"Since joining the Forest Service in 1995, Kier has conducted cutting-edge research and developed strong, lasting ties with partners in the forest health science community regionally, nationally, and internationally," said Reaves. "He is highly regarded among fellow scientists, and I have great confidence in his ability to lead SRS researchers as they tackle the major threats facing forest ecosystems today and in the future."

As assistant director of research, Klepzig will manage the station's Threats to Forest Health science area, which includes the Center for Forest Disturbance Science, the Eastern Forest Environmental Threat Assessment Center , and the Insects, Diseases, and Invasive Plants of Southern Forests research work units.

For the past 10 years, Klepzig served as a supervisory research entomologist and project leader of the SRS Insects, Diseases, and Invasive Plants unit in Pineville , LA. He is best known for his research on the complex symbiotic interactions among insects, fungi, bacteria, and mites.

Klepzig has also collaborated with State and Private Forestry and universities to develop coordinated approaches to research, development, and application programs for major forest pests. In addition, Klepzig has been an adjunct associate professor in the Department of Entomology at Louisiana State University . From 1995 to 1998, he served as a research entomologist in the SRS Insects, Diseases, and Invasive Plants unit.

Before joining the Forest Service, Klepzig taught forest pathology and forest entomology at Southern University from 1994 to 1995. He received his Ph.D. in entomology and plant pathology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1994.

Klepzig and his wife, Lisa, have a daughter, Cassie, and son, Graham.
News Release Science Contact:
News Release Science Contact:
News Release Science Contact: Stevin Westcott]]> Thu, 02 Oct 2008 00:00:01 -0400 http://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/news/342 http://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/news/342 Director Jim Reaves today announced the publication of The Economics of Forest Disturbances: Wildfires, Storms, and Invasive Species . Edited by three SRS scientists, the book offers a synthesis of new approaches to understanding the economics of large-scale forest disturbances.

"This book comes at a critical time when America 's forests face increasing stress and damage from wildfire, pests, natural disturbances, and climate change - and when agencies face increasing demands for resources to tackle these threats," said Reaves. "I believe this book offers vital information that can assist decision makers and forest managers in developing strategies and making choices that will help them mitigate today's major stresses and ensure healthy forest ecosystems in the future."

The Economics of Forest Disturbances is the first book of its kind to present a comprehensive framework for analyzing the economic effects of large-scale catastrophic events such as wildfires, hurricanes, and invasions of non-native pests. With contributions from leading government and university scientists, the editors show how existing and new scientific techniques can be applied to identify the causes and consequences of forest disturbances. The editors emphasize that economic behavior matters, both in the production and mitigation of forest disturbances. Each chapter clarifies this general theme and shows how physical factors, such as climate, interact with economic factors, such as technology or management incentives, to produce economic damages. The book, which includes several case studies, resulted from the editors' belief that standard methods for evaluating economic impacts are often inadequate for addressing issues affecting forests and provide limited guidance for improved decision-making. The book's 19 chapters seek to describe the state-of-the-art in understanding the economic dimensions of forest disturbances.

The Economics of Forest Disturbances consists of four sections, which reflect the editors' view that: (1) economic analyses of forest disturbances go hand-in-hand with ecological understanding; (2) forest disturbances are random variables that are amenable to new statistical analysis; (3) consistent accounts of timber and non-timber economic impacts (such as disturbance effects on recreation or residential property values) are pre-requisite to planning and decision-making; and (4) economic models can be used to improve decisions and set priorities. The 422-page text is academically focused and written for forest economists, policy makers and analysts, land managers, graduate students, and others in the forestry arena.

Research Foresters Thomas Holmes, Ph.D., and Jeffrey Prestemon, Ph.D., and Research Economist Karen Lee Abt, Ph.D., compiled and edited the book. The scientists are part of the SRS Forest Economics and Policy unit based in Research Triangle Park , N.C. The book is published by Springer.

"Our research shows that not only are more Americans participating in outdoor recreation, the number of times they participated in many of the outdoor activities surveyed has grown," said author and lead researcher Ken Cordell, a pioneering scientist with SRS and one of the foremost authorities on recreational trends in the United States. "In general, the number of times people participated in any one or more of 60 outdoor activities increased by 25 percent from 2000 to 2007."

As part of the National Survey on Recreation and the Environment (NSRE), researchers asked a cross-section of Americans, age 16 or older, about their participation in 80 outdoor activities. Twenty of the 80 activities are competitive sports or fitness activities and were not included in the Forest History Today article.

