W1187: Interactions among Bark Beetles, Pathogens, and Conifers in North American Forests

(Multistate Research Project)

Status: Inactive/Terminating

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SAES-422 Reports

Annual/Termination Reports:

[11/10/2005] [04/14/2007] [07/01/2008] [12/15/2008]

Date of Annual Report: 11/10/2005

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 10/21/2005 - 10/23/2005
Period the Report Covers: 10/01/2004 - 09/01/2005

Participants

Baker, Frederick (fred.baker@usu.edu) - Utah State University; Bentz, Barbara (bbentz@fs.fed.us) - US Forest Service; Bonello, Pierluigi (bonello.2@osu.edu) - The Ohio State University; Chorbadjian, Rodrigo (chorbadjian.1@osu.edu) - The Ohio State University; Cook, Steve (stephenc@uidaho.edu) - University of Idaho; Erbilgin, Nadir (erbilgin@nature.berkeley.edu) - University of California, Berkeley; Eyles, Alieta (eyles.1@osu.edu) - The Ohio State University; Jacobi, William (william.jacobi@colostate.edu) - Colorado State University; McPherson, Brice (aoxomoxo@nature.berkeley.edu) - University of California, Berkeley;Meyer, Richard (hmeyer@csrees.usda.gov) - USDA/CSREES; Ockels, Frances (ockels.1@osu.edu) - The Ohio State University; Raffa, Kenneth (raffa@entomology.wisc.edu) - University of Wisconsin, Madison; Six, Diana (diana.six@cfc.umt.edu) - University of Montana; Wallis, Christopher (wallis.23@osu.edu) - The Ohio State University; Wang, Duan (wang.778@osu.edu) - The Ohio State University; Wood, David (bigwood@nature.berkeley.edu) - University of California, Berkeley.

Brief Summary of Minutes

Chair Ken Raffa opened the meeting at 9:00 am on Sat. Oct. 22, 2005.

Introductions.

Ken Raffa provided a description of multi-state projects; purpose is to communicate and facilitate collaborative research. The difference between multi-state projects vs. coordinating committee is discussed; coordinating committees dont necessarily have to do research. Multi-state research projects must integrate research among members.

Dave Wood provided a historical perspective: This project has been going for about 30 years (1970s). It was started by Ron Stark and Fields Cobb and has been renewed every four years since then. We are unique because we have both pathologists and entomologists and cover a large geographic scale. We are supposed to get Hatch funds from experiment stations to come to the annual meeting. However, most dont get any money for travel or anything. Have to negotiate and many cannot get funding. This issue was brought up by Bill Jacobi.

Enrico Bonello talked about local arrangements. Registration fee, etc.

Barbara Bentz led a short discussion of the renewal process and what is needed for annual reports.

Ken Raffa will send an email to everyone (with attachment from website, participant list) and make sure everybody gets on as a participant. Need to go through experiment station director to get on participant list through submission of Appendix E. Everyone needs to verify that they are on the participant list. Members are asked to submit to Ken Raffa any messages going to experiment station directors regarding this. Ken will include URL for NIMSS in email. Rick Meyer says there is a manual for the western region that details what you need to do to be a participant. Everyone can register as a guest in MIMSS to look at participant list. Ken Raffa will also include in email the contact information for administrative assistant to help with technical problems with NIMSS (Nicole Nelson at Univ. of Wisconsin?). Rick Meyer will send Barbara Bentz the name of the appropriate contact person.

Fred Baker mentioned that he is still maintaining a separate web site at Utah State.

Rick Meyer provided a CSREES update:
President Bushs budget included a cut of Hatch funds by 50% in 2005, with projected zeroing out of Hatch funds by 2006. This was not accepted and both House and Senate restored Hatch funding to present level. USDA/NRI RFA was just released last week. The release was late because CSREES could not release RFAs for programs that are not in the presidents budget. Most integrated programs have been delayed because they were zeroed out in presidents budget. 2007 Farm bill is in the works. May result in some funding for research, but not much. Research is a small part of the bill; very few comments about research are being brought up, we need to make sure that constituents say that research is important; farm forum questions can be done online. We should have our constituents do this (go to the USDA homepage, farm bill forums). We need to make sure research gets represented. How we state our impact statements in the annual report is very important. Rick went through a Powerpoint presentation on what the impact statements need to say and convey. They should include teaching and extension and the mentoring of graduate students who are being trained to carryon the research in the future. Components of impact statements should be:

1. issue
2. actions: what have you done
3. impact or benefits
4. who was responsible for doing it
5. how do you contact the people who are doing it.

If doing basic research, the impact is a change in the knowledge base of our discipline allowing research to go further. What is the annual impact of what we have done given what we said we were going to do. Integrated impact statements.

Ken Raffa recommended that from now on we write the impact statements during the meetings; that way they will be integrated. Diana Six suggested that to do this we are going to need a longer meeting in the future. Everyone could come to the meeting with CRIS reports and impact statements for that and begin with those to form group impact statements. Ken Raffa said we should form a writing committee who will be in charge of getting the impact statement written.

As a whole, the group thought that it would be good to get an administrative advisor who is more involved, and cares more about what we are about. It was suggested that we might want to write a letter to the appropriate person, recognizing that our current AA (Dr. Thawley) is not responsive, and ask for a replacement. This request should be addressed to Mike Harrington. Rick Meyer said he will talk with Mike and let him know that a letter will be forthcoming from this committee. Fred Baker suggested that Rasmussen at USU might be interested in being our advisor. Therefore, we wont send the letter, instead do it through Fred talking with Rasmussen and Rick talking to Harrington. Ron Pardini might be interested in being our advisor also and he would be our first choice. We should check out the NIMSS website about the checklist for administrator advisors and what they need to do be prepared for. These are things that we need to be thinking of.

Rick Meyer stated that we need to submit 2-3 pages on minutes, one whole impact statement or one impact statement for each objective; each state needs to write a report by objective. We should use Appendix Ds format (which can be found on WAAESD website) for annual report. Appendix E is also there for adding new participants. We need a project report for the time period Oct. 2004 through Sept. 2005.

Baker, Bonello, Jacobi, and Raffa volunteered to meet at 7:00 AM to start the impact statement. Progress reports should be sent to Enrico Bonello who will upload them to NIMSS within 60 days of this meeting.

Diana Six suggested we put together a book with multi authored chapters that are broad. A suggested publisher is Island Press. It would be affordable and could perhaps be used as a text book. Francois Lieutiers book Bark and Woodborring Beetles in Live Trees is basically the European version. Our book would be a synthesis for North American wood and bark beetles and fungal interactions, that would focus on our objectives for W1187. What should be in this book? Chemical ecology? Not much in this group right now. David Wood indicated that not much has been done in the past 10 yrs or so on silviculture and fungal-interactions. Need an outline to see where people might fit. Diana will send out an outline for a book and get comments back from the group. She will organize it by our objectives. The objective is to update readers on current state of knowledge and address some old dogmas.

Fred Baker wondered if he should keep up the website. Ken Raffa responded affirmatively; it is good to maintain it for the historical aspect and treat it as an archive.

Ken Raffa made an announcement about the Bark Beetle Genetics meeting in Asheville in May 2006.

Administrative advisor Thawley showed up unannounced at 12:30 PM and stayed for approximately 2 hours. He reminded the group that minutes of the meeting and annual reports must be submitted within 60 days of the meeting. No meeting means no report or minutes. New rules are that without a report one would not be authorized to have a meeting the following year. This meeting will result in our 2005 minutes and 2005 reports. We may not need a 2004 report, when we did not have a meeting. Thawley will let Enrico Bonello know if we really need the 2004 report since we were renewed that year. Thawley reiterated that to get on the members list, the experiment station director needs to fill out an Appendix E for the member and once that is filled out the director is obliged to pay for travel to the meeting. Only those with Ag. Experiment Station appointments can get money to pay for the travel to the meeting. Thawley reported he has only been our advisor for six months.

STATE REPORTS: see Additional Documents in project's homepage.

Meeting adjourned at 1:00 PM on Sunday, Oct. 23, 2005.

Accomplishments

Objective 1: Characterize the role of biotic and abiotic factors in predisposing trees to bark beetle attack and subsequent mortality. Prescribed burning increases tree mortality and the abundance of tree-killing beetles. One of the studies under the national Fire-Fire Surrogate program is located in the Blodgett Research Station in California. Four treatments are: (1) no treatment, (2) thin and masticate only, (3) burn only, and (4) thin and burn. These treatments were conducted in 2002-2005. We have monitored landing rates of beetles on sticky traps that flight intercept traps that are randomly located throughout the treated and control areas. Analyses are currently underway to determine the effect of these treatments on subcortical insect populations, disease incidence, and subsequent tree mortality. External application of methyl jasmonate, a natural product involved in plant response to enemies, increases tree defenses against bark beetle attack and colonization and may have application in tree protection. We have been investigating if external application of methyl jasmonate, a well-known inducer of plant defense responses, affects tree resistance to attack by Ips typographus (the spruce bark beetle) by altering biochemistry and anatomy of mature Picea abies (Norway spruce) trees in Norway. Bark sections of P. abies treated with methyl jasmonate had significantly less I. typographus colonization than bark sections in the controls and exhibited shorter parental galleries and fewer eggs deposited. The numbers of beetles that emerged and mean dry weight per beetle were also significantly lower in methyl jasmonate-treated bark. In addition, fewer beetles were attracted to conspecifics tunneling in methyl jasmonate-treated bark. Stem sections of P. abies treated with methyl jasmonate had an increased number of traumatic resin ducts and a higher concentration of terpenes than untreated sections, whereas the concentration of soluble phenolics did not differ between treatments. The increased amount of terpenoid resin present in methyl jasmonate-treated bark could be directly responsible for the observed decrease in I. typographus colonization and reproduction. In a separate study, we are trying to determine if more aggressive bark beetle species, e.g., Ips typographus, exhibit different responses to various ratios of monoterpenes to pheromones (0, 50:1, 500:1, 1000:1, 5000:1, blank) compared to those by less aggressive bark beetle species, e.g., Ips pini. Field experiments were conducted in a monoclonal stand of Norway spruce in Norway in 2004 and 2005. Responses by I .typographus to pheromones were synergized by the ratios from 50:1 to 500:1. In contrast, _-pinene released at 5000:1 reduced the attraction of male and female I. typographus to the pheromone by 1.73 and 1.16 times, respectively. We continued our work on the elucidation of the mechanisms of induction of systemic resistance (systemic induced resistance SIR) in pine. Two major avenues of research were pursued: 1) biochemical and molecular basis of SIR against pathogens, including studies of phenolic, terpenoid, and protein-based defenses; and 2) effects of soil fertility on susceptibility to pathogen and insect attack in pine, and the host-mediated cross effects between pathogens and insects. In general, fungal infection of pine makes the host more resistant to subsequent pathogen and insect attack (SIR). We discovered that pathways leading to phenolic accumulation (including soluble phenolics and lignin), resin synthesis, and expression of stress-related proteins are all affected systemically by fungal infection. We do not yet know which pathways affect insect performance on induced plants. We are conducting a long-term project on declining red pine stands in Wisconsin, testing the roles of root colonizing beetles and Leptographium associates in predisposing trees to Ips. Current emphases are on spatial analysis, predator-prey interactions with particular emphasis on dispersal, and relationships of tree defense physiology and chemistry to root infection. We are examining the impact of tree fertilization on nitrogen assimilation from tree to fungus to insect in the lodgepole pine mountain pine beetle system. In cooperation with USDA Forest Service, Forest Health Management, the Rocky Mt Research Station and other regional cooperators, we modeled the potential risk of white pine blister rust on limber and bristle cone pines in the Central Rocky Mountains. As part of this study we collected the occurrence of mountain pine beetle in relation to blister rust. We did not find enough bark beetle infested trees in our plots to make any strong analysis but it appeared in endemic levels of beetles that neither dwarf mistletoe or blister rust infested trees were attacked over non-infested trees by mountain pine beetles. A study is looking at stand structure, fuel loadings and relationships among mountain pine beetle and dwarf mistletoe in ponderosa pine along the Colorado Front Range. Dendroctonus ponderosae populations collected from latitudinally dispersed geographic locations were found to differ in important life history traits including development time and the temperature threshold for successful pupation. Common garden experiments suggest that the traits are heritable, and that the local environment is the most important driver. We are investigating the effect of fire injury on bark beetle brood production. Time following the fire appears to significantly affect brood production. Objective 2: Characterize the diversity and interactions among tree hosts, bark beetles, their natural enemies and associated fungi. We have quantified the efficiency of 4 beetle species in carrying the exotic pitch canker pathogen, which may help to predict its range expansion. We have compared the spore load on four bark beetle species that have been shown to carry the pitch canker pathogen in nature: Ips paraconfusus, I. mexicanus, Pityophthorus setosus, P. carmeli. The goal of this study is to determine the vector efficiency of a few of the many bark beetle species that carry propagules of the pitch canker pathogen in nature. We artificially contaminated beetles of these species with the naturally occurring spore load and 10 times higher than the natural spore load. These beetles were caged on branches on living trees in the native forest. We are currently waiting the results of this experiment. Studies are analyzing the gut bacteria of three bark beetles, the southern pine beetle, pine engraver, and spruce beetle, and three wood borers, Asian long-horned beetle, linden borer, and emerald ash borer. Methods are by 16S rDNA and culturing. Functional studies are emphasizing evaluation of cellulotic, nitrogen fixing, and detoxifying roles of bacteria. We are investigating interactions among Leptographium, spruce beetle, bacterial associates of spruce beetle, and spruce chemistry. Genetic analyses of spruce beetle based on mDNA and microsatellites are underway in collaboration with Cornell University. Lodgepole pines in stands experiencing various levels of mountain pine beetle pressure are being assayed for tree defense characters, to test whether trees of different resistance levels are selected during endemic vs. eruptive conditions. Analyses include constitutive chemistry, induced chemistry, and resin flow. Trees include absence or presence of putatively predisposing insects and competitors. Although no significant differences were observed in the ergosterol content of fungi associated with Dendroctonus ponderosae and D. rufipennis, recent results suggest that these fungi make large quantities available to their beetle hosts. Sterols are a required nutrient for insects, and phloem not infested by bark beetles contained 0 to trace levels. These results suggest an additional nutritional role of associated fungi in bark beetle population dynamics. In a laboratory study, Dendroctonus rufipennis reared with its major fungal associate, Leptographium abietinum, had significantly more whole body lipids than sterilized beetles. These results suggest a nutritional benefit to these beetles from their fungal associates. Objective 3: Integrate and apply the knowledge gained from objectives 1 and 2 to forest ecosystems as influenced by emerging issues such as invasive species, global climate change, changing land use patterns and multiple and conflicting societal demands. A review was published on the fungal relationships of mycophagous bark beetles. Many of the fungi fed upon by bark beetles (Entomocorticium spp., Phlebiopsis gigantea, Ophiostoma spp. and Leptographium spp.) show specific adaptations that make them more easily consumed by bark beetles. Episodic mortality of red spruce by spruce beetle (Dendroctonus rufipennis) was shown to be critical to the long-term dynamics of the montane spruce-fir ecosystem in the New England. We are participating in a collaborative project on the eruptive dynamics and spatial spread of the mountain pine beetle, as influenced by land use patterns and climate. We are examining the use of multi-spectral and hyper-spectral data for use in detecting and delineating outbreaks of western pine beetle and mountain pine beetle (D. ponderosae) in various host species. We have initiated an assessment of pinyon Ips on insect community diversity at the northernmost extent of the range of single-leaf pinyon in North America. Pheromone-baited funnel traps, which are routinely used to monitor bark beetle populations, were found to disproportionately sample D. ponderosae populations through time suggesting that they caution should be taken in interpretations relating to phenology. Pheromone trap catches were correlated with surrounding tree mortality for both D. ponderosae and D. rufipennis. Results suggest that captures in the range of 680-842 spruce beetles during a season from a single funnel trap represent a threshold between endemic (<10 mass-attacked stems/10 ha) and epidemic conditions (> 50 mass attacked stems/10 ha). We are further investigating how climate change might influence future patterns in bark beetle-caused tree mortality. Heritibality and genetic variation (as determined in laboratory studies) are being incorporated into our existing phenology model for D. ponderosae. Temperatures predicted from GCC models are then used to drive the model, providing insight into those parts of this insect distribution where changes in climate will both positively and negatively affect population dynamics. We have developed a model to predict the probability of Pseudotsugae menziesii mortality following wildfire, including mortality due to preferential attack by the Douglas-fir beetle Dendroctonus pseudotsugae. High dose verbenone pouches were found to significantly reduce the number of trees attacked and killed by Dendroctonus ponderosae in small lodgepole and whitebark pine stands. Analysis at several scales suggest that remotely sensed imagery from the Landsat ETM satellite can be used to estimate the location and quantity of D. ponderosae killed lodgepole pine. Higher resolution imagery, such as IKONOS and Quickbird, will be required to identify small patches of beetle-killed trees.

