermediate

treatments (tending), harvesting, and regeneration. Even-aged management is the

generally accepted method to obtain jack pine regeneration. All natural jack pine

regeneration methods generally require some form of soil scarification or disturbance for

successful germination and seedling establishment. Artificial regeneration (seeding or

planting) is also a generally accepted and commonly practiced method to establish jack

pine. The even-aged natural regeneration methods generally accepted and supported by

literature are:

 Clearcut

 Seed Tree

 Shelterwood (Conditionally Recommended)

Table 33.3 - Recommended and Conditionally Recommended natural regeneration methods. A

detailed discussion of these methods can be found later in this chapter.

FOREST

COVER

TYPE

NATURAL REGENERATION METHODS

Coppice Clearcut Seed Tree

Overstory

Removal

Shelterwood

Patch

Selection

Group

Selection

Single-

tree

Selection

Jack Pine

R - Recommended

CR – Conditionally Recommended (see Regeneration Systems for more detail)

NR – Not Recommended

MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS

Seedling/Sapling Stands

Jack pine germination and early seedling establishment is usually best on sites where

there is some shade cast by slash and snags to reduce surface temperatures and drying.

Subsequent early growth however is best in full sunlight with limited competition from

shrubs and herbaceous vegetation (94).

Under forest conditions, seedling growth is generally slow in the first 3 years but

increases rapidly beginning in the fourth and fifth years (94). Once established, seedlings

and saplings exhibit optimal vigor (growth and health) when exposed to full sunlight.

Delayed germination following disturbance combined with slow initial seedling growth

may result in incorrect determinations of regeneration failure. Allow for a slow

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establishment period of 1-5 years for naturally regenerated stands. However early

monitoring is still important if corrective management activities, like supplemental

planting, are needed that take advantage of initial site preparation.

Density of seedling stands should be maintained between 600-1200 well distributed (i.e.,

at least 60% of area fully stocked) trees per acre (plantations 400-1200 trees per acre).

Non-Commercial Intermediate Treatments – Release

Following establishment, jack pine seedlings and saplings can be outcompeted by other

tree species resulting in jack pine mortality and reduced stocking and representation well

into the poletimber stage. When aspen reproduces as an associate, it often assumes

dominance. As site quality improves, aspen as well as other species (e.g. oak, white pine,

red maple) can limit and out-compete jack pine.

In instances of aspen or other species competition, release operations will generally be

required to control competition and maintain tree vigor. Release operations are best

implemented before desirable stems are physically suppressed and while there are still

many individuals to choose from. Seedlings and saplings generally respond to release

with significant increases in vigor, height, and diameter growth. Release operations

should be implemented early in the life of the stand, typically at 7-10 years of age.

Release at an earlier or later stage will not have the same beneficial effect.

Weeding or cleaning operations are also sometimes recommended in overstocked jack

pine seedling and sapling stands of more than 2000 trees per acres to prevent stagnation

(8, 102). A northern Minnesota precommercial thinning study compared unthinned to

thinned (4x4, 6x6, and 8x8 ft. spacings) plots and found after twenty-two years that

average stand diameter increased 3.5 inches in DBH in the unthinned plots, and 4.1, 5.1,

and 5.8 inches in DBH, respectively, in the thinned plots (12). Sapling stands with a site

index of 50 or less and stocked in excess of 2000 stems per acre should be thinned to

600-1200 stems per acre. Higher quality stands tend to self-thin through stem

competition and natural suppression. Very dense stands, like those that sometimes

originate from direct seeding or fire (i.e., >10,000 trees per acre), can be mechanically

thinned by clearing strips about 8 feet wide and leaving strips 2 feet wide (8).

Commercial Intermediate Treatments - Thinning

Commercial thinning of jack pine is uncommon in the Lake States since many stands are

primarily managed for pulpwood. Thinning in jack pine can however reduce the length

of fiber rotations and increase sawtimber output (8, 100).

Thinning is an option on better quality sites (site index of 60 or greater) to increase

production of poles and small sawlogs. Low or mechanical (plantations) thinning is

generally recommended. Do not remove more than one-third of the stand basal area in

any one thinning operation, as jack pine can be subject to wind and snow/ice damage.

Refer to the stocking chart (Figure 33.22) to help determine timing and level of thinning.

On less productive sites or in stands managed for fiber, thinning is not recommended (8).

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REGENERATION SYSTEMS

Clearcut (Recommended)

The clearcut method is an even-aged regeneration system designed to naturally

regenerate a stand from seed by the removal of most or all woody vegetation during the

harvest. Regeneration is from natural seeding from trees cut in the harvest operation, or

in some cases, natural seeding from adjacent stands. Clearcutting is a recommended

method for naturally regenerating jack pine stands at rotation (8).

An important aspect for the successful application of the clearcut method in jack pine is

the presence of serotinous cones. Serotinous cones persist on the tree for years and result

in an accumulation of seed within these unopened cones. The unopened cones provide

the primary seed source after the harvest operation. In the Lake States however, stands

may contain trees with non-serotinous or partially serotinous cones. Careful cone and

seed assessment is needed prior to using this regeneration method to ensure that adequate

seed will be available after the harvest. Direct seeding may need to be considered if the

existing seed bank is limited (see Artificial Regeneration).

If the current tree quality is desirable and there is an ample number of serotinous cones, a

new seedling stand can be established naturally by scattering cone-bearing slash on bare

mineral soil seedbeds. The heat near the ground surface (18 inches and less) will open

the cones and release seeds. The slash will provide light beneficial shade during

germination to reduce moisture stress, but care is needed to avoid too much accumulation

of slash that might interfere with later seedling development (8).

Proper scarification and seedbed preparation are critical for successful germination and

seedling establishment. Mineral soil seedbeds provide the best conditions for seed

germination because soil moisture levels are generally more stable and vegetation

competition is minimized. Scarification can be accomplished by several methods and

should be tailored to the particular stand conditions. See the following Scarification

section for more detail.

In stands with limited numbers of serotinous cones along with non-serotinous and/or

partially serotinous cones, the clearcut regeneration method may be modified by

conducting scarification 2-3 years before the harvest to establish advance jack pine

seedlings. This modification is similar to the shelterwood method; however some

regeneration may also originate from the limited numbers of serotinous cones present in

slash after the harvest. Complete the clearcut harvest after adequate advance

regeneration becomes established, anticipating post-sale regeneration in addition to

advance regeneration. Adequate jack pine stocking should be between 600-1200

seedlings per acre and at least 60% milacre stocking. The harvest can be done during

winter months with at least one foot of snow cover to protect the advance regeneration.

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Seed Tree (Recommended)

The seed tree method is

an even-aged

regeneration system

designed to encourage

seed origin regeneration

by leaving enough trees

singly or in groups to

naturally seed the area.

This method is generally

used in jack pine stands

with serotinous cones

and is coupled with

prescribed fire to open

the serotinous cones and

prepare a favorable

seedbed. Some

managers have coupled

the seed tree method

with pre-harvest

scarification in place of fire, however seed dispersal from the seed trees may be limited

with this method if the cones are mostly serotinous. The seed tree method has been used

effectively in the Lakes States, but is less common likely due to the additional resources

and preparation required, as well as the difficulties in achieving the appropriate timing

and intensity of prescribed fire (65, 2).

The jack pine seed tree method should retain at least 10 well-distributed, quality seed

trees per acre (8). A Superior National Forest study determined 7-9 seed trees per acre

were adequate, however this study stressed the importance of careful seed tree selection;

high quality trees with an abundant supply of serotinous cones. Trees with a DBH greater

than 11 inches produced the most viable seed in this study (2). Managers in Wisconsin

have generally retained higher numbers of seed trees (10-20 per acre), depending on the

quantity and quality of cones within the seed tree crowns. Tree selection should also

consider that average jack pine seed dispersal distances are approximately twice the

height of the tree.

Prescribed fire is critical with this method to both prepare a suitable seedbed and open

serotinous cones. The fire needs to limit slash amounts and reduce the humus layer to

less than 0.2 inches, exposing mineral soil (21). Prescribed burns are generally

conducted in spring, early summer, or fall. Backfires are most effective at reducing the

humus layer and still sufficiently hot to open serotinous cones (2). Burns should take

place soon after the harvest to minimize the risk of wind throw prior to seed dispersal

(i.e., after one warm month of drying conditions). Jack pine seed trees often are scorched

Figure 33.6

Jack pine seed tree with prescribed fire on the

Northern Highlands American Legion State Forest. Photo by

WDNR.

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and killed by the fire. If seed trees survive beyond the regeneration period they can

increase the risk of insect and disease problems. If conditions for seed germination are

not favorable following seed dispersal, supplemental seeding or planting may be required

(8). See the Prescribed Fire section for more detailed information on the use of fire in

jack pine.

Scarification

Proper site scarification is a critical element to ensure successful regeneration of jack

pine. Standard logging operations often result in a disturbed forest floor, however the

level of disturbance is often inadequate to create favorable seedbeds for jack pine

regeneration. Prescribed fire or mechanical scarification is often required to ensure

successful germination of jack pine seed (22).

Jack pine stocking is directly related to the proportion of favorable seedbed that is

available (88). Favorable seedbeds for jack pine germination include exposed mineral

soil and a residual humus layer of 0.2 inches or less. Excessive post-harvest slash and/or

organic duff layers greater than 0.5 inches can inhibit germination, although complete

removal of the humus layer from the site can also have an adverse effect on seedbeds by

decreasing nutrient availability, especially on dry nutrient poor sands. Some light slash

cover is desirable to provide light shade, reducing surface temperatures and drying to

improve germination. Undisturbed heavy mosses, lichens, sedge, and thick, poorly

decomposed organic horizons make poor seedbeds for jack pine because they dry out

quickly and do not allow for the upward movement of moisture, thereby limiting seed

germination and seedling survival. (18, 81, 22). Seedbeds with some silt and clay

content, as well as water tables within 6 feet of the surface, also improve germination

success. Some upland outwash sands may be too dry at times for good germination.

Sphagnum moss seedbeds over moist sands have been a notable exception where good

germination without scarification has been noted. Best management practices for water

quality and biomass harvesting guidelines are important considerations for all jack pine

scarification operations (refer to Wisconsin’s Forestry Best Management Practices for

Water Quality Field Manual and Wisconsin’s Forestland Woody Biomass Harvesting

Guidelines).

A successfully prepared seedbed will have at least 40-60% exposed mineral soil.

Mechanical scarification and prescribed fire have both been used to expose mineral soil

for jack pine regeneration. Prescribed fire emulates the natural regeneration ecology of

jack pine and has been used effectively to prepare seedbeds and open serotinous cones

(see following Prescribed Fire section for more information). Mechanical scarification is

often the preferred method because it offers flexibility, good quality control, and a seven

to eight month window for operation, along with effective control of competing

vegetation.

When mechanically preparing a seedbed for natural jack pine regeneration where aspen is

present in the stand, limit soil disturbance around the individual aspen trees to minimize

aspen sprouting.

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Deep scarification to expose mineral soils may provide relatively good results on drier

course-textured soils. However on wetter sites with finer-textured soils, establishment

may be best on seedbeds near the mineral soil-humus interface. Seed burial due to soil

sloughing and duff, as well as flooding and cold temperatures on wetter sites, are

common problems with deep scarification. (97, 22, 34). Soil sloughing can be

minimized by allowing the scarification to settle prior to harvesting or seeding.

Depending on the scarification method and soil type, allowing loose soils to stabilize may

also help reduce air pockets and improve early seedling survival.

Mechanical scarification equipment for jack pine includes; blades (straight , Salmon),

anchor chains, roller choppers, root rakes, drags, disks, rotary-head scarifiers, disk

trenchers, plows, and patch scarifiers (Bracke, Leno).

Straight /Salmon Blades and Root Rakes: Blade and rake scarification are common and

successful pre-harvest methods of soil scarification in mature jack pine stands that have

enough room between

the trees to maneuver

equipment effectively.

This type of scarification

is often more effective

than other methods in

stands with a heavy oak,

hazel, and/or sedge

component. The

equipment operator

should try to expose as

much mineral soil

seedbed as possible (i.e.,

at least 40-60%

recommended). With a

straight blade, the

equipment operator

should angle the blade,

just deep enough into the

sod/duff layer to ensure

good seedbed exposure.

Straight blade scarification is usually done in 20-40 foot segments and at the end of each

segment the operator lifts the blade while still pushing forward to roll the sod layer over,

running the flap of sod over with the dozer tracks. This technique shakes the

accumulated soil out of the sod layer, thus keeping the disturbed piles down to two feet or

less in height. The operator should make sure that there is no soil accumulation around

the base of trees to be harvested. Too much soil accumulation around the base of trees

makes it difficult to operate logging processors during the harvest. Creating large soil

and sod piles (sometimes 3-4 feet high) is the most common mistake made by

inexperienced equipment operators, resulting in very difficult harvest conditions for the

Figure

33.

–

Pre

harvest blade scarification. Photo by Douglas

County Forestry Dept.

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logging contractor. Salmon blades and root rakes contain teeth that are designed to turn

and expose soil in place, minimizing the accumulation of large piles.

Anchor Chains: Drag scarification with anchor chains is a common and successful

method to prepare jack pine seedbeds and distribute cone-bearing slash after a harvest.

Anchor chain scarification should be done immediately after harvest with non-frozen soil

conditions, preferably in late spring or summer, before serotinous cones open and

disperse their seed. If done in early summer it

can help reduce competing vegetation more

effectively through greater root disturbance.

Roller chopping can be done prior to chaining

to reduce competing vegetation, particularly in

stands with an aspen component. Jack pine

slash must contain serotinous cones with

viable seed to achieve successful natural

regeneration (with the exception of

shelterwood harvests that rely on seed rain

from non-serotinous cones). Supplemental

direct seeding can be done if the site does not

have adequate cones. Anchor chaining is most

effective on sites with a limited cover of sedge

and other competing vegetation, as well as a

limited humus layer. Previously dense jack

pine stands with limited hardwood and brush

competition that are dominated by light

mosses over mineral soil are ideal. Slash

should be adequately scattered during harvest

operations to help distribute cones and

promote the opening of serotinous cones by

exposing them to the higher temperatures near

the soil surface (i.e., slash heights of 18” or

less). Scattering slash also allows the chains

to reach the ground and not float up on heavy

slash loads. Roller chopping can also be

utilized to break up heavy slash loads and improve chaining effectiveness. The chain

setup should consist of at least two chains spaced six feet apart, attached to a draw bar to

keep them adequately separated. Adding bars on the chain ends in an “X” formation also

helps keep the chains free of debris and helps limit floating up on slash. Bars or spikes

should also be added to the chain links to increase scarification effectiveness. Two passes

over the site at right angles will help maximize coverage and increase cone distribution;

however one pass may be sufficient on lighter slash. On formerly furrowed sites,

chaining across the furrows effectively exposes more mineral soil seedbed. Rubber tire

skidders are typically utilized to pull the chains, but tracked dozers can be used if more

power and equipment floatation are needed.

Figure

33.

–

Anchor chain scarification.

Photo by Vilas County Forestry

Department.

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Harvesting Operations: Whole tree ground skidding during non-frozen conditions may

provide adequate scarification and mineral soil exposure. If natural regeneration is

desired, the jack pine trees must be topped and the tops scattered before skidding to

ensure as much of the seed source stays on site as possible.

Prescribed Fire

Many of today’s jack pine stands resulted directly from wildfires of the past. These

stands can provide insight into the use of fire for effective management and regeneration

of the species (30). The use of prescribed fire as a tool in the management of jack pine

has been relatively uncommon in the Lake States (30), due in part to the logistical

challenges of safely burning in the pine fuel type. Its applications include seedbed

preparation, fire hazard reduction, control of competing vegetation, insect and disease

control, and Pine Barrens restoration. Prescribed fire can be an economical alternative to

either mechanical or chemical site preparation (2, 30, 76, 91).

Jack pine is well suited for the use of prescribed fire because of a number of adaptations

to fire including delayed seed release from serotinous cones, early reproductive maturity,

fast growth rates in full sun, and preference for mineral soil seedbeds (15). Temperatures

ranging between 120 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit are required to melt the resin on the

cones, open the scales and release the seed (91). Heat does not markedly affect seed

viability, however if cones ignite, the seed will be destroyed (15).

Most research indicates the best use of prescribed fire for jack pine is in site preparation

for regeneration (94). Regeneration methods commonly used in conjunction with fire

include tree planting, direct seeding, and seed tree. Note that prescribed fire in clearcut

slash (i.e., without seed trees) does not usually result in adequate natural seeding, because

most of the cones within the slash ignite, destroying this source of seed.

Prescribed fire for jack pine regeneration is most often used to create a favorable seedbed

for germination. The most receptive seedbeds for germination are on exposed mineral

soil consisting of minor amounts of post-harvest slash and a thin residual humus layer of

0.2 inches or less. Excessive post-harvest slash can shade seedbeds and organic duff

layers greater than 0.5 inch in depth can inhibit germination and adversely affect

establishment (7, 15, 21, 91, 94). However, complete removal of the humus layer can

also have an adverse effect on seedbeds. Several case studies cited that maintaining some

humus will increase nutrient availability and promote moisture retention by slowing

runoff (2, 30, 76).

Planning the timing and intensity of prescribed fires is important in achieving the desired

results. Multiple research trials have indicated the most effective time to burn for seedbed

preparation is either spring or early summer, with both advantages and disadvantages

listed below (2, 7, 91). Alternatively, early fall has been suggested as a potential burn

season to disperse seed for germination the following spring, but more field evaluation in

Wisconsin is likely needed (7, 63).

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Spring Burns:

Advantages –

 Most favorable time for seed germination and establishment

 Lower humidity, higher burning index

Disadvantages –

 Control of the fire can be difficult

 Operational times limited – number of days when fire weather is appropriate to

burn.

 Due to higher forest floor moisture levels spring fires may not burn with enough

intensity to consume organic duff layers, resulting in limited exposure of mineral

soil seedbeds.

Early Summer Burns:

Advantages –

 Drier fuel conditions result in a hotter burn and greater likelihood of reducing

organic duff layers, resulting in greater exposure of mineral soil seedbeds.

 High humidity levels make fire control easier

 Better control of competing vegetation

Disadvantages –

 Establishment may be too late in the year for seedling survival

 Newly germinated seedlings are more vulnerable to heat and desiccation during

drier summer months

Burning should be conducted as soon as possible after the timber harvest and after at least

one warm month of drying conditions have lapsed. This ensures that fuels have

adequately cured and if regeneration is to be conducted using the seed tree method, the

loss of trees to wind throw will be minimized (7). Refer to the section on seed tree

regeneration for more details. Other considerations regarding timing include:

 Conduct burns after mid-day when RH is lowest and winds most stable (2).

 Strive to burn when there is a high Buildup Index (moisture deficiency in fuels)

and a low Burning Index (current burning conditions). This will permit maximum

fuel consumption including duff with minimal control difficulty. This is

considered the most important factor in removing enough of the humus layer to

prepare a receptive seedbed (30).

In addition to timing, a fire must burn with sufficient intensity to ensure enough heat is

generated to eliminate excessive slash, reduce the humus layer, control competing

vegetation and open cones. Fuels should be cured, and uniformly distributed over 75% of

the ground area. The humus layer must be dry to within 1 inch of the mineral soil. Based

on previous Lake States’ guidance, adequate fuel loads to ensure a hot fire are normally

obtained if the pre-harvest condition of the stand contains a minimum of 100 ft

of basal

area per acre and achieves a minimum slash depth of 18 inches (7).

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The ignition pattern chosen will also influence fire intensity. The two primary ignition

patterns include headfires and backing fires. Headfires are hot, rapidly moving fires that

consume slash quickly, and open serotinous cones. However because they move rapidly,

they may be harder to control and may not adequately consume enough of the humus

layer as is required. In contrast, backing fires consistently consume the required amount

of humus because fires burn significantly slower and longer in duration at higher

temperatures, typically producing sufficient heat to open serotinous cones on seed trees

as well. In addition, since these fires burn more slowly, they are easier to control (2). In

either case, when burning in conjunction with a seed tree regeneration method, individual

crown torching will normally not result in cone ignition because the higher temperatures

are unlikely to last more than several minutes (15).

Prescribed fire has been used with varying degrees of success in controlling undesirable

competition and reducing insect and disease concerns. Competition from both sedges and

hazel can inhibit regeneration and subsequent establishment. Fire can temporarily impede

these competitors and allow for jack pine seedlings to grow above the recovering grass

and shrub layer (2, 91). However to be effective a prescribed fire must be conducted

either before or immediately after the overstory has been removed. A hot early to mid-

summer burn will be most effective at limiting competing brush species, especially if the

litter fuels have been adequately cured (2, 15). For example, single spring prescribed fires

have been shown to have little lasting impact on hazel competition, but summer fires

more effectively decrease hazel vigor and sprouting (11).

In addition to controlling competition, fire can also help to protect jack pine from pests,

including damping-off fungi, Scleroderris canker, dwarf mistletoe (Arceuthobium spp.),

and Ips pini. Elimination of newly created slash will discourage population outbreaks

from Ips beetle (91).

Additional considerations when using prescribed fire include:

 Larger burn areas are more cost effective to administer.

 Timber harvest plans should incorporate road design that will also serve as future

firebreaks.

 Harvest plans should also incorporate treatment of slash to aid in facilitating

suitable burning conditions – directional felling of trees and uniform slash

distribution and depth.

Monitoring and documenting prescribed fire trials is recommended during pre- and post-

burn application. The intent is to assess and document fire effects on seedbed

enhancement, regeneration stocking, competition, and fire conditions. Recommendations

for monitoring include:

 Document pre-burn and post-burn forest conditions – density, size and vigor of

regeneration, and competition

 Measure fire conditions – fuel load, fire intensity/flame length, rate of spread

 Document costs associated with the burn – equipment time and labor

 Examine the site 2-5 years post-burn – document density, size and vigor of

regeneration, and competition. If the objective of the prescribed fire is for

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regeneration from jack pine seed, its success may not be evident for two to five

years post-burn. Survival of germinants depends upon a number of factors

including a good seedbed, adequate moisture, seed supply, delayed germination,

seed predation and rate of recovery of competitive species.

Artificial Regeneration

Tree planting and direct seeding are successful and commonly utilized methods to

establish jack pine regeneration in the Lake States. Chapter 22 provides guidelines for

artificial regeneration and should be referenced when developing artificial regeneration

prescriptions. Some jack pine specific considerations are also discussed here to aid in

jack pine tree planting and direct seeding practices.

Planting: Some stand conditions are not conducive to natural jack pine regeneration or

direct seeding (e.g., excessive competing vegetation, unfavorable seedbed conditions,

limited cone-bearing slash, poor quality growing stock) and therefore tree planting may

be a preferred management option. Tree planting also provides the opportunity to

introduce well adapted seed sources and improved genetic material into stands. Jack pine

specific planting considerations include:

 Tree planting densities for jack pine generally range between 400-1200 seedlings

per acre, with 6-8 foot spacing typically recommended (9).

 Both bare root and containerized stock are successfully used for jack pine planting

operations in Wisconsin. Managers need to consider site conditions, site

preparation methods, seed source, planting operations, and costs to determine the

appropriate stock type. Chapter 22 provides detailed information on advantages

and disadvantages of bare root and containerized stock types.

 One-year old bare root (1-0) or containerized jack pine stock is generally

recommended for hand planting on sites with good site preparation and limited

competing vegetation. Two-year old seedlings are generally recommended for

sites with greater competition and where machine planting will be utilized.

 Bracke scarification, disk trenching or DNR fire plows are common tree planting

site preparation methods used in Wisconsin. Herbicide treatments may be used

alone or in combination with these mechanical methods to control heavy

competing vegetation.

 Consider delayed reforestation of sites where weevils (i.e., Northern Pine and

Pales) are present

 First year regeneration monitoring is important to determine if supplemental

planting is needed to improve stocking levels. Supplemental planting should be

conducted by the second or third growing season while site preparation is still

adequate.

Direct Seeding: Jack pine sites are often well suited for direct seeding operations, as long

as favorable seedbeds are available. Direct seeding can be used to supplement or replace

natural seeding in stands with limited cone production, non-serotinous cones, or on other

poorly regenerated areas where a seed source is not naturally present. Advantages of

direct seeding jack pine include introduction of well adapted seed sources, low cost,

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simple and rapid application, and good seedling development. Direct seeding results

however are often variable and careful consideration must be given to the following:

 As with natural seeding, favorable seedbeds are required for direct seeding

success. See scarification section for more information on favorable seedbed

conditions.

 Scarification can be accomplished by drags, blades, disks, spot scarifiers,

trenchers, or prescribed fire, with seed distributed by hand (cyclone seeder, coffee

can), machine (Bracke, seed bombs), or aerial. Depending on scarification

method, equipment, labor, and seed availability, sites may be spot or broadcast

seeded.

 Seedbeds should be allowed time to stabilize prior to seeding.

 Seeding rates should be 20-30,000 repellent-treated, viable seeds per acre

(average 131,000 seeds per pound). Seeding rates greater than 30,000 seeds per

acre generally do not enhance stocking (88). In application, sowing rates are

commonly 4-6 ounces per acre. Greater aerial coverage can be achieved if seeded

in two directions; 2-3oz. per acre in each direction.

 Jack pine seed from WDNR State Nurseries is generally repellent-treated, using

the fungicide thiram, which is also an animal repellent, and a latex paint carrier.

