Gasvoda, David S.; Trent, Andy ; Harding, Chuck ; Burr, Karen E.. 2002. Whitebark Pine Seed Scarifier. 0224 2332. Missoula, MT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Technology and Development Program. 6 p.
Describes a prototype whitebark pine seed scarifier developed by the Missoula Technology and Development Center that allows workers to nick (scarify) seeds three times as fast as if they were doing so by hand, with reduced risk of injury. Populations of whitebark pine have declined over the past century because of white pine blister rust, insect infestations, and fire suppression. Whitebark pine seeds are a favored food of the grizzly bear, a threatened species protected by the Endangered Species Act in the 48 contiguous States. Whitebark pine trees, which may be the only trees growing in some sub-alpine and alpine areas of the northern Rocky Mountains, also catch snow during the winter. The drifts melt more slowly than thinner snowpack in bare areas, extending runoff. The scarifier should help reduce the costs of growing whitebark pine seedlings, possibly allowing more whitebark pines to be planted. Seeds collected from white-bark pine trees resistant to blister rust are germinated in nurseries. The germination rate increases from about 5 percent to 60 percent or more if each seed has a 1-mm-deep nick. Workers can nick about 400 seeds an hour by hand, compared to 1,500 seeds an hour when using the prototype scarifier. The scarifier costs about $1,000 to fabricate. Fabrication drawings will be available from the Missoula Technology and Development Center.
Keywords: Clark's nutcracker, drawings, equipment, germination, grizzly bears, nurseries, reforestation
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