Publications

Aukema, B. H., A. L. Carroll, J. Zhu, K. F. Raffa, T. A. Sickley, & S. W. Taylor. Landscape level population dynamics of mountain pine beetle in British Columbia, Canada: Searching for origins and possible mechanisms of the present outbreak. Ecography. Accpt. Pend. Revision. Aukema, B.H., & K. F. Raffa. 2005. Selective manipulation of predators using pheromones: Responses to frontalin and ipsdienol pheromone components of bark beetles in the Great Lakes region.. Agr. & For. Entomol. 7: 193-200. Aukema, B.H., Clayton, M, K. & K. F. Raffa 2005. Modeling flight activity and population dynamics of the pine engraver, Ips pini, in the Great Lakes Region: Effects of weather and predators over short time scales. Pop. Ecol. 47: 61-69. Aukema, B.H., Werner, RA, Haberkern K.E, Illman, BL Clayton, M, K. & K. F. Raffa. 2005. Relative sources of variation at multiple levels of scale in bark beetle - fungal associations. For. Ecol. & Manag... 217: 187-202. Bentz, B.J. and D.L. Six. In Press. Ergosterol content of three fungal species associated with Dendroctonus ponderosae and D. rufipennis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae, Scolytinae). Annals of the Entomological Society of America. Bentz, B.J. In Press. Mountain Pine Beetle Population Sampling: Inferences from Lindgren Pheromone Traps and Tree Emergence Cages. Canadian Journal of Forest Research. Bentz, B.J., S. Kegley, K. Gibson and R. Their. 2005. A test of high-dose verbenone for stand-level protection of lodgepole and whitebark pine from mountain pine beetle (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) attacks. Journal of Economic Entomology 98(5):1614-1621. Blodgett, J.T., Herms, D.A., Bonello, P., 2005. Effects of fertilization on red pine defense chemistry and resistance to Sphaeropsis sapinea. Forest Ecology and Management 208, 373-382. Delalibera, I. Jr, J. Handelsman, & K. F. Raffa. 2005. Cellulolytic Activity of microorganisms isolated from the guts of Saperda vestita (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), Ips pini, and Dendroctonus frontalis (Coleoptera: Scolytidae). Environ. Entomol. 34; 541-547. Erbilgin N, Storer AJ, Wood DL, Gordon TR. 2005. Colonization of cut branches of five coniferous hosts of the pitch canker fungus by Pityophthorus spp. (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) in central, coastal California. Can Ent. 137: 337-349. Harrington, T. C. 2005. Ecology and evolution of mycophagous bark beetles and their fungal partners. Pages 257-291 In: Ecological and Evolutionary Advances in Insect-Fungal Associations, F. E. Vega and M. Blackwell, eds. Oxford University Press, New York. Kallas, M. A., Reich, R. M., Jacobi, W. R., and Lundquist, J. E. 2003. Modeling the probability of observing Armillaria root disease in the Black Hills. Forest Pathology 33:241-252. Kearns, H.S. J. and W. R. Jacobi. 2005. Impacts of black stain root disease in recently formed mortality centers in the piñon juniper woodlands of Southwestern Colorado Can. J. For. Res. 35: 461-471. Kearns, H.S. J., W. R. Jacobi, and D. W. Johnson. 2005. Persistence of pinyon snags and logs in Southwestern Colorado. Western Journal of Applied Forestry.20: 247-252. Kersten, P. J. , Kopper, B. J. , Raffa, K. F. & B. L. & Illman. High Performance Liquid Chromatography of Abietanes: Application to Diterpene Resin Acid Analysis in Conifers. Subm. to J. Chromatography. Kopper BJ. Illman BL. Kersten PJ. Klepzig KD. & KF Raffa. 2005 Effects of diterpene acids on components of a conifer bark beetle-fungal interaction: Tolerance by Ips pini and sensitivity by its associate Ophiostoma ips. Environ. Entomol. 34:486-493. Koski, R. and Jacobi, W. R. 2004. Tree pathogen survival in chipped wood mulch. J. Arboriculture 30:165-171. Luchi, N., Ma, R., Capretti, P., Bonello, P., 2005. Systemic induction of traumatic resin ducts and resin flow in Austrian pine by wounding and inoculation with Sphaeropsis sapinea and Diplodia scrobiculata. Planta 221, 75-84. McPherson B. A., Mori S.R., Wood D.L., Storer A.J., Svihra P., Kelly N.M., Standiford R.B. 2005i. Sudden oak death in California: Disease progression in oaks and tanoaks. For. Ecol. & Manag. 213: 71-89. Økland, B., A. Liebhold, O. Bjørnstad, N. Erbilgin, & P. Krokene. 2005. Are bark beetle outbreaks less synchronous than forest Lepidoptera outbreaks? In Press. Oecologia. Omdal, D. W. Shaw, C. G. III, and Jacobi, W. R. 2004. Symptom expression in conifers infected with Armillaria ostoyae and Heterobasidion annosum. Can. J. For. Res. 34: 1210-1219. Owen DR, Wood DL, Parmeter JR. 2005. Association between Dendroctonus valens and black stain root disease on ponderosa pine in the Sierra Nevada of California. Can. Ent. 137: 367-375. Raffa KF , Aukema BH, Erbilgin N, Klepzig KD, & Wallin, KF. 2005. Interactions among Conifer Terpenoids and Bark Beetles across Multiple Levels of Scale: An attempt to understand links between population patterns and physiological processes. Rec. Adv. Phyochem. 39: 80-118. Storer AJ, Wood DL, Gordon TR. 2004. Twig beetles, Pityophthorus spp. (Coleoptera: Scolytidae), as vectors of the pitch canker pathogen in California. Can Ent. 136: 685-693. Walla, J. A., Jacobi, W. R. and R. A. Schmidt. 2003. Forest Pathology for the last century: An overview of the symposium. Phytopathology 93: 1037-1038. Worrall, J. J., T. D. Lee, and T. C. Harrington. 2005. Forest dynamics and agents that initiate and expand canopy gaps in Picea-Abies forests of Crawford Notch, New Hampshire, USA. J. Ecology 93:178-190. Wulder, M., J. White, B. Bentz, T. Ebata, In Press; Augmenting the existing survey hierarchy for mountain pine beetle red-attack damage with satellite remotely sensed data. Forestry Chronicle.

Impact Statements

Identification of causal agents of tree diseases and mortality will allow us to respond more effectively and more quickly to the exotic pathogens and insects.
Improved sampling and better understanding of tree sensitivity to the above causal agents is allowing us to better time and target control remedies resulting in lower and more effective and environmentally benign remedies. For example, characterizing the flight window of the banded elm bark beetle, an exotic insect pest of important landscape and forest trees, is allowing managers to evaluate the relative importance of several different vectors of the Dutch elm disease pathogen.
We have identified root feeding insects and pathogens as major predisposing factors to attack of red pine by bark beetles in the Midwest. We have identified tree responses that can contribute to resistance against some of these agents in red pine and in Austrian pine. WI DNR is implementing a large scale trial for controlling red pine decline based on our characterization of how this syndrome proceeds.
Blister rust predictive risk models are being utilized by the US Forest Service in their management planning for National Forests in the Central Rockies.
We continue to train undergraduate and graduate students and postdocs, and place them in academia, the public sector (e.g. US Forest Service, state Departments of Natural Resources), and the private sector (e.g. private arboreta). This will guarantee continuous replacement of existing personnel at a time of critical, increased national demand for individuals trained in the identification and management of exotic pathogens and pests threatening our terrestrial ecosystems.
We have determined that prescribed burning increases tree mortality and the abundance of tree-killing beetles
We have determined that external application of methyl jasmonate, a natural product involved in We have determined that plant response to enemies, increases tree defenses against bark beetle attack and colonization and may have application in tree protection
We have quantified the efficiency of 4 beetle species in carrying the exotic pitch canker pathogen, which may help to predict its range expansion

Date of Annual Report: 04/14/2007

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 03/05/2007 - 03/05/2007
Period the Report Covers: 10/01/2005 - 10/01/2006

Participants

Ayres, Matthew (Matthew P Ayres@dartmouth.edu)- Dartmouth University;
Baker, Frederick (fred.baker@usu.edu) - Utah State University;
Bentz, Barbara (bbentz@fs.fed.us) - US Forest Service;
Bonello, Pierluigi (bonello.2@osu.edu) - The Ohio State University;
Chorbadjian, Rodrigo (chorbadjian.1@osu.edu) - The Ohio State University;
Coakley, Stella (stella.coakley@oregonstate.edu) - Oregon State University;
Cook, Steve (stephenc@uidaho.edu) - University of Idaho;
Erbilgin, Nadir (erbilgin@nature.berkeley.edu) - University of California, Berkeley;
Eyles, Alieta (eyles.1@osu.edu) - The Ohio State University;
Harrington, Tom (tcharrin@iastate.edu)- Iowa State University;
Herms, Dan (herms.2@osu.edu) - Ohio State University;
Jacobi, William (william.jacobi@colostate.edu) - Colorado State University;
Klepzig, Kier (kklepzig@fs.fed.us) -US Forest Service;
McPherson, Brice (aoxomoxo@nature.berkeley.edu) - University of California, Berkeley;
Meyer, Richard (hmeyer@csrees.usda.gov) - USDA/CSREES;
Negron, Jose (jnegron@fs.fed.us) - US Forest Service;
Ockels, Frances (ockels.1@osu.edu) - The Ohio State University;
Paine, Timothy (timothy.paine@ucr.edu) -University of California, Riverside;
Raffa, Kenneth (raffa@entomology.wisc.edu) - University of Wisconsin, Madison;
Rieske, Lynn (lrieske@uky.edu)- University of Kentucky;
Seybold, Steve (sseybold@fs.fed.us)- US Forest Service;
Stark, Dan (danstark@nature.berkeley.edu) University of California, Berkeley;
Storer, Andrew (storer@mtu.edu)- ;
Sullivan, Brian (Briansullivan@fs.fed.us) US Forest Service;
Wallis, Christopher (wallis.23@osu.edu) - The Ohio State University;
Wang, Duan (wang.778@osu.edu) - The Ohio State University;
Wood, David (bigwood@nature.berkeley.edu) - University of California, Berkeley.

Brief Summary of Minutes

Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting
There was a change in the availability of holding the meeting in selected location in the fall of 2006. Thus, Jose Negron and Bill Jacobi offered two dates in September and October but members were too busy to attend. Thus, it was decided to hold the next meeting prior to the Western International Forest Insect Conference on Monday, March 5, 2007 in Boise ID.
Minutes of the March 5, 2007 Meeting in Boise ID
W1187 2006 Annual Meeting
March 5, 2007 in Boise, ID

Discussion on the submitting of projects/reports

Participants and continuation of committee:
" Less than on list of SAES 422 Multi-state Research Activity
" Talk about during the Business Meeting
Registration:
" Paying: $35 estimate - figure out at end of meeting
Secretary: Fred Baker was elected.
" However will be unable to start immediately

Intoductions:
Bill Jacobi, Russell Beam (graduate student), Jennifer Klutsch (graduate student), Luc Tran (graduate student), Brian Sullivan, Nadir Erbilgin, Ken Raffa, Erin Powell (graduate student), Dave Wood, Fred Baker, Steve Cook, Brian Shirley (graduate student), Barbara Bentz, Brian (graduate student), Matt Hansen

Station Reports:

Steve Cook - Current Bark Beetle work: University of Idaho - Natural Resource Entomology Lab
" Funded BB Projects both current and just starting
" MPB infestation detection - aerial detection survey maps compared with three types of multi-spectral imagery
o Multispectral sets useful for BB - quickbird would be best to find individually attacked trees - expensive
o Need to separate various stressing agents, maybe looking at a disturbance index
o Need to separate species. In the west can separate major genera - but LP from other pines&
o Grand fir and white fir hybridize - different from West and East - and different susceptibility to Balsam wooly adelgid
o Purpose is to provide land managers a tool to identify recent BB infestation and do silvi
o Long term data set to look at change with temp/precipitation - MPB and balsam wooly adelgid

Brian Shirley - current research - methods
Mycangial fungi as a source of N to Scolytids - Using stable isotope analysis, Determine the fractionation rate for tree to BB, tree to fungi, fungi to BB (need fungi free BB, Ips pini on artificial medium - Dave Hunt; labor intensive and brood low, sterilization of eggs of yeast and fungi but prob not bact - mercuric chloride; has Ips imarginatus which has big eggs, it may work; prob with trans-ovarian transfer of microbes)

Fred Baker
Has two students in urban forestry
Ozone work paper out - more O3 in mountains than valleys
DM in N Minn. - comparing FIA data, do not get DM right, now have data to parameterize landscape wide model
Root disease and Spruce Beetles - delayed due to litigation, root disease more uniform than though, probably will be an increase in blow down, cull high due to tomentosus root disease
Aspen Decline - probably not occuring, look at FIA data for long term trends - drought, lower elevation, poorer sites, sheep grazing; needs disturbance (BB associated, regeneration an issue); need to actually start looking on the ground and be thorough in the analysis
Teaching 4 courses a year so more research and sabbatical will be delayed

Ken Raffa - Current research on bark and wood boring beetles at UW-Madison
Interactions among below and above ground processes in red pine - long term research in environmental biology from NSF over 5 years; evaluate role of root beetle-fungal complexes in red pine by pine engraver and 3 other; collaborators and statistical difficulties; predator dispersal and predator-prey interactions - 2 year prog., mark and recapture with baited traps, predators a much better dispersers than bark beetles;
Beetle microbial symbiosis -
bacterial effect BB/fungi - SB - fungi invade BB galleries and kill adults and brood, Cardoza et al. 2006, bacteria protect beetles from fungi by regurgitant that has bacteria that inhibits fungi, not unique to SB, two bacteria from D. valens enhance growth and sporulation of major symbiont, interactions between BB associated fungi and bacteria strongly influenced by tree chemistry (a-pinene), investigating other terpenes and combos, want to look at what compounds from bacteria are inhibitory,
Gut microbiota - Bark and wood-boring beetles and Lepidoptera - and mode of action for Bt
Mechanisms of population release in eruptive species - how do herbivore populations release from stable to eruptive conditions, collaborative with BC people, does res of trees attack by MPB vary with popultaion phase?, generation of positive feedback with MPB - with lower population relying on prior BB attacks but with higher population then not reliant on other BB, but with pine engraver not the case
Interactions between MPB and fire in greater Yellowstone Area and reproductive success of MPB in fire injured LP

Nadir - Interaction among BB, pathogens and conifers in North American Forests
Characterize the role of biotic and abiotic factors in predisposing trees to BB attack and subsequent mortality - effects of induced defenses of Norway spruce to BB with methyl jasmonate, need to know: landing rates, quality and quantity of pheromone production, response of natural enemies, colonization behavior, olfactory receptors, cost of induced defenses;
Attraction of ambrosia and BB to coast live oak infected by P. ramorum - inoculated trees attracted greater than 95% of ambrosia, bb, and powderpost beetles trapped; infestation of SOD infected oak trees by wood inhabiting filamentous fungi;
Characterize the diversity and interactions among tree hosts, bb, their natural enemies and associated fungi - Fusarium circinatum and Monterey pine, with BB if BB exposed to right amount (high level) of spores then induce SIR and low levels of spores may make tree more susceptible

Brian Sullivan - consolidation of groups of entomologists, pathologists, and invasive plants within southern research station with Kier Klepzig as project leader of new unit SRS-4552 and Brian Strom leader of Forest Insects Team
Reexamination of the semiochemical system of the SPB - evidence that male SPB contribute to the aggregation pheromone, beetles sensitive to endo-brevicomin, especially +, and may be the male aggregation pheromone, with frontaline/turpentine/(+)-endo-brevicomin there was the highest BB attraction, with 100m tree spacing, is (+)-endo-brevicomin an attractive (i.e. not repellant) switching pheromone for SPB?, instead of a repellant, a pheromone plume of attractant is making other trees more attractive
D. frontalis in Central America actually two species? - large morph (=D. woodii) does not respond to frontalin/host odor-baited traps - but argued whether different species, working with ECOSUR in Mexico, not easily distinguished, D. woodii morph females produced endo-brevicomin, and in D. frontalis morph the males produce endo-brevicomin

Barbara Bentz- Reported on the bark beetles found in fire damaged ponderosa and Douglas fir and what tree conditions they preferred. Bark beetle brood production was greatest in large Douglas-fir and ponderosa pine with some level of fire injury. Trees with severe fire injuries produced large numbers of beetles and are not population sinks for Douglas-fir beetle and western pine beetle. Bark beetles can be a significant secondary effect in post-fire delayed mortality of Douglas-fir and ponderosa pine.

Significantly more bark beetle-attacked trees in the unit that had been prescribed burn compared to the unit that was not burned. Black-backed and three-toed woodpeckers were found nesting in the unit after prescribed fire compared to no nests found prior to burns.

Bill Jacobi- Studies continue to determine if the exotic banded elm bark beetle is able to vector the Dutch elm disease pathogen. Studies in 2006 found poor survival of the beetle and low wounding rates on intact field branches and excised branches in laboratory situations. Fungal transfer to the wounds did occur but movement of the fungus in the tree or disease symptoms were not noted. Additional studies will be carried out in 2007.

Business Meeting:

Discussion about holding the annual meeting each year before the western forest insect work conference or some other large tree insect or disease meeting. We will try to hold the next meeting in March of 2008 but we need to talk to the Advisor to see if this is permissible.

