United States 

Department o 

Agriculture 

Forest 

Service 

Northern 

Region 

200 East Broadway 

P.O. Box 7669 

Missoula, MT 59807 

Numbered Report 05-06 October 2005

CHANGES IN FIRE-KILLED WESTERN LARCH ON THE GLACIER VIEW RANGER 

DISTRICT (FLATHEAD NATIONAL FOREST), MONTANA 

YEARS TWO, THREE, AND FOUR REPORT 

Marcus Jackson, Plant Pathologist 

USDA Forest Service, Northern Region 

Beverly Bulaon, Entomologist 

USDA Forest Service, Northern Region 

INTRODUCTION 

This is the second of several reports describing 

progress in a ten- or more-year study evaluating 

changes of fire-killed western larch in 

northwestern Montana. Trees included were 

killed by the Moose Fire in fall 2001. This study 

will evaluate more than 300 trees (240 

dissected), look at a large range (8 to 32 inch 

dbh) of sizes, and evaluate fire-killed trees over 

an extended period of time. 

This report describes observations of all standing 

trees two and four years post-fire and tree 

dissections two and three years post-fire. Adult 

wood- and bark-boring insect collections and 

identifications are also discussed. The report 

continues with a discussion of progress by agents 

changing wood characteristics, and resulting 

reductions in merchantable volume, over the first 

three years of this study. For additional 

information about purpose, methods, and first 

year findings see Forest Health Protection Report 

04-16 (Jackson 2004). More dissections are 

planned for five, seven, and ten years post-fire. 

Collection and identification of wood- and barkboring insects were added during the second year 

to better understand which insects are involved 

in changes of fire-killed western larch. While 

most wood borers prefer recently killed trees, 

some will infest live trees in areas adjacent to 

burn sites (Werner 2002). Highest risk for wood 

borer infestation within and around burned areas 

usually occurs the first year after a disturbance; 

populations decrease significantly afterward 

(Werner and Post 1985). Werner (2002) caught 

fewer wood borers with progressing years in a 

burned area of white spruce, but continued 

capturing the same species ten years after fire as 

he caught in the first few years post-fire. Larvae 

of the whitespotted sawyer, Monochamus 

scutellatus Say, sometimes require three years to 

develop, penetrate deep into the sapwood and 

cause extensive damage (Cerezke 1975). 
2 

METHODS 

Year 2 Data Collection

Standing Tree Evaluations 

Forty of the original 367 study trees had been 

dissected in fall 2002. In late May 2003, the 327 

trees that remained standing were observed to 

determine if they were living and which had 

sloughed bark, woodpecker foraging, or fungal 

conks. 

Adult Wood- and Bark-Boring Insect 

Collection and Identification 

Wood- and bark-boring insects were collected 

using two methods: (1) emergence traps placed 

on standing trees, and (2) bolts collected from 

trees that were dissected and identified as 

infested in fall 2002. 

Since most trees were not to be felled until a 

later date - and most wood borers usually infest 

trees one to two years after disturbance - traps 

were used to capture some insects as they 

emerged from standing trees. In late April 2003, 

one trap was placed on the north side of a 

standing tree in each of the four size classes at 

each of the five sites for a total of twenty traps. 

Trap development and methodology for this 

project was based on information from other 

studies (Werner 2003, Werner 2002, Post and 

Werner 1988, and Vallentgoed 1991). 

Emergence traps were made of soft-mesh 

screening, 30 cm wide by 60 cm tall. Mesh 

perimeter was underlined with a one-inch wide 

by one-half-inch-thick strip of foam; stapled to 

the tree. A collection cup containing a one-inch 

by one-inch piece of No-Pest® Strip was placed 

at the trap's base by cutting an 'X' in the mesh, 

placing the cup's mouth inside the mesh, and 

taping the mesh flaps to the outside surface of 

cup with duct tape. Insects were collected from 

traps while conducting tree dissections in late 

September and early October. All insects were 

bagged and frozen for later identification. 

Fourteen bolts were gathered from the field in 

April 2003. Each 18-inch-long bolt was 

collected from a felled tree identified as heavily 

infested during 2002 dissections via observations 

of larvae and wood borer-caused holes. They 

were taken at various heights in trees at all five 

sites and included trees of all size classes. 

Insects were reared by placing bolts in metal 

cans covered with a mesh. Bolts were stored in a 

non-climate-controlled warehouse. Insects were 

collected from cans in autumn 2003. All insects 

were bagged and frozen for later identification. 

Agent and Scaling Data 

From September 29 through October 10, 2003, 

ten trees were dissected in each size class. Agent 

and scaling data were collected from each tree. 

Given variability in feller skill, breakage was not 

included in defects described in this report. Loss 

to breakage should be included in estimates of 

total merchantable volume. 

Year 3 Data Collection

Agent and Scaling Data

From September 7 through September 24, 2004, 

ten trees were dissected in each size class with 

agent and scaling data collected. Tree number 

662 may have been dead prior to the Moose Fire 

as evidenced by many, older-appearing checks. 

Given variability in feller skill, breakage was not 

included in defects described in this report. Loss 

to breakage should be included in estimates of 

total merchantable volume. 

Combined Agent and Scaling Data for the 

First 3 Years

For purpose of illustrating agent progress and 

reduced merchantable volume over the first three 

years post-fire, and to contrast differences 

between size classes, means for each size class 

were compiled into three tables (Tables 6, 7, and 

8). 
3 

Year 4 Data Collection

Standing Tree Evaluations 

In June 2005, all trees tagged in 2002 and not yet 

dissected were observed to determine if they 

were dead, standing, had broken tops, sloughed 

bark, or conks present. Bark was considered 

"sloughed" when exposed wood could be seen as 

a result of separation of bark from wood and not 

caused by woodpecker foraging or rubbing from 

nearby fallen trees. When conks were observed, 

fungal species and location of conks were also 

noted. 

Precipitation Data Collection

After observing an apparent reduction in number 

and size of checks in year three disks compared 

to year two disks, precipitation data was taken 

from the Western Regional Climate Center's web 

page (www.wrcc.dri.edu/index.html) to compare 

three months (July through September 2003 and 

June through August 2004) preceding data 

collection. Data used came from the West 

Glacier, Montana (248809) weather station 

located approximately 10 to 15 miles southeast 

of study sites and 3,150 feet elevation 

(approximately 500 to 1,100 feet lower than 

study sites). 

RESULTS 

Year 2 

Evaluation of All Standing Trees 

Of 367 trees identified and tagged for this study, 

40 trees had been dissected in fall 2002. Three 

hundred twenty-seven remained since no trees 

had fallen due to natural causes. Fourteen (4%) 

of the 327 trees thought to be dead in June 2002, 

still had green shoots, albeit minimal, in May 

2003. Nine trees with green shoots were on site 

four, two were on site three, two were on site 

two, and one was on site one. No trees had 

broken tops post- fire. Twenty-one (6%) of the 

327 trees had sloughing bark, with most 

sloughing on the uphill side. One tree (#648) 

contained two Cryptoporus volvatus (Pk.) Shear 

conks about 12 feet off the ground. No other 

conks were observed on standing trees. 