Researchers asked people about their outdoor activities in "general" such as walking for pleasure outdoors and attending family gatherings outdoors. Each of these activities experienced an increase of 14 percent in the number of times per year. Visits to farms or other agricultural settings as a recreation activity jumped 100 percent from 2000 to 2007.

Fifty of the 60 activities are defined as "nature-based," such as wildlife viewing or photography, kayaking, hunting, and fishing. Data show the number of people participating in nature-based activities grew 3.1 percent from 2000 to 2007, from 197 million to 203 million. The total number of times per year that respondents participated in nature activities jumped 32 percent during the study period.

Of the 17 fastest-growing nature-based activities from 2000 to 2007, viewing or photographing flowers and trees was at the top. The number of people engaged in this activity climbed 25.8 percent, and the number of times over the last year people participated surged 77.8 percent during the study period. Second on the list is viewing or photographing natural scenery. This activity saw a 14 percent increase in number of people, with a 60 percent increase in times participated. Driving off-road is third on the list of fastest growing, nature-based activities. Between 2000 and 2007, the number of people using off-road vehicles grew 18.6 percent, and they participated 56.1 percent more times in 2007 than in 2000.

Certain nature-based recreational activities declined between 2000 and 2007. Fewer people reported participating in mountain biking, coldwater fishing, and whitewater rafting. The research shows the number of people backpacking and mountain climbing also decreased during the study period; however, the number of times they engaged in these activities increased. Conversely, the number of times visiting prehistoric sites, saltwater fishing, and snorkeling declined, but the number of people engaging in these pastimes grew.

The article also includes a short history of outdoor recreation in America to help set the context for what is happening today. The article concludes that while the activities people choose are changing with the times, it is clear that the general trend for nature-based outdoor recreation is up.

The NSRE is an ongoing, random telephone survey of the outdoor recreation activities of Americans. SRS conducts the nationwide study in partnership with the University of Georgia and the University of Tennessee.

Cordell’s article appears in the spring issue of Forest History Today magazine. Learn more about the magazine at: www.foresthistory.org/Publications/FHT/. Cordell’s findings are also featured in the most recent issue of the International Journal of Wilderness. The journal’s Web site is http://ijw.wilderness.net/.

Articles:
The Latest Trends in Nature-Based Outdoor Recreation
Nature-based Outdoor Recreation Trends and Wilderness
News Release Science Contact: Thomas P. Holmes
News Release Science Contact: Jeffrey Prestemon
News Release Science Contact: Stevin Westcott]]> Thu, 07 Aug 2008 00:00:03 -0400 http://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/news/337 http://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/news/337 Lead author and Iowa State University Plant Pathologist Tom Harrington, co-author and SRS Plant Pathologist Stephen Fraedrich, and Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences Researcher D.N. Aghayeva unveiled the name, Raffaelea lauricola, in an article published in the April-June 2008 issue of Mycotaxon, the international journal of fungal taxonomy and nomenclature.

"Until now, the fungus was known as 'the laurel wilt pathogen' because of the devastating disease it causes in redbay trees and other laurel species like sassafras and avocado trees in the Southeast," said Fraedrich, based in Athens, GA. “Now arborists, foresters, researchers, and regulatory officials have a formal, scientific name and description of the fungus, as well as a detailed explanation of how the pathogen compares to similar fungi."

Raffaelea lauricola is one of many species of fungi carried by ambrosia beetles, a group of highly specialized wood-boring insects that feed on symbiotic fungi, which they carry from tree to tree in specialized sacs. The beetles feed on their own special ambrosia fungi, much as the Greek gods were believed to exist on their "ambrosia." R. lauricola is the principle ambrosia fungus of an invasive species from Asia, the redbay ambrosia beetle. R. lauricola is the only known tree pathogen among the ambrosia fungi and differs from other Raffaelea species in its DNA sequence and spore sizes. The fungus also grows faster than similar fungi.

Ambrosia beetles introduce the fungus into redbay or other laurel tree species by burrowing into the trees and laying eggs. The fungus serves as a food source for beetle larvae. The pathogen moves through a tree's vessels causing a vascular wilt disease similar to Dutch elm disease.

In an April 3 press release, SRS announced the first description of the fungus and its association with the redbay ambrosia beetle and laurel wilt. The press release, posted online at http://www.srs.fs.fed.us/news/153, provides more information about the fungus and the threat it poses to the laurel family.
News Release Science Contact: Stephen W. Fraedrich
News Release Science Contact: Jeffrey Prestemon
News Release Science Contact: Stevin Westcott]]> Mon, 30 Jun 2008 00:00:04 -0400 http://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/news/336 http://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/news/336 Asheville, NC – USDA Forest Service Southern Research Station (SRS) Director Jim Reaves announced today that the station’s new laboratory in New Ellenton, SC, recently received a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification from the United States Green Building Council.