Meeting was adjourned at 5:00 pm

Accomplishments

Below is a summary of accomplishments completed by members between 10-2005 and 10-2006. Accomplishments Objective 1: Characterize the role of biotic and abiotic factors in predisposing trees to bark beetle attack and subsequent mortality. We completed the third year of a five-year project on declining red pine stands in Wisconsin. We are testing the roles of root colonizing beetles and Leptographium associates in predisposing trees to Ips. During 2006, we placed primary emphasis on spatially explicit statistical approaches, mark-recapture experiments to evaluate the role of dispersal in predator-prey interactions and relationships of tree defense physiology and chemistry to root infection. We are beginning a new study in collaboration with Monica Turner, Bill Romme, and Dan Tinker on interactions between MPB and fire in Yellowstone Park. We are studying competitors in fire-scarred trees. We have completed the second year of a survey to determine the relationship of dwarf mistletoe infestations and the occurrence of Mt pine bark beetle on ponderosa pine in the Front Range of Colorado. There is a definitive association of more beetle activity and the presence of dwarf mistletoe infested trees. We are examining the impact of tree fertilization and stand thinning on nitrogen assimilation from tree to fungus to insect in the lodgepole pine mountain pine beetle system. We continued our work on the elucidation of the mechanisms of induction of systemic resistance (systemic induced resistance, SIR) in pine. Two major avenues of research were pursued: 1) biochemical and molecular basis of SIR against pathogens, including studies of phenolic, terpenoid, and protein-based defenses, and signaling pathways; and 2) effects of soil fertility on susceptibility to pathogen and insect attack, and the host-mediated cross effects between pathogens and insects. In general, fungal infection of pine made the host more resistant to subsequent pathogen and insect attack (SIR), but attack by a defoliator can also make the tree more resistant to subsequent pathogenic attack. However, these cross effects were both variable over two seasons, and asymmetric, with the pathogen being more consistent in inducing SIR. Soil fertility did not have any major effects on SIR phenotypes, but some effects on constitutive biochemistry. Some specific secondary metabolites and groups of metabolites were strongly and positively correlated with resistance to pathogen attack, suggesting a role in the SIR phenotype. We have begun characterizing the chemistry of coast live oak defense against the sudden oak death pathogen, Phytphophthora ramorum and found that several phenolics induced in the phloem by the pathogen are strongly inhibitory against four different Phytophthora species, including P. ramorum, indicating a possible role in defense for these induced compounds. We have also begun characterizing the comparative phloem chemistry of native ash species and Manchurian ash to search for chemical correlates to the higher resistance of Manchurian ash to the emerald ash borer. One major class of compounds found in Manchurian ash but not in NA ashes is coumarins. These may have allelochemical effects against the buprestid, a hypothesis we plan on testing in 2007. Douglas-fir beetles were found to not preferentially attack trees with both maximum crown and cambium injury, but instead some intermediate level following wildfire. Beetles were attracted to trees with high levels of crown scorch, but not cambium injury, 1 and 2 years post-fire. Western pine beetle was observed attacking ponderosa pine with more severe fire-related injuries than were found for Douglas-fir beetle attacking Douglas-fir. Field data suggest that temperature-dependent voltinism strategies of outbreak mountain pine beetle populations in high elevation whitebark pine forests are different than strategies observed in lower elevation lodgepole pine forests. One of the studies under the national Fire-Fire Surrogate program is located in the Blodgett Research Station in California. Four treatments are: (1) no treatment, (2) thin and masticate only, (3) burn only, and (4) thin and burn. These treatments were conducted in 2002-2006. We have monitored landing rates of beetles on sticky traps that flight intercept traps that are randomly located throughout the treated and control areas. Analyses are currently underway to determine the effect of these treatments on subcortical insect populations, disease incidence, and subsequent tree mortality. In collaboration with Dr. P. Bonello at the Ohio State University, we have been investigating the role for bark beetles in vectoring P. ramorum and other Phytophthora spp. and to determine the role of bark and ambrosia beetle infestation in the introduction and/or stimulation of decay fungi associated with tree mortality and breakage. Objective 2: Characterize the diversity and interactions among tree hosts, bark beetles, their natural enemies and associated fungi. We are analyzing the gut bacteria the southern pine beetle, pine engraver, and spruce beetle, and three wood borers, Asian long-horned beetle, linden borer, and emerald ash borer. Methods are by 16S rDNA and culturing. Functional studies are evaluating cellulotic and detoxifying roles of bacteria. We described a new interaction among spruce beetle, bacterial associates, and fungal associates. Spruce beetles egest liquids filled with bacteria that inhibit antagonistic fungi. We described a new structure on spruce beetles that contains nematodes and yeasts. Genetic analyses of spruce beetle based on mDNA and microsatellites were completed in collaboration with Rick Harrison, Cornell University. Lodgepole pines in stands experiencing various levels of mountain pine beetle pressure were assayed for tree defense characters, to test whether trees of different resistance levels are selected during endemic vs. eruptive conditions. Analyses include constitutive chemistry, induced chemistry, and resin flow. Trees include absence or presence of putatively predisposing insects and competitors. We have continued studies on the fungal associates of southern pine beetle and Mexican pine beetle in Mexico and the southwestern United States. We are in the process of identifying these fungi, many of which may be new species. We have continued studies on the relationship of the Dutch elm disease pathogen and the new exotic banded elm bark beetle to determine if the beetle can vector the fungal pathogen to elms and allow infection and disease development Using a combination of amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) and mitochondrial sequencing analyses, we found evidence of genetic structuring among mountain pine beetle populations that followed a broad isolation-by-distance pattern. Our results suggest that the geographic pattern of gene flow follows the core distribution of the principle D. ponderosae host species, around rather than across the Great Basin and Mojave Deserts. Additionally, line-cross experiments suggest that dominance and epistasis are responsible for temperature-dependent life-history trait differences among geographically separated populations. Temperature regime dictates the fungal species associated with emerging D. ponderosae suggesting that climate change will influence not only the beetle but also its symbionts. Objective 3: Integrate and apply the knowledge gained from objectives 1 and 2 to forest ecosystems as influenced by emerging issues such as invasive species, global climate change, changing land use patterns and multiple and conflicting societal demands. We are participating in a collaborative project on the eruptive dynamics and spatial spread of the mountain pine beetle, as influenced by land use patterns and climate. We completed the third year of a five-year project on control measured for declining red pine stands in Wisconsin. We have a study of thinning in a root disease infested stand of Engelmann spruce with an increasing population of spruce beetles. Large amounts of butt cull suggest that the root disease is extensive. We are participating in a collaborative project on the eruptive dynamics and spatial spread of the mountain pine beetle, as influenced by land use patterns and climate. We are examining the use of multi-spectral and hyper-spectral data for use in detecting and delineating outbreaks of mountain pine beetle (D. ponderosae) in various host species. Pheromone-baited funnel traps may not be a reliable indicator of flight timing in some Dendroctonus species, although numbers of beetle trapped may be a correlate of population phase. Knowledge of basic temperature dependencies (e.g. phenology and cold hardening) are being used to evaluate hypotheses of how climate change may influence mountain pine beetle range expansion. We demonstrated that two species of twig beetles (Pityophthorus setosus and P. carmeli) which were contaminated with two spore loads transmitted the pitch canker pathogen to live, asymptomatic mature Monterey pine branches in a confined environment in nature

