Evaluating susceptibility of red-cockaded woodpecker cavity trees to southern pine beetle in Texas

Characteristics of loblolly (Pinus fuedu L.) and shortleaf (Pinus echinutu Mill.) pine trees favored by the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker, Picuides borealis (Vieillot) for nesting and roosting cavities over much of eastern Texas, tend to make these trees highly vulnerable to mortality from bark beetle attack. Resin flow and xylem moisture potential, often used as indicators of pine susceptibility to bark beetle mortality, were measured in several red-cockaded woodpecker cavity tree clusters in the Angelina and Davy Crockett National Forests. No differences in xylem moisture potential were found, while resin flow varied by site, tree species, and cavity tree type. With over half of cavity tree mortality in Texas caused by southern pine beetle, Dendroctonusfrontalis Zimmerman, pro-active management to reduce bark beetle hazard in southern pine stands is imperative.