“From the very beginning, our goal was to construct a facility that not only serves our research and administrative needs, but reduces its environmental footprint, conserves natural resources, and saves taxpayer dollars,” said Reaves. “Attaining the LEED Silver certification shows that we achieved our goal, and the Forest Service is committed to practicing sustainability on the land and in its operations.”

The LEED® Green Building Rating System is a third-party certification program administered by the non-profit United States Green Building Council for the design, construction, and operation of high performance, sustainable buildings.

The SRS facility, the Savannah River Forestry Sciences Laboratory, is a 4,256 square foot office building and laboratory. The structure is located just outside the Savannah River Site on the Warner Savannah River Research Campus. Eight SRS scientists and technicians use the facility to conduct ecological research on forests of the Savannah River Site, which is owned by the Department of Energy. The Savannah River Forestry Sciences Laboratory is the second Forest Service facility to receive LEED Silver certification.

The Savannah River Forestry Sciences Laboratory includes the following sustainable and energy efficient features and benefits:

• 33 percent more energy efficient than a standard building;
• Geothermal heating and air conditioning (HVAC) system;
• Highly efficient light fixtures and windows to reduce energy use;
• Natural lighting to reduce artificial light demand and improve
employees’ indoor work environment;
• Site design that minimizes storm water runoff and improves discharged water quality;
• Minimal site disturbance and clearing of land during building construction;
• No use of ozone-damaging chlorofluorocarbon refrigerants in HVAC system;
• Building materials made from recycled waste products;
• Locally manufactured building materials;
• Implementation of an indoor air quality management plan: and
• Use of paint, sealants, and primers with low volatile organic content to improve indoor air quality.

Energy models estimate that these sustainable building practices save the Forest Service close to $2,000 annually. In addition, the practices offer other savings and environmental benefits that are more difficult to measure, such as increased employee productivity because of enhanced natural lighting and improved indoor air quality, savings from the use of recycled materials and from recycling construction waste, and environmental savings from reduced storm water run-off and improved run-off water quality.

The LEED system awards buildings points for satisfying specific “green” building criteria including: sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, and innovation and design process. LEED awards green building certifications at the Certified, Silver, Gold, and Platinum levels.

SRS began construction of the building on Nov. 7, 2005. Construction was completed Oct. 26, 2006. SRS contracted with the firm Armstrong-Glenn, PC, of Charlotte, NC, to design the building.

"As a fellow entomologist, I am honored by John's gesture," said Kier Klepzig, who is also a plant pathologist and SRS project leader based in Pineville, LA. "These findings are important because they get us a step closer to understanding the biology of the mites and to identifying possible control methods for their destructive host - the imported red fire ant."

The mite bearing Klepzig's name is called Caesarodispus klepzigi (Microdispidae). Khaustov and Moser determined C. klepzigi is most similar to Caesarodispus gaius, which was discovered in 1977. C. klepzigi is unique because of its larger setae (barbed hairs that protrude from the body) and shorter solenidion (small appendage on the leg).

Moser captured the two new mite species in 2004 while analyzing red imported fire ants, an invasive species from Brazil. Moser discovered the mites, which were attached to flying fire ants, in his backyard in Pineville, LA. While the biology of C. klepzigi is unknown, mites similar to klepzigi feed on fungi. Khaustov and Moser suggest that "the presence of C. klepzigi and its possible associated fungus or fungi may play an important nutritional role for [fire ant] colonies, similar to that of other insects."

Moser named C. klepzigi after Klepzig and the second mite, Petalomium hofstetteri (Neopygmephoridae), after Northern Arizona University researcher Rich Hofstetter. Moser's naming of the mites recognizes the contributions Klepzig and Hofstetter have made to understanding the complex symbiotic interactions among insects, fungi, and mites. Klepzig and Hofstetter found that some mites attaching themselves to bark beetles carry fungi as a source of food. Some of these fungi, they found, are actually detrimental to the bark beetles that carry these mites.

Last year, Moser unveiled three other new mite species. He says he may have close to 20 additional new species to describe in the near future.

Moser discovered his first species 60 years ago as a student at Ohio State University, where he received bachelor's and master's degrees. He received his Ph.D. in Insect Ecology from Cornell University in 1958. Moser joined the Forest Service the same year and retired in 1989 after 32 years of Federal service. Moser has authored or co-authored more than 100 scientific papers during his successful career. Since "retiring," Moser has continued studying insects and mites because, as he says, "it's fun."

