applicability of available hazard rating systems for mountain pine beetle in lodgepole pine stands of southeastern Wyoming

Five hazard rating systems for Dendroctonusponderosae Hopkins in Pinuscontorta Dougl. stands were compared under nonoutbreak conditions in the Medicine Bow Mountains of southeastern Wyoming. The applicability of these systems, which were designed in other regions of the United States, to P. contorta stands in southeastern Wyoming was investigated. Thirty-two stands in four different age and diameter categories were sampled and rated by each system. Diameter at breast height did not correlate well with phloem width in any of the stands, as implied by the system of Amman and co-workers. A direct phloem width measurement could further refine this system. Periodic growth ratio, used in both the Berryman and Mahoney systems, did not differentiate between fast- and slow-growing trees. Crown competition factor did not positively correlate with increasing diameter at breast height, as implied by the system of Schenk and co-workers. Stand production ranged from 11.1 to 51.0 g wood*m leaf area −2 *year −1 , applying a modified system based on that designed by Mitchell and co-workers, indicating very high risk in every stand sampled. Further development and validation of hazard rating systems is necessary for improved analysis of risk to P. contorta stands from D. ponderosae in this region.