Refer to the seed treatment SDS for more information on personal protection

equipment to use while handling treated seed.

 Establishment is generally greatest when seeding is done from late winter to mid-

June. Broadcast seeding is best over fresh snow or before snow melt in early

spring. Sowing during this period minimizes the interval between seeding and

germination, reducing the risk of seed loss to predators. Soil moisture is usually

plentiful in spring due to snow melt and warming soil temperatures encourage

good root development (35, 22).

 Allow at least 3-4 growing seasons before judging direct seeding results. Delayed

germination can result in increases in stocking between the first and third years

after sowing (88, 94). Reseeding can be successful if a favorable seedbed

remains.

 Avoid direct seeding in areas with heavy competing vegetation, such as aspen, or

on higher quality sites (i.e., dry mesic habitat types) where competition may limit

results, unless herbicides are utilized.

 Aerial seeding can be an effective regeneration method for jack pine, as long as

adequate amounts of favorable seedbed are available. Aerial seeding coverage is

maximized in larger block stands of at least 25 acres in size and by limiting the

number of reserve trees that may interfere with aerial applications. Islands of

reserve trees interfere less with aerial applications than dispersed tree retention.

Seed Source Considerations: Jack pine is known for its wide genetic variation in many

important characteristics, such as height growth, form, disease resistance, cone serotiny,

and others. Lake States provenance studies have found that local seed sources generally

grow better than the average for all provenances, but sources moved slightly northward

generally grow best (93, 46). Provenance study results have been used to develop seed

zone maps to guide the appropriate movement of jack pine seed sources in the Lake

States (Figure 33.9)(46). Tree improvement efforts by the Division of Forestry and other

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agencies continue to develop jack pine seed orchards through advanced progeny testing

and breeding.

Selecting appropriate

seed sources is critical for

maintaining stand

productivity. Managers

need to consider seed

source appropriateness

when selecting material

for both tree planting and

direct seeding practices.

Jack pine plantations on

suitable sites that exhibit

poor growth and form

may have originated from

inappropriate seed

sources and should not be

naturally regenerated, but

rather reforested with

genetically better adapted

trees.

Natural Conversion

Jack pine can be difficult

to maintain on all but

very dry and nutrient poor habitat types. Jack pine ecosystems are dependent on fire or

logging for regeneration and in the absence of these disturbances oak, white pine, and red

maple often become more abundant if a seed source is available. From an ecological and

forest diversity standpoint, it may be desirable to maintain the jack pine cover type, since

the acres and volume of jack pine growing stock have been steadily decreasing in

Wisconsin (64). In some cases it may also be possible to manage for stands of mixed

species composition. Depending on site capabilities and landowner objectives, however,

conversion to other associated species may be prescribed. For example, conversion to red

pine on the dry to dry mesic habitat types has been common because of the species’

economic value and increased growth potential on these sites. However, jack pine may

perform better than red pine on very dry to dry habitat types in terms of average height

growth and survival (67, 93). Conversion to red pine and other closed canopy forest on

the state’s pine barrens, woodlands, and savanna habitats has raised concerns over loss of

diversity and fragmentation of these ecosystems at the landscape level (39, 40).

Conversion will be simplest in mixed stands with adequate stocking of desirable

associated species, where the jack pine can be removed through periodic thinning or

overstory removal. Some common associated species that may be considered in

conversion include aspen, oak, white pine, red pine, red maple, balsam fir, and white

spruce. If adequate stocking of desirable species is not present, artificial conversion

Figure 33.

–

Seed zon

e map developed from the twenty

year

results of the Lake States jack pine seed source study (45). Seed

sources kept within each zone should generally perform best

(i.e., each color represents a separate seed zone)

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would be required through site preparation and planting. The following are management

considerations for common jack pine natural conversions:

 Aspen – 10-30 ft

of basal area per acre of healthy aspen trees required for

coppice regeneration to produce adequate stocking. Consideration should be

given on very dry and wet-mesic habitat types, where aspen conversion may not

be recommended due to poor productivity, except for wildlife purposes (53).

 Oak – Clearcut/coppice regeneration methods may encourage a mixed conifer-

deciduous type for greater diversity. Jack pine – oak mixed stands can be

successfully managed on very dry to dry habitat types where oak are regenerated

easily by advanced regeneration/coppice and inclusions of jack pine are

regenerated by creating suitable jack pine seedbed conditions. See Chapter 41 for

guidelines on evaluating oak regeneration potential from advance regeneration

and sprouting.

 Red and White Pine – Stocking of at least 400 seedlings/saplings per acre or

sufficient overstory of red or white pine to facilitate shelterwood regeneration

methods.

Refer to the individual species cover type chapters for more information on natural

conversion.

CONDITIONAL MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS

Shelterwood (Conditionally Recommended)

Non-serotinous jack pines are more common along the southern edge of the species range

and can be found in central and northwestern Wisconsin (87). The mature cones on these

trees typically open and disperse seed in September to October. Common jack pine

regeneration methods, like clearcutting, are not as successful in non-serotinous stands

since there is inadequate seed within the harvest slash. The shelterwood method in

combination with scarification to expose mineral soil has been successfully used in stands

with predominantly non-serotinous cones (8, 13, 63)

Regeneration is usually accomplished using a two-step shelterwood. The initial harvest

(seed cut) should reduce stocking levels to 30-60 square feet of basal area per acre,

leaving a uniform crown cover of vigorous, high quality trees (best phenotypes) with

non-serotinous cones (8). The harvest operation may provide some scarification, but it is

usually insufficient to produce a consistent mineral soil seedbed. Post-sale mechanical

scarification (e.g., anchor chain or blade) is recommended to produce a seedbed better

suited for jack pine germination (see scarification section), as well as control competing

vegetation. Harvesting and scarification operations must be timed with a good cone crop

(every 3-4 years). Michigan DNR has observed success using the shelterwood method on

sites with a high summer water table (within 6 feet) and limited sedge competition (63).

Complete the final harvest or overstory removal as soon as adequate advance

regeneration becomes established, typically 2-3 years after the seed cut. Some have

noted longer establishment periods up to 10 years, but the overstory should be removed

as soon as possible after adequate regeneration is established to minimize seedling losses

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due to suppression and logging damage, and the risk of jack pine budworm buildup in the

overstory and subsequent defoliation of the newly established seedlings (17). Ideally the

overstory removal should be conducted with sufficient snow cover to minimize damage

to the advance regeneration.

Disadvantages to the shelterwood method may include; increased timber sale

establishment costs, longer regeneration period compared to clearcut and seed tree

methods, mortality of overstory trees prior to the final harvest, and potential for

conversion to more tolerant associated species (17, 63).

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JACK PINE MANAGEMENT DECISION MODEL

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ROTATION LENGTH

In even-aged silvicultural systems the rotation is defined as the period between

regeneration establishment and final cutting. The length of rotation may be based on

many criteria including culmination of mean annual increment, mean size, age,

attainment of particular minimum physical or value growth rate, stand history, and

biological condition.

Commonly the lower end of the rotation length range is defined by the age at which

maximization or culmination of mean annual increment (MAI) growth occurs. The upper

end of the rotation length range would be defined by the average stand life expectancy.

However, very little objective data exists identifying these endpoints in general and even

less by site type. In addition, growth and mortality rates vary among stands and can be

affected by many variables, including site characteristics, silvics, stocking, silvicultural

methods, insect and disease, and units of measure. The rotation ages provided are based

on general data, literature, empirical evidence, and professional experience. In

application, foresters will need to regularly review stands in the field and exercise

professional judgment concerning tree vigor and mortality and stand growth and

productivity. On all sites, individual trees and stands may maintain vigor longer or

decline earlier than these rotation length guidelines.

Recommended Rotation Ages

 40 to 70 years is recommended for timber management

o Fiber production is generally 40 to 60 years on most sites.

o Sawtimber production is generally 60 to 70 years on better quality sites with

site indices of 60 or greater.

 Extended rotation is not recommended for this short-lived, early successional species.

However, vigorous stands and vigorous individual trees on good sites could

potentially be managed to 80-100 years.

 Short rotations of less than 40 years are generally not recommended in order to

maintain soil nutrient levels, especially on dry nutrient poor sandy soils with whole

tree harvesting operations. Refer to Wisconsin’s Forestland Woody Biomass

Harvesting Guidelines for more information on dry nutrient poor sandy soils and

rotation age considerations (10).

The decision to rotate stands at the lower end of the rotation length range or earlier can

be based on many conditions, including very nutrient poor sites, landscape level

management modifications, site competition factors, jack pine budworm defoliation,

disease outbreaks, and low vigor. Documenting the site and stand conditions are

important when determining a rotation age for a stand.

Different rotation lengths can result in increased production of some benefits and reduced

production of others. Landowner goals and objectives will also influence rotation age

determination. See the discussions under management considerations in the following

sections to evaluate some benefits and costs (ecological, economic, social, and cultural)

associated with different forest management strategies.

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MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS

Soil Productivity

Soil productivity considerations are important when managing the jack pine cover type

for several reasons; jack pine commonly occurs on excessively drained/nutrient poor

soils, rotations are relatively short, and whole-tree or biomass harvesting is common .

These factors influence the availability of nutrients in the soil and thereby may alter the

long-term stand productivity.

Wisconsin’s Forestland Woody Biomass Guidelines (10) allow for biomass harvesting of

jack pine on dry nutrient poor sandy soils as long as rotations are 40 years or longer.

This exception for jack pine is based on the lower nutrient content of jack pine needles,

twigs, and bark, as compared to other tree species. A Minnesota study found 765 lbs/acre

calcium in above ground parts of aspen compared to only 181 lbs/acre calcium in jack

pine (78). Based on nutrient budget calculations for these dry nutrient poor sandy soils,

the soil nutrient pool is maintained with jack pine biomass harvests on rotations of 40

years or longer. Biomass rotations shorter than 40 years indicated depletion of the soil

nutrient pool for certain nutrients, even in jack pine forests. Retention of fine woody

material and rotation age determination are important considerations to maintain long-

term site productivity in the jack pine cover type.

Economic Considerations

Primary Wood Using Industries: Jack pine is utilized by primary wood using industries

as pulpwood, biomass, posts, and sawlogs. In 2009, jack pine accounted for 13 million

cubic feet or 3.6% of Wisconsin’s total roundwood production, with approximately 56%

used for pulpwood and 33% for sawlogs (125). Jack pine is a desirable pulpwood species

because of its long fiber length , making it ideal for producing strong paper. Wisconsin

paper mills generally lump jack pine with other conifer species and process softwood and

hardwood pulpwood separately. Jack pine lumber is generally knottier than other hard

pine species, such as red pine, and is often grouped with other softwoods like spruce,

pine, and fir and stamped with the abbreviation “SPF” (132). A few Wisconsin sawmills

have developed good markets for jack pine dimensional lumber (e.g., SPF lumber, pallet

stock, fence pickets), specifically targeting 8’to 12’ sawlog lengths.

Current Statewide Inventories: The statewide growing stock volume of jack pine in 2013

was approximately 224 million cubic feet. This represents a decrease of 57% since 1983

(Figure 33.3). Jack pine growing stock volume has been decreasing steadily due to high

removals and natural mortality, coupled with poor regeneration and conversion to other

species. The ratio of removals to growth has more than doubled since 1983 and currently

stands at 213% (Figure 33.4). The number and volume of pole and sawtimber trees has

decreased significantly since 1996, but the number of saplings has increased by about

10%, suggesting some level of successful regeneration for this forest type (125).

Wisconsin paper mills report concern for limited supplies of jack pine, as well as other

softwood species. Jack pine has become a smaller portion of their softwood volumes,

due to the decreasing supply and diversion of larger trees to sawtimber markets.

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Wisconsin mills that utilize jack pine also indicate they would purchase more volume if it

was available, but even at small volumes jack pine is still an important component of

their overall product mix (Joseph Kies, personal communication).

General Product Specifications:

Pulpwood

 Length – 100”

 Minimum Diameter (small end) – 3” or 4”

 All softwoods scaled by weight

 No charred wood

Sawtimber

 Length – 8’, 10’, or 12’ sawlogs (plus 6” trim)

 Minimum Diameter (small end) – 8”

Red Pine vs. Jack Pine Productivity

Red and jack pine grow on similar habitat types throughout the Lake States, including in

mixed natural stands. However forest managers have traditionally debated between

either growing jack pine or red pine, typically favoring jack pine on the very dry sites and

red pine on the somewhat more mesic sites. A Lake States study comparing volume

productivity between red and jack pine plantations found that red pine mean annual

increment averaged 29 cubic feet per acre greater than jack pine regardless of site index

(1). These higher yields were primarily attributed to red pine’s ability to carry greater

basal area per acre and to a lesser extent related to differences in site quality. This

potential for increased yields has historically led to management decisions to convert

natural jack pine stands to red pine plantations, especially on the dry to dry-mesic habitat

types. However other studies have found that jack pine performance is generally greater

in terms of average height growth and survival when compared to red pine, especially on

dry outwash sands and when utilizing well-adapted or improved seed sources (67, 93).

