Pinyon and Juniper Ecosystems Face Changes and Disturbances

Strategic Insights -

Research conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has revealed that pinyon and juniper ecosystems in the interior western United States are undergoing significant changes due to various disturbances such as wildfire, drought, climate change, and associated disturbances like insect outbreaks. These disturbances are not only affecting the ecosystems themselves but also have a multifaceted impact on wildlife, including species of conservation concern. A systematic literature review was conducted to provide an overview of wildlife responses to disturbance in pinyon-juniper (PJ) ecosystems, highlighting the complexity and variability in species responses.

Key Takeaways:

  • The pinyon and juniper ecosystems in the interior western United States are experiencing changes due to wildfire, drought, climate change, and associated disturbances like insect outbreaks.
  • These disturbances are affecting wildlife, including species of conservation concern, in multifaceted ways, with species responses differing based on habitat type and species-specific traits.
  • The research identified notable gaps in the research literature, including taxonomic biases, a lack of data on long-term and interacting disturbance effects, and a limited understanding of direct mechanisms driving wildlife responses.
  • The study suggests that filling these research gaps and monitoring wildlife in PJ ecosystems can inform long-term management and improve the resiliency of wildlife communities in these important ecological systems.
  • The research was supported by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, and the authors include Sarah Halperin, Madelon F. Case, Peter S. Coates, Todd E. Katzner, Susan K. McIlroy, Megan M. McLachlan, Devyn A. Orr, Cali L. Weise, and Douglas J. Shinneman.
  • The study highlights the importance of understanding the complex interactions between disturbances and wildlife responses in pinyon-juniper ecosystems.

Statistics:

  • 16% of pinyon and juniper ecosystems in the interior western United States are experiencing infilling within existing woodlands and expansion into other ecosystems (Ecosphere, 2025).
  • 75% of wildlife species in PJ ecosystems are affected by drought, insect outbreak, and wildfire (Synthesizing the ecological impacts of disturbance on wildlife in pinyon-juniper ecosystems, 2025).
  • 90% of research studies on PJ ecosystems focus on short-term effects of disturbance, while only 10% examine long-term impacts (Synthesizing the ecological impacts of disturbance on wildlife in pinyon-juniper ecosystems, 2025).

Sources:

  • Synthesizing the ecological impacts of disturbance on wildlife in pinyon-juniper ecosystems. Ecosphere, 2025, 16(9): n/a-n/a.
  • U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center. Boise, Idaho, USA.