Publications

Publications Aukema, B.H, Carroll, A.L., Zheng Y., Zhu, J., Raffa, K.F., Moore, R.D., Stahl, K., & S.W. Taylor. Effects of temperature, reproduction, and dispersal on erupting mountain pine beetle populations: Inference on underlying processes from landscape-scale analyses. Subm. to Ecography. Bentz, B.J. 2006. Mountain pine beetle population sampling: Inferences from Lindgren pheromone traps and tree emergence cages. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 36(2):351-360. Bentz, B.J. and D.L. Six. 2006. Ergosterol content of three fungal species associated with Dendroctonus ponderosae and D. rufipennis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae, Scolytinae). Annals of the Entomological Society of America 99(2):189-194. Bonello, P., T.R. Gordon, D.L. Wood, D.A. Herms & N. Erbilgin. Nature and ecological implications of pathogen-induced systemic resistance in conifers: A novel hypothesis. Physiol & Mol Plant Path. In Press. Boone, C. K., D.L. Six, Y. Zheng,& K.F. Raffa. Exploitation of microbial symbionts of bark beetles by parasitoids and dipteran predators. Subm. to Ecol. Entomol. Brunelle, A., G. Rehfeldt, B. Bentz and S. Munson. Submitted. Holocene records of Dendroctonus bark beetles in subalpine pine forests of Idaho and Montana. Forest Ecology and Management. Cardoza, Y. J., K. D. Klepzig & K. F. Raffa. 2006. Bacteria in oral secretions of an endophytic insect inhibit antagonistic fungi. Ecol. Entomol. In Press. Cardoza, Y. J., S. Paskewitz & K. F. Raffa. 2006. Traveling through time and space on wings of beetles: A tripartite insect-fungi-nematode association. Symbiosis. 41: 71-79. Cook, S., S. Cherry, K. Humes, J. Guldin & C. Williams. Accepted with revision. Development of a satellite-based hazard rating system for Dendroctonus frontalis Zimmermann (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) in the Ouachita Mountains of Arkansas. J. Econ. Entomol. Delalibera I., Jr., Vasanthakumar, A., Burwitz, BJ, Schloss, PD, Klepzig, KD, Handelsman J & K.F. Raffa, Composition of the bacterial community in the gut of the pine engraver beetle, Ips pini (Say) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae). Subm. to Eviron. Entomol. Delalibera, I. Jr., A. Vasanthakumar, B.J. Burwitz, P.D. Schloss, K.D. Klepzig, J. Handelsman and K.F. Raffa. 2006. Gut bacterial composition of the pine engraver beetle, Ips pini (Say) Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae). Envir. Entomol.: Submitted. Erbilgin N, Storer AJ, Wood DL, Gordon TR. 2005. Colonization of cut branches of five coniferous hosts of the pitch canker fungus by Pityophthorus spp. (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) in central, coastal California. Can Ent. 137: 337-349. Erbilgin, N., E. Christiansen, P. Krokene, G. Zeneli & J. Gershenzon. 2006. Exogenous application of methyl jasmonate elicits defenses in Norway spruce (Picea abies) and reduces host colonization by the bark beetle Ips typographus. Oecologia. 148: 426-436. Erbilgin, N., N. Gillette, D. Owen, L. Merrill, R. Campos, T.M. Montiel, J. Sun, J. Stein, K. F. Raffa & D.L. Wood. Attraction of Dendroctonus valens to a common host volatile across a broad range of its native North American and in its introduced Asian regions. J Chem Ecol. In Press. Erbilgin, N.E. Gillette, J.D. Stein, J.H. Sun, D.R. Owen, R. Campos, L.D. Merrill, K.F. Raffa, S. Mori And D.L. Wood. Attraction of Dendroctonus valens to a common host volatile across a broad range of its native North American and in its introduced Asian regions. J. Chem. Ecol. In press. Hansen, E.M., B.J. Bentz, A.S. Munson, J.C. Vandygriff, and D.L. Turner. 2006. Evaluation of funnel traps for estimating tree mortality and associated population phase of spruce beetle in Utah. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 36:2574-2584. Hofstetter, R.W., J.B. Mahfouz, K.D. Klepzig & M.P. Ayres. 2005. Effects of tree phytochemistry on the interactions among endophloedic fungi associated with the southern pine beetle. J. Chem. Ecol. 31:551-572. Hofstetter, R.W., J.T. Cronin, K.D. Klepzig, J.C. Moser & M.P. Ayres. 2006. Antagonisms, mutualisms, and commensalisms affect outbreak dynamics of the southern pine beetle. Oecologia 145:000-000. Hofstetter, R.W., K.D. Klepzig, J.C. Moser, and M.P. Ayres. 2006. Seasonal dynamics of mites and fungi and their effects on the southern pine beetle. Env. Entomol. 35:22-30. Hofstetter, R.W., T.D. Dempsey, K.D. Klepzig, and M.P. Ayres. 2006. Temperature-dependence of symbiotic ractions among fungi, mites and the southern pine beetle. Appl. Env. Microbiol.: Submitted. Hood, S. and B.J. Bentz. Accepted. Predicting post-fire Douglas-fir beetle attacks and tree mortality in the northern Rocky Mountains. Canadian Journal of Forest Research. Jacobi, W. R., Koski, R. D., Harrington, T.C. and Witcosky, J. J. 2007. Association of Ophiostoma novo-ulmi with Scolytus schevyrewi Semenov (Scolytidae) in Colorado. Plant Disease. In press Kersten, P. J. , Kopper, B. J. , Raffa, K. F. & B. L. & Illman. High Performance Liquid Chromatography of Abietanes: Application to Diterpene Resin Acid Analysis in Conifers. J. Chem. Ecol. In press. Klepzig, K.D. 2006. Melanin and the southern pine beetle-fungus symbiosis. Symbiosis 40: 137-140 Maroja, L. S., S. M. Bogdanowicz, K. F. Wallin, K. F. Raffa & R. G. Harrison. Phylogeography of spruce beetles (Dendroctonus rufipennis Kirby) (Curculionidae:Scolytinae) in North America: distinctive mtDNA lineages associated with different species of host trees. Subm. to Molecular Ecol. McPherson BA, Mori SR, Wood DL, Storer AJ, Svihra P, Kelly NM, Standiford RB. 2005. Sudden oak death in California: Disease progression in oaks and tanoaks. For Ecol & Manag. 213: 71-89. Mock, K.E., B. J. Bentz, E. M. ONeill, J. P. Chong, Wilcox, and M. E. Pfrender. In Press. Landscape-scale genetic variation in a forest outbreak species, the mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae). Molecular Ecology. Økland, B., A. Liebhold, O. Bjørnstad, N. Erbilgin, & P. Krokene. 2005. Are bark beetle outbreaks less synchronous than forest Lepidoptera outbreaks? Oecologia. 146: 365-372 Owen DR, Wood DL, Parmeter JR. 2005. Association between Dendroctonus valens and black stain root disease on ponderosa pine in the Sierra Nevada of California. Can. Ent. 137: 367-375. Rasmussen, J. G.., J. Moller, B. H. Aukema, K.F. Raffa, & J. Zhu. Bayesian inference for multivariate point processes observed at sparsely distributed times. Subm. to Royal Statistical Society series B. Regniere, J. and B.J. Bentz. Submitted. Modeling cold tolerance in the mountain pine beetle, Dendroctonus ponderosae. Journal of Insect Physiology. Salle, A, & K.F. Raffa. Interactions among intraspecific competition, emergence patterns, and host selection behaviour in Ips pini (Col. Scolytinae). Ecol. Entomol. In Press. Sandoval, S.J., S.P. Cook, F. Merickel & H. Osborne. In press. Diversity of the beetle (Coleoptera) community captured at artificially created snags of Douglas-fir and grand fir within harvested stands. Pan Pacif. Entomol. Schloss, P. D., I. Delalibera Jr, J. Handelsman, and K. F. Raffa. 2006. Bacteria associated with the guts of two wood-boring beetles: Anoplophora glabripennis and Saperda vestita (Cerambycidae). Environ. Entomol. 35: 625-629. Shirley, B.M. & S.P. Cook. In press. Repellency of Conophthorus ponderosae Hopkins (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) by the host monoterpene myrcene. West. J. Appl. For. Six, D.L. and B.J. Bentz. Accepted. Temperature determines symbiont abundance in a multipartite bark beetle-fungus ectosymbiosis. Microbial Ecology. Vasanthakumar, A, I. Delalibera Jr., J. Handelsman, K. D Klepzig P. Schloss & K. F Raffa. 2006. Characterization of gut-associated microorganisms in larvae and adults of the southern pine beetle, Dendroctonus frontalis Zimmerman. Environ. Entomol. In press. Wager, D.J., and Baker, F.A. 2006. Ozone concentrations in Utah's Central Wasatch Mountains. J.Air and Waste Mgmt. 56:1381-1390. Wulder, M., J. White, B. Bentz, F. Alvarez, and N. Coops. 2006. Estimating the probability of mountain pine beetle red-attack damage. Remote Sensing of Environment 101:150-166. Wulder, M., J. White, B. Bentz, T. Ebata. 2006. Augmenting the existing survey hierarchy for mountain pine beetle red-attack damage with satellite remotely sensed data. The Forestry Chronicle 82(2):187-202. Zhu, J., J. G. Rasmussen, J. Moller, B. H.Aukema & K.F. Raffa. Spatial-temporal modeling of forest gaps generated by colonization from below- and above- ground bark beetle species. Subm. to J. American Statistical Association A&CS. Presentations: Aukema, B. A. Carroll, J. Zhu, K. F. Raffa, T. Sickley & S. Taylor Entomological Society of America National Meetings. 2006. Landscape ecology of mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae) in British Columbia, Canada: Are land tenure and outbreak epidemiology linked?? Indianapolis, IN. Barto EA, Herms DA, Bonello P, Cipollini DF (2006) Defense protein responses of white and green ash to wounding and emerald ash borer homogenates. Annual Meeting of the Ecological Society of America, Memphis, TN Beam, R.D.Jennifer G. Klutsch, William R. Jacobi, & José F. Negrón. Stand and Fuel Characteristics of Mountain Pine Beetle and Southwestern Dwarf Mistletoe in Colorados Northern Front Range Ponderosa Pine. Oral Presentation at the Western International Forest Disease Work Conference, Graduate Student Panel- Oct 2006-Smithers, B.C. Canada Beam, R.D. Jennifer G. Klutsch, William R. Jacobi, & José F. Negrón. Stand and Fuel Characteristics of Mountain Pine Beetle and Dwarf Mistletoe in Colorados Northern Front Range Ponderosa Pine. Poster Presentation at the North American Forest Insect Work Conference- May 2006-Ashvelle, NC. Bentz, B.J. and G. Schen-Langenheim. 2006. Critical impacts in high elevation five-needle pine ecosystems, the mountain pine beetle. Whitebark Pine: A Pacific Coast Perspective, Ashland, OR, August. Bentz, B.J., M. Pfrender, R. Bracewell and K. Mock. 2006. Genetic architecture of fitness trait differences among geographically separated populations of Dendroctonus ponderosae. 3rd Workshop on Genetics of Bark Beetles and Associated Microorganisms. Asheville, NC. May. Cardoza Y. J., S. Paskewitz, & K. F. Raffa New perspectives on the southern pine beetle-microbial symbiosisEntomological Society of America National Meetings. 2006. Travelling through time and space on wings of beetles: A tripartite insect-fungi-nematode association. Indianapolis, IN.. Cipollini DF, Barto EA, Eyles A, Bonello P, Herms DA (2006) Constitutive and wound-inducible defense proteins in phloem of ash trees. Emerald Ash Borer Research and Technology Development Meeting, Cincinnati, Ohio Cook, S.P & B.M. Shirley. 2006. Relationship between forest nutrition and insects. Intermountain Forest Tree Nutrition Cooperative Annual Meeting. Moscow, ID. Cook, S.P. 2006. Impact of forest management practices on selected insect populations. Clearwater Resource Conservation and Development Council, Annual Private Landowner Conference. Moscow, ID. Cook, S.P. 2006. Relationship between forest management nutrition and insects. Inland Empire Forest Engineering Conference. Moscow, ID. Cook. S.P. 2006. Host nutrition and bark beetles: fertilization impacts on tree resistance and suitability. Western Forest Genetics Association Annual Meeting. Anchorage, AK. Erbilgin N. Investigations of insect-pathogen-tree interactions in new and old world forests.. Department of Environmental and Forest Biology, State University of New York, Syracuse, New York. 2006 Erbilgin, N. G. Zeneli, E. Christiansen, J. Gershenzon, P. Krokene Methyl jasmonate-mediated induced plant resistance affects host selection processes of Ips typographus on Norway spruce, Picea abies.. Western Forest Insect Work Conference, Victoria, BC, Canada. 2005. Erbilgin, N. D. L. Wood, T. R. Gordon, A. J. Storer. Phoresy rates and spore loads of an exotic pathogen, Fusarium circinatum, on native bark beetles induce resistance to F. circinatum in natural Monterey pine forests.. California Forest Pest Council Meeting. Woodland, California. 2006 Erbilgin, N. D. L. Wood, T. R. Gordon, A. J. Storer.Phoresy rates and spore loads of an exotic pathogen, Fusarium circinatum, on native bark beetle taxa in natural Monterey pine forests-implications for evolving tree resistance. Exotic/Invasive Pests and Disease Research Workshop. Davis, California. 2005. Erbilgin, N. G. Zeneli, E. Christiansen, J. Gershenzon, P. Krokene Exogenous application of methyl jasmonate elicits defenses in Norway spruce (Picea abies) and reduces host colonization by the bark beetle Ips typographus.. 2006. North American Forest Insect Work Conference. Asheville, North Carolina. 2006. Erbilgin, N. How to use the knowledge gained in plant-insect-pathogen interactions against the most serious insect pests of North American forests.. Departmental Seminar. Division of Plant and Soil Sciences. West Virginia University. Morgantown, West Virginia. 2006 Erbilgin, N. N. E. Gillette, D. R. Owen, J. N. Webster, D. L. Wood, J. D. Stein Verbenone-releasing flakes protect whitebark pine from attack by mountain pine beetle. Greater Yellowstone Coordination Committee.. Jacksonhole, Wyoming. 2006. Erbilgin, N. N. E. Gillette, J. D. Stein, D. R. Owen, R. Campos, L. D. Merrill, K. F. Raffa, S. Mori, D. L. Wood.Geographic variation in semiochemical attraction, fungal associates and genetic diversity of Dendroctonus valens in North America and China: Implications to forest heath. North Central Forest Pest Workshop, LaCrosse, Wisconsin. 2005. Erbilgin, N. Tree-partite interactions among insects-pathogen-tree in new and old world forests.. Departmental Seminar. Department of Forestry. University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point, Wisconsin. 2006. Erbilgin, N., A. J. Storer, G. R. Owens, S. Kirkpatrick, K. Bischel, D. L. Wood, T. R Gordon. Studies of phoresy of Fusarium circinatum on potential beetle vectors.. Pacific Branch of Entomological Society of America. Monterey, California. 2005. Erbilgin, N., D. L. Wood, T. R. Gordon, A. J. Storer. How symbioses between an invasive exotic pathogen and native bark beetles may influence the success of all involved?. North American Forest Insect Work Conference. Asheville, North Carolina. 2006. Erbilgin, N., D. L. Wood, T. R. Gordon, A. J. Storer. Interactions between an exotic pathogen and native beetles induce resistance in native Monterey pines Pacific Branch of Entomological Society of America. Maui, Hawai'i. 2006 Erbilgin, N., D. L. Wood, T. R. Gordon, A. J. Storer. Phoresy rates and spore loads of an exotic pathogen, Fusarium circinatum, on native phloeophagous and xyloephagous beetle taxa in natural Monterey pine forests-implications for evolving tree resistance. Annual Conifer Defenses Symposium. Jena, Germany. 2005. Erbilgin, N., D. L. Wood, T. R. Gordon, A. J. Storer.Phoresy rates and spore loads of an exotic pathogen, Fusarium circinatum¸ on native phloeophagous and xyloephagous beetle taxa in natural Monterey pine forests: Implications for evolving plant resistance. International Union of Forest Research Organizations on Bark Beetles. Prince George, BC, Canada. 2005. Erbilgin, N., D.L. Wood .Interactions between vectoring efficacy of insects and resistance of host trees to an exotic pathogen: A quantitative approach for determining host resistance.. Multistate Research Committee (W-1187): Interactions among Bark Beetles Pathogens, and Conifers in North American Forests. Columbus, Ohio. 2005. Erbilgin, N., N. E. Gillette, J. D. Stein, D. R. Owen, R. Campos, L. D. Merrill, K. F. Raffa, S. Mori, D. L. Wood.Geographic variation in response of Dendroctonus valens to host volatiles of Pinus spp.: A holarctic perspective. International Society of Chemical Ecology Meeting. Washington, D.C. 2005. Erbilgin, N.Managing forest resources by integrating knowledge learned from studies of insect-pathogen-tree interactions in new and old world forests.. Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada. 2006 Erbilgin. N. Understanding the complexity of interactions among plant, insect, pathogen may help us to manage forest resources. Departmental Seminar. Department of Entomology. Purdue University. West Lafayette, Indiana. 2005. Eyles A, Wallis CM, Chorbadjian R, Herms DA, Cipollini DF, Bonello P (2006) Host-mediated cross induction of systemic induced resistance between a pathogen and an insect in Austrian Pine. Annual Meeting of the American Phytopathological Society, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. Gillette, N. E. J. D. Stein, N. Erbilgin, D. R. Owen, D. L. Wood Control of western pine beetle, Dendroctonus brevicomis, populations using aeriallyapplied verbenone flakes.. International Society of Chemical Ecology Meeting. Washington, D.C. 2005. Gillette, N. E. N. Erbilgin, D. R. Owen, J. N. Webster, D. L. Wood, J. D. Stein.Verbenone flakes protect ponderosa pines from attack by Dendroctonus brevicomis. Western Forest Insect Work Conference. Victoria, BC, Canada. 2005. Gillette, N. S. Mori, D.R. Owen, J.D. Stein, N. Erbilgin, D.L. Wood, J.N. Webster, C. Mehmel. New pheromone release systems: Aerial and ground applications for bark beetle control. Forest Vegetation Management Conference. Redding, California. 2006. Klepzig, K. ,C. Yuceer, Young-Min Kang, O. Pechanova, Y. Cardoza, A. Vasanthakumar & K. Raffa Ceratocystis and Ophiostoma: Expanding Frontiers. Brisbane Australia. Aug. 2006. Klutsch, J.G., R.D. Beam, W.R. Jacobi, J.F. Negron. 2006. Effects of dwarf mistletoe on fuel complexes in ponderosa pine on the Colorado Front Range. Poster Presentation, 12th Annual Front Range Student Ecology Symposium; 2006 March 8, Fort Collins, CO. Colorado State University. Klutsch, J.G., R.D. Beam, W.R. Jacobi, J.F. NegrÌn. 2005. Stand characteristics and fuel loads of dwarf mistletoe and mountain pine beetle in Colorados Northern Front Range ponderosa pine (poster). In Guyon, J.C. comp. 2006 Proceedings of the 53rd Annual Western International Forest Disease Work Conference; 2005 September 26-30, Jackson, WY. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Region, Odgen UT. Klutsch, J.G., R.D. Beam, W.R. Jacobi, J.F. NegrÌn. 2006. A preliminary evaluation of fuel levels in southwestern dwarf mistletoe and mountain pine beetle infested ponderosa pine (oral presentation). 2007 Proceedings of the 54th Annual Western International Forest Disease Work Conference (in press); 2006 October 2-6, Smithers, BC, Canada. Klutsch, J.G., R.D. Beam, W.R. Jacobi, J.F. NegrÌn. 2006. Stand characteristics and fuel loads in ponderosa pine infested with southwestern dwarf mistletoe in Colorados Northern Front Range (poster). APS/CPS/MSA Joint Meeting; 2006 July 29 August 2, Quebéc City, QC, Canada. Abstracts of Presentations, Phytopathology 96:S62. Krokene, P. N. Erbilgin, E. Christiansen. Methyl jasmonate interferes with host colonization and reproduction in the spruce bark beetle. Annual Conifer Defenses Symposium. Jena, Germany. 2005. Krokene, P. N. Erbilgin, E. Christiansen Induced defences in conifers against bark beetles and fungi.. The 8th European Congress of Entomology. Izmir, Turkey. 2006. McPherson, B. A. N. Erbilgin, D. L. Wood, P. Svihra, A. J. Storer New relationships among the sudden oak death pathogen, native bark and ambrosia beetles, and decay fungi colonizing oaks.. Annual Exotic/Invasive Pests and Disease Research Workshop in California. Riverside, California. 2006 McPherson, B. A. ,N. Erbilgin, D. L. Wood, P. Svihra, A. J. Storer The attraction of saprotrophic ambrosia and bark beetles (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) to coast live oaks (Quercus agrifolia) infected by Phytophthora ramorum.. Entomological Society of America. Indianapolis, Indiana. 2006. McPherson, B. A. N. Erbilgin, R. B. Standiford, D. L. Wood, P. Svihra, A. J. Storer. Sudden Oak Death Symposium The response of saprotrophic beetles to coast live oaks infected with Phytophthora ramorum.. Monterey, California. 2005. McPherson, B. A. N. Erbilgin, R. B. Standiford, D. L. Wood, P. Svihra, A. J. Storer. The response of saprotrophic beetles to coast live oaks infected with Phytophthora ramorum. Sudden Oak Death Symposium. Monterey, California. 2005. McPherson, B. A., N. Erbilgin, D.L. Wood The role of ambrosia and bark beetles in sudden oak death.. California Forest Pest Council Meeting. Woodland, California. 2006. McPherson, B. A.,N. Erbilgin, D. L. Wood, P. Svihra, A. J. Storer, F. Ockels, P. Bonello. The influence of the introduced pathogen Phytophthora ramorum on saprotrophic beetle (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) host selection behavior. International Society of Chemical Ecology Meeting. Washington, D.C. 2005. McPherson, B.A. N. Erbilgin, D.L. Wood .Interactions between oak-infesting bark beetles and sudden oak death pathogen.. Multistate Research Committee (W-1187): Interactions among Bark Beetles Pathogens, and Conifers in North American Forests. Columbus, Ohio. 2005 McPherson, B.A., D. L. Wood, A. J. Storer, P. Svihra, N. Erbilgin Responses of scolytid beetles to coast live oaks infected with Phytophthora ramorum, cause of sudden oak death.Pacific Branch of Entomological Society of America. Monterey, California. 2005. Okland, B., N. Bjørnstad, O. Skarpaas, N. Christian Stenseth, N. Erbilgin Spatiotemporal dynamics of introduced bark beetles: Implications to resource competition, invasion risk and management.. International Union of Forest Research Organizations: Alien Invasive Species and International Trade. Radom, Poland. 2006. Owen, D. R., N. Gillette, N. Erbilgin, N. Webster, J. D. Stein, S. Mori, M. Hansen, G. Fiddler, J. N. Webster, L. Pederson, D.L. Wood.Efficacy of verbenone flakes for area-wide and individual tree protection from attack by mountain pine beetles. California Forest Pest Council Meeting. Woodland, California. 2006 Powell, J. and B. Bentz. 2006. Connecting phenology predictions with population growth rates for an outbreak insect. North American Forest Insect Work Conference, Asheville, NC, May. Raffa, K. F. & J. Handelsman. Symbiosis Symposium, June, 2006., Symbioses in conifer bark beetle systems. Madison WI.. Raffa, K. F. , K. L. Maroja, S. Bogdanowicz, K. Wallin, & R. Harrison Third Bark Beetles Genetics Work Conference, May, 2006. Phylogeography of Dendroctonus rufipennis based on mtDNA and microsatellites. . Asheville, NC. Rebek E, Herms DA, Smitley D, Bonello P, Cipollini DF (2006) Interspecific variation in ash resistance to emerald ash borer. Entomological Society of America, North Central Branch annual meeting, University of Illinois, Bloomington, IL Shirley, B.M., P.J. Zambino & S.P. Cook. 2006. Longevity of Ophiostoma sp. spores on three Scolytid species found in Pinus contorta (Laws) and Pinus ponderosa. Entomol. Soc. Amer. Natl. Meeting. Indianapolis, IN (presented by B. Shirley). Vasanthakumar, A , J. Handelsman, & K.F. Raffa. North American Forest Insect Work Conference, 2006. Gut microflora of a wood-boring invasive insect, the emerald ash borer. Asheville, NC... Vasanthakumar, A., Y. Cardoza, I. Delalibera, P. Schloss, C. Currie, J. Handelsman, K. Klepzig, & K. F. Raffa Third Bark Beetles Genetics Work Conference, May, 2006. Gut bacteria of bark beetles and wood borers.. Asheville, NC. Wallis CM, Eyles A, Bonello P (2006) Searching for signaling molecules involved in the systemic induced resistance phenomenon in Austrian pine. 2006 PMBB Symposium, Wooster, Ohio, p 34 Wallis CM, Eyles A, Chorbadjian R, Hansen R, Cipollini DF, Herms DA, Bonello P (2006) Relationships of phloem chemistry with systemic resistance to Sphaeropsis sapinea in Austrian pine subjected to different fertility levels and insect defoliation. Southwide & Northeast Forest Disease Workshops Wang D, Eyles A, Bonello P (2006) Systemic aspects of host-pathogen interactions in austrian pine (Pinus nigra): a proteomics approach. 2006 PMBB Symposium, Wooster, Ohio Wilson, G.M., K. Humes, S. Cook, C. Randall, D. Long & K. Allen. 2006. Detection and mapping of mountain pine beetle infestations. 11th Biennial Remote Sens. Conf. Salt Lake City, UT (presented by G. Wilson). Wood, D. L. R. Silverstein, N. Gillette, N. Erbilgin Pheromones, kairomones and allomones in Scolytidae: From discovery to application (Program Symposium). Entomological Society of America. Indianapolis, Indiana. 2006 Zeneli, G., E. Christiansen, N. Erbilgin, J. Gershenzon, P. Krokene Multiple attacks against multiple defences: Bark beetles and blue-stain fungi vs. terpenoids and phenolics in Norway spruce.. 2006. Forstwissenschaftliche Tagung 2006 Ökosystem Wald Rohstoff Holz Prinzip Nachhaltigkeit (Forest ecosystems-Wood raw materials-Sustainability Principles). Dresden, Germany. 2006. Zeneli, G., J. Gershenzon, N. Erbilgin, E. Christiansen, P. Krokene.Enemies at the gate: Terpenoids and defense against spruce bark beetle (Ips typographus). G Association for Medicinal and Aromatic Plants from Southeast European Countries Conference. Bacu, România. 2006.