Sustaining jack pine forests for economic (e.g., fiber supply) and ecological reasons (e.g.,

Pine Barrens, Kirtland’s warbler), as well as recent forest health concerns with red pine

plantations (e.g., annosum, pocket decline, climate adaptations), have led to renewed

interest in jack pine reforestation. The decision to manage for jack pine, red pine, or

mixed stands should be based on careful consideration of overall management objectives

and site conditions.

Wildfire Protection

Fuel Management for Reducing Wildfire Hazards: Fuel management considerations

should be made in jack pine communities, prioritizing areas adjacent to developed

residential areas. There are two main types of fuel management options to consider:

fuelbreaks and firebreaks.

Fuelbreaks: A fuelbreak is a natural or man-made change in fuel characteristics which

affects fire behavior so that fires burning into them can be more readily controlled (73).

Strategically locating fuelbreaks near developments and within larger blocks of pine will

reduce the risk of crown fire and create tactical opportunities for fire suppression

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personnel and equipment if a forest fire should occur. A fuelbreak will lower the fuel

volume and reduce fire intensity by using techniques such as thinnings, harvest and

species conversion. A fuelbreak does not stop a wildland fire; rather the focus is on

interrupting the contiguous fuel arrangement so that the canopies will not sustain fire.

Jack pine thinnings and harvest will reduce the amount of fuel that sustains crown fire,

causing a fire to drop to or remain on the forest floor where suppression crews are better

able to control or narrow the fire. Post-harvest slash near houses should be mitigated.

Mechanically treating fuels (e.g., roller chopping) to create a fuelbreak can also serve as a

wildlife opening.

During species conversion, less hazardous associated species are favored as determined

by location and habitat type. Scrub oak, aspen and white birch are common associates

that should be considered for conversion as well as opportunities for oak savanna or pine

barrens. Aspen can actually slow a fire once they have greened-up. Widths can be

delineated by features in the area (e.g., from road to road or lake to lake).

Another consideration is floating fuelbreaks. Use progressive clearcut methods by

maintaining separate harvest areas in strips, so there is always one strip of low vegetation

that can be considered a fuelbreak and access point for fire suppression equipment.

Firebreaks: A firebreak is a natural or constructed barrier used to stop or check fires

that may occur, or to provide a control line from which to work

(73). The objective of a

firebreak is to remove all burnable material from an area. Two considerations are the

placement of roadside mineral soil firebreaks and logging or access roads. Mineral soil

firebreaks on the sides of plantations next to roads can provide suppression opportunity.

They can also prevent a roadside surface fire from burning into the plantation.

Logging road locations should be designed to maximize their value as firebreaks. Include

20-foot wide fire breaks/access roads within larger plantations for suppression

opportunity.

Wildlife Management Considerations

Jack pine habitats in Wisconsin are concentrated into four main ecological landscapes;

Northwest Sands, Central Sand Plains, Northeast Sands, and Northern Highlands. Each

of these landscapes supports a somewhat different suite of wildlife species. All of these

landscapes were strongly influenced by fire disturbance, resulting in fire adapted

vegetation and wildlife species that depend on frequent disturbance to provide suitable

habitat. The Northwest Sands and Central Sand Plains contain the largest areas of jack

pine forests, including many large blocks of public land which provide opportunities to

manage for area-sensitive species, such as sharp-tailed grouse. The Northern Highlands

contains a greater variety of landforms, soils, and forest types, and its abundant lakes,

streams, and wetlands likely resulted in a somewhat less fire-prone landscape with less

area of open conditions.

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Jack pine stands provide an important habitat component for many wildlife species,

depending on regeneration methods, stand development stage and stand size. Deer

especially favor young stands of jack pine, or jack pine mixed with aspen and oak. A

dense shrub layer in jack pine provides bedding and escape cover. As a browse, jack pine

ranks as a secondary choice similar to white pine, less favored than hemlock or cedar, but

preferred over red pine or balsam fir (29). Deer browse has still been a significant

problem in some locations, especially on planted jack pine. A 2003 deer repellent trial on

the Governor Knowles State Forest documented heavy browsing on jack pine seedlings,

but application of deer repellents offered moderate protection (126). Research conducted

at Sandhill Wildlife Area (Wood County) in oak/jack pine habitats found dewberry,

blueberry, blackberry, and wintergreen were the most abundant perennial ground-layer

plants that provided non-woody forage for deer in winter (54). The thermal protection

jack pine forests provide increases use by deer and other wildlife during the winter

months.

Bear use all jack pine age classes for cover, but prefer regenerating stands for summer

and fall foraging areas, especially for berries. For many wildlife species, small openings

within a regenerating stand are important for life history requirements including; nesting,

foraging, mating, and rearing young. Ruffed grouse use middle-aged jack pine more

commonly if mixed with a dense shrub understory and especially if associated with

young or middle-aged aspen. Spruce Grouse use young to middle-age jack pine when

associated with black spruce-tamarack bogs (3). Jack pine associated with conifer

swamps are also preferred habitats for bobcat and fisher. Turkeys use mature jack pine as

roost trees and forage in open stands of middle-age and mature jack pine. Small

mammals, such as red squirrel, utilize the stored seed supply available from jack pine’s

serotinous cones.

Similar to game species, Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) use jack pine

habitats according to the seral stages. Initially, if regenerating stands are open and large,

vesper sparrows and upland sandpipers use the new openings. Young dense stands with

small openings are critical for Kirtland’s warbler, as well as the more common brown

thrasher and northern flicker. Limiting tall snags and perches may be a consideration in

certain situations to reduce cow bird nest parasitism, such as within Kirtland’s restoration

areas. However, other wildlife species, such as black-backed and red-headed

woodpeckers, will require snags. As jack pine stands mature and if a deciduous

understory remains, Connecticut warblers find the habitat favorable. Mature stands will

supply whip-poor-will habitat, especially near edges.

Thirty-one vertebrate SGCN were reported as being associated with Northern Dry Forest,

a natural community type often dominated by jack pine (118). In addition, 33 SGCN

were reported to be associated with the Pine Barrens community (118). Tables 33.4 and

33.5 list the major jack pine-associated Species of Greatest Conservation Need. This list

includes two WI Endangered species (Kirtland’s warbler and slender glass lizard), and

four WI Threatened species (spruce grouse, upland sandpiper, northern long-eared bat,

and wood turtle). The Kirtland’s warbler is also federally listed as endangered and the

northern long-eared bat is federally listed as threatened. At least 21 invertebrate species

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designated as SGCN appear to use jack pine forests, including Pine Barrens (Table 33.5).

The list includes one US Endangered species (Karner blue butterfly), three WI

Endangered species (northern blue butterfly, phlox moth, and warpaint emerald

dragonfly), and one WI Threatened species (frosted elfin).

Pine Barrens and Wildlife

The Pine Barrens is a community characterized by variable densities of pine and oak,

ranging from completely open areas to scattered trees to dense groves interspersed with

openings. These communities are commonly associated with the dry nutrient poor sands

and more fire prone

landscapes, such as the

Northwest Sands or

Central Sand Plains,

and support a unique

mix of fire adapted

flora. Wildlife species

associated with the Pine

Barrens range from the

very common

generalists (e.g., deer,

snowshoe hare, turkey)

to many rare and

special concern species

that are in decline due

to loss of barrens

habitat (see Landscape

Considerations).

Several species

associated with the

barrens are area-sensitive, meaning they require large, contiguous habitats to fulfill life

history requirements. These large areas must have a component of open habitat, at least

temporarily, for many of the rarest barrens-dependent species. In the Northwest Sands,

sharp-tailed grouse are considered an indicator species for quality barrens communities.

Sharp-tailed grouse make use of jack pine stands mainly in early regeneration stages,

especially in areas of large block management and rolling barrens (see Landscape

Considerations). Landscape level planning and implementing large scale cooperative

projects is critical to restoring landscape function in the barrens community. Forest

management and working forests, particularly jack pine harvesting and regeneration, play

a key part in successful barrens management.

Wildlife Recommendations:

 Consider regenerating jack pine stands in order to offset declines in this forest

cover type.

 Consider landscape context; adjust stand size and placement where appropriate in

order to achieve large blocks of jack pine habitat, including blocks of various age

Figure 33.

A male sharp

tailed gro

use displays among jack

pine stumps

and new growth. Photo by WDNR.

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classes. The age class blocks can be rotated over time, as in rolling barrens

management (Figure 33.20).

 Allow for variable densities during the regeneration stage, creating dense patches

and small openings (i.e., generally less than ½ acre in size).

 Consult with local biologists to determine where tree retention is appropriate to

meet stand-level and landscape-level objectives.

 Use the least intensive site preparation methods possible to maintain ground flora,

while achieving regeneration objectives. Consider not treating small areas where

rare species occur (i.e., refugia).

Endangered, Threatened and Special Concern Species Considerations

Jack pine can be the dominant species in two major natural community types: Northern

Dry Forests and Pine Barrens. These closely-related, disturbance-dependent community

types support a number of rare species and often form a continuum from very open to

more closed-canopy forest. Maintaining both of these communities on the landscape is

important for conserving rare species, and there can be ecological benefits to managing

them together, even within the context of timber production.

Pine Barrens are not just recently-logged or otherwise treeless areas, and they can vary

greatly in structure and species composition. These areas can contain a unique flora,

including species associated with dry prairie habitats. The Pine Barrens community

found in Wisconsin is considered globally imperiled because there are so few high-

quality examples remaining (128). Wisconsin’s barrens are different from the “barrens”

of the eastern U.S. which lack much of the floristic diversity present in this type in the

Lake States (127). The structure of the barrens can range from almost completely open to

partially open with patches of larger trees.

Some of Wisconsin’s rarest plants and animals are associated with Pine Barrens

communities. These include numerous WI Threatened species, as well as WI

Endangered species such as slender glass lizard (Ophisaurus attenuatus), phox moth

(Schinia indiana), and dwarf huckleberry (Vaccinium cespitosum), the only known host

plant for the northern blue butterfly (Lycaeides idas) which is also WI Endangered. The

US Endangered Karner blue butterfly (Lycaeides melissa samuelis) uses Pine Barrens, as

well as other open to semi-open habitats in sandy ecological landscapes if they contain its

host plant, lupine (Lupinus perennis). Frosted elfin (Callophrys irus), a much rarer

butterfly in Wisconsin that is found only in the Central Sand Plains ecological landscape,

also relies on lupine as its host plant.

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Some barrens species are area-sensitive

including Sharp-tailed Grouse

(Tympanuchus phasianellus), a WI

Special Concern species that requires

very large, contiguous habitats to

support viable populations. Its best

Wisconsin populations are located in

large managed areas in the Northwest

Sands. Connecting scattered openings

and pockets into larger blocks could

benefit a number of species, and these

open areas could be managed in

conjunction with the surrounding forests

(see Landscape Considerations).

Most of the rare plants associated with

the more closed-canopy jack pine forests

(Northern Dry Forest community) are

barrens associates that have survived

where light and other conditions have

remained favorable. Sometimes these

species can be present in the seed bank

and return following logging, burning,

or a combination of the two. Whether a stand can support some of the flora associated

with barrens will depend on the stand’s location, its disturbance history, and the amount

of light reaching the understory.

Maintaining pockets of open barrens within jack pine plantations can be important for

increasing species diversity since a normal timber rotation may be too long to support

some of the light-demanding plants associated with barrens communities. Providing

openings in jack pine plantations has been described as vital for the maintenance of

barrens species (44). Ideally, planted sites would include permanent or semi-permanent

open areas, where feasible, and these would be located where high-quality barrens

remnants exist. Sometimes these pockets can support additional animal species such as

certain butterflies and moths which usually rely on specific plant species to complete

their life cycle.

More closed-canopy forests dominated by jack pine can support several animal species

such as Connecticut Warbler (Oporornis agilis) and Spruce Grouse (Falcipennis

canadensis). The jack pine forests of northwest Wisconsin are an important stronghold

for Connecticut Warbler where it uses dense stands of older jack pine (131). Spruce

Grouse has been found in jack pine forests near lowland conifer swamps, especially in

winter (4, 124), and these lowland areas provide critical nesting habitat. Table 33.4 lists

additional rare vertebrate species associated with jack pine communities.

Figure 33.11. Location of Pine Barrens remnants

documented in the NHI database (dots) in the

Northwest Sands, Northeast Sands, and Central

Sand Plains ecological landscapes. Many of the

species described in this section are found in these

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Kirtland’s Warbler

Kirtland’s Warbler (Setophaga

kirtlandii), a US Endangered

species since 1967, is probably

the most well-known animal

species associated with jack

pine. In its core breeding

range in the northern part of

Lower Michigan, there is

evidence that populations were

at their highest in recorded

history at the same time jack

pine habitat was most

abundant during the 1880s and

1890s . It has been the focus

of major recovery efforts,

formerly mostly in Michigan,

for several decades (75).

In Wisconsin, Kirtland’s

Warbler has been documented in several ecological landscapes but is known to breed in

just two locations, as of this writing. Its habitats are highly specialized; it generally

breeds in jack pine stands from 6-23 years old, with tree heights ranging from 5.5 to 16.5

feet tall, and in stands of 75 to 100 acres or larger (82).

In Lower Michigan, intensive management techniques conducted through state and

federal agencies have proven highly successful for increasing numbers of Kirtland’s

Warbler. Populations increased from about 400 individuals in 1971 to 3600 by 2012

(48). Approximately 2,000-2,500 acres of jack pine are established annually using a

wave planting pattern in order to create small openings (75), and it also provides habitat

for a number of other wildlife species (24). The trapping of cowbirds, a parasitic

songbird that often prevents successful nesting by Kirtland’s Warbler, has been critical to

the success of these efforts in recent years (75). However, this approach differs greatly

from natural disturbance (27, 24) and does not provide the level of diversity that would

be found in most barrens. The impacts of this approach on plant and animal diversity

have become important research questions (25, 66, 101) and the focus of recent efforts in

the Upper Great Lakes. One concern is that this intensive approach leads to a

homogenous landscape if applied over very large scales. Recent efforts in Michigan have

focused on examining similarities and differences between this type of management and

natural fire disturbance, as well as ways to incorporate burning, patch retention, and other

barrens management into the management for Kirtland’s Warbler (25). Wisconsin, being

recently colonized by Kirtland’s Warbler, may have the opportunity to incorporate a

broad range of considerations into management for this species.

The first documented breeding location for Kirtland’s Warbler in Wisconsin was

dominated by red pine, but most red pine plantations would not be able to support this

Figure 33.12 - Planting pattern in a Kirtland’s Warbler

management area, Huron-Manistee National Forest,

Michigan. Photo by Linda Haugen, USDA Forest Service

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species. A high degree of red pine mortality combined with abundant natural jack pine

recruitment created the conditions that allowed Kirtland’s Warbler to utilize this central

Wisconsin site (3). There may be opportunities to grow red pine in coordination with

jack pine in an attempt to mimic the conditions of this site while making it more

economically attractive to manage for jack pine in certain areas (3). See the USFWS

Kirtland’s Warbler website (105) for more information.

Other considerations for jack pine communities include the impact of chemical and

mechanical site preparation techniques on the flora and fauna of the barrens and dry

forests. These communities clearly require disturbance to persist, and there are several

aggressive invasives that need control. Moreover, some rare plants have been shown to

respond favorably to disturbances such as scarification. However, the impacts of some

techniques on many rare species are not completely clear at this time. A careful

approach is warranted where rare species occur, including consideration for not treating

certain areas or limiting certain areas to spot-treatments when using herbicides. A

biologist can help with planning these decisions.

Tables 33.4, 33.5, and 33.6 list many of the species known to use habitats dominated by

jack pine. For more information and guidance on these and other rare species, as well as

information on natural communities, and ecological landscapes, see the following

resources:

 Wisconsin DNR’s rare plant, animal, and natural community web pages:

dnr.wi.gov keyword “biodiversity”

 Ecological Landscapes of Wisconsin: dnr.wi.gov keyword “landscapes”

 Wisconsin DNR’s Natural Heritage Working List: dnr.wi.gov keyword “nhi”

Figure 33.13 - Photos: (Left) Karner Blue habitat. Pine Barrens in Adams County, Photo by WDNR. (Right)

Pine Barrens understory with wild lupine, cylindrical blazing-star, lance-leaved loosestrife, prairie grasses,

Eau Claire County. Photo by Eric Epstein.

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Table 33.4 - Wisconsin Vertebrate Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN, 2005) that use jack pine forests. See also dnr.wi.gov keyword

“biodiversity.”

Common Name Scientific Name

State

Status

Federal

Status

Forest Stage

Season

Locations

Comments

Birds

American Woodcock

Scolopax minor

xx xx xx xx Nearly statewide Not primarily associated with jack

pine but may use it.

Black-backed

Woodpecker

Picoides arcticus

xx xx xx Northernmost ecological

landscapes

Retain cavities and dead trees for

nesting. Often nests where tree

density is higher.

Black-billed Cuckoo Coccyzus

erythropthalmus

xx x xx Nearly statewide Found most in extensive tracts of

forest. Uses several forest types.

Boreal Chickadee Poecile

hudsonicus

xx xx Northernmost ecological

landscapes

Not primarily associated with jack

pine. Uses lowland conifers in WI.

Brown Thrasher Toxostoma rufum

xx xx xx Nearly statewide Brushy habitats; edge species. More

associated with barrens / prairies.

Connecticut Warbler Oporornis agilis

xx xx xx Northernmost ecological

landscapes and CSP

Prefers mature, multi-layered stands.

Field Sparrow Spizella forsteri

xx xx Nearly statewide except

the most forested

northern landscapes.

Early successional species that could

be in barrens or very young forest

following disturbance.

Grasshopper Sparrow Ammodramus

savannarum

x x Nearly statewide except

the most forested

northern landscapes but

mostly found in the

south.

Grassland / barrens species that

avoids tall, dense vegetation.

Kirtland’s Warbler Setophaga

kirtlandii

END LE

xx xx xx NWS, NH, NES, CSP Requires jack pine of a certain size

class and in larger blocks; see text.

Lark Sparrow Chondestes

grammacus SC

xx x xx Southern and western

ecological landscapes

Early successional species that could

be in barrens or very young forest

following disturbance.

Least Flycatcher Empidonax

minimus

x x xx Nearly statewide Can be found in a variety of forested

habitats.

Northern Harrier Circus cyaneus

xx xx Nearly statewide Species of very open habitats that

nests on the ground. Does not use

forests.

Red Crossbill Loxia curvirostra

xx xx x Mostly northernmost

ecological landscapes but

Mature coniferous forests and relies

on seed cones. Breeding locations

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Common Name Scientific Name

State

Status

Federal

Status

Forest Stage

Season

Locations

Comments

could be found in almost

any EL.

change based on locations of good

seed crops.

Red-headed Woodpecker Melanderpes

erythrocephalus SC

xx x xx Nearly statewide except

the most forested

northern landscapes.

Savanna / barrens species that uses

various species of oaks. Not directly

tied to jack pine.

Sharp-tailed Grouse Tympanuchus

phasianellus SC

xx xx Northern WI and CSP

Best habitats are in the

NWS

Uses large areas with dense.

herbaceous cover and shrubs.

Spruce Grouse Falcipennis

canadensis

THR

xx xx xx x Northernmost ecological

landscapes

Prefers dense stands. Jack pine

stands adjacent to lowland conifers

appear to be important in WI. Seems

to avoid stands with high component

of deciduous trees.

Upland Sandpiper Bartramia

longicauda THR

xx xx xx Nearly statewide except

the most forested

northern landscapes.

Grassland / barrens species that

avoids tall, dense vegetation.

Vesper Sparrow Pooecetes

gramineus SC

xx xx xx Nearly statewide except

the most forested

northern landscapes.

Grassland / barrens species that

avoids tall, dense vegetation.

Whip-poor-will Caprimulgus

vocifeus SC

xx xx Nearly statewide Prefers forest with little underbrush

that is close to foraging areas (open

areas).

Mammals

Gray Wolf Canis lupus

x x x x xx Northern and central WI Not primarily associated with jack

pine but may use it along with many

other forest types.

Hoary Bat

Lasiurus cinereus

Statewide

Roost in large, mature trees.

Moose Alces alces

x xx xx Rarely move into WI

from MI - usually only

the northernmost

counties

Can be found in a variety of forests

and wetlands.

Northern Flying Squirrel Glaucomys

sabrinus SC

x xx xx xx Northernmost ecological

landscapes

Conifer or mixed forests with

standing dead trees, coarse woody

debris and diverse understory.

Northern Long-Eared

Bat

Myotis

septentrionalis

THR

xx xx xx Statewide Roosts in a wide variety of tree

species in intact forests.

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Common Name Scientific Name

State

Status

Federal

Status

Forest Stage

Season

Locations

Comments

Herptiles

Blanding’s Turtle Emydoidea

blandingii

xx x x xx Nearly statewide, except

far north-central counties

Species is primarily aquatic but will

traverse a variety of terrestrial

habitats in the active season. Nests

in open sandy areas within 900 ft. of

a wetland or waterbody. This is a

consideration for siting landings or

roads.

Gophersnake Pituophis

catenatus SC

xx xx Western and

southwestern 1/3 of the

state

Prairie/savanna/barrens species.

Needs open habitat.

Prairie skink Plestiodon

septentrionalis SC

xx xx Northwestern WI Sandy barrens, savannas, prairies,

and dry forests. Active from May –

Septembe

Slender Glass Lizard Ophisaurus

attenuatus END

xx xx CSH, CSP, and WCR

ecological landscapes

Barrens, prairies, and savannas.

Needs sandy soils but will use forest

edges.

Wood Turtle Glyptemys

insculpta

THR

x x x x xx Northern 2/3 of the state Species is very terrestrial during the

active season and utilizes a mosaic

of forest and open habitats. Nests in

open sandy areas, often within 200

ft. of a wetland or waterbody, but

individuals can be found much

farther from their overwintering

streams. This is a consideration for

timber harvests, as well as siting of

landings or roads.

1. END = Endangered, SC = Special Concern, THR = Threatened. Note some SC species are protected by other laws; see WDNR 2014b for more information.

2. LE = Listed Endangered by the US Fish and Wildlife Service

3. Forest Stage: R=regenerating, Y=young forest, M=Mid-age forest, O=older forest; xx= major use; x= minor use

4. Season: YR=year-round, W=Winter, S=Summer season; xx= major use; x= minor use

5. Ecological Landscape abbreviations: CSP = Central Sand Plains, NH = Northern Highlands, NES = Northeast Sands, NWS = Northwest Sands (see dnr.wi.gov keyword

“landscapes” for more information).

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Table 33.5 - Select Wisconsin invertebrate SGCN that use jack pine forests. See also dnr.wi.gov keyword “biodiversity.” For

grasshopper guidance, see Kirk and Bomar (48), the source of some of this information.

Species Scientific Name

State

Status

Federal

Status

Ecological Landscape(s)

Speckled Rangeland Grasshopper

Arphia

conspersa

Sandy gravel soils in dry prairie

settings such as open sand in Pine

Barrens and Lake Superior sand

spits.

Frosted Elfin

Callophrys irus

THR

Pine barrens, oak savanna, and

edges of sandy oak/pine forest..

Needs lupine (Lupinus perennis),

its larval host plant. (CSP only).

Rocky Mountain Sprinkled Locust

Chloealtis abdominalis

Jack pine barrens, pine forest

openings.

Tiger Beetle

Cicindela longilabris

Sandy areas in coniferous forest

with jack pine, blueberries,

reindeer moss. Sandy roads, gaps

in northern forest.

Tiger Beetle

Cicindela patruela huberi

Dry, sandy soils within mixed jack

pine-oak forest and pine barrens,

usually along forest roads and

sand quarries.

Tiger Beetle

Cicindela patruela patruela

Dry, sandy soils within mixed jack

pine-oak forest and pine barrens,

usually along forest roads and

sand quarries.

Wild Indigo Dusty Wing

Erynnis baptisiae

Dry open woods, prairie including

wet prairie, pine/oak barrens, and

along highways and railroad right-

ways.

Mottled Dusty Wing

Erynnis martialis

Scrub forest, pine/oak barrens and

oak savanna.

Persius Dusky Wing

Erynnis persius

Pine/oak barrens, sand barrens.

Microhabitat includes open sandy

ground and small scrub oaks may

be required components of the

habitat.

Slender Clearwing

Hemaris gracilis

Jack pine/oak barrens and open

trails through northern dry forests

(NWS only).

Cobweb Skipper

Hesperia metea

Pine barrens and oak savanna.

Northern Blue Butterfly

Lycaeides idas

END

Only found in association with the

larval host plant, dwarf bilberry

(Vaccinium caespitosum), which is

also State endangered. (NES

only).

Karner Blue Butterfly

Lycaeides melissa samuelis

Found in pine barrens and oak

savanna, as well as a number of

other open or partially-open sandy

habitats with its larval host plant

lupine (

Lupinus perennis

Huckleberry Spur-throat

Grasshopper

Melanoplus fasciatus

Sandy woods and pine/oak barrens

with jack pine, blueberry, sweet

fern, and lupine.