 

Adult Wood- and Bark-Boring Insect 

Collection and Identification 

Bolts yielded more insects than traps. The 

combination of insects captured by emergence 

traps and bolts resulted in a variety of species. 

Wood- and bark-boring insects found are shown 

in Table 1. 

Table 1. Wood- and Bark-Boring Insects Collected Two Years Post-Fire. 

Family Species 

Tetropium velutinum LeConte 

Rhagium inquisitor L. 

Xylotrechus longitarsus Casey 

Monochamus scutellatus Say 

Cerambycidae 

Spondylis upiformis Mannerheim 

Buprestidae Melanophila drummondi Kirby 

Siricidae Sirex cyaneus F. 

Dendroctonus pseudotsugae Hopkins 

Trypodendron lineatum Olivier 

Scolytidae 

Scolytus laricis Blackman 
4 

Agent and Scaling Data 

All 40 trees scheduled for dissection were still 

standing immediately prior to dissection. One 

tree (#641) contained two fruiting bodies of the 

sapwood decay fungus C. volvatus. These 

fruiting bodies were not observed during the 

evaluation of all standing trees four months 

earlier. No post-fire broken tops were observed. 

Five (13%) showed evidence of bark sloughing 

on boles. All trees showed evidence of 

woodpecker foraging. 

Of six attempts to isolate fungi from sapwood 

decay, Stereum sanguinolentum and a 

Ganoderma sp. were each retrieved from an 

individual tree. Although isolation was 

attempted, no basidiomycete was isolated from 

the tree (#641) that contained C. volvatus conks. 

Agent and scaling data derived from dissections 

are summarized for each tree and size class in 

Tables 2 and 3 and for disk height in Figure 1. 
5 

Table 2. Agent Data Summarized by Tree Two Years After the Moose Fire 

Tree 

No. 

DBHA 

(inches) 

AgeB 

(Years) SiteC

Deepest 

BorersD 

(mm) 

Borer 

Holes/Sq. 

FootE

StainF 

(Percent)

Sapwood

DecayG 

(Percent)

Deepest

CheckH 

(mm)

No. of 

ChecksI

Sapwood 

Volume 

(Percent)J

531 8.3 77 1 52 11.0 6.5 1.0 37 0.9 34.9 

602 8.6 84 1 51 6.5 7.6 0.3 62 1.5 46.1 

901 8.9 87 5 10 0.6 4.9 0 80 1.7 59.8 

553 9.3 85 1 32 1.5 10.6 0 67 1.4 45.2 

514 9.7 90 1 51 24.1 14.8 1.5 54 1.9 41.7 

925 10.1 84 5 43 0.4 3.5 0 72 0.4 43.6 

582 10.5 -K 3 50 6.4 3.2 2.5 76 1.5 33.6 

587 11.5 85 3 73 6.5 2.4 0.7 70 6.0 35.9 

622 11.8 77 1 79 17.8 10.6 0.6 39 0.2 42.4 

969 12 177 5 0 1.7 4.7 0 70 1.9 21.2 

MDCL 10.1 94 - 49 7.7 6.9 0.7 62.7 1.7 40.4 

954 12.3 86 4 9 0.2 1.6 0 85 1.4 44.5 

727 12.4 171 3 28 1.8 7.1 0 47 3.7 38.4 

685 12.7 226 1 36 1.9 1.2 0 170 1.7 33.2 

557 13 86 4 60 10.4 3.9 0.6 56 1.0 38.8 

711 14 232 4 18 1.8 7.1 0 52 3.6 27.9 

736 14.3 228 1 30 1.8 3.0 0 40 2.7 22.5 

512 14.6 90 1 61 16.8 11.1 2.8 67 0.7 32.4 

641 14.9 79 5 52 5.6 5.4 0.9 44 0.7 39.1 

964 15.5 215 3 27 0.3 3.2 0 105 4.0 17.7 

672 15.7 194 4 27 5.3 6.2 0 20 0.4 35.2 

MDC 13.9 161 - 34.8 4.6 5.0 0.4 68.6 2.0 33.0 

924 16.2 232 5 36 1.6 1.7 0 38 1.4 29.2 

511 16.8 87 1 55 15.3 5.2 0.9 50 0.7 31.4 

753 17.3 224 4 32 0.6 0.3 0.3 130 4.9 19.7 

687 17.6 197 3 39 2.8 4.5 0.6 122 4.8 23.8 

905 18 196 5 32 0.7 0.5 0 45 1.3 24.7 

793 18.2 205 5 40 2.1 2.4 0 0 0 32.8 

600 18.6 225 3 21 3.1 2.2 0.6 22 0.3 25.9 

756 19.1 - K 4 58 1.5 1.2 0.5 105 7.6 16.7 

950 19.5 224 5 39 1.6 3.3 0 70 5.4 23.8 

597 19.8 230 3 53 1.6 6.1 0.1 87 2.7 27.7 

MDC 18.1 202 - 40.5 3.1 2.7 0.3 66.9 2.9 25.6 

668 20.8 176 3 86 1.9 1.6 0.1 50 5.3 14.4 

676 21.1 196 3 35 1.3 4.3 1.2 50 3.4 28.6 

691 22 219 3 33 1.9 1.7 0.4 50 4.4 20.1 

902 23 210 5 94 3.0 4.7 0.3 39 1.6 28.1 

699 23.7 234 4 115 1.4 2.2 2.2 80 7.5 14.9 

564 24.3 232 2 46 3.5 3.1 0.4 47 4.9 14.9 

918 25.3 220 5 52 1.2 1.3 4.7 64 3.0 21.7 

731 26.8 204 4 30 1.9 4.6 0 85 4.5 15.7 

779 28.2 219 4 65 1.8 2.6 0.1 95 17.1 16.7 

764 29.1 234 4 60 2.3 0.9 1.6 53 7.7 17.2 

MDC 24.4 214 - 61.6 2.0 2.7 1.1 61.3 5.9 19.2 

See legend on page 6. 
6 

Legend for Table 2 and Table 4.

ADiameter at breast height (4.5 feet above ground level). 

B

Age-estimated by counting annual rings at the stump. 

C

 Tree location (see Jackson 2004). 

DDistance of wood borer hole that was furthest from the edge of wood on any disk from the tree. 

E

Wood borers - average number of wood borer holes per square foot of disk area observed. 

F

Estimated percent cubic volume affected by sapwood stain. Estimated by calculating volume of each log 

using Smalian's Formula for a paraboloid frustum and multiplying total volume of the log by the mean of 

percent area affected by sapwood stain on disk at each end of the log. Total stain volume in the tree was 

then divided by total tree volume. 

 

GEstimated percent cubic volume affected by sapwood decay. Estimated by calculating volume of each 

log using Smalian's Formula for a paraboloid frustum and multiplying total volume of the log by the mean 

of percent area affected by sapwood decay on disk at each end of the log. Total sapwood decay volume in 

the tree was then divided by total tree volume. 

HDepth of deepest check found on any disk from the tree. 

I

Quotient when total number of peripheral checks on all disks are divided by total number of disks on that 

tree. 

