Pinus jeffreyi establishment along a forest-shrub ecotone in eastern California, USA

We examined large-scale climatic and small-scale biotic and abiotic factors affecting Pinus jeffreyi (Pinaceae) seedling establishment at its low-elevation boundary along the conifer forest-sagebrush steppe ecotone in eastern California, USA. In three successive growing seasons, P. jeffreyi seedlings were planted in three microhabitats (under Artemisia tridentata or Purshia tridentata canopies, and in open intershrub spaces) at a site within the ecotone (2300 m) and at a lower-elevation site (2200 m). We measured Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR; 400–700 nm), soil moisture and temperature, and air temperature in the three microhabitats, and monitored seedling survival, drought stress, and herbivory. At both sites, soil moisture decreased two- to six-fold between May and August of each summer. Maximum and minimum daily air temperatures were higher and lower, respectively, in intershrub areas, as were maximum daily soil temperatures and maximum daily PAR. At the ecotone site, mean P. jeffreyi seedling survival was longest following a very wet winter and shortest following a dry winter. For both elevations, seedlings had shorter survival times in intershrub microsites as compared to shrub microsites. Drought and herbivory both influenced seedling mortality within each microhabitat, but drought was the major determinant of seedling mortality by the end of each summer.

► We examined Pinus jeffreyi establishment at ecotone in eastern California.
► P. jeffreyi seedlings were planted at two sites and in three microhabitats.
► Previous winter's precipitation influenced summer seedling survival.
► Seedlings in intershrub microsites exhibited shorter survival times.
► Drought was the major determinant of seedling mortality each summer.