1. Invasive pathogen threatens bird-pine mutualism: implications for sustaining a high-elevation ecosystem.
- Author
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McKinney, Shawn T., Fiedler, Carl E., and Tomback, Diana F.
- Subjects
MUTUALISM (Biology) ,WHITEBARK pine ,BIRDS ,CRONARTIUM ribicola ,BLISTER rust ,FUNGI ,MELAMPSORACEAE ,WHITE pine - Abstract
The article aims to investigate on the impact of the invasive Cronartium ribicola to the mutualism relationship of the Clark's Nutcracker and Whitebark pine in the U.S. It is reported that disruption, due to human activities, is one of the suspected cause of disturbance on the helping relationship between the two mentioned species and cites its contribution to the near extinction of these species in the forest. However, Cronartium ribicola is considered as the worst invader of mutualism, where it can infect the Whitebark pine by reducing the production of pine cones through its invasive white pine blister rust. In addition, the birds' ability to disperse the pine cones has also declined. Furthermore, ecological researchers have exerted their efforts to mitigate the invasive pathogen.
- Published
- 2009
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