J

Percent sapwood volume estimated by calculating total volume of each log and heartwood volume of 

each log using Smalian's Formula for a paraboloid frustum. Heartwood volume was then subtracted from 

total volume, with the difference divided by total volume and multiplied by 100. 

KData not taken. 

L

MDC - mean for diameter class. Mean for the ten values in diameter class. 
7 

Table 3. Scaling Data Summarized by Tree Two Years After the Moose Fire 

 Scribner Rule (Board Feet) Cubic Rule (Cubic Feet) 

Tree 

No. 

DBHA 

(Inches) AgeB 

(Years) 

Preexisting 

DefectC

PostFire 

DefectD

Total 

Scaler 

DefectE

Gross

Scaler

Vol. F

Preexisting 

DefectG

PostFire 

DefectH

Total 

Scaler 

DefectI

Gross 

Scaler 

Vol.J

531 8.3 77 0 10 10 50 0 4.8 4.8 13.2 

602 8.6 84 0 0 0 50 0.7 5.6 6.3 14.3 

901 8.9 87 0 0 0 40 2.7 2.5 5.2 12.3 

553 9.3 85 0 0 0 40 0.7 1.2 1.9 11.6 

514 9.7 90 10 10 20 60 0.2 5.6 5.8 17.2 

925 10.1 84 0 0 0 70 0 0.7 0.7 19.1 

582 10.5 -K 10 30 40 50 1 7.8 8.8 15.4 

587 11.5 85 20 10 30 60 5.2 6.0 11.2 15.9 

622 11.8 77 0 50 50 100 0 9.5 9.5 22.7 

969 12 177 10 0 10 70 3.2 3.3 6.5 19.4 

MDCL 10.1 94 5 11 16 59 1.4 4.7 6.1 16.1 

954 12.3 86 10 0 10 110 2.6 2.9 5.5 24.6 

727 12.4 171 10 10 20 50 4.0 2.0 6.0 15.2 

685 12.7 226 20 30 50 170 8.9 1.5 10.4 32.0 

557 13 86 0 50 50 170 0 6.5 6.5 33.6 

711 14 232 0 0 0 170 0 2.7 2.7 36.2 

736 14.3 228 30 0 30 190 9.6 0 9.6 37.8 

512 14.6 90 70 60 130 210 3.7 9.4 13.1 40.9 

641 14.9 79 0 10 10 200 0 4.8 4.8 38.4 

964 15.5 215 10 60 70 210 1.6 8.1 9.7 39.7 

672 15.7 194 50 0 50 230 16.2 0.3 16.5 44.7 

MDC 13.9 161 20 22 42 171 4.7 3.8 8.5 34.3 

924 16.2 232 10 0 10 250 2.4 1.1 3.5 46.7 

511 16.8 87 0 70 70 300 0 12.9 12.9 55.2 

753 17.3 224 40 20 60 280 5.4 6.2 11.6 51.8 

687 17.6 197 50 20 70 280 13.3 1.7 15.0 51.6 

905 18 196 20 40 60 290 3.5 5.1 8.6 50.3 

793 18.2 205 20 10 30 310 3.3 1.7 5.0 54.2 

600 18.6 225 40 20 60 330 9.7 2.1 11.8 56.8 

756 19.1 - 80 10 90 460 7.5 3.2 10.7 79.1 

950 19.5 224 50 0 50 390 3.5 0.7 4.2 66.8 

597 19.8 230 60 30 90 450 4.2 4.2 8.4 75.4 

MDC 18.1 202 37 22 59 334 5.3 3.9 9.2 58.8 

668 20.8 176 480 0 480 480 81.1 0 81.1 81.1 

676 21.1 196 50 90 140 490 5.5 9 14.5 79.2 

691 22 219 70 30 100 580 4.6 7.3 11.9 94.0 

902 23 210 180 0 180 520 16.9 0.5 17.4 85.7 

699 23.7 234 100 110 210 720 6.3 15.5 21.8 112.0 

564 24.3 232 150 50 200 840 10.9 7.6 18.5 127.9 

918 25.3 220 610 0 610 610 97.1 0 97.1 97.1 

731 26.8 204 90 10 100 790 9.0 1.4 10.4 122.0 

779 28.2 219 320 0 320 1390 31 2.1 33.1 197.1 

764 29.1 234 530 0 530 1500 73.3 0 73.3 210.3 

MDC 24.4 214 258 29 287 792 33.6 4.3 37.9 120.6 

Total - - 3200 840 4040 13560 448.8 167.5 616.3 2298.5 

See legend on page 8. 
8 

Legend for Table 3, Table 5, Table 7, and Table 8.

ADiameter at breast height (4.5 feet above ground level). 

B

Age-estimated by observing annual rings at the stump. 

C

Number of board feet deducted from tree volume due to pre-existing defects such as

 crook, heart shake, heartwood decay, etc. 

DNumber of board feet deducted from tree volume due to post-fire defects such as peripheral checks, 

 wood borers, and sapwood decay. 

E

Total number of board feet deducted from tree volumes due to both pre-existing and post- 

 fire defects. 

F

Total number of board feet in tree at time of dissection. 

GCubic volume deducted from tree due to pre-existing defects such as crook, heart shake, 

 heartwood decay, etc. 

HCubic volume deducted from tree due to post-fire defects such as peripheral checks, wood borers, 

 and sapwood decay. 

I

Cubic volume deducted from tree due to both pre-existing and post-fire defects. 

J

Total cubic volume in the tree at time of dissection. 

KData not taken. 

L

MDC - mean for the diameter class. 
9 

Legend for Figures 1 and 2 

*Disk number identifies distance from ground level while tree was standing. Disk 1 = 1 to 2 feet above 

ground level. Every subsequent disk height = (8 X Disk Number - 6 to 7) (eg. disk seven was 49 to 50 

feet from ground level). There were 40 disks for each disk number of one through six for both years and 

progressively less disks for each higher number in both years. Disk eleven was the highest disk used, 

since disk twelve and above consisted of less than 20 disks. 

*"Stain" is the mean percent of total surface area affected. 

*"Sapwood Decay" is the mean percent of total surface area affected. 

*"Woodborers" refers to number of woodborers per square foot on disk surface. 

*"Checks" refers to number of checks per foot of disk circumference. 

Figure 1. Agents at Different Heights (Year 2)

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Disk Number

Stain

Sapwood Decay

Woodborers

Checks
10 

Figure 2. Agents at Different Heights (Year 3)

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Disk Number

Stain

Sapwood Decay

Woodborers

Checks

Year 3 

Agent and Scaling Data 

All 40 trees scheduled for dissection were still 

standing. Seven (18%) contained fruiting bodies 

of decay-causing fungi. Four trees contained 

Fomitposis pinicola (Swartz:Fr.) Karst., two 

contained C. volvatus, and one tree (#633) 

contained both F. pinicola and C. volvatus

fruiting bodies. Four (10%) trees had post-fire 

broken tops. Five (13%) of the 40 trees showed 

evidence of bark sloughing on boles. All trees 

showed evidence of woodpecker foraging. 

Of 61 attempts to isolate fungi from sapwood 

decay, 39 yielded apparent basidiomycetes. 

Only ten isolates were submitted to the Forest 

Products Laboratory since most of them 

appeared very similar in culture and decay 

characteristics. Of the ten isolates, seven were 

identified as F. pinicola, one as S. 

sanguinolentum, and two were not identified. 

Prior to submitting cultures for identification, 

isolates were grouped according to gross cultural 

similarities. F. pinicola isolates represented 36 

isolates, S. sanguinolentum represented one 

isolate, one unidentified isolate represented two 

isolates, and the other unidentified isolate came 

from a group that included one of seven F. 

pinicola isolates. 

 Agent and scaling data derived from dissections 

are summarized for each tree and size class in 

Tables 4 and 5 and disk height in Figure 2. 

Note: See legend on page 9. 
11 

Table 4. Agent Data Summarized by Tree Three Years After the Moose Fire 

Tree 

No. 

DBHA 

(inches) 

AgeB 

(Years) SiteC

Deepest 

BorersD 

(mm) 

Borer 

Holes/Sq. 

FootE

StainF 

(Percent)

Sapwood

DecayG 

(Percent)

Deepest

CheckH 

(mm)

No. of 

ChecksI

Sapwood 

Volume 

(Percent)J

562 8.3 80 1 25 2.1 5.6 8.0 15 0.1 42.2 

521 8.6 100 1 64 17.2 6.4 16.7 37 0.7 46.8 

526 8.9 80 1 61 14.3 0.6 34.5 19 0.5 43.0 

532 9.1 81 1 40 9.8 2.4 24.9 61 0.8 45.1 

552 9.7 78 1 30 9.8 8.7 23.9 15 0.1 43.4 

507 10.5 80 1 52 10.6 1.5 12.0 0 0 40.8 

585 10.9 82 3 28 7.3 0.6 5.6 0 0 44.4 

556 11.3 90 1 47 3.2 14.4 1.0 90 1.4 34.3 

542 11.7 84 1 74 17.8 6.6 26.5 61 0.3 40.1 

551 11.9 85 1 55 3.3 14.0 1.7 75 2.8 43.2 

MDCL 10.1 84 - 47.6 9.5 6.1 15.5 46.6 0.7 42.3 

738 12.1 210 4 30 2.4 0.5 12.6 0 0 30.6 

967 12.7 194 5 21 0.2 4.4 1.2 87 1.5 36.5 

636 12.9 82 1 50 9.2 3.3 18.4 0 0 44.8 

916 13.5 154 5 34 3.3 19.4 5.2 40 0.6 39.6 

629 13.9 80 1 51 9.7 4.8 19.0 57 1.6 36.1 

702 14.2 195 4 85 7.3 2.8 0.4 10 0.3 20.9 

737 14.8 197 4 65 4.2 2.0 7.9 55 0.7 31.6 

541 15.4 85 1 88 13.6 4.6 15.1 65 1.1 32.5 

957 15.4 203 5 47 1.5 8.3 5.2 63 0.6 26.3 

670 15.6 198 3 57 6.4 2.3 3.7 0 0 26.3 

MDC 14.1 160 - 52.8 5.8 5.2 8.9 53.9 0.6 32.5 

743 16.3 208 4 38 2.4 3.6 6.1 0 0 22.1 

945 16.9 204 5 64 5.0 2.9 14.4 18 0.1 28.2 

958 17.3 166 5 67 6.9 3.4 8.2 0 0 30.0 

662 17.5 135 3 8 0.4 2.4 0.2 118 2.1 13.7 

772 17.8 -

K 4 43 2.7 4.7 6.1 18 0.3 22.6 

633 18.2 85 1 50 4.0 0.4 22.3 0 0 30.5 

717 18.7 243 4 75 5.6 7.1 4.1 85 4.8 26.9 

966 19.2 223 5 38 2.1 3.1 16.0 34 0.2 28.3 

675 19.4 213 3 70 3.5 3.1 6.2 0 0 29.1 

679 19.7 215 3 40 3.3 1.1 4.6 25 0.1 29.2 

MDC 18.1 188 - 49.3 3.6 3.2 8.8 49.7 0.8 26.0 

589 20.4 200 3 39 1.6 5.5 7.7 15 0.3 28.8 

800 20.7 196 5 48 3.0 7.6 1.6 42 0.9 24.0 

721 21.1 204 4 107 3.3 2.7 5.9 23 2.1 23.8 

792 22.2 210 5 77 5.5 3.7 1.9 0 0 20.5 

728 22.8 225 4 75 2.7 6.5 4.6 70 1.4 19.6 

791 23.7 216 5 45 3.5 12.1 5.0 0 0 24.5 

798 23.8 220 5 50 3.2 6.3 6.0 31 0.1 22.1 

663 24.8 206 3 65 4.9 1.6 3.6 0 0 21.7 

795 26 210 5 35 2.3 2.1 10.3 17 0.4 20.9 

719 28.6 225 4 85 3.2 1.7 4.4 43 1.2 22.7 

MDC 23.4 211 - 62.6 3.3 5.0 5.1 34.4 0.6 22.9 

See legend on page 6. 
12 

Table 5. Scaling Data Summarized by Tree Three Years After the Moose Fire 

 Scribner Rule (Board Feet) Cubic Rule (Cubic Feet) 

Tree 

No. 

