[ECOLOG-L] root grafting barrier for field planting
Hello everyone, I am working with an existing plantation of American elm trees planted on a 10x10ft spacing. The elms are several years old. We have decided that we would like to prevent them from root grafting. We're planning on trenching between the elms and installing some kind of barrier in the soil (metal sheets?) to prevent them from root grafting. If you have any experience with this kind of work, I would really appreciate your input on equipment and methods needed to do this successfully. Thank you for your help. Sincerely, Kathleen S. Knight USDA Forest Service Northern Research Station
Re: [ECOLOG-L] Suggestions wanted: world's weirdest plants
Skunk cabbage, Symplocarpus foetidus, creates heat and melts the snow around it in early spring. It smells like rotting meat to attract the flies that pollinate it. -Kathleen On Aug 16 2011, Judith S. Weis wrote: Venus fly traps would definitely appeal to middle school kids. I nominate: 1. Trigger plants (Stylidiaceae - Australia). They slap pollinators with their reproductive parts to effect pollination. 2. Resurrection plant (Selaginella)- desert species and eastern epiphytes. Yes, they look dead until you add water. 3. Epiphytic Bromeliads (in general) because they are so obviously cool. 4. Rafflesiaceae includes one of the worlds largest (Rafflesia arnoldii) and smallest (Pilostyles thurberi) flowers (The second one is a plant that lives entirely inside the stems of desert shrubs - except for the flowers). 5. Ophrys speculum orchids for their pseudocopulation pollination system. 6. Marine flowering plants like Zostera and Thallasia (sea grass) because they represent weird evolutionary transitions back to the ocean, they are some of the only plants that flower and are pollinated completely under water, and they have some of the largest pollen grains (long, thread-like). 7. Vallisneria seems like an ordinary aquatic plant, but it has a weird pollination system where male flowers break off and float on the water surface like little boats. The female flowers stay attached on long stems and open on the water surface. Male flowers are then drawn to the females as the water surface is depressed by surface tension around the females. 8. Basal Angiosperms (water lilies such as Nymphaea, Brasenia, Nuphar) because they like leftover dinosaurs from the deep evolutionary past of the flowering plants. 9. Buzz pollination plants like shooting star (Dodecatheon) and Melestoma because they are also cool. Steve Buckman did an awesome analysis of that demonstrated the physics of pollen ejection from the anthers and then electrostatic charges that sicks the pollen to the pollinator's body. 10. Gnetum, which is classified as a Gymnosperm but is really a transitional group because they have double fertilization that is more like the Angiosperms. Some species are also used as herbal remedies in China. 11. Wild ginger (Asarum) because they are one of the only plants that is (might be) ant pollinated. 12. Touch-me-not (jewel weed - Impatiens) and other plants with projectile seed dispersal. Yeah, and there are plenty of others, but there are a few I can think of right off. Mitch Cruzan On 8/15/2011 4:25 PM, Benjamin Blonder wrote: Hi everyone, I'm about to embark on a middle school teaching project where students will learn about a really odd species of plant - they'll investigate its natural history, adaptation, etc., then make a presentation to the class on their findings. I'd like your help with the names of some of your favorite weird plants - especially charismatic ones are particularly welcome. I'm hoping to have a list of about 50 in the end. Some examples of the kinds of plants I'm imagining: Welwitschia, Amorphophallus, Nepenthes, Hura... Once enough suggestions come in, I'd be pleased to summarize the names to the list. Thanks! Benjamin Blonder University of Arizona
[ECOLOG-L] need your help locating survivor American elm trees
Hi everyone, Jim Slavicek and I are working together on the restoration of American elm (Ulmus americana). American elm was a dominant species in many swamp and floodplain forests in eastern US and Canada before Dutch elm disease (DED) reduced its populations. At our lab, we have a small plantation of elms in various stages of testing for DED tolerance. Several genotypes have been shown to tolerate DED, and a large portion of the progeny from crosses among these trees are DED-tolerant as well. We are currently testing the potential of seedlings from DED-tolerant crosses to be used for restoration plantings. It is our hope that large, stately American elm trees will someday grace our floodplain and swamp forests once again. We need more DED-tolerant genotypes of American elm to use as parent trees for our plantation in order to have enough genetic diversity to use it as a seed orchard for large-scale plantings. We are looking for healthy American elm trees larger than 24 inches DBH (diameter at breast height) that are growing in areas that have had DED and that have not been treated with fungicides to prevent DED. We are only interested in American elm trees growing within its native range. If you see a survivor elm that fits this description, please enter its location and DBH at our website: http://nrs.fs.fed.us/disturbance/invasive_species/ded/survivor_elms/ We will compile these entries in a database, prioritize the elms for sampling, contact land owners, and then collect small branches from the trees to propagate and test them for DED-tolerance. Please forward to anyone who knows how to identify elm trees and might have interest in this project. Thank you for your help! - Kathleen * Kathleen S. Knight Research Ecologist USDA Forest Service Northern Research Station 359 Main Rd. Delaware, OH 43015 740-368-0063 (office) *