Stone’s Locu

Melanoplus stonei

Pine/oak barrens and northern dry-

mesic forest (in CSP), high quality

sand dunes on Lk. Michigan shore.

Chryxus Arctic

Oeneis chryxus

Dry grass habitats, cutovers, jack

pine barrens, rocky and grassy

openings in forest especially along

ridges.

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Species Scientific Name

State

Status

Federal

Status

Ecological Landscape(s)

Pink Sallow Moth

Psectraglaea carnosa

Usually in unburned sandy pine or

oak barrens. Apparently absent

from many barrens less than 2000

acres.

Sprague Pygarctica Moth

Pygarctia spraguei

Pine barrens and oak savanna in

Wisco

nsin.

Bina Flower Moth

Schinia bina

Pine barrens supporting native

hawkweeds.

Phlox Moth

Schinia indiana

END

Sandy dry to dry-mesic savannas

(black/Hill's oak or jack pine

barrens) and small dry-mesic

prairie openings with an

abundance of downy phlox (Phlox

pilosa

), its host plant.

Warpaint Emerald Dragonfly

Somatochlora incurvata

END

Large wetlands often adjacent to

sandy uplands (old beach ridges)

consisting of jack pine, red pine,

and northern pin oak.

1. END = Endangered, SC = Special Concern, THR = Threatened. Note some SC species are protected by other laws; see WDNR 2014b for more

information.

2. LE = Listed Endangered by the US Fish and Wildlife Service

3. CSP = Central Sand Plains, NES = Northeast Sands, NWS = Northwest Sands (see dnr.wi.gov keyword “landscapes” for more information).

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Table 33.6 - Select Wisconsin rare plants known from Northern Dry Forest and Pine Barrens. See also dnr.wi.gov keyword

“biodiversity.”

Common

Name Scientific Name

Community

Type

State

Status

Documented Habitat

Prairie

Sagebrush

Artemisia frigida PB SC Very dry dolomite bluff prairies and sand

terraces along the upper Mississippi River;

adventive elsewhere.

Wooly

Milkweed

Asclepias lanuginosa PB THR Dry, sandy or gravelly hillside prairies.

Dwarf

Milkweed

Asclepias ovalifolia PB THR Oak barrens, open pockets within pine barrens,

periodically brushed areas, and rights-of-way.

Fernald's Sedge Carex merritt-

fernaldii

PB, NDF SC Dry sandy soils and rocky outcrops in central,

north-central, and northeastern Wisconsin. It is

usually found in recently burned barrens, and

occasionally in low, moist sandy areas along

lake margins or roadsides.

Grassleaf Rush Juncus marginatus PB SC Acidic, peaty ditches and depressions in pine

and oak barrens.

Large-Flowered

Ground-Cherry

Leucophysalis

grandiflora

PB, NDF SC Mostly in recently burned or disturbed moist to

dry forests, as well as on gravel bars of large

rivers.

Brittle Prickly-

Pear

Opuntia fragilis PB THR Thin, dry soil over rock, as well as sand

prairies.

Hairy

Beardtongue

Penstemon hirsutus PB SC Dry gravelly and sandy prairies, or in hillside

oak woodlands. It is also naturalized on

roadsides.

Pale

Beardtongue

Penstemon pallidus PB SC Dry, often calcareous prairies, as well as

hillside oak or jack pine woodlands. It is

naturalized on roadsides and in pine

plantations.

Hooker's

Orchis

Platanthera hookeri NDF SC Variety of dry to moist, mostly mixed

coniferous-hardwood forests.

Catfoot Pseudognaphalium

micradenium

PB, NDF SC Dry, commonly sandy soil, often in open oak

and pine woods and barrens.

Prairie Fame-

Flower

Phemeranthus

rugospermus

PB SC Open, sandy prairies, barrens and in moss on

exposed bedrock outcrops, often where there is

little competition from other forbs.

Dwarf

Huckleberry

Vaccinium

cespitosum

PB, NDF END Pine barren openings and can often be located

by searching for the WI Endangered northern

blue butterfly whose larvae feed exclusively on

this shrub.

Blue Ridge

Blueberry

Vaccinium pallidum PB SC Dry, upland woods and old fields. Known only

from northeastern counties in WI.

Sand Violet Viola sagittata var.

ovata

PB END Dry, sandstone road cuts or trailside with little

competition other than jack pine.

1. PB = Pine Barrens, NDF = Northern Dry Forest

2. None of these species were federally-listed at the time of this writing.

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20,000

40,000

60,000

80,000

100,000

120,000

Central

Sand Plains

Northwest

Sands

Western

Coulees

and Ridges

Northeast

Sands

Northern

Highland

North

Central

Forest

Central

Sand Hills

Forest

Transition

Southeast

Glacial

Plains

Northern

Lake

Michigan

Coastal

acres

LANDSCAPE CONSIDERATIONS

Jack pine requires disturbance to regenerate and is found in areas that historically experienced frequent and

extensive fires, most notably the Pine Barrens and Northern Dry Forest natural communities that were once

widespread in Wisconsin’s sand-dominated ecological landscapes. Numerous factors including fire suppression,

natural succession, land-use changes, ownership patterns, and economic considerations have led to major declines

in jack pine dominance and shifts in in the distribution of these natural communities. Pine Barrens in particular are

now geographically restricted and considered globally imperiled (128), with the best remaining examples located

in the upper Midwest states of Wisconsin, Michigan, and Minnesota.

Current Distribution

Jack pine is found mostly in three states (Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Michigan), as well as large areas of Canada.

Within Wisconsin, jack pine is more localized than many other tree species. Over 90% of Wisconsin’s jack pine

acreage is found in five ecological landscapes with large areas of sandy soils. Nearly two-thirds of the acreage is

in the Central Sand Plains and Northwest Sands ecological landscapes.

The ecological landscapes with the greatest acreages in jack pine are Central Sand Plains, Northwest Sands,

Western Coulees and Ridges, Northeast Sands, and Northern Highlands (Figure 33.14). These are generally the

same landscapes where jack pine was dominant historically, but its abundance is reduced, and it continues to

decline for a variety of reasons. Modern fire suppression has clearly resulted in a natural conversion to other forest

cover types. In addition, land use changes and the decision to plant other species, such as red pine have also

reduced jack pine acreage in many cases.

Figure 33

.14

Acres (with standard errors) of jack pine by Ecological Landscape in 2013. Data are

from the U.S. Forest Service Forest Inventory and Analysis (6

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Historical Context

Jack pine was a major cover type at the time of Euro-American

settlement, particularly in the Northwest Sands ecological

landscape where “jack pine, scrub oak, and barrens” made up

almost two-thirds of the landscape (32). It was also a major

type in the Northeast Sands and the Central Sand Plains with

smaller amounts scattered throughout various other landscapes.

Figure 33.15 illustrates the locations where jack pine “witness

trees” were documented during the General Land Office

surveys of the mid-1800s (106).

Relative Importance Value (RIV) is a metric that combines

relative basal area and relative density to determine the

“importance” of a particular species relative to others in a

given area (43). The RIV of jack pine in the Northwest Sands

was over 30% at the time of General Land Office surveys in the

mid-1880s

. Its RIV in the Northwest Sands now, based on

2013 FIA data, is less than half of that amount (Fig 33.16).

The RIV decrease is less pronounced in the Central Sand

Plains, but many areas there have also been converted to other

forest types and land uses.

In more recent decades, jack pine acreage has been consistently

declining in Wisconsin since 1983 based on FIA data (see

Figure 33.3), and this change has been

concurrent with an increase in red pine (121).

Between 2004 and 2014 it is estimated that

roughly 40,000 acres of jack pine were

converted to red pine in Wisconsin (64).

Tree data from the General Land Office surveys

are from a particular point in time and can be

biased for a number of reasons, including due to

limitations in the data collection methods.

However, as the only statewide source for pre-Euro

American settlement vegetation data, they can be

useful for exploring vegetation patterns at large

scales, such as ecological landscapes. These data

are used here to better understand the ecological

capabilities of these areas and not to imply that

conditions should be returned to any particular

point in Wisconsin’s history.

Figure 33.15 – Location of jack pine “witness trees”

documented during GLO Surveys (from the WDNR

GIS coverage Pre-European Settlement Vegetation

Database of Wisconsin: Differentiated Section and

Quarter Section Corners prepared by the University

of Wisconsin – Madison Forest Landscape Ecology

Figure 33.16 - Relative importance values from the witness tree data

collected in the mid-1800s (PLS) and 2013 Forest Inventory Analysis (FIA)

data. The amount shown is the importance of jack pine relative to other

tree species during the two time periods for the Central Sand Plains (CSP),

Northeast Sa

nds (NES), and Northwest Sands (NWS) ecological landscapes.

CSP NES NWS

PLS

FIA

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Age Class Distribution

There are both ecological and economic benefits to having a full range of age classes of a particular cover type

across the landscape. Jack pine currently exhibits an unbalanced age class distribution with less acreage in the

youngest and oldest age classes (64) (Figure 33.17). This reflects a decreased emphasis on reproducing jack pine

in Wisconsin which is a concern for the future of the jack pine resource in Wisconsin. Moreover, the animal

species associated with jack pine vary by stand age (107), and this age class imbalance is a problem for species

requiring young jack pine such as Kirtland’s Warbler (see Endangered Threatened and Special Concern Species

section).

20,000

40,000

60,000

80,000

100,000

120,000

140,000

0 to 20 21 to 40 41 to 60 61 to 80 81 to 100

Stand age class (yrs)

Figure 33.17

Jack pine age classes by volume in Wisconsin from the U.S.

Forest Service’s Forest Inventory and Analysis data (64).

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Disturbance Regime

Fire was historically the primary disturbance throughout the

jack pine range in Wisconsin. Crown fires were historically

frequent in the Great Lakes with a rotation period of 50-70

years (36). However, fire return intervals and intensities

varied across sites creating a diversity of landscape patterns

and stand conditions (84). There was likely also a very wide

range of fire sizes ranging from 1000 ha to 180,000 ha (36).

The fires were important not only for jack pine regeneration

but developing a varied landscape with conditions ranging

from dense, mature jack pine to large expanses of treeless or

near treeless habitat. For example, at least three distinct

subregions were defined in the Northwest Sands that

exhibited different levels of fire frequency and intensity (86).

Fire suppression efforts formally began in the Northwest

Sands in the 1920s, but large areas were still burning as late

as the 1930s (85).

The 2013 Germann Road Fire, covering over 7,000 acres,

was Wisconsin’s largest forest fire in recent years. An earlier

fire, the 2005 Cottonville Fire, covered 3,400 acres in the

Central Sand Plains. Several fires this size and larger

previously occurred in the 1970s and 1980s (85). These

events are reminders of the disturbance history of these sand-

dominated ecological landscapes, as well as the potential for

large fires to occur when an ignition source combines with

extreme weather, dry soils, and abundant fuel.

Jack pine budworm, a native needle-feeding caterpillar, can also cause large-scale mortality of mature jack pine,

especially during periods of drought (see “Forest Health Guidelines” section). Historically, large fires would have

followed major budworm outbreaks. Huge budworm outbreaks have occurred in the past in Wisconsin when large

acreages of jack pine shared the same or similar age classes. An outbreak in 1992 and 1993 resulted in defoliation

in 90% of the jack pine forests in the Northwest Sands, and salvage harvests occurred on 27% of the mature forest

in the landscape at that time (74, 85).

Salvage harvests and other clearcuts differ from fires in many ways, including the size and shape of the remaining

patches, as well as the resulting structure and species composition. Wildfires often result in a patchy,

discontinuous landscape with burned and unburned “legacy” structures (25, 48). These structures change light

conditions and provide nesting and foraging habitat for certain species. For example, some of the larger snags

following a fire provide foraging opportunities for Black-backed Woodpecker, a WI Special Concern species (68),

especially recently dead trees (69). Fire also makes nutrients available to plants that were bound in organic matter.

Figure 33.18 - Photos of the Germann Road Fire of

2013 by (top) Colin Nowaczyk, WDNR and (bottom)

Phil Miller, WDNR.

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Role in Pine Barrens

Pine Barrens once covered seven percent of Wisconsin’s

landscape (116) but are now quite rare. The Pine Barrens

community is now ranked as “G2” by NatureServe, the

umbrella organization for an international group of

Heritage programs including the Wisconsin Natural

Heritage Inventory (128). This rank indicates that they are

globally imperiled because of rarity.

Pine Barrens is an open community type with trees

occurring in low density and either scattered individually

or in groups. Prior to Euro-American settlement, there

was also a “pine savanna” barrens type that included

large-diameter scattered red pine, but these areas are

considered to have since been eliminated (131) (Figure

33.19).

Much of the original Pine Barrens acreage has succeeded

to forest or has been converted to other land uses. Of the

remnants, many are too small to ensure viability of species

that require barrens habitat (116). However, certain high-

quality remnants have been kept open through intensive

efforts, and connecting and expanding these has been

identified as a major conservation priority. This is especially important since there are area-sensitive species

associated with barrens communities such as Sharp-tailed Grouse (124) that require very large open patches.

There can be major benefits to maintaining open areas within working forest landscapes. Open patches could be

located in areas with rare plants and/or floristic diversity, and even small openings placed in these areas can have

ecological benefits. These habitats could be incorporated into planning efforts on stands, properties, or regions.

Although small patches can provide habitat for rare plants and certain animals, other species are area-sensitive and

need much larger openings or very young forest. For example, Kirtland’s Warbler has been found in patches of

75-100 acres or more of young jack pine, and sharp-tailed grouse need even larger areas (38, 103). However,

managing large patches is typically only possible on public lands or large, industrial forest landholdings.

Ideally, jack pine stands could be managed as a “shifting mosaic” that would benefit a number of species while

allowing for timber management as a primary objective. The pre-EuroAmerican settlement Pine Barrens included

frequent large openings that would have shifted locations over time (84). Figure 33.20 (122) shows an idealized,

hypothetical example of how an area could be managed in a similar way through planning. The jack pine stands

are harvested on a rotating schedule, so each stand periodically provides an early seral stage “temporary barrens”

connected to the core barrens unit. Thus, an area with very low tree density is available at all times for species

requiring open habitats. This would also provide habitat for species using young and older jack pine at all times.

Shifting clearcuts in this manner would provide very little savanna structure since that would require higher

numbers of trees to be retained than a typical clearcut harvest. However, clearcuts can provide some of the open

habitat for barrens species that would otherwise be lost from many areas (40).

Figure 33.19 – Red pine savanna, circa 1890, Bayfield

County. Note the individual standing next to the tree in

the left side of the image illustrating tree size. From St.

Croix Trail Country: Recollections of Wisconsin by William

Gray Purcell (University of Minnesota Press, 1967).

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Figure 33.20

Figure adapted from the Ecological Landscapes of Wisconsin, Chapter 1:

Principles of Ecosystem and Landscape-Scale Management (122).

Climate Change Adaptations

Jack pine was ranked as moderately vulnerable to climate change in a recent vulnerability assessment (45). The

report noted the species ability to compete on poor-quality sites, withstand disturbance, and persist with drought

conditions. However, the species is at the southern extent of its range in Wisconsin, and it may be less able to

persist and regenerate under substantial warming. USFS (45) hypothesizes that regeneration failure could occur

more frequently in drought conditions, and pests and diseases could become more damaging.

Recommendations for Management

• Increase jack pine in the youngest age classes

• Use variety of techniques to naturally regenerate jack pine

• Provide openings, ideally focused on areas with better herbaceous plant diversity

• Limit conversion to other cover types in areas best suited for jack pine

• Create large block management areas of jack pine dominant forests, working to reduce fragmentation

effects.

• Participate in rolling barrens habitat projects, ideally at the landscape scale appropriate for the site. For

example, in the Northwest Sands there would be a temporarily open core barrens surrounded by 500‐1000

acres of jack pine regeneration resulting in approximately 1000‐2000 acres open at any given time where

possible. However, this will be difficult in many areas, depending on ownership patterns.

• Plan rolling barrens over the long term to create a landscape scale shifting mosaic.

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• Modifications to timber management objectives and forest management guidelines (e.g., tree retention,

biomass harvesting) may be appropriate to achieve site specific and landscape level objectives, such as Pine

Barrens restoration.

• Consider landscape level management efforts that promote jack pine habitats, such as the Northwest Sands

Habitat Corridor Plan (123), the Kirtland’s Warbler Plan, and other related Conservation Opportunity Areas

(COAs) as identified in the Wisconsin Wildlife Action Plan 2005 (118).

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FOREST HEALTH GUIDELINES

Table 33.7 - Forest health management guidelines for jack pine.

Disturbance Agent and Expected Loss or

Damage

Prevention, Options to Minimize Losses and

Control Alternatives

DEFOLIATING INSECTS

MOTHS

Jack pine budworm – Choristoneura pinus

Caterpillars from May to July. Outbreaks occur

approximately every ten years and last two to four

years. One heavy defoliation event causes 10-15%

top kill and 5% mortality. Two heavy defoliation

events cause 45-50% top kill and 20-25% mortality.

Damage is most severe on poor quality sites. Stand

history of defoliation events may also impact seed

production and the supply of stored seed in

serotinous cones.

 Do not hold stands on poor quality sites

past maturity. Keep stands even aged and

regenerate by appropriate regeneration

methods.

 Maintain basal area between 70-110

ft²/acre. Avoid widely spaced trees that

produce large crowns with numerous male

flowers and overstocked stands with

suppressed trees.

 Stand size is critical. Promote age class

diversity to avoid large areas of mature and

overmature trees that are all susceptible at

the same time. Stands should be at least 40

acres and boundaries designed to minimize

edge.

 Do not leave strips or islands of jack

pine during harvesting.

 Salvage stands with severe defoliation.

 Consult a forest health specialist if

considering insecticide treatments to

determine the economic feasibility of

spraying.

Northern conifer tussock moth - Dasychira

plagiata

Overwintering larvae emerge in April and initially

feed on male cones and previous year's needles.

Older caterpillars move to current year's needles

until pupation occurs in July. Adults emerge and lay

eggs mid-summer. The next generation of larvae

hatch and feed for approximately 10 days in August

before overwintering under bark scales. Severe

defoliation for two consecutive years has killed

entire stands. Caterpillars prefer jack pine but will

attack red pine under 30 years old. The last outbreak

of this insect occurred in Douglas, Bayfield and

Burnett Counties in the 1960s.

 Do not hold stands on poor quality sites

past maturity. Keep stands even aged and

regenerate by appropriate regeneration

methods.

 Avoid large areas of susceptible trees.

Townships with greater than 40% jack pine

or stands larger than 1 section may

contribute to large outbreaks.

 Salvage stands with severe defoliation.

 Consult a forest health specialist if

considering insecticide treatments to

determine the economic feasibility of

spraying.

Eastern pine elfin - Callophrys niphon

Caterpillars from May to June. Typically feed on

trees less than 23 ft. in height. Young larvae feed on

new foliage. Older caterpillars may eat old needles.

 No control is necessary.

Washed-out zale - Zale metatoides

Caterpillars from July to August.

Gray spring zale - Zale submediana

Caterpillars in June.

Abstruse looper - Syngrapha abstruse

Caterpillars from May to June.

Pine pinion -

Lithophane lepida

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Caterpillars from June to July.

MOTHS: NEEDLE MINERS

Pine needleminer - Exoteleia pinifoliella

Attacks pole sized trees. Consumes old needles

first, then new.

Pine needle sheathminer - Zelleria haimbachi

Hollows out terminal needles at the base, typically

near male flowers.

 Control is rarely necessary.

 If severe damage occurs, consider a

salvage harvest.

MOTHS: SILK NEST BUIILDERS

Pine webworm - Pococera robustella

Colonies build silk tubes and feed on nearby

needles. Occasional pest of seedlings or saplings.

 Control is rarely necessary as natural

enemies typically keep populations in

check.

 If control is necessary it should be

conducted while nests are small. Either

remove nests by hand (crush or drown

caterpillars in water) or spray branch tips

in mid-June and again in early July.

SAWFLIES: SILK NEST BUIILDERS

Pine false webworm - Acantholyda erythrocephala

Live singly or in small colonies in silk nests up to 6

inches long.

Nesting-pine sawfly - Acantholyda zappei

Larvae build silk tubes where they feed on chewed

off needles.

SAWFLIES

Abbott's sawfly - Neodiprion abbottii

Larvae from June to July. Larvae feed in colonies

during early instars then individually in later instars.

 Accept damage and monitor for population

increases.

 Allow control by natural enemies and

disease.

 Kill small groups of larvae by hand.

 If control is necessary, spot treat small

groups of larvae with pesticide, or

broadcast treat large infestations. Success

will be greater if larvae are treated when

they are small.

 Keep stands fully stocked and promote

early canopy closure by planting 800 or

more trees per acre.

Brownheaded jack pine sawfly - Neodiprion

dubiosus

Larvae from June to July. Larvae feed in colonies

and prefer edge trees.

European pine sawfly - Neodiprion sertifer

Larvae from May to June. Larvae feed in colonies

on old needles.

Introduced pine sawfly - Diprion similis

Larvae from May to September. Larvae feed in

colonies during early instars then individually in

later instars on old needles. Prefer ornamental,

nursery, and plantation tre

es.

Jack pine sawfly - Neodiprion pratti banksianae

Larvae from May to June. Larvae feed on old

needles in colonies and prefer open grown, even-

aged stands of all ages.

Redheaded jack pine sawfly - Neodiprion

rugifrons

Larvae from June to September. Larvae feed on old

needles in colonies. When a second generation

occurs new foliage is also eaten.

Redheaded pine sawfly - Neodiprion lecontei

Larvae from June to September. Larvae feed in

colonies and prefer edge trees less than 20 feet tall.

Larvae con

sume old needles first, then new.

Red pine sawfly - Neodiprion nanulus nanulus

Larvae from May to June. Larvae feed in colonies

on old needles.

Swaine jack pine sawfly - Neodiprion swainei

Larvae from July to August. Larvae feed in colonies

mostly on o

ld needles.

BEETLES

Pine chafer - Anomala oblivia

Adults feed in June and July preferentially on new

needles. Pine chafers eat the sides of needles

 Allow control by natural enemies.

 If control is necessary, apply insecticide in

late June.

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through the sheaths causing the needles to turn

brown and droop.

SUCKING INSECTS

Scale insects and aphids

Heavy infestations cause needle yellowing,

premature foliage drop, and dieback of twigs and

branches. These insects also produce honeydew

which can lead to growth of sooty mold. Three

common species are:

Black pineleaf scale - Nuculaspis californica

Infestations are usually confined to a cluster of

stressed trees.

Pine needle scale - Chionaspis pinifoliae

Pine tortoise scale - Toumeyella numismaticum

Pest in sap

ling and pole

sized plantations.

 Usually controls are not needed and not

realistic.

 Maintain stand vigor.

 Promote early stand closure.

 If control is necessary, treat scales with

horticultural oil before budbreak or spray

crawlers with insecticide in June or July.

 Kill mound ants protecting the scales.

Saratoga Spittlebug - Aphrophora saratogensis

Feeding causes twig flagging, reduced tree growth,

stem deformity, and branch mortality. Prefers red

pine under 15 feet tall. Severe infestations may

cause significant mortality.

 Remove alternate hosts of Saratoga

spittlebug (sweet fern, young willow, berry

bushes, etc.) when they occupy 20% or

more of the ground cover.

 Consult a forest health specialist about the

feasibility of treatment with insecticides.

Pine spittlebug - Aphrophora cribrata

Heavy infestations (typically localized) cause

branch flagging starting with new growth and

progressing to the trunk, typically from the bottom

of the tree up. Prefer saplings and pole

sized trees.

 Natural enemies, including a parasitic

fungus, usually keep populations in check.

 If insecticides are necessary, apply in July

when 95% of spittle masses are empty.

PINE PITCH MIDGES

Gouty pitch midge - Cecidomyia piniinopis

Larvae feed in small resin filled pits between the

needles on new growth. May kill needles and shoots

on trees 4-16 feet tall. Two other common species

are Cecidomyia banksianae which feed in resin

filled cavities close to buds and Cecidomyia reeksi

which feed in resin masses typically on open-grown

saplings

 Control is rarely necessary because

populations are usually kept in check by

natural enemies.

BARK AND WOOD INSECTS

BARK BEETLES

Ips spp.

Tunneling in inner bark causes mortality in sapling

to sawlog sized trees, singly or in pockets.

Weakened or storm-damaged trees, trees that have

been struck by lightning, and overmature or

overstocked stands provide a breeding ground for

the beetles. Mortality is usually limited to a few

trees during years of normal rainfall. However,

during dry summers with suitable breeding material,

beetle populations quickly build up and cause large

scale mortality.

 Use the pine species and spacing intervals

best suited to the site.

 When cutting during the growing season,

remove harvested timber from the stand

within 3 weeks of cutting.

 If cutting stands adjacent to other pine

stands during the growing season, utilize

tops down to a 2” diameter. Leave

branches attached to stem wood to speed

drying.

 Avoid overmature stands.

 Promptly salvage or destroy potential

breeding material, such as pines that are

severely damaged by wind, lightning, fire,

disease, insects, or other destructive agents.

 If trees have low vigor due to drought,

defoliation, or disease, consider a pre-

salvage harvest.

 Harvest newly infested and adjacent trees

before the following spring to reduce local

populations.