DBHA 

(inches) AgeB

Preexisting 

DefectC

PostFire 

DefectD

Total 

Scaler 

DefectE

Gross

Scaler

Vol. F

Preexisting 

DefectG

PostFire 

DefectH

Total 

Scaler 

DefectI

Gross 

Scaler 

Vol.J

562 8.3 80 0 40 40 40 0 9.2 9.2 10.3 

521 8.6 100 0 30 30 40 0.4 8.7 9.1 11.5 

526 8.9 80 0 40 40 60 0 8.9 8.9 14.1 

532 9.1 81 0 30 30 50 0 7.5 7.5 13.5 

552 9.7 78 0 30 30 50 0 7.2 7.2 14.0 

507 10.5 80 0 40 40 90 0 9.7 9.7 20.4 

585 10.9 82 0 10 10 50 0.5 6.0 6.5 13.7 

556 11.3 90 0 10 10 80 0 1.5 1.5 20.5 

542 11.7 84 0 60 60 110 0 14.4 14.4 24.4 

551 11.9 85 0 10 10 120 0 0.7 0.7 24.9 

MDCL 10.1 84 0 30 30 69 0.1 7.4 7.5 16.7 

738 12.1 210 0 40 40 140 0 6.8 6.8 28.1 

967 12.7 194 20 20 40 180 3.6 2.5 6.1 36.0 

636 12.9 82 0 50 50 100 0 9.4 9.4 24.0 

916 13.5 154 20 50 70 160 3.0 6.4 9.4 32.0 

629 13.9 80 0 70 70 170 0 12.5 12.5 34.5 

702 14.2 195 140 0 140 160 28.6 0 28.6 33.5 

737 14.8 197 0 50 50 240 2.0 5.0 7.0 46.2 

541 15.4 85 10 120 130 240 0.6 24.4 25.0 44.4 

957 15.4 203 60 60 120 270 11.0 7.4 18.4 49.2 

670 15.6 198 100 20 120 220 18.8 3.6 22.4 41.4 

MDC 14.1 160 35 48 83 188 6.8 7.8 14.6 36.9 

743 16.3 208 20 30 50 260 0.8 9.6 10.4 50.4 

945 16.9 204 20 80 100 320 4.9 10.5 15.4 55.7 

958 17.3 166 60 80 140 310 10.1 11.4 21.5 54.8 

662 17.5 135 10 200 210 320 0.9 31.8 32.7 57.8 

772 17.8 -K

 20 50 70 270 1.8 7.8 9.6 50.4 

633 18.2 85 0 100 100 310 0 15.1 15.1 54.2 

717 18.7 243 0 120 120 500 0.3 15.3 15.6 82.0 

966 19.2 223 50 120 170 480 7.6 17.3 24.9 80.4 

675 19.4 213 270 90 360 470 47.8 13 60.8 79.8 

679 19.7 215 10 70 80 440 1.0 8.6 9.6 74.3 

MDC 18.1 188 46 94 140 368 7.5 14.0 21.6 64.0 

589 20.4 200 70 120 190 500 11.2 14.5 25.7 81.2 

800 20.7 196 30 20 50 510 0.9 1.5 2.4 83.8 

721 21.1 204 10 100 110 450 0.7 12.7 13.4 79.2 

792 22.2 210 60 10 70 440 2.9 1.2 4.1 74.4 

728 22.8 225 80 60 140 780 6.2 7.9 14.1 120.7 

791 23.7 216 90 90 180 600 15.9 13.5 29.4 98.2 

798 23.8 220 10 90 100 760 0.4 14.7 15.1 118.0 

663 24.8 206 90 170 260 740 19.4 20.8 40.2 119.0 

795 26 210 20 90 110 660 1.4 11.9 13.3 106.4 

719 28.6 225 80 160 240 1480 6.0 19.7 25.7 207.2 

MDC 23.4 211 54 91 145 692 6.5 11.8 18.3 108.8 

Total - - 1350 2630 3980 13170 208.7 410.6 619.3 2264.5 

See legend of page 8. 
13 

Combined Agent and Scaling Data for the First Three Years

Table 6. Agent Data Means Summarized by Size Class and Year 

Size Class YearA

DBHB 

(Inches) 

Deepest 

BorersC 

(mm) 

Borer 

Holes/Sq. 

FootD

Borer 

Holes/ 

DiskE

StainF 

(Percent)

Sapwood

DecayG 

(Percent)

Deepest 

CheckH 

(mm)

No. of 

ChecksI

Sapwood 

Volume 

(Percent)J

8-11.9 1 10.0 29.4 2.6 0.8 2.7 0 N/AK 0 -L

8-11.9 2 10.1 49 7.7 2.5 6.9 0.7 62.7 1.7 40.4 

8-11.9 3 10.1 47.6 9.5 3.0 6.1 15.5 46.6 0.7 42.3 

8-11.9 All Years 10.0 44.3 6.6 2.0 5.2 5.4 55.6 0.8 41.4 

12-15.9 1 14.1 26.7 2.3 1.0 3.0 0 N/AK 0 -

 L

12-15.9 2 13.9 34.8 4.6 2.3 5.0 0.4 68.6 2.0 33.0 

12-15.9 3 14.1 52.8 5.8 3.0 5.2 8.9 53.9 0.6 32.5 

12-15.9 All Years 14.0 39.4 4.2 2.1 4.4 3.1 62.5 0.9 32.7 

16-19.9 1 18.0 43.1 2.3 1.5 1.2 0 N/AK 0 -

 L

16-19.9 2 18.1 40.5 3.1 2.1 2.7 0.3 66.9 2.9 25.6 

16-19.9 3 18.1 49.3 3.6 2.9 3.2 8.8 49.7 0.8 26.0 

16-19.9 All Years 18.1 44.3 3.0 2.2 2.4 3.0 64.5 1.2 25.8 

20+ 1 24.9 30 0.8 0.9 0.5 0.7 N/AK 0 -

 L

20+ 2 24.4 61.6 2.0 2.4 2.7 1.1 61.3 5.9 19.2 

20+ 3 23.4 62.6 3.3 3.6 5.0 5.1 34.4 0.6 22.9 

20+ All Years 24.2 54.7 2.0 2.3 2.7 2.3 50.2 2.2 21.0 

All Sizes 1 16.7 33.4 2.0 1.1 1.8 0.1 N/AK 0 - L

All Sizes 2 16.6 46.4 4.4 2.3 4.3 0.6 66.5 3.1 29.6 

All Sizes 3 16.4 53.1 5.6 3.1 4.9 9.6 46.0 0.7 31.0 

All Sizes All Years 16.6 45.6 4.0 2.2 3.7 3.4 58.0 1.3 30.2 

Note: Each non-shaded row consists of means derived from all ten trees for size class and year. "All 

Years" are means derived from all 30 trees for each size class. "All Sizes" are means derived from all 40 

trees each year. 

Superscipts denote how data was derived for each tree used in the means of the table. 

ANumber of years after fire. 

B

Diameter at breast height (4.5 feet above ground level). 

C

Distance of wood borer hole that was furthest from the edge of wood on any disk from the tree. 

DWood borers - average number of wood borer holes per square foot of disk area observed. 

E

Wood borers - average number of wood borer holes per disk. 

F

Estimated percent cubic volume affected by sapwood stain. Estimated by calculating the volume of each 

log using Smalian's Formula for a paraboloid frustum and multiplying the total volume of the log by the 

mean of the percent area affected by sapwood stain on the disk at each end of the log. The total stain 

volume in the tree was then divided by the total tree volume. 

GEstimated percent cubic volume affected by sapwood decay. Estimated by calculating the volume of 

each log using Smalian's Formula for a paraboloid frustum and multiplying the total volume of the log by 

the mean of the percent area affected by sapwood decay on the disk at each end of the log. The total 

sapwood decay volume in the tree was then divided by the total tree volume. 

HDepth of the deepest check found on any disk from the tree. 

I

Quotient when the total number of peripheral checks on all disks is divided by the total number of disks 

on that tree. 

J

Percent sapwood volume estimated by calculating the total volume of each log and the heartwood 

volume of each log using Smalian's Formula for a paraboloid frustum. The heartwood volume was then 

subtracted from the total volume, with the difference divided by the total volume and multiplied by 100. 

KCheck depth is not applicable since no checks were observed in the first year. 

