Posting to this to a couple repos. This is from Jim Pojar:
Hi Lizzie,
Yes I think last year (2023) was a mast year here, at least for spruce and subalpine fir. Probably in response to the continuing drought and unusually warm April-May-June. There were enormous amounts of pollen from the conifers that spring, at times looking like smoke billowing from the mountainsides.
Whereas this spring it was very cool (March through June) and although the snowpack was low it melted slowly. My brother and his skiing buddies were backcountry skiing well into May, above 1600 m or so). Hence the surface organic layers of the soil (especially in the forests) remained moist and conifer germinants were more likely to survive. Unlike in spriing 2023 when it was hot and dry in spring and the moss groundcover was dry and crispy.
Vanessa Foord is a Forest Service climatologist in Prince George who can provide more details. (@lizzieinvancouver has email address - ask for 2024July22_SmithersMastPojar.pdf, also in MORA logistics repo as an issue).
Heading up into the mountains now.
Take care!
Jim P.
Dear Jim,
I hope this note finds all well with you and Rosamund! I am writing from
Saturna Island, where I have happily escaped for a long weekend. The
fact that I am here, however, means I am missing sampling this year in
Smithers. A team from my lab is there now though, counting germinants.
We're actually see more germinants this year than we have see in any
other year (granted, that's only 4 years) and wondering if perhaps last
year was a mast year or unusual in any way. If you happen to know if
last year was a mast year (or know someone who would know) or have any
ideas on what could be up, please let me know.
Either way, I hope to back in Smithers soon after two years away (last
year I was away on sabbatical in Switzerland) and see you then.
All the best,
Lizzie
Posting to this to a couple repos. This is from Jim Pojar: