More topics

Publications – Michael Murray

Last updated on August 24, 2026

As a forest pathologist, Michael works to improve our knowledge and management of forest diseases.  His current emphasis is on whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis), Armillaria root disease, climate change and tree decline syndromes.

Position Title: Regional Forest Pathologist

Current research projects

  • Practices for increasing survivorship of retained whitebark pine in the timber harvests
  • Biological and cost-effectiveness of stump removal to control Armillaria root disease in post-harvest regeneration
  • White pine blister rust resistance screening of whitebark pine and limber pine
  • Long-term forest health trends of whitebark pine and limber pine forests
  • Long-term soil and tree productivity in response to compaction and organic matter treatments

Publications

Listed in order of publication date:

2021 to present:

2024:

  • Shepherd, B.; Krakowski, J.; Moody, R.; Reid, I.; Murray, M.; Stafl, N.; Sissons, R.; Alger, G.; Park, J.; McLellan, C.; Schwarz, C. J.; Smith, C. M. In press. Climate dominates geographic influences on whitebark pine and limber pine trends and landscape patterns in Canada. Canadian Journal of Forest Research December 12, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1139/cjfr-2024-0114

2023:

  • Curran, M.P.; and M.P. Murray. 2023. Soil disturbance, amelioration and rehabilitation affect forest growth, health, soil carbon and chemistry on five long-term soil productivity (LTSP) sites in southeastern British Columbia. Forest Ecology and Management 546 (2023) 12136 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2023.121362
  • Murray, M.P., & Moody, R. 2023.  Blister Rust Distribution, Trends, and Resistance Screening in Southern British Columbias Endangered Whitebark Pine. In: Krakowski, J., W. Strong, and R.A. Sniezko (compilers). Proceedings of the International Union of Forest Research Organizations. 2019 Joint Conference: genetics of five-needle pines and rusts of forest trees. Prov. B.C., Victoria, B.C. Tech. Rep. 142. 8-12.

2022:

  • Cartwright, C.; Sniezko, R.A.; Murray, M.; Reid, I. 2022. Whitebark pine genecology field trials in British Columbia: Age 5 results. Forest Ecology and Management 521,120419. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2022.120419
  • Kranabetter, J.M., M.C. Curran, R.D. Kabzems, E.B. Lilles, B.G.N. Miller, M.P. Murray, T.J. Philpott, and B.M. Wallace. 2022. The long-term soil productivity study of British Columbia: effects of organic matter removal and compaction on stand productivity after two decades. Prov. B.C., Victoria, B.C. Exten. Note 126. 6 p.
  • Murray, M.P.; J. Berg; and D. Huggard. 2022. How to retain whitebark pine in timber harvests. In: Murray, M.P.; Smith, C.M.; McKinney, S.T.; Achuff, P.L. 2022. Research and management of high-elevation five-needle pines in western North America: Proceedings of the second High-Five Conference. 5-7 October 2021. The Press at Cal Poly Humboldt. 190 p. https://digitalcommons.humboldt.edu/h5ii/20
  • Tomback, D.F. and others. 2022. Current and recommended management practices for the restoration of whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis Engelm.), a threatened high-elevation western North American forest tree. Forest Ecology and Management 522 (2022) 119929. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2021.119929

2021:

2016 to 2020:

2019:

2018:

  • Murray, M.P., and V. Berger. 2018. Blister Rust Inoculation Trials for Whitebark Pine (Pinus albicaulis) in the Canadian Kootenay Region. In: Schoettle, Anna W.; Sniezko, Richard A.; Kliejunas, John T., eds. 2018. Proceedings of the IUFRO joint conference: Genetics of five-needle pines, rusts of forest trees, and Strobusphere; 2014 June 15–20; Fort Collins, CO. Proc. RMRS-P-76. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 136-139.
  • Hunt, Richard S.; Murray, Michael; Reich, Richard; Rusch, David; Woods, Alex; Zeglen, Stefan. 2018. Persistence of major gene resistance in western white pine (Pinus monticola) in British Columbia. In: Schoettle, Anna W.; Sniezko, Richard A.; Kliejunas, John T., eds. 2018. Proceedings of the IUFRO joint conference: Genetics of five-needle pines, rusts of forest trees, and Strobusphere; 2014 June 15–20; Fort Collins, CO. Proc. RMRS-P-76. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 149-150.
  • Murray, M.P.; and J. Siderius. 2018. Historic frequency and severity of fire in whitebark pine forests of the Cascade Mountain Range, USA. Forests. 9(2):1-10. https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/9/2/78
  • British Columbia Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development. 2018. Managing Root Disease in British Columbia. Resource Practices Branch, Victoria, B.C. 39 p.

2017:

  • Liu, J; Williams, H.; Li, X.R.; Schoettle, A.W.; Sniezko, R.A., Murray, M.; Zamany, A. Roker, G.; Chen, H. 2017. Profiling methyl jasmonate-responsive transcriptome for understanding induced systemic resistance in whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis). Plant Molecular Biology. 95(4-5):359-374.
  • Moody, R., and M.P. Murray 2017. Whitebark pine health of southern British Columbia. In: Goodrich, B. & P. Palacios (compilers). Proceedings of the 64th Annual Western International Forest Disease Work Conference; 2016 May 9-13, Sitka, AK. 115-119.

2016:

  • Jules, E.S.; Jackson, J.I.; van Mantgem, P.J.; Beck, J.S.; Murray, M.P.; Sahara, E.A. 2016. The relative contributions of disease and insects in the decline of a long-lived tree: a stochastic demographic model of whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis). Forest Ecology and Management  381:144–156
  • Liu, J-J.; Sniezko,  R.; Murray, M.; Wang, N.; Chen, H.; Zamany, A.; Sturrock, R.N.; Savin, D.; Kegley, A. 2016. Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of Whitebark Pine (Pinus albicaulis Engelm.) in Western North America. PLoS ONE 11(12): e0167986. http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0167986
  • Murray, M.P., and A. Leslie. 2016. Tracking annual Armillaria root disease associated mortality in a young plantation. In: Ramsey, A. & P. Palacios (compilers). Proceedings of the 63rd Annual Western International Forest Disease Work Conference; 2015 Sept. 21-25; Newport, Oregon. 41-44.

2011 to 2015:

2015:

  • Murray, M. and P. Palacios, eds. 2015. Proceedings of the 62nd annual western international forest disease work conference. 8-12 September 2014; Cedar City, UT. WIFDWC. 157 p.

2014:

  • Murray, M.P. 2014. A Canadian-based blister rust inoculation trial for whitebark pine. In: Chadwick, K. Comp. Proceedings of the 61st Annual Western International Forest Disease Work Conference; 2013 October 6-11; Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta. 35-38.

2013:

  • Murray, M.P. 2013.  Stump removal for root disease control: trial examinations in southeastern BC.  In: Browning, J. Comp. Proceedings of the 60th Annual Western International Forest Disease Work Conference; 2012 October 8-12; Tahoe City, CA.  155-158.
  • Brice, B.;. Lorion, K.K.; Griffin, D.; Macalady, A.K.; Guiterman, C.H.; Speer, J.H.; Benakoun, L.R.; Cutter, A.; Hart, M.E.; Murray, M.P.; Nash, S.E.;Shepard, R.; Stewart, A.K.; Wang, H.2013. Signal strength in sub-annual tree-ring chronologies from Pinus ponderosa in northern New Mexico. Tree-Ring Research 69(2)81–86.
  • Murray, M.P. and J. Krakowski. 2013. Silvicultural options for the endangered whitebark pine. Silviculture Magazine. Winter: 22-23. http://www.fgcouncil.bc.ca/Whitebark_Pine_Silviculture_2013.pdf

2012:

  • Keane, Robert E.; Tomback, D.F.; Aubry, C.A.; Bower, A.D.; Campbell, E.M.; Cripps, C.L.; Jenkins, M.B.; Mahalovich, M.F.; Manning, M.; McKinney, S.T.; Murray, M.P.; Perkins, D.L.; Reinhart, D.P.; Ryan, C.; Schoettle, A.W.; Smith, C.M. 2012. A range-wide restoration strategy for whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis). Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-279. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 108 p.
  • Berch, S.M., M. Curran, C. Dymond, K. Hannam, M. Murray, S. Tedder, B. Titus, and M. Todd. 2012. Criteria and guidance considerations for sustainable tree stump harvesting in British Columbia. Scand. J. For. Res. 27(8):709-723 [Link]

2011:

  • Keane, Robert E.; Tomback, Diana F.; Murray, Michael P.; and Smith, Cyndi M., eds. 2011. The
  • Campbell, E.M.; R.E. Keane; E.R. Larson; M.P. Murray; A.W. Schoettle; C. Wong. 2011. Disturbance ecology of high-elevation five-needle pine ecosystems in western North America. In Keane, Robert E.; Tomback, Diana F.; Murray, Michael P.; and Smith, Cyndi M., eds. 2011. The future of high-elevation, five-needle white pines in Western North America: Proceedings of the High Five Symposium. 28-30 June 2010; Missoula, MT. Proceedings RMRS-P-63. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 154-163.
  • Murray, M.P. 2011. Annual observations of conspicuous canker activity on whitebark pine (2003 to 2007). In Keane, Robert E.; Tomback, Diana F.; Murray, Michael P.; and Smith, Cyndi M., eds. 2011. The future of high-elevation, five-needle white pines in Western North America: Proceedings of the High Five Symposium. 28-30 June 2010; Missoula, MT. Proceedings RMRS-P-63. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 235-237.
  • Keane, Robert E.; Tomback, Diana F.; Murray, Michael P.; and Smith, Cyndi M., eds. 2011. The  future of high-elevation, five-needle white pines in Western North America: proceedings of the high five symposium. 28-30 June 2010; Missoula, MT. Proceedings RMRS-P-63. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 376 p.  http://www.fs.fed.us/rm/pubs/rmrs_p063.html

2006 to 2010:

2007:

  • Murray, M.P. 2007. Cone collecting techniques for whitebark pine. Western Journal of Applied Forestry 22(3):153-155.

2006:

  • Murray, M.P. ; Pearl, C.A.; and Bury, R.B. 2006. Apparent predation by gray jays, Perisoreus canadensis, on long-toed salamanders, Ambystoma macrodactylum, in the Oregon Cascade Range. Canadian Field Naturalist 119:291-292.
  • Davies, M.A.; Murray, M. 2006. Tree tong puts whitebark pine cones within reach. Tech Tip 0624–2354–MTDC. Missoula, MT: U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Missoula Technology and Development Center. 8 p.

2000 to 2005:

2005:

  • Murray, M.P. 2005. Our threatened timberlines: the plight of whitebark pine ecosystems. Kalmiopsis 12:25-29.

2003:

  • Murray, M.P. 2003. Tree encroachment on Klamath mountain meadows. Fremontia 31(2):13-18.
  • Murray, M.P., and M.C. Rasmussen. 2003. Non-native blister rust disease on whitebark pine at Crater Lake National Park. Northwest Science 77:87-91.

2001:

  • Morgan, P.; Murray, M.P. 2001. Landscape ecology and isolation: implications for conservation of whitebark pine. In: Tomback,  D.F.; Arno, S.F.; Keane, R.E, (eds.) Whitebark pine communities: ecology and restoration. Island Press, Washington, D.C. 289-309.
  • Scott, J.M.; Murray, M.P.; Wright R.G.; Csuti, B.; Morgan, P.; Pressey, R.L. 2001. Representation of natural vegetation in protected areas: capturing the geographic range. Biodiversity and Conservation 10:1297-1301.
  • Wright, R.G., Scott, J.M., Mann, S. and M. Murray. 2001. Identifying unprotected and potentially at risk plant communities in the western USA. Biological Conservation 98:97-106.

2000:

  • Murray, M.P.; Bunting, S.C.; Morgan, P.C. 2000. Landscape trends (1753-1993) of whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis) forests in the West Big Hole Range, Idaho/Montana, U.S.A. Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research 32(4):412-418.

1999 and earlier:

1998:

  • Murray, M.P.; Bunting, S.C.; Morgan, P.C. 1998. Fire history of an isolated subalpine mountain range of the Intermountain Region, United States. Journal of Biogeography 25:1071-1080.
  • Wright, R.G.; Murray, M.P; Merrill, T. 1998. Ecoregions as a level of ecological analysis. Biological Conservation 86(2):207-213.

1997:

  • Murray, M.P. 1997. High elevation meadows and grazing: common past effects and future improvements. International Journal of Wilderness 3(4):24-28.
  • Natural processes: wilderness management unrealized. Natural Areas Journal 16(1):55-61.