Impact Statements

New-Mexican pine beetle was just recently identified by members of this committee as occurring in the United States. This newest invasive species may pose a threat to US forests and is already impacting forests in Mexico and Central America.
Identification of the Mexican pine beetles fungal associates will further our understanding of the beetles population dynamics and provide possible avenues for biological control and management
Identification of causal agents of tree diseases and mortality will allow us to respond more effectively and more quickly to the exotic pathogens and insects
Improved sampling and better understanding of tree sensitivity to the above causal agents is allowing us to better time and target control remedies resulting in lower and more effective and environmentally benign remedies. For example, determining if the banded elm bark beetle, an exotic insect pest is a vector of the Dutch elm disease pathogen will allow for improved IPM practices.
We have identified root feeding insects and pathogens as major predisposing factors to attack of red pine by bark beetles in the Midwest.
We continue to train undergraduate and graduate students and postdocs, and place them in academia, the public sector (e.g. US Forest Service, state Departments of Natural Resources), and the private sector (e.g. private arboreta). This will guarantee continuous replacement of existing personnel at a time of critical, increased national demand for individuals trained in the identification and management of exotic pathogens and pests threatening our terrestrial ecosystems.
Understanding which defense mechanisms are involved in the strengthening of resistance in pathogen-induced trees will allow for selection of tree genotypes that are more resistant to pathogen and insect attack. Isolation and characterization of signaling molecules involved in SIR will allow for the potential development of chemicals to induce resistance in trees in the absence of a fungal infection.

Date of Annual Report: 07/01/2008

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 04/07/2008 - 04/07/2008
Period the Report Covers: 10/01/2006 - 04/01/2008

Participants

Enrico Bonello
Acting Chair (for Bill Jacobi)
The Ohio State University

Barbara Bentz
Acting Secretary
USDA Forest Service

Stella Coakley
Administrative Advisor
Oregon State University

Brice McPherson
U- Cal- Berkeley

Fred Baker
Utah State University

Diana Six
University of Montana

Ken Raffa
University of Wisconsin

Aaron Adams
University of Wisconsin
Dave Wood
U-Cal Berkeley

Steve Seybold
USDA Forest Service

Brief Summary of Minutes

Bulleted items are action items!

Meeting began at 0800.

Fred Baker is current secretary, and will be chair in 2008-2009; Ken Raffa will succeed him as secretary.

Project Renewal
Project is scheduled to terminate in 2009. Deadline for renewal proposal is Sept. 30 2009. Stella suggests that it might be good to get in by Jan. 15th (2009) deadline. Therefore to write proposal during a meeting, would need to meet in Fall 2008.

Meeting in fall might attract more pathogen people. Maybe alternate annual meetings between WFIWC and WIFDWC. Fall meeting in Reno in conjunction with ESA Nov. 16-19, 2008. We will meet the Friday and Saturday before, November 14 and 15, 2008.
Fred Baker will make arrangements with the hotel.
Stella will figure out the rules about international participants.

New objectives: last time took historic 3 objectives, collapsed into 2 and came up with new area that included emerging issues. We should keep the insect-microbrial interactions as the forefront, and consider expanding to other insects besides just bark beetles and also include hardwoods in addition to conifers. After extensive discussion the following emerged:

Our new title: Interactions of emerging threats and bark beetle-microbial dynamics in forest ecosystems.

New objectives:
Objective 1: Characterize the diversity and interactions among tree hosts, bark beetles, their natural enemies, and associated microbes.
Objective 2: Characterize feedbacks between bark beetle-microbial interactions and forest ecosystem processes.
Objective 3: Integrate and apply knowledge gained from obj. 1 and 2 to forest ecosystems as influenced by emerging issues such as invasive species, global climate change, changing land use patterns and fire regimes, and multiple and conflicting societal demands.

Stella: important to have critical mass participation and value gained for individual scientists and regions. Much more scrutiny now on renewal projects. Need to decide if it is worth it go through the whole process of renewal. Is it just 1 more meeting to attend? We must demonstrate in proposal compelling reasons to continue. Ok to keep new objectives. May need to change them later as we get new people to join and they provide input.

Participation:
Stella: once a group is formed, call for participants goes out across country and directors can look at it and see if there are people in their region who might fit. Most members are recruited, however, by contacts of members. Many who would like to come do not because they do not receive funding.

Is it possible to get funds for travel or salary if you are not part of land grant institute? All ag experiment station directors get hatch and Mcintire Stennis funds. Some parts of these must go to multi-state projects. Federal and state agencies may look at participation differently. They must see that involvement in multi-state project is important. Members have to appeal to their admin to get funding.

Suggestions made to connect with invasives groups and to ask people who no longer come why they do not come. Is the focus of group too broad? The group used to be very dynamic and large, a much more focused group to brain dump together. However, don't want it to be too entomological oriented. Need to engage pathogen and fungal people. How do we achieve this? Should we invite extension and management people. Dove-tail meetings so more can participate, like doing it with WFIWC. Can we connect emerging issues with management. We need to engage the younger cohort of new professionals.

If a person is not willing to be engaged, they should give up their spot, especially if they are receiving funds, but not contributing. As we plan for the future, keep in mind who really wants to be involved. Start fresh, and only include people who are actively participating.

List of people who might be interested in coming to fall meeting and help with proposal:
Richard Hofstetter (would have to replace Tom DeGomez, so wait until NAU hires into the position and then contact that person), BC, Alberta and other Canadians,
Matt Ayres,Ken Raffa,Jeremy Alison, Steve Seybold,Laurie Eckert, Juri Hulcer, Tom Harrington, Adman Usonaphick,Diana Six, Nadir Erbligin, Andrew Storer, Scott Templeton (at Clemson),Dave Wood, Dave Rizzo, Tom Gordon, Louie Bernier, Dan Herms - Enrico, David Shaw, Kathy Lewis, Scott Eneback, Jenny Juzwik, Fred Baker

These people at a land grant university could join existing project and be eligible for funds to come to Fall meeting.

Value: To attract other participants, we need to have something to make them want to come and join the group. What is that? Why do we want to continue to do this? Leveraging dollars as a group? An insect-vector pathogen focus is very relevant.

Perhaps W-1187 can offer knowledge on how to interpret patterns on landscape through symbiosis, chemical interactions etc. Maybe try to broaden group with other disciplines? But don't want to become too thin. Perhaps we need to link to management.

Another idea for enhancing value is to invite a natural resource economist or a social scientist person. To try and write a proposal with just the people in the room today, would not work. Try to re-engage people, ask them what would make it attractive to them. Stella gave an example of a group that has been around a long time. Their future is in trouble, they have a larger list of participants than us, yet have not been able to get a meeting together. The successful groups bring together people who traditionally do not get together. Value comes in doing a brain dump together, and providing an opportunity for students to come and meet colleagues and engage with others.