L

Data not taken. 
14 

Table 7. Scaling Data Means Summarized by Size Class and Year 

 Scribner Rule (Board Feet) Cubic Rule (Cubic Feet) 

Size 

Class Year*

DBHA 

(Inches) 

AgeB 

(Years) 

Preexisting 

DefectC

Postfire 

DefectD

Total 

Scaler 

DefectE

Gross

Scaler

Vol. F

Preexisting 

DefectG

Postfire 

DefectH

Total 

Scaler 

DefectI

Gross

Scaler

Vol.J

8-11.9 1 10.0 82.4 0 0 0 62 0.4 0.2 0.6 16.2 

8-11.9 2 10.1 94 5 11 16 59 1.4 4.7 6.1 16.1 

8-11.9 3 10.1 84 0 30 30 69 0.1 7.4 7.5 16.7 

8-11.9 All 10.0 86.6 1.7 13.7 15.3 63.3 0.6 4.1 4.7 16.3 

12-15.9 1 14.1 137.3 11 1 12 187 1.2 0.6 1.8 36.6 

12-15.9 2 13.9 161 20 22 42 171 4.7 3.8 8.5 34.3 

12-15.9 3 14.1 159.8 35 48 83 188 6.8 7.8 14.6 36.9 

12-15.9 All 14.0 152.6 22 23.7 45.7 182 4.2 4.1 8.3 35.9 

16-19.9 1 18.0 180 37 2 39 355 4.2 0.8 5.0 61.8 

16-19.9 2 18.1 202 37 22 59 334 5.3 3.9 9.2 58.8 

16-19.9 3 18.1 188 46 94 140 368 7.5 14.0 21.6 64.0 

16-19.9 All 18.1 189.7 40 39.3 79.3 352.3 5.7 6.2 11.9 61.5 

20+ 1 24.9 201.5 182 0 182 718 23.8 0.1 23.9 114.2

20+ 2 24.4 214 258 29 287 792 33.6 4.3 37.9 120.6

20+ 3 23.4 211.2 54 91 145 692 6.5 11.8 18.3 108.8

20+ All 24.2 209.0 164.7 40 204.7 734 21.3 5.4 26.7 114.5

All Sizes 1 16.7 150.3 57.5 0.75 58.3 330.5 7.4 0.4 7.8 57.2 

All Sizes 2 16.6 168.9 80 21 101 339 11.2 4.2 15.4 57.5 

All Sizes 3 16.4 160.1 33.8 65.8 99.5 329.3 5.2 10.3 15.5 56.6 

All Sizes All 16.6 159.6 57.1 29.2 86.3 332.9 7.9 5.0 12.9 57.1 

Note: Each non-shaded row consists of means derived from all ten trees for the size class and year. 

"All" years are means derived from using all 30 trees for each size class. "All Sizes" are means derived 

by using all 40 trees from each year. 

*

Number of years after the fire. 

See page 8 for legend. 
15 

Table 8. Percent Scaling Data Means Summarized by Size Class and Year 

 Scribner Rule (Board Feet) Cubic Rule (Cubic Feet) 

Size 

Class Year*

DBHA 

(Inches) 

AgeB 

(Years) 

Preexisting 

Defect 

Postfire 

Defect 

Total 

Scaler 

Defect 

Gross

Scaler

Vol. F

Preexisting 

Defect 

Postfire 

Defect 

Total 

Scaler 

Defect 

Gross

Scaler

Vol.J

8-11.9 1 10.0 82.4 0 0 0 62 3.0 1.3 4.4 16.2 

8-11.9 2 10.1 94 8.4 16.3 24.8 59 9.0 29.0 37.9 16.1 

8-11.9 3 10.1 84 0 50.1 50.1 69 0.7 49.6 50.3 16.7 

8-11.9 All 10.0 86.6 2.8 22.2 25.0 63.3 4.2 26.6 30.9 16.3 

12-15.9 1 14.1 137.3 7.0 1.0 8.0 187 3.3 2.8 6.0 36.6 

12-15.9 2 13.9 161 11.6 12.9 24.6 171 13.9 11.3 25.2 34.3 

12-15.9 3 14.1 159.8 18.3 26.4 44.7 188 17.8 21.6 39.4 36.9 

12-15.9 All 14.0 152.6 12.3 13.4 25.8 182 11.7 11.9 23.6 35.9 

16-19.9 1 18.0 180 9.6 0.7 10.3 355 6.3 1.6 7.8 61.8 

16-19.9 2 18.1 202 10.5 7.0 17.5 334 9.2 6.9 16.0 58.8 

16-19.9 3 18.1 188 11.4 26.0 37.4 368 10.5 22.5 33.0 64.0 

16-19.9 All 18.1 189.7 10.5 11.2 21.7 352.3 8.6 10.3 19.0 61.5 

20+ 1 24.9 201.5 25.2 0 25.2 718 20.2 0.1 20.2 114.2

20+ 2 24.4 214 35.8 4.6 40.4 792 30.4 4.2 34.5 120.6

20+ 3 23.4 211.2 8.3 13.4 21.7 692 6.2 10.8 17.0 108.8

20+ All 24.2 209.0 23.1 6.0 29.1 734 18.9 5.0 23.9 114.5

All Sizes 1 16.7 150.3 10.4 0.4 10.9 330.5 8.2 1.4 9.6 57.2 

All Sizes 2 16.6 168.9 16.6 10.2 26.8 339 15.6 12.8 28.4 57.5 

All Sizes 3 16.4 160.1 9.5 29.0 38.5 329.3 8.8 26.1 34.9 56.6 

All Sizes All 16.6 159.6 12.2 13.2 25.4 332.9 10.9 13.5 24.3 57.1 

Note: In each non-shaded row, defect categories ("Pre-existing;" "Post-fire," and "Total Scaler") are 

means of percents gross volume affected for the ten trees in each year and size class. "All" years are 

means derived from using all 30 trees for each size class. "All Sizes" are means derived from using all 40 

trees each year. 

*

Number of years after the fire. 

See legend on page 8 for superscripts A, B, F, and J. 

Year 4 

Evaluation of All Standing Trees 

Four years after the fire, no trees had fallen due 

to natural causes. Of the original 367 trees 

identified and tagged, one was removed from the 

data set because it was a Douglas-fir, one was 

lost to firewood cutters, 120 had been dissected, 

and the remaining 245 were still standing. All 

trees were dead four years post-fire. Twenty-two 

(9%) of the 245 standing trees had broken tops. 

Seventy-nine (32%) of the standing trees had 

sloughing bark. One hundred-nine (44%) of the 

standing trees contained fruiting bodies of decaycausing fungi. Ninety-four trees contained F. 

pinicola, seven contained Trichaptum abietinum

(Dickson:Fr.) Ryvarden, five contained C. 

volvatus, and one contained Gleophyllum 

sepiarium (Wulfen:Fr.) P. Karst. conks. Two 

trees had both F. pinicola and C. volvatus conks 

and one tree (#648) contained F. pinicola, C. 

volvatus, and T. abietinum conks. 

Precipitation 

The West Glacier Weather Station showed 2.07 

inches of precipitation occurred from July 

through September 2003 and 9.08 inches of 

precipitation occurred from June through August 

2004.
16 

DISCUSSION 

Agents of Change

Wood Borers 

 Although there does not appear to be any 

difference in wood-boring insect depth across 

size classes, wood borers generally worked 

deeper into the wood over time (Table 6). This 

is especially evident when comparing one and 

three years post-fire. The number of wood borer 

holes found per disk during dissections increased 

each year within all size classes. Higher 

numbers of insect-caused holes in disks in 

subsequent years of this study may be a result of 

a combination of continued feeding by those 

insects already present, increasing the chance of 

detection as their tunnels reach more of the 

wood, and infestations by insects, same or 

different species, that weren't present in earlier 

years. 

Although there were slightly more wood borer 

holes in the disks of the larger size classes, there 

were substantially more wood borer holes per 

square foot in the smaller size classes (Table 6) 

and in higher disks (Figures 1 and 2). Of the 

1,327 disks collected over the first three years of 

this study, an average of 2.2 borer holes were 

found per disk (Table 6). There were slightly 

more holes (averaging 2.3 to 2.7) in disks that 

were approximately 30 to 80 feet off the ground 

and slightly fewer holes (averaging 1.6 to 2.0) 

for those disks taken from above and below this 

height range (data not shown). When the 1,327 

disks were analyzed for five different size classes 

(4 to 7.9; 8 to 11.9; 12 to 15.9; 16 to 19.9; and 

20+ inches), the means ranged from 2.0 to 2.4 

wood borers per disk with no trends evident 

(data not shown). Since there were only slight 

differences in the number of wood borer holes 

based on disk height above the ground and there 

was no trend observed for number of holes in 

different size classes of disks, the greater number 

of wood borer holes per square foot in the 

smaller diameter class trees can probably best be 

explained by the fact that disk area increases 

exponentially as disk diameter increased 

incrementally. Therefore, since there are 

roughly the same number of insects attacking 

each disk, substantially more area will be 

affected on the smaller disks than the larger disks 

and thus the smaller trees than the larger trees. 

Most insects identified (Table 1) are fairly 

common and are described as preferring injured, 

dying, or dead trees. Tetropium velutium, 

western larch borer, was the most abundant 

species from all samples. Xylotrechus 

longitarsus is recorded to infest Douglas-fir 

(Pseudotsuga menziesii) in the Northwest. 

Dendroctonus pseudotsugae is a primary bark 

beetle of Douglas-fir, but occasionally attacks 

western larch (Furniss and Carolin 1977). 

Melanophila drummondi is a very common 

buprestid that is prevalent in the West. 

Trypodendron lineatum was the only ambrosia 

beetle collected. This beetle is considered the 

“most damaging ambrosia beetle in the West” as 

populations can build up rapidly in susceptible 

trees or logging slash (Furniss and Carolin 

1977); however, rarely in Montana (Gibson 

2005). Trypodendron lineatum has contributed 

little to defect in this study to date. 

Identifying insects most likely to infest a 

particular tree species at a particular location, 

and at what levels they can be expected, may 

help determine rate of defect development 

associated with wood borers. However, Kimmey 

(1955) noted that insects and fungi "are so 

intimately associated that their effects are best 

considered in combination rather than 

separately" in his study of the deterioration of 

five fire-killed conifer species in California. 

This appears to be true in Montana as well. 

Stain 

There was an increase in sapwood stain in all 

size classes from one to two years post-fire 

(Table 6). However, increase in stain seemed to 

slow down and there was a reduction in stain in 

the smallest size class from two to three years 

post-fire. Others have suggested that sapwood 

stain volume decreases in fire-killed conifers as 

some of the stained wood is consumed by 
17 

sapwood decay fungi (Kimmey 1955; Hadfield 

and Magelssen 2000). This is probably why we 

observed less stain. Smaller size classes 

generally contain a higher percentage of 

sapwood stain -- as expected due to larger 

percent of disk surface area containing sapwood 

in younger trees (Table 6). Sapwood stain 

affected a greater percent of disk surface area in 

the lower portion of the bole, except at the stump 

where stain levels remained low over both years 

(Figures 1 and 2). 

Sapwood Decay 

Sapwood decay has increasingly become a 

significant agent of change as years progressed 

(Table 6). As with sapwood stain, percent 

sapwood decay is greatest in smaller diameter 

trees due to higher percentage of sapwood. Postfire sapwood decay was first detected in all size 

classes two years after the fire, and then 

increased substantially in all size classes three 

years post-fire. Sapwood decay generally 

followed the trend observed for sapwood stain, 

with the greatest decay occurring lower in the 

bole, but above ten feet (Figure 2). Diminishing 

sapwood stain and decay higher in the tree may 

be a result of increased drying that occurs in the 

smaller, more exposed, tops of the trees. The 

first C. volvatus conks were seen two years after 

the fire and the first F. pinicola conks were 

observed three years after the fire. Between 

three and four years post-fire, there was a very 

large increase in number of trees that developed 

conks. 

Kimmey (1955) found three fungal species 

causing most deterioration of fire-killed conifers 

in California were species now known as F. 

pinicola, C. volvatus, and T. abietinum and that 

F. pinicola "caused the greatest proportion of 

decay in the deterioration process." Fomitopsis 

pinicola is believed to have caused the most 

sapwood decay in the Montana study thus far, 

evidenced by laboratory isolations three years 

after the fire and conk development four years 

post-fire. Those three fungal species are the 

most prolific fruiters after four years, but 

proportion of sapwood decay caused by C. 

volvatus and T. abietinum is not clear since 

neither were isolated from decay. Although no 

fruiting bodies have been observed, S. 

sanguinolentum was isolated from a single 

sample of sapwood decay both two and three 

years after the fire. Stereum sanguinolentum was 

also isolated from several samples of preexisting heartwood decay during this study. 

Checks 

Although there does not appear to be a trend 

regarding deepest checks in different size 

classes, all size classes showed no checks one 

year after the fire; but had average deepest 

checks of greater than 60 millimeters 

(approximately 2 1/3 inches) two years post-fire 

(Table 6). Average deepest check length 

dropped, ranging from 34 millimeters in the 20+ 

inch size class to 54 millimeters in the 12-15.9 

inch size class after the third year. 

Two years after the fire, a trend developed 

showing average number of checks per disk 

increasing with size class. Trees ranged from 

less than 2 checks per disk in the smallest size 

class to almost 6 checks per disk in the largest 

size class. This variation may have been due to 

greater surface area associated with larger disks 

on the larger trees and the positive correlation of 

the number of checks (per foot of disk 

circumference) to disk height above the ground 

(Figure 1). The trend disappeared three years 

after the fire as all size class means dropped to 

less than one check per disk (Figure 2). 

A reasonable explanation for reduction in both 

size and number of checks, three years after the 

fire, is that there was much less precipitation for 

three months prior to data collection the second 

year compared to three months prior to data 

collection the third year. In addition to more 

than four times the precipitation during that 

period in the third year compared to the second 

year, precipitation continued throughout much of 

the three weeks that data were collected in 2004. 

The difference in precipitation from year to year 

also helps to explain the loss of the positive trend 

in number of checks with height above the 
18 

ground two years post-fire (Figure 1) compared 

to three years post-fire (Figure 2). 

Comparisons with Eastern Washington Study

After four years, Montana results have some 

similarities, but mostly differences, when 

compared to results of Hadfield and Magelssen's 

(1996, 1997, and 1998) eastern Washington 

study of fire-killed western larch. After four 

years, both studies found no natural tree falls. 

There was no bark loss in eastern Washington 

after four years, while 13% of dissected trees two 

and three years post-fire and 32 % of remaining 

trees four years post-fire had sloughing bark in 

Montana. In eastern Washington, all trees 

dissected from two to four years post-fire 

contained wood borers, while in Montana 98% 

contained wood borers two years post-fire and all 

trees contained wood borers three years post-fire. 