[ECOLOG-L] tree propagation research assistant position
Research Assistant 2-B/H The Ohio State University Delaware, Ohio The Research Assistant will coordinate and implement the propagation of trees to carry out studies of interactions between trees and insects; maintain plants in greenhouse, polyhouse and field plots including irrigation, fertilization, weed and pest control. This position is also responsible for collecting, organizing and summarizing data for research reports as well as assisting with report preparation, proposals, presentations and displays. This position is located in Delaware, OH. Experience with greenhouse maintenance and pest control and knowledge of research data and collection as well as frequent overnight travel to research sites and OARDC is required. Must have good computer skills and spreadsheet software experience. This position requires working outdoors in forests in presence of known forest hazards such as biting/stinging insects poison ivy; heavy lifting up to 50 lbs.; travel to main campus and recurrent travel to OARDC in Wooster, Ohio. Experience with data analysis software, and the ability to prepare reports and proposals and pesticide applicator's license, preferred. Please send cover letter, curriculum vitae and references to: David Carey, USDA Forest Service NRS, 359 Main Rd., Delaware, OH 43015 or e-mail to dca...@fs.fed.us. For a complete position description and application instructions please visit www.jobsatosu.com and search by requisition number 349489. Application Deadline: 5/12/2010 To build a diverse workforce Ohio State encourages applications from individuals with disabilities, veterans and women. EEO/AA employer.
[ECOLOG-L] Forest monitoring summer positions at Metroparks of the Toledo Area
Emerald ash borer (EAB) has already killed millions of ash trees in Michigan and northern Ohio and has the potential to decimate all North American ash species, causing widespread disturbance in forest ecosystems that will be similar to the Chestnut blight or Dutch Elm disease. We are quantifying the effects of ash tree mortality on forest ecosystems in Metroparks of the Toledo Area, including the effects on both native and non-native plants, and developing methods for restoration of ecosystems formerly dominated by ash, including plantings of native trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants, and removal of non-native plants. We are monitoring the effects of restoration at Metroparks, including effects on plant community composition, stream health, and wildlife by gathering baseline data and monitoring changes as restoration activities proceed. Students will also have the opportunity to pursue an independent project related to the larger project, which could result in university credit, poster presentations at national conferences, and publication. Metroparks has several openings for seasonal Forest Monitoring Assistants. Two years of undergraduate course work or equivalent experience in ecology, biology, forestry, restoration, or related field required with some research/data collection experience. Plant identification skills and GPS/compass navigation abilities are also desired. Positions will report to Oak Openings Metropark in Swanton, Ohio; employment term varies from May through September. You must find your own housing. Pay rate is $12.40 per hour. Submit resume, employment application form, and fair credit reporting form by April 23 to Administrative Office, Wildwood Metropark, 5100 W. Central Ave., Toledo, OH 43615, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or to jan.lapo...@metroparkstoledo.com. Include relevant courses taken, plant identification and research experience, contact information for two references, as well as dates you will be available to work, in resume. Visit http://www.metroparkstoledo.com/metro/employment/ to review the position description and download the application forms. EOE
[ECOLOG-L] nightcrawler middens in central Ohio
I want to add recording presence/absence of nightcrawler (Lumbricus terrestris) middens to a plot survey protocol, so I need to find a site to familiarize my team with the appearance of these middens. Does anyone know of a site that's infested by Lumbricus terrestris in central Ohio? Thank you for your help! -Kathleen ** Kathleen Knight, Research Ecologist USDA Forest Service Northern Research Station 359 Main Rd. Delaware, OH 43015
[ECOLOG-L] Summer research job in Pennsylvania
JOB DESCRIPTION - We seek two highly motivated individuals interested in ecological field experience to fill our research assistant positions from early May to middle/late August 2009. Our USDA-Forest Service funded research project investigates the current distribution and health status white ash (Fraxinus americana) within the Allegheny National Forest (ANF). Specifically, we are examining the extent to which topographic position and site characteristics (e.g., soil pH and nutrition) are related to white ash decline and mortality patterns. This is the first year of a two-year project. There is an opportunity for the research assistants to do an independent research project within the scope of the larger project. LOCATION - The research is located entirely within the Allegheny National Forest located in northwestern Pennsylvania. For more information on the regions view: http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/forests/allegheny. RESPONSIBILITIES - Primary responsibilities include: surveying previously established Forest Health Monitoring Plots (USDA FHM: http://fhm.fs.fed.us) and establishing and surveying a new set of long-term, white ash health monitoring plots. Fieldwork represents 90% of the job. Some computer work is required. Early mornings and long days occasionally required. QUALIFICATIONS - Successful applicant should be hard-working, conscientious, have good attention to detail, and be able to tolerate rugged conditions. A background in biology/ecology/forestry/botany as well as field experience, particularly in eastern deciduous forests, is desirable. Skills in orienteering/GPS are also desirable. PAY - $13.18-14.74/hr depending on experience, 40hrs/week. Onsite housing is available at one of two Forest Service bunkhouses (~$90/mo at Kane Experimental Forest [http://www.fs.fed.us/ne/warren/kane.html] or ~$200/mo in Irvine, PA). A field vehicle will be provided for all job-related travel. APPLY NOW - Position will be filled by first qualified applicant - so apply now. TO APPLY OR FOR MORE INFORMATION - Send a brief letter of interest, a CV or resume, and names, addresses, phone numbers and email addresses of three references contact: Alejandro A. Royo via email (preferred) ar...@fs.fed.us -or- Kathleen S. Knight via email (preferred) kskni...@fs.fed.us USDA NRS, Forestry Sciences Lab P.O. Box 267 Irvine, PA 16329
Re: [ECOLOG-L] Catching soil invertebrates
Excellent methods for sampling earthworms are on this website: http://www.nrri.umn.edu/worms/research/methods_worms.html The liquid mustard method is easy and works very well, in my experience. -Kathleen -- Kathleen S. Knight Research Ecologist USDA Forest Service Northern Research Station
[ECOLOG-L] summer student research job near Columbus, OH
Summer Research Opportunity Effects of Emerald Ash Borer on Forest Ecosystems Job description: Work with US Forest Service and Ohio State University researchers to collect ecological data in forested areas in Ohio and Michigan Opportunities for independent research projects $11.60 / hour 10-15 week appointment June-August Qualifications: Interest in forest ecology Able to work in sometimes extreme conditions (poison ivy, nettle, mosquitoes, swamps, rain, heat, etc.) Knowledge of plant identification a plus! Student in fall 2008 US citizen or national At least 18 years old by start date Contact: Dr. Kathleen Knight 359 Main Rd. Delaware, OH 43015 [EMAIL PROTECTED] 740-368-0063 To apply, send resume, copy of transcript, and contact information for two references. Applications will be considered as they are received. Here's some more detailed information about the position: The big picture of what we're doing: This is the fourth summer of data collection on a large research project focused on the effects of emerald ash borer (EAB) on forest ecosystems. EAB has already killed 25 million ash trees in Michigan and northern Ohio, and has the potential to decimate all North American ash species, causing widespread disturbance in forest ecosystems that will be similar to the chestnut blight or Dutch elm disease. My study sites are across northern, western, and central Ohio, and collaborators John Cardina and Dan Herms at OSU - Wooster have study sites in Michigan. We are quantifying the decline of ash trees by rating the crown condition and recording symptoms of EAB yearly for 2000 ash trees in forests in various stages of infestation. We are measuring the effects of the gaps opening up on the forest ecosystem, including increasing understory light levels, facilitation of invasive plant species, responses of native woody and herbaceous species, and changes in soil properties. What your experience would be like: You would work with me for 10-15 weeks (exact dates are negotiable) encompassing June, July, and August, and possibly part of May and/or September. It would probably work best if you live near Columbus or Delaware (40 minutes north of Columbus) and if you have a car to drive to the lab in Delaware, but it would work fine if you don't have a car or live elsewhere on the weekends. Most of our time will be spent collecting data. We visit many different and interesting forest types in Ohio and Michigan, from upland hardwoods to riparian forests to swamps. Some areas are beautiful, some are a mess of invasive species and poison ivy. You would gain experience identifying ash species and invasive plant species, using ecological research techniques to rate tree canopies, estimate percent cover of vegetation, and measuring understory light levels. Typically, we leave from the Delaware lab on Monday morning, travel together in a government vehicle to a part of the state, and stay in a hotel or other housing all week while visiting all the sites there, returning by Friday afternoon. There will be approx. 