Discussion on a W1187 generated book:
Diana Six feels that the meeting has drifted too far away from bark beetle- fungal interactions. If a book was to be generated by the current group, what would be the focus? Fred suggests a synthesis paper on the role of pathogens in ecology. How pathogens are interacting with drought etc. Maybe update the Paine et al. book that came out of W1187 in 1992. But Diana says there are a number of synthesis papers on bark beetle fungi since that time.

State Reports were presented by participants, with our usual interesting discussion.

Annual Report

All participants should send in 2 sentences for each objective they are working within. Also send an Impact statement and publications. Send to Fred Baker and he will compile for annual report. Provide reports to Fred for period Oct 2006 - Dec 2007. Send to Fred by April 20, 2008. (fred.baker@usu.edu)

Need to update Impact statements from 2005.

Fred will take a stab at this and send to group before submitting.

Meeting adjourned at 1810.

Compiled by Barbara Bentz
Edited by Fred Baker

Accomplishments

Group members have gained an understanding of the taxonomy and role of fungal associates of the major conifer-killing bark beetles in North America. These roles vary with host, insect and fungus, and include a var in their affects on larval health and development. Efforts continue to characterize the effects of bark beetle - pathogen systems on forest structure and on fuel characteristics to provide managers with the ability to predict future consequences of infestations and alter forest management to minimize negative impacts. We continue to expand our understanding of defense mechanisms involved in the strengthening of resistance in pathogen-induced trees. This work is leading to selection of tree genotypes that are more resistant to pathogen and insect attack. Isolation and characterization of signaling molecules involved in SIR will allow for the potential development of chemicals to induce resistance in trees in the absence of a fungal infection.

Publications

Baker, F. A. and McManus, W.J. 2007. Evidence of fungi in spruce roots from which fungi could not be cultured. Proc., 12th IUFRO Root and Butt Rot Conference (in press). Blodgett, J. T., A. Eyles, and P. Bonello. 2007. Organ-dependent induction of systemic resistance and systemic susceptibility in Pinus nigra inoculated with Sphaeropsis sapinea and Diplodia scrobiculata. Tree Physiology 27:511-517. Bonello, P., T. R. Gordon, D. A. Herms, D. L. Wood, and N. Erbilgin. 2006. Nature and ecological implications of pathogen-induced systemic resistance in conifers: A novel hypothesis. Physiological and Molecular Plant Pathology 68: 95-104. Coleman, T.W., Meeker, J.R., Clarke, S. and Rieske, L.K. 2008. Forest composition following overstory mortality from southern pine beetle and associated treatments. Canadian Journal of Forest Research (In press). Coleman, T.W., Meeker, J.R., Clarke, S. and Rieske, L.K. 2008. Widespread forest disturbance from southern pine beetle suppression and subsequent wildfire impacts forest stand dynamics. Applied Vegetation Science (In press). Coleman, T.W., Martin, A., Meeker, J.R., Clarke, S. and Rieske, L.K. 2008. Sixteen years of vegetation succession in loblolly pine forests following catastrophic stand replacement. Natural Areas Journal (Submitted). Erbilgin, N., S. Mori, J.H. Sun, J.D. Stein, D.R. Owen, L.D. Merrill, R. Campos Bolanos, K.F. Raffa, J. Mendez Montiel, D.L. Wood, and N.E, Gillette. 2007. Response to host volatiles by native and introduced populations of Dendroctonus valens (Coleoptera: Curculionidae, Scolytinae) in North America and China. J. Chem. Ecol. 33(1): 131-146 Erbilgin, N., N.E. Gillette, J.D. Stein, D.R. Owen, and D.L.Wood. 2007. Acetophenone as an anti-attractant for the western pine beetle, Dendroctonus brevicomis, Le Conte (Coleoptera:Curculionidae). J Chem Ecol. 33: 817-823. Eyles, A., R. Chorbadjian, C.M. Wallis, R.C. Hansen, D.F. Cipollini, D.A. Herms, and P. Bonello. 2007. Cross-induction of systemic induced resistance between an insect and a fungal pathogen in Austrian pine over a fertility gradient. Oecologia 153: 365-374. Eyles, A., K. Riedl, W. Jones, S. Schwartz, K. Chan, D.A. Herms, D.F. Cipollini, and P. Bonello. 2007. Comparative phloem chemistry of Manchurian (Fraxinus mandshurica) and two North American ash species (F. americana and F. pennsylvanica). Journal of Chemical Ecology 33: 1430-1448. Fraedrich, S.W., Harrington, T.C., Rabaglia, R.J., Ulyshen, M.D., Mayfield, A.E., Hanula, J.L., Eickwort, J.M., and Miller, D.R. 2008. A fungal symbiont of the redbay ambrosia beetle causes a lethal wilt in redbay and other Lauraceae in the southeastern United States. Plant Dis. 92:215-224. Fraedrich, S. W., Harrington, T. C., and Rabaglia, R. J. 2007. Laurel wilt: A new and devastating disease of redbay caused by a fungal symbiont of the exotic redbay ambrosia beetle. Mich. Entomol. Soc. Newsletter 52: 15-16. Jacobi, W. R., Koski, R. D., Harrington, T. C., and Witcosky, J. J. 2007. Association of Ophiostoma novo-ulmi with Scolytus schevyrewi Semenov (Scolytidae) in Colorado. Plant Dis. 91:245-247. Klutsch, J.G., R.D. Beam, W.R. Jacobi, J.F. Negron. 2007. Fuel and stand characteristics in ponderosa pine infested with mountain pine beetle, Ips beetle, and southwestern dwarf mistletoe in Colorados northern Front Range. In: Proceedings of the 55th Annual Western International Forest Disease Work Conference; 10/15/2007, Sedona, AZ. [Abstract]. Klutsch, J.G., B.A. Goodrich, W.R. Jacobi. 2007. Assessment of Whitebark Pine Regeneration in Burned Areas of the Shoshone and Bridger-Teton National Forests and Wind River Reservation, Wyoming. In: Proceedings of the 55th Annual Western International Forest Disease Work Conference; 10/15/2007, Sedona, AZ. [Abstract]. Klutsch, J.G., R.D. Beam, W.R. Jacobi, J.F. Negron. 2007. Fuel loads associated with ponderosa pine stands infested with southwestern dwarf mistletoe and mountain pine beetle in the northern Front Range of Colorado (oral presentation). In Robert, J., Mathews, K., Johnson, T. comp. In: Proceedings of the 58th Annual Western Forest Insect Work Conference: 03/05/2007, Boise, ID. [Abstract]. Klutsch, J.G., R.D. Beam, W.R. Jacobi, J.F. Negron. 2006. A preliminary evaluation of fuel levels in southwestern dwarf mistletoe and mountain pine beetle infested ponderosa pine. In: Proceedings of the 54th Annual Western International Forest Disease Work Conference; 10/02/2006, Smithers, BC, Canada. [Abstract]. Klutsch, J.G., R.D. Beam, W.R. Jacobi, J.F. Negron. 2006. Stand characteristics and fuel loads in ponderosa pine infested with southwestern dwarf mistletoe in Colorados Northern Front Range. APS/CPS/MSA Joint Meeting; 07/29/2006, Quebec City, QC, Canada. Abstracts of Presentations, Phytopathology 96:S62. [Abstract]. Klutsch, J.G., R.D. Beam, W.R. Jacobi, J.F. Negron. 2005. Stand characteristics and fuel loads of dwarf mistletoe and mountain pine beetle in Colorados Northern Front Range ponderosa pine. In: Proceedings of the 53rd Annual Western International Forest Disease Work Conference; 09/25/2005, Jackson, WY. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Region, Odgen UT.[Abstract]. Luchi, N., P. Capretti, and P. Bonello. 2007. Production of Diplodia scrobiculata and Diplodia pinea pycnidia on ground Austrian pine needle agar medium. Phytopathologia Mediterranea 46, 230-235. O'Brian, M.J., K.L. O'Hara, N. Erbilgin, and D.L. Wood. 2007. Overstory and shrub effects on natural regeneration processes in native Pinus radiata stands. For. Ecol. and Management 240: 178-185 Ockels, F. S., A. Eyles, B. A. McPherson, D. L. Wood, and P. Bonello. 2007. Phenolic chemistry of coast live oak response to Phytophthora ramorum. J. Chem. Ecol. 33: 1721-1732. Ockels, F.S., M.V. DiLeo, and P. Bonello. 2007. Desiccation at ambient temperature effectively preserves plant tissues infected with Phytophthoras. Plant Health Progress. http://www.plantmanagementnetwork.org/sub/php/research/2007/desiccation/ Ocasio, R. , Tsopelas, P., and Harrington, T.C. 2007. Origin of Ceratocystis platani on native Platanus orientalis in Greece and its impact on natural forests. Plant Dis. 91: 901-907. Reeves, J.D., Strom, B.L., Rieske, L.K., Ayres, B.D., and Costa, A.M. 2008. Geographic variation in prey preference in bark beetle predators. Ecological Entomology (Under revision). Russell D. Beam, Jennifer G. Klutsch, William R. Jacobi, & Jose F. Negron. 2007 Stand and Fuel Characteristics of Mountain Pine Beetle and Dwarf Mistletoe in Colorados Northern Front Range Ponderosa Pine. In: Proceedings of the North American Forest Insect Work Conference- 05/2005-Ashvelle, NC. Russell D. Beam, Jennifer G. Klutsch, William R. Jacobi, & Jose F. Negron. 2006. Stand and Fuel Characteristics of Mountain Pine Beetle and Southwestern Dwarf Mistletoe in Colorados Northern Front Range Ponderosa Pine. In: Proceedings of the 54th Annual Western International Forest Disease Work Conference; 10/02/2006, Smithers, BC, Canada. [Abstract]. Sakamoto, J.M., T.R. Gordon, A.J. Storer, and D.L. Wood. 2007. The role of Pityophthorus spp. as vectors of pitch canker affecting Monterey pine, Pinus radiata. Can. Entomol. 139: 864-871. Wager, D.J., Baker, F.A. 2006. Ozone concentrations in Utah's Central Wasatch Mountains. J. Air and Waste Mgmt. 56:1381-1390. Wallis, C.M., Eyles, A., Chorbadjian, R., McSpadden-Gardner, B.B., Hansen, R., Cipollini, D.F., Herms, D.A. and P. Bonello. 2008. Systemic induction of phloem secondary metabolism and its relationship to resistance to a canker pathogen in Austrian pine. New Phytologist (in press - doi: 10.1111/j.1469-8137.2007.02307.x). Wang, D., A. Eyles, and P. Bonello. 2006. Systemic aspects of host-pathogen interactions in Austrian pine (Pinus nigra): a proteomics approach. Physiological and Molecular Plant Pathology 68:149-157. Whitehill, J., J. S. Lehman, and P. Bonello. 2007. Ips pini (Curculionidae: Scolytinae) is a vector of the fungal pathogen, Sphaeropsis sapinea (Coelomycetes), to Austrian pines, Pinus nigra (Pinaceae). Environmental Entomology 36:114-120.

Impact Statements

Phloem chemistry in coast live oak populations may be related to resistance to Phytophthora ramorum, the cause of sudden oak death, and may aid in the identification of resistant phenotypes.

Date of Annual Report: 12/15/2008

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 11/14/2008 - 11/15/2008
Period the Report Covers: 10/01/2007 - 10/01/2008

Participants

Raffa, Ken, University of Wisconsin;
Bernier, Louis Laval University;
McPherson, Brice, University of California, Berkeley;
Wood, David, University of California, Berkeley;
Baker, Fred, Utah State University;
Coakley, Stella, Admin. Advisor (Oregon State University);
Meyer, Rick, CSREES Representative;

Brief Summary of Minutes

Our meeting began at 0800 with introductions and logistics.

Stella discussed the timeline and procedures for the new proposal. The project terminates 9/30/2009. A termination report and possibly a new impact statement will be required. The document needs to be online by January 15, 2009, to her by January 5. Given the holiday break, it would be prudent for us to complete our work by December 15. So we must start now!
After brief discussion, we changed the project title slightly to read Interactions among Bark Beetles, Pathogens, and Associated Microbes in North American Forests. After examining the format for the new project outline, we split into two groups to flesh out sections of the outline. After a productive afternoon, we adjourned at 1700.

Saturday November 15 we again began at 0800 with an upate on CSREES reorganization from Rick Meyer.