Full text of the article is posted online at: http://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/pubs/29977
News Release Science Contact: John Moser
News Release Science Contact: Jeffrey Prestemon
News Release Science Contact: Stevin Westcott]]> Mon, 02 Jun 2008 00:00:06 -0400 http://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/news/158 http://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/news/158 Compass, the research magazine of the USDA Forest Service Southern Research Station (SRS), a second place Blue Pencil award in the category of external magazines. NAGC is a national not-for-profit professional network of federal, state and local government employees who disseminate information within and outside government. Their annual Blue Pencil awards honor the best in print-related government communications products in 36 different categories. NAGC announced the award on April 29, 2008.

Compass, published quarterly by the SRS science delivery group, is designed to inform a wide range of audiences about SRS research on focused topics. Now in its fourth year, the magazine has covered subjects ranging from the possibilities and challenges of biomass-based energy to the interaction of forests with global climate change. The region served, the Southeast, is one in which the pressures of development, lost timber economy, and climate change increasingly affect forest ecologies. Compass brings into focus the issues the region faces while highlighting the work of SRS researchers and collaborators to come up with solutions.

Issue 9 of Compass, which focused on upland hardwood forests in the South, was submitted for the award. SRS staff writers contributing to the issue included Zoë Hoyle, Livia Marqués, Claire Payne, Perdita Spriggs, and Carol Whitlock. Art director Rodney Kindlund designed the magazine and took many of the photos for the issue.

Current and past issues can be accessed online at http://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/compass/archives.htm or ordered as hard copies through pubrequest@fs.fed.us.
News Release Science Contact: John Moser
News Release Science Contact: Jeffrey Prestemon
News Release Science Contact: Zoë Hoyle]]> Mon, 12 May 2008 00:00:07 -0400 http://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/news/154 http://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/news/154 Sonja Oswalt and Chris Oswalt wanted to examine how stand-level factors influence damage likelihood in forests in Mississippi. They also wanted to know how the initial estimates made using remote sensing compared to the data collected on the ground.

In the article Relationships between Common Forest Metrics and Realized Impacts of Hurricane Katrina on Forest Resources in Mississippi, published in Forest Ecology and Management, Oswalt and Oswalt state that tree species and diameter at breast height (dbh) consistently affected the probability of trees suffering at least some wind-related damage in each zone of damage. Stand density was significant only in interaction with other main effect variables. Hurricane path and damage zones were developed by FIA research forester Dennis Jacobs. Zone numbers rose from one to five based on distance from landfall. The percentage of FIA survey plots experiencing damage decreased as distance from landfall increased, with the exception of zone five, the most western area. Damage in that zone was most likely also impacted by damage caused from spin-off tornado activity. Analysis revealed that damage figures calculated by models using remotely sensed data were comparable with on-the-ground inventory. Hardwood forests sustained more damage from Hurricane Katrina than softwoods. This likely relates to the dominance of hardwoods in forest composition rather than susceptibility to damage. Oswalt and Oswalt found that, in softwoods, stand spacing and tree height were more important than species type for determining potential breakage.

The Oswalts believe that trying to reduce the vulnerability of forests to hurricanes by management may be subject to too many variables. Sonja Oswalt says, “We are not making recommendations for managing for stochastic wind events like a hurricane or tornado. While our data show that height and diameter play a role in the probability of damage, we were unable to successfully make predictions using those variables. ”

For additional information, please contact Dr. Sonja Oswalt at 865-862-2058 or by email at soswalt@fs.fed.us

You can read the full text of the article at http://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/pubs/29784
News Release Science Contact: Sonja Oswalt
News Release Science Contact: Jeffrey Prestemon
News Release Science Contact: Claire Payne]]> Wed, 16 Apr 2008 00:00:08 -0400 http://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/news/155 http://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/news/155 Dr. Ge Sun, research hydrologist with the Forest Service's Eastern Forest Environmental Threat Assessment Center (EFETAC), was recently elected president of Sino-Ecologists Association Overseas (Sino-Eco) for its 2008-2010 term. Sun will assume presidential responsibilities May 1, 2008.

Sun, who conducts forest hydrological research with EFETAC's Southern Global Change Program in Raleigh, says of this new role, "I am honored to have been selected president of Sino-Eco, whose scientists make significant contributions to research efforts around the world. I will work to continue the organization’s commitment to enhance global collaborations in ecological research and communications among Chinese ecologists."