6 weeks of this kind of travel in Ohio, and possibly 2 weeks of joining collaborators in Michigan. You will be reimbursed for all travel expenses. There will be 2-3 weeks of sites that are nearer to Columbus and Delaware, so we just do day trips to those. Along with two other students, you would primarily work with me, however, there will be other scientists from OSU, the forest service, and the University of Chicago who will meet up with us at times to work in the plots. When we have some downtime, you will read some literature on forest disturbance ecology, current EAB research, etc., and start thinking about your research project. We have amassed a huge data set on these plots, which we will be adding to over the summer. There are many possibilities for using part of that data set for a small research project. For example: Baseline mortality rates of ash trees in uninfested forests Relationships between ash canopy decline and specific symptoms of emerald ash borer Relationship between invasive species and canopy openness Spatial distribution of invasive species or ash mortality (great project if you're into GIS) Relationship between invasive species and native species And many more! We will discuss your research project through the summer - as you see the plots, you may come up with other ideas for interesting questions we can look at with the data set. Or there may be another factor that would be easy to measure in a subset of the plots. After all of the data you need is collected and entered, I will get you the data you need for the project and work with you to analyze it You could then do a poster or presentation at a research conference in the winter or spring. Depending on the results and how much time you have, a manuscript may also be possible.
Re: [ECOLOG-L] summer reading with an ecologic/environmental theme
I'll second Christie's suggestion of Last Chance to See - there is a lot of Douglas Adams' excellent humor that the students will enjoy, but the book is also a thought-provoking look at the problem of extinction. It's a bit old (1990), but students can get on the internet and check up on the species in the book to see which have gone extinct, which are still on the verge of extinction, and which have begun to recover. -Kathleen On Feb 25 2008, Kraemer, George wrote: Our campus theme next year will be environment. Although it's defined broadly enough to include all constituencies, it presents the opportunity to reach about 500 freshmen with a back-door campaign of environmental literacy. I am soliciting the ECOLOG group for suggestions for pre-college summer reading with an environmental theme. It would have to be something that would capture the minds of 17-18 year olds, and should lend itself to discussions that might allow diverse discipline to have a say. Barbara Kingsolver's Prodigal Summer or Michael Pollan's books came first to mind. But there must be other things out there that I've missed. Since this might be of interest to others, please respond to the list. GPK George P. Kraemer Associate Professor of Environmental Studies and Biology Chair, Environmental Studies Program Purchase College (SUNY) -- - Kathleen S. Knight
Re: native plants
Hi Steve,
I'm not an exert and haven't looked for any studies on this, but if the
native/non-native hybrids or non-native species can hybridize with nearby
native populations, this could be problematic, and might be worse than
planting unrelated non-native, non-invasive plants. If pollen a large
planted population of non-native hybrids contributes to a large proportion
of the seed set in a small, nearby native population, native genetic
diversity might be lost quickly over a few generations. I think this has
been a concern with corn in central america. Has anyone heard of examples
of horticultural species that have caused these kinds of problems?
On the other hand, there are pros to planting non-invasive hybrids that are
similar to native species. They may be well-adapted to the environment and
not require much watering or fertilization.
-Kathleen
On Dec 18 2007, Steve Kunz wrote:
In a message dated 12/17/2007 11:48:56 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,
[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
Another option is to consider native/non-native hybrids as well as
native selections from unusual ecotypes. There are many varieties of
azaleas, for instance, that are hybrids between natives and exotic
species. These (non-invasive) plants provide the beauty of large
flowers from their non-native genetic stock with the heat/drought/frost
(depending on the variety) tolerance from their native genes. Two neat
selections from odd ecotypes are the dwarf wax myrtle ('Tom's Dwarf' or
'Don's Dwarf') from or the variegated Florida anise ('Shady Lady').
I am a member of my local Environmental Advisory Council (we assist our
Township supervisors