We identified potential reviewers for the new proposal. They include: Kier Klepzig, USDA Forest Service, ( kklepzig@fs.fed.us; Ken), Jenny Juzwik USDA Forest Service (jjuzwik@fs.fed.us, 651-649-5114, Tom Kolb, Northern Arizona University( ; Fred or ?) Staffan Lindgren or Joerg Bohlmann at University of Northnern British Columbia, Scott Enebak at University of Alabama ( ; Fred) or Poal Krokene from Norway (; Enrico?). The person indicated will contact the potential reviewer and persuade/con/guilt them into serving as a reviewer. Stella will then make a formal contact in January.

Our next meeting will focus on 1) dealing with any issues needed to gain approval of our new project, and then 2) developing a proposal for collaborative work. Enrico will work with Fred to write a proposal for funding to bring a group together for proposal writing. Ken Raffa offered to host the 2009 meeting, most likely in Madison, at a time that meets our groupss needs. Another option would be to meet in conjunction with the North American Forest Ecology Workshop to be held in Logan, UT June **. We will survey likely participants to see if that is a viable alternative. We also discussed meeting with related groups, e.g. NCR 193 Plant Health: Managing insects and diseases of landscape plants, for at least part of every other meeting. It was also suggested that we consider meeting at locations of members of our group who do not receive travel funding.

Fred Baker will remain as chair, with Ken Raffa as secretary.

We continued working on the methods section. Fred will send the draft revision out to those attending the meeting. Each person was assigned responsibility for fleshing out parts of the proposal, and adding literature. Fred will coordinate these edits and make them available on the temporary project web site. After the attendees complete their revisions, the draft will go to the entire membership for their timely edits. If potential members prepare their Appendix E forms, that information will also serve as their contribution to the project outline.

We need from the membership:
1) your CRIS progress reports. These will be amalgamated into our AES 422 project report, which must be submitted prior to or with our new project proposal.
2) Preliminary appendix Es from likely participants. These need not be detailed, but will serve as place holders and indicators of participation. Again, this information can be inserted into the project outline.

Stella will contact existing members who did not attend the meeting to find out if they are really interested in participating, and either obtain their reports or remove them from the list.

We adjourned at 1445.

Accomplishments

Silvicultural prescriptions demonstrated on the T.W. Daniel Experimental Forest will show foresters alternatives to clearcutting to regenerate Engelmann spruce forests. Even after managing spruce beetles and incurring losses to root diseases, windthrow, which was once perceived to be a major barrier to partial cutting, is minimal. The presence of P. ramorum in coastal California forests for more than 10 years has dramatically altered overstory composition and structure. The pathogen initiates disease processes that quickly involve saprotrophic insects and decay fungi. These secondary organisms may circumvent any ability of an infected tree to mount a defense against this introduced pathogen. Preventing beetles from attacking infected trees might allow any (putative) resistance mechanisms to operate. Beetles and the presence of the fungus Hypoxylon are predictors of mortality. These relationships might be employed to predict forest stand-level changes. A new disease with an ambrosia beetle vector was described. The disease is a wilt disease on red bay (Persea borbonia) and other members of the Lauraceae that is associated with an exotic ambrosia beetle, Xyleborus glabratus. The pathogen reproduces in the maxillary mycangia of the beetle. The disease was named laural wilt, and the pathogen was described as a new species of Raffaelea, R. lauricola. Total terpene accumulation was suppressed by D. pinea when the seedlings were induced with H. annosum. Total terpene content in shoots inoculated with D. pinea was negatively correlated with lesion size. Stem base inoculation with H. annosum also induced whole-plant changes in terpenoid profiles. These findings on modulation of systemic response to fungal attack by pines have important implications for our understanding of tri-partite and tri-trophic ecological interactions. Committee members are involved with state and federal agencies, and with management agencies in Canada as several large scale insect and disease infestations are impacting western forests. These efforts include work on mountain pine beetle, aspen decline, dwarf mistletoes 9and their interaction with mountain pine beetle) and the exotic sudden oak disease. We participate on research teams as well as scientific and extension meetings.

Publications

Erbilgin, N. Ritokova, G. , Gordon, T.R., Wood, D.L. and Storer , A.J. 2008. Temporal variation on contamination of pine engraver beetles with Fusarium circinatum in native Monterey pine forests in California. Plant Pathology, Doi: 10.1111/j.1365-3059.2008.01887. McPherson, B.A., Erbilgin, N. Wood, D.L. Svihra, P., Storer, A.J. and Standiford, R.B. 2008. Attraction of ambrosia and bark beetles (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) to coast live oaks (Quercus agrifolia) infected by Phytophthora ramorum. Agricultural and Forest Entomology 10: 315-321. Kelly, M. Liu, D. McPherson, B. Wood, D., and Standiford, R. 2008. Spatial pattern dynamics of oak mortality and associated disease symptoms in a California hardwood forest affected by sudden oak death. Journal of Forest Research 13: 312-319. Brice A. McPherson, Nadir Erbilgin, David L. Wood, Pavel Svihra, Andrew J. Storer, and Richard B. Standiford. 2008. Attraction of ambrosia and bark beetles (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) to coast live oaks infected by Phytophthora ramorum. In: Proceedings of the Sudden Oak Death Third Science Symposium, March 5-9, 2007, USDA-Forest Service, General Technical Report PSW-GTR-214, pp 173-175. Nadir Erbilgin, Brice A. McPherson, Pierluigi Bonello, David L. Wood, and Andrew Nelson. 2008. New relationships among the sudden oak death pathogen, bark and ambrosia beetles, and fungi colonizing coast live oaks. In: Proceedings of the Sudden Oak Death Third Science Symposium, March 5-9, 2007, USDA-Forest Service, General Technical Report PSW-GTR-214, pp 355-356. Frances Ockels, Alieta Eyles, Brice A. McPherson, David L. Wood, and Pierluigi Bonello. 2008. Chemistry of coast live oak response to Phytophthora ramorum infection. In: Proceedings of the Sudden Oak Death Third Science Symposium, March 5- 9, 2007, USDA-Forest Service, General Technical Report PSW-GTR-214, pp 157-161. Barto, E.K., S. Enright, A. Eyles, C.M. Wallis, R. Chorbadjian, R. Hansen, D.A. Herms, P. Bonello and D.F. Cipollini. 2008. Effects of soil fertility on systemic protein defense responses of Austrian pine to attack by a fungal pathogen and an insect defoliator. Journal of Chemical Ecology 34:1392-1400. Bonello, P., N. Luchi, P. Capretti, and M. Michelozzi. 2008. Host-mediated effects of Heterobasidion annosum s.s. infection on severity of Diplodia pinea tip blight in Italian stone pine (Pinus pinea L.). Tree Physiology 28, 1653-1660. Wallis, C.M., Eyles, A., Chorbadjian, R., McSpadden-Gardner, B.B., Hansen, R., Cipollini, D.F., Herms, D.A. and P. Bonello. 2008. Systemic induction of phloem secondary metabolism and its relationship to resistance to a canker pathogen in Austrian pine. New Phytologist 177, 767-778. Baker, F.A., and Shaw, J.D. 2008 Survivor aspen: can we predict who will be voted off the island? In: McWilliams, M.G., comp.2008. Proceedings of the 55th Western International Forest Disease Work Conference, 2007. October 15-19, Sedona, AZ. N. Erbilgin, S. Mori, J.H. Sun, J.D. Stein, D.R. Owen, L.D. Merrill, K.F. Raffa, T. M. Montiel, D.L. Wood & N.E. Gillette. 2007. Response to host volatiles by native and introduced populations of Dendroctonus valens (Coleoptera: Curculionidae, Scolytinae) in North America and China. J. Chem. Ecol. 33: 131-146. Zhu, J., J. G. Rasmussen, J. Moller, B. H.Aukema & K.F. Raffa. 2008. Spatial-temporal modeling of forest gaps generated by colonization from below- and above- ground bark beetle species. J. American Statistical Association A&CS. 103: 162-177. Salle, A, & K.F. Raffa. 2007. Interactions among intraspecific competition, emergence patterns, and host selection behaviour in Ips pini (Col. Scolytinae). Ecol. Entomol. 32: 162-171. Rasmussen, J. G.., J. Moller, B. H. Aukema, K.F. Raffa, & J. Zhu. 2007. Bayesian inference for multivariate point processes observed at sparsely distributed times. Royal Statistical Society series B. 69: 701-713. Raffa, K.F., Hobson, K.R., LaFontaine, S., & B. H. Aukema. 2007. Can chemical communication be cryptic? Adaptations by herbivores to natural enemies exploiting prey semiochemistry. Oecologia. 153: 1009-1019. Boone, C. K., D.L. Six, Y. Zheng,& K.F. Raffa. 2008. Exploitation of microbial symbionts of bark beetles by parasitoids and dipteran predators. Environ. Entomol. 37: 150-161. Aukema, B.H, Carroll, A.L., Zheng Y., Zhu, J., Raffa, K.F., Moore, R.D., Stahl, K., & S.W. Taylor. 2008. Movement of outbreak populations of mountain pine beetle: Influences of spatiotemporal patterns and climate. Ecography. 31: 348-358. Delalibera I., Jr., Vasanthakumar, A., Burwitz, BJ, Schloss, PD, Klepzig, KD, Handelsman J & K.F. Raffa, 2007. Composition of the bacterial community in the gut of the pine engraver beetle, Ips pini (Say) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae). Symbiosis. 47: 93-104. Boone, C. K, Six, D. L. & K. F. Raffa. 2008. The enemy of my enemy is still my enemy: Competitors add to predator load of primary bark beetles. Ag. For. Entomol. 10: 411-421. Vasanthakumar, A, I. J. Handelsman, P. Schloss, L. Bauer & K. F Raffa. 2008. Gut microbiota of an invasive wood boring beetle, the emerald ash borer: community composition and structure across different life stages. Environ. Entomol. 37: 1344-1353. Cardoza, Y. J., K. D. Klepzig, J. C. Moser & K. F. Raffa. Raffa. 2008. Multipartite symbioses among fungi, mites, nematodes and the spruce beetle, Dendroctonus rufipennis. Environ. Entomol. 37:956-963. Fraedrich, S. W., Harrington, T. C., and Rabaglia, R. J. 2007. Laurel wilt: A new and devastating disease of redbay caused by a fungal symbiont of the exotic redbay ambrosia beetle. Mich. Entomol. Soc. Newsletter 52: 15-16. Jacobi, W. R., Koski, R. D., Harrington, T. C., and Witcosky, J. J. 2007. Association of Ophiostoma novo-ulmi with Scolytus schevyrewi Semenov (Scolytidae) in Colorado. Plant Dis. 91:245-247. Ocasio, R. , Tsopelas, P., and Harrington, T.C. 2007. Origin of Ceratocystis platani on native Platanus orientalis in Greece and its impact on natural forests. Plant Dis. 91: 901-907. Fraedrich, S.W., Harrington, T.C., Rabaglia, R.J., Ulyshen, M.D., Mayfield, A.E., Hanula, J.L., Eickwort, J.M., and Miller, D.R. 2008. A fungal symbiont of the redbay ambrosia beetle causes a lethal wilt in redbay and other Lauraceae in the southeastern United States. Plant Dis. 92:215-224. Harrington, T. C., S. W. Fraedrich, and D. Aghayeva. 2008. Raffaelea lauricola, a new ambrosia beetle symbiont and pathogen on the Lauraceae. Mycotaxon 104:399-404.

Impact Statements

Funding - University of Wisconsin Madison NSF Ecology LTREB. Interaction of below- and above- ground herbivory in forest gap formation: Long-term analysis of underlying mechanisms and spatio-temporal patterns K.F. Raffa, J. Reeve, B. Aukema, M. Clayton, E. Nordheim, J. Zhu, V. Radeloff, D. Young. $300,000, 6 yrs USDA FS. 2007. $32,000. Evaluating and monitoring mountain pine beetle infestation in fire damaged ponderosa and lodgepole pine stands on the Ashley National Forest. K. Raffa, B. Bentz, D. Blackford. 2 yrs. NSF Ecology. 2008. $497,853. A conceptual and mechanistic approach to understanding interactions among multiple disturbance agents: compound effects of fire on resource availability to bark beetles K. Raffa, P. Townsend, E. Powell. 3 yrs. USDA NRI. 2008. $449,950. How do interactions among microbial symbionts affect the host and range expansions of an eruptive forest insect?. K. F. Raffa, C. Currie, A. Adams. 3 yrs.
Funding - Utah State University Baker, F.A., and Shaw, J. Understanding Aspen Mortality: What do FIA data tell us? USDA Forest Service, $31,700, 2008-2009.
Relationships between secondary insects and fungi in oaks infected with sudden oak death can predict mortality and may be useful in projecting forest stand-level changes.