P068: Restoration Strategies for Whitebark, Western White, and Sugar Pine in the Lake Tahoe Basin

In the Lake Tahoe Basin White pine blister rust is significantly affecting recruitment potential and survival of small and intermediate-sized trees. Such adverse demographic effects can have long-lasting consequences on population structure and dynamics. Comstock era logging, in some locations, has reduced effective population numbers and genetic variation of sugar pine. Both influences (i.e., WPBR and historical logging) can significantly affect how these species respond to other stressors such as global climatic change. Strong evidence of negative population and genetic effects warrant white pine restoration in the Lake Tahoe Basin.