All trees contained sapwood stain in both studies 

from year two through year four post-fire. All 

eastern Washington trees had checks two to four 

years post-fire, while 98% had peripheral checks 

two years post-fire and 70% had peripheral 

checks three years post-fire in Montana. While 

Hadfield and Magelssen reported no sapwood 

decay two years post-fire and only a trace three 

and four years post-fire, sapwood decay was 

found in 60% of the trees two years post-fire and 

all trees three years post-fire in Montana. And 

by three years, sapwood decay became the 

primary agent associated with defect in the 

Montana study. Hadfield and Magelssen found 

no conks after four years. In Montana, 3% (1 

dissected tree) had conks after two years, 18% of 

the dissected trees had conks after three years, 

and 44% of all remaining trees contained conks 

after four years. Many of the differences seen 

between the two studies may be a result of 

different moisture regimes at different 

geographic locations as discussed in the previous 

report (Jackson 2004). 

Loss of Merchantable Volume

Table 7 shows means for defects and gross 

volume for the ten trees in each size class for 

each year in both Scribner and Cubic Rules. 

Table 8 shows means for percentage of gross 

volume that defects affected for the ten trees in 

each size class for each year in both rules. These 

two tables are not directly interchangeable since 

larger trees contribute more to overall numbers 

than smaller trees in Table 7 and all trees 

contribute equally in Table 8. In most cases, 

post-fire defect values in Table 8 are higher than 

they would be if numbers were only a percentage 

of total post-fire defect volume in the ten trees 

divided by total gross volume of those ten trees. 

This suggests that a greater percentage of volume 

is affected by post-fire defect in smaller trees in 

each size class. This shows the trend seen across 

size classes (higher percentage of post-fire defect 

seen in smaller size classes compared to larger 

size classes) is also present within size classes. 

Although not as profound, in several cases we 

conversely see lower pre-existing defect numbers 

in Table 8 than would be expected if we were to 

determine percentages based on Table 7. This 

suggests pre-existing defects were more 

substantial in larger trees. Both higher post-fire 

defects and lower pre-fire defects are most 

evident at the bottom of the tables where the 

greatest number of trees (120) is used to develop 

means for "All Sizes" from "All Years." 

Percent volume affected by post-fire defects has 

consistently been higher with decreasing 

diameter classes since year two; however, there 

wasn't a difference between size classes 12-15.9 

inch and 16-19.9 inches three years after the fire. 

Two years after the fire, about 7% of cubic 

volume and 6% of board foot volume was lost to 

post-fire defects (calculations based on Table 3). 

Three years after the fire, 18% of cubic volume 

and 20% of board foot volume was lost to postfire defects (calculations based on Table 5). 
19 

About 50% of cubic and board foot volume were 

lost to post-fire defects in the smallest size class 

(Table 8), while 11% cubic volume and 13% 

board foot volume was lost in the largest size 

class. Given that heartwood is generally 

accepted as more durable than sapwood in dead 

trees (Lowell, et. al. 1992), the greater 

heartwood/sapwood ratio seen with increasing 

size classes - and smaller direct and indirect 

impacts by wood borers and checks to larger 

trees - are probably the most important factors 

contributing to the different percent volume 

defects in the various size classes of fire-killed 

trees in this study. With all other factors equal, 

stands containing a greater proportion of smaller 

trees should be harvested sooner than those 

containing more large trees if timber yield is a 

management objective. 

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Cerezke, H.F. 1975. White-spotted sawyer 

beetles in logs. Northern Forest Research 

Centre, Edmonton, Alberta, Information 

Report, NOR-X129. 

Furniss, R. L. and V. M. Carolin. 1977. Western 

Forest Insects. USDA Forest Service. 

Misc. Pub. 1339. 654p. 

Gibson, K.E. 2005. Personal communication. 

Hadfield, J. S., and Magelssen. R. M. 1997. 

Wood Changes in fire-killed Eastern 

Washington tree species--Year two 

progress report. USDA-Forest Service, 

Wenatchee National Forest, Wenatchee, 

WA. 34p. 

Hadfield, J. S., and Magelssen. R. M. 1998. 

Wood Changes in fire-killed Eastern 

Washington tree species--Year three 

progress report. USDA-Forest Service, 

Wenatchee National Forest, Wenatchee, 

WA. 37p. 

Hadfield, J. S., and Magelssen. R. M. 1999. 

Wood Changes in fire-killed Eastern 

Washington tree species--Year four 

progress report. USDA-Forest Service, 

Wenatchee National Forest, Wenatchee, 

WA. 35p. 

Hadfield, J. S., and Magelssen. R. M. 2000. 

Wood Changes in fire-killed Eastern 

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progress report. USDA-Forest Service, 

Wenatchee National Forest, Wenatchee, 

WA. 34p. 

Jackson, M.B. 2004. Changes in Fire-killed 

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Forest), Montana: Establishment and 

Year One Report. USDA For. Serv. 

Forest Health Protection Rpt. 04-16. 

Missoula, MT. 13p. 

Kimmey, J.W. 1955. Rate of Deterioration of 

Fire-killed Timber in California. USDA 

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Lowell, E.C., Willits, S.A., and Krahmer, R.L. 

1992. Deterioration of Fire-Killed and 

Fire-Damaged Timber in the Western 

United States. USDA Forest Service Gen. 

Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-292. 27p. 

Post, K.E. and R.A. Werner. 1988. Wood borer 

distribution and damage in decked white 

spruce logs. Northern Journal of Applied 

Forestry. 5:49-51. 

Vallentgoed, J. 1991. Some important wood 

borer related to export restrictions. 

Natural Resources, Canada, Canadian 

Forest Service, Forest Pest leaflet No. 74. 
20 

Werner, R.A. 2002. Effect of ecosystem 

disturbance on diversity of bark and 

wood-boring beetles (Coleoptera: 

Scolytidae, Buprestidae, Cerambycidae 

in white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) 

Voss) ecosystems of Alaska. Research 

Paper PNW-RP-546. Portland, OR: U.S. 

Department of Agriculture, Forest 

Service, Pacific Northwest Research 

Station. 15 p. 

Werner, R. 2003. Personal communication. 

Werner, R.A. and K.E. Post. 1985. Effects of 

wood-boring insects and bark beetles on 

survival growth of burned white spruce. 

In: Juday, J.P. Dyrness, C.T. eds. Early 

results of the Rosie Creek fire research 

project 1984. Misc. Publ. 85-2. 

Fairbanks, AK. University of Alaska 

Fairbanks, Agriculture and Forestry 

Experiment Station: pgs.14-16. 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 

The authors thank Dr. Jessie Micales-Glaeser and John Haight, of the Forest Products Laboratory in 

Madison, WI for identifying the decay fungi and Dr. Frank Merickel, of the University of Idaho, for insect 

identification. Thanks also goes to Skip Danielson, formerly of the Clearwater National Forest, for 

scaling the logs, and to Heidi Trechsel and Marylou Zimmerman, of the Hungry Horse and Glacier View 

Ranger Districts, for helping identify field sites and providing local support. We also thank Ken Gibson 

and Gregg DeNitto, of the Forest Health Protection field office in Missoula, for their review and 

constructive comments regarding this report.