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Mountain Pine Beetle - Dendroctonus ponderosea

Mountain pine beetle (MPB) outbreaks occur

regularly in lodgepole and other pines in Western

North America but do not currently occur in

Wisconsin. The recent, successful establishment of

MPB in jack pine in Alberta, Canada however could

allow spread through the range of jack pine to the

eastern U.S. (28).

 Management guidelines are currently only

available for MPB’s host trees in western

North America. Contact forest health staff

immediately if you suspect a MPB

infestation in Wisconsin.

Red Turpentine Beetle - Dendroctonus valens

Tunneling under bark causes mortality in weakened

trees of pole size and larger. Adult beetles attack

dead or weak trees as well as fresh stumps, freshly

cut logs, and exposed damaged roots. Although

infestation by this insect itself is usually not serious,

it vectors Leptographium fungi. Look for red

boring dust and pitch tubes on the bottom six feet of

attacked trees.

 Control is typically not necessary or

feasible.

Pine Shoot Beetle - Tomicus piniperda

Adult beetles feed on and kill the central portion of

the lateral shoots. Attacked shoots turn red, droop,

then fall to the ground. This insect is under federal

quarantine as of 2015 but removal of the quarantine

is being evaluated.

 Follow quarantine rules: this insect is

native in Eurasia and North Africa and was

first discovered in North America in 1992.

All of WI, MN, and MI are quarantined.

 Cut trees so stumps are as low to the

ground as possible.

Jack pine tip beetle - Conophthorus banksianae

Causes shoot tip mortality mostly of saplings.

Attacked shoot tips turn red, droop, then fall to the

ground. The pine flower snout beetle Cimberis

elongata sometimes attacks buds and shoots in

association with Jack pine tip beetle.

 Control is rarely necessary.

LONGHORNED BEETLES

Whitespotted sawyer - Monochamus scutellatus

scutellatus

Attack dead and dying trees. Larvae feed beneath

the bark and bore deep into the wood. Adults feed

on the bark of twigs and may cause flagging.

 Avoid stacks of logs on landings from late

June through August when possible. If

cutting during the growing season, remove

harvested timber from the stand within 3

weeks of cutting.

 Cover logs with slash 1-2 feet thick.

 Pile logs in the shade of standing trees.

 Peel or immerse logs in water.



Allow control by natural enemies.

WEEVILS

Northern Pine Weevil - Pissodes approximatus

Severe feeding damage by the adults may kill some

shoots.

 Delay planting seedlings for 2 years after

harvesting pines.

 Remove freshly cut pine stumps before

planting seedlings (rarely practical).

 Treat freshly cut stumps with an insecticide

(rarely practical).

Pales weevil - Hylobius pales

Infestations girdle and kill seedlings and damage the

young shoots of older trees.

 Delay planting seedlings for 2 years after

harvesting pines.

 Remove freshly cut pine stumps before

planting seedlings (rarely practical).

 Treat freshly cut stumps with an insecticide

(rarely practical).

White pine weevil - Pissodes strobi

Feed inside the leader of sapling to pole-sized trees

causing the leader to die and often resulting in

lateral branches assuming dominance. Look for

leaders that curl into a shepherd’s crook and die.

 In existing infestations, local population

and damage can be reduced by removing

and destroying infested terminals before

new adults emerge in mid-July.

 In plantations and open grown

seedling/sapling stands: In open areas,

plant 900

1,000 trees per acre in mixed or

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pure plantations and maintain at least 700

trees per acre until the canopy closes.

 Accept stem deformity.

 If control is necessary, apply insecticidal

application to prevent attack by adult

beetles.

Pine root collar weevil - Hylobius radicis

Typically attack sapling and small pole-sized trees.

Damage may cause trees to tilt or break off at the

root collar. Trees planted on nutrient-deficient,

sandy soils, planted too deeply or spaced too widely

are most vulnerable to attack. The insect is a known

vector of Leptographium fungi.

 On sandy soils, plant with root collar no

more than one inch deep.

 Encourage early crown closure by planting

800 or more trees per acre and increase the

seedling survival rate by controlling weeds

and rodents for 5 years after planting.

 Avoid planting within one mile of infested

Scotch pine stands or liquidate nearby

Scotch pine.

Pine root tip weevil - Hylobius assimilis

Feeding on roots causes flagging, top kill and tree

mortality in pole-size pines. Moderate weevil

damage reduces tree growth. Stands on nutrient-

deficient, sandy soil and those near Scotch pine are

more vulnerable to weevil attacks.

 Liquidate nearby Scotch pine.

 Do not plant jack pine and red pine

together if the site index is 50 or below –

keep it to one species or the other.

SCARAB BEETLES

White Grubs - Phyllophaga spp.

Feeding on roots kills 1-3 year old seedlings.

Damage is most severe in sandy soils and on grassy

or weedy sites. White grub densities above 0.2 per

square foot may cause heavy seedling mortality and

stunting of surviving seedlin

gs.

 Survey stands for white grubs before

planting. If the population density is high,

delay planting for one to two years.

 Consult a forest health specialist for

current insecticide options.

MOTHS

Eastern pine shoot borer - Eucosoma gloriola

Open-grown trees are most susceptible to damage

within 10 years of establishment. Larvae attack

shoots in May and June causing them to turn red,

droop, and then fall to the ground. Leaders and

lateral shoots near the tops of trees are typically

attacked.

 Control is rarely necessary or feasible.

Zimmerman pine moth - Dioryctria zimmermani

Attack and feed in the base of shoots or branches or

in eastern gall rust galls. Attacked branches flag

and may break off. Damage causes white, irregular

pitch blisters at the s

ite of attack.

 Control is rarely necessary or feasible.

Northern pitch twig moth - Retinia albicapitana

Prefer to attack open grown saplings at the crotch of

multiple twigs. Damage causes hollow, thin-walled,

brownish pitch blisters. Two other closely related

species, Petrova houseri and Petrova pallipennis,

cause similar damage.

 Control is rarely necessary or feasible.

FOLIAGE DISEASES

Pine Needle Rust – Coleosporium asterum

The fungus requires an alternate host (aster,

goldenrod) to complete its life cycle. Occasionally it

causes needle loss on the lower 5 feet of branches

during spring. The disease is most prevalent on trees

up to sapling size. Defoliation may cause growth

reduction, although mortality is uncommon.

 Control is rarely necessary.

 Do not plant seedlings at overly dense

spacing.

 Remove alternate hosts of the fungus

(aster, goldenrod) within 1000 ft. of jack

pines manually or by applying herbicides

before August when spores are released.

Brown Spot Needle Blight - Mycosphaerella

dearnessii

The fungus initially causes brown bands with

 Control is rarely necessary.

 Do not plant seedlings at overly dense

spacing.

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yellowish margins on needles. Infected needles turn

brown and prematurely fall in late spring or early

summer.

Tar spot needle cast – Davisomycella ampla

Infects current year needles. Lesions become

apparent by the following spring. Severe infection

leads to browning and premature casting of year-old

foliage.

 Control is rarely necessary.

SHOOT DISEASES/ CANKERS

Diplodia Shoot Blight - Diplodia pinea

Current year’s shoots become stunted with short,

brown needles. Cankers on branches cause branch

flagging and dieback. Severe canker development

and subsequent branch dieback are occasionally

observed after a hail storm. The fungus also attacks

seedling root collars causing mortality.

 Remove infected overstory and windbreak

pines.

 If more than 50% of the crowns are

affected consider a salvage harvest.

Sirococcus Shoot Blight - Sirococcus conigenus

Current year’s shoots droop or become stunted and

die. The fungus causes shoot dieback and stem and

branch cankers on the current year’s growth. A

single year of infection may kill seedlings and

repeated infections may kill saplings.

 Remove infected overstory and windbreak

pines.

Scleroderris Canker - Gremmeniella abietina

Infected needles turn orange at the base in spring

and later turn brown and fall off. The fungus moves

to branches and main stems where cankers develop.

Cankers girdle and kill seedlings and small trees.

Damage is minor on trees over 6 feet tall. Lower

branch mortality of larger trees occurs in frost

pockets.

 Avoid planting in frost pockets.

 Salvage infected pines.

CANKER ROTS

Red Ring Rot - Phellinus pini

The fungus causes a white pocket rot in the trunk of

infected trees. The fruiting bodies often appear at

branch stubs or knots. They are annual or perennial,

hard, and bracket or hoof shape with irregular

margins. Upper surface is dark grayish to dark

brown.

 Control is rarely necessary.

GALL DISEASES

Eastern Gall Rust (pine-oak gall rust) -

Cronartium quercuum f. sp. banksianae

Western Gall Rust (pine-pine gall rust) -

Peridermium harknessii

Eastern gall rust requires red oaks as alternate hosts

to complete its life cycle and is considered to be

widespread in Wisconsin. Western gall rust infects

pine without an alternate host. Based on the survey

in the 1960’s, the distribution of western gall rust is

limited to north-central Wisconsin (Vilas, Oneida,

and Lincoln Counties). The fungus causes swollen

spherical galls on pine twigs, branches and main

stems. Main stem galls may cause breakage at the

point of the gall. Galls kill seedlings and branches

of older trees. The disease is very common on jack

pine near oaks.

 Examine seedlings for galls or swelling on

main stems, branches, and root collar areas

before planting. Do not plant symptomatic

seedlings.

ROOT DISEASES

Armillaria Root Disease (Shoestring root rot)

– Armillaria spp.

 Do not hold stands on poor quality sites

past maturity.

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Girdles roots and lower trunks, causing cankers as

well as stringy white rot. Affected trees have

reduced growth and chlorotic needles. Dieback and

mortality can occur, especially during drought years

or following two or more years of defoliation (all

ages). White mycelial fans and dark-colored

rhizomorphs can be found in the cambial zone.

Armillaria

pp. produce fall mushrooms.

 Harvest declining stands before bark beetle

infestation, mortality, and decay take place.

Annosum Root Rot - Heterobasidion irregulare

Jack pine are susceptible to infection by

Heterobasidion irregulare mainly through spores

landing on freshly cut stumps as for other pines.

Infection could spread to living jack pines if their

roots contacted old infected roots. Annosum root

rot causes pockets of trees to develop thin crowns,

reduced growth, and tree mortality. Pockets expand

at about ½ to 1 chain every 10 – 15 years. Fruiting

bodies develop at the base of infected trees and

stumps. Early fruiting bodies are white and look like

popcorn. Under favorable conditions, fruiting

bodies develop into perennial bracket-shaped conks.

Management

 Expect tree mortality in pockets and

growth loss in trees around the pocket

margin.

 Harvest healthy trees before harvesting

diseased trees.

 Leave the bottom 8 feet of infected trees on

site to avoid inadvertent disease spread.

 Clean logging equipment with pressurized

water before leaving diseased stands.

Prevention

 Apply a registered fungicide on fresh cut

stumps as soon as possible after cutting or

by the end of each day.

ABIOTIC DAMAGE

Drought, fire, wind and other abiotic factors may

kill or significantly stress impacted trees.

 Pre-salvage or salvage dead or stressed

trees to avoid insect and disease issues.

Trees with more than 50% of the canopy

affected are unlikely to recover and should

be harvested.

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SITE INDEX AND STOCKING GUIDES

Figure 33.21 - Site index curves for jack pine in the Lake States (16).

Figure 33.22 – Stocking chart for jack pine stands (8)

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Recommended upper limit (A-curve) is based on stand tables from Eyre and LeBarron (31) and adjusted to

approximately 85 percent stocking for pole timber and 100 percent stocking for sawtimber stands. Minimum

stocking (B-curve) is based on crown width for open-grown trees.

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WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES

NOTICE OF FINAL GUIDANCE & CERTIFICATION

Pursuant to ch. 227, Wis. Stats., the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has finalized and hereby certifies the

following guidance document.

DOCUMENT ID

FA-20-0001

DOCUMENT TITLE

Silviculture Handbook

PROGRAM/BUREAU

Forest Economics and Ecology, Applied Forestry Bureau

STATUTORY AUTHORITY OR LEGAL CITATION

S. 823.075, Wis. Stats. & NR 1.25, Wis. Admin. Code

DATE SENT TO LEGISLATIVE REFERENCE BUREAU (FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS)

2/10/2020

DATE FINALIZED

4/6/2020

DNR CERTIFICATION

I have reviewed this guidance document or proposed guidance document and I certify that it complies with sections

227.10 and 227.11 of the Wisconsin Statutes. I further certify that the guidance document or proposed guidance

document contains no standard, requirement, or threshold that is not explicitly required or explicitly permitted by a

statute or a rule that has been lawfully promulgated. I further certify that the guidance document or proposed guidance

document contains no standard, requirement, or threshold that is more restrictive than a standard, requirement, or

threshold contained in the Wisconsin Statutes.

March 27, 2020

Signature Date