EFETAC Director Dr. Danny C. Lee encourages Sun's Sino-Eco involvement. "Ge is a top-notch scientist whose experience in ecosystem sciences and international cooperative research projects will benefit Sino-Eco considerably." This is also an excellent opportunity for the Forest Service to engage further with other university and government scientists to advance global ecological research."

Sino-Eco is a non-profit academic organization established in 1988 to encourage exchange of ideas and knowledge among Chinese ecologists in China and around the world. The organization promotes development of ecology and related sciences through mutual understanding and cooperation. Since inception, Sino-Eco and its members have organized numerous symposia, seminars, workshops, conferences, and publications. Additional information can be found at http://www.sino-eco.org.

EFETAC is a joint effort of the Forest Service’s Research and Development, the National Forest System, and State and Private Forestry. The Center actively develops new technology and tools to anticipate and respond to emerging forest threats. Headquartered with the Southern Research Station in Asheville, NC, the Center also has an office in Research Triangle Park, NC.

For additional information, please contact Ge Sun at (919) 515-9498, by email at gesun@fs.fed.us, or visit http://www.forestthreats.org.
News Release Science Contact: Ge Sun
News Release Science Contact: Jeffrey Prestemon
News Release Science Contact: Stephanie Worley Firley]]> Tue, 15 Apr 2008 00:00:09 -0400 http://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/news/153 http://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/news/153 In the February issue of Plant Disease, SRS plant pathologist Stephen Fraedrich and fellow researchers provide results from their assessment of the fungus, the beetle that carries it, and their combined effect on redbay and other members of the laurel family, including sassafras, spicebush, and avocado.

Extensive mortality of redbay, an attractive evergreen tree common along the coasts of the southeastern United States, has been observed in South Carolina and Georgia since 2003. Though the wilt was at first attributed to drought, the cause was soon found to be a fungal pathogen and the exotic redbay ambrosia beetle, Xyleborus glabratus, a native to Southeast Asia that was first found in the area in 2002. Many ambrosia beetles carry species of fungi as food for their larvae; a previously undescribed fungus in the genus Raffaelea is a fungal symbiont of this ambrosia beetle.

To determine if the fungus was the cause of the wilt, Fraedrich and his colleagues inoculated redbay trees and containerized seedlings with the Raffaelea fungus; the plants died within 5 to 12 weeks. To connect fungus and beetle, they also exposed redbay seedlings to X. glabratus beetles; the ambrosia beetles tunneled into almost all of the plants, causing 70 percent of them to die. The researchers found the fungus in 91 percent of the beetle-attacked plants.

"These experiments showed that the Raffaelea species we isolated from wilted trees and from the redbay ambrosia beetle is the cause of redbay wilt," says Fraedrich. "The fungus, which is routinely isolated from the heads of X. glabratus ambrosia beetles, is apparently introduced into healthy redbay during beetle attacks on stems and branches."

Redbays are common along Southeastern coast, and both residents and visitors are disturbed by the massive mortality. Deer browse on the evergreen foliage of the tree, and the fruit is eaten by songbirds, wild turkeys, and other animals. Redbay is also the primary host for the larvae of the palamedes swallowtail butterfly. But it’s not just the redbays that plant pathologists are worried about.

"The fungus we isolated has also been associated with the death of other trees in the laurel family, and the Raffaelea sp. has been isolated from wilted sassafras, pondberry and pondspice," says Fraedrich. "Our inoculation studies have shown that the fungus is deadly to these species as well as to spicebush, and avocado, but not to red maple."

The researchers concluded that there is reason to be concerned about the spread of the wilt to other members of the laurel family, which are common components in forests across the United States and other areas of the Americas. Recent studies have shown that California laurel, a West Coast species in the Lauraceae, is also susceptible to laurel wilt.

"We are also very concerned about avocado, a species indigenous to Central America which is grown commercially in Florida and alifornia," says Fraedrich. "Our evaluation of avocado indicates that it is also susceptible to laurel wilt, and the wilt has been found recently in avocado trees growing in a residential area of Jacksonville, Florida."

For more information: Stephen Fraedrich at 706-559-4273 or sfraedrich@fs.fed.us

Read more about laurel wilt on the Forest Health Protection, Southern Region website at http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/foresthealth/laurelwilt/index.shtml
News Release Science Contact: Stephen W. Fraedrich
News Release Science Contact: Jeffrey Prestemon
News Release Science Contact: Zoë Hoyle]]> Thu, 03 Apr 2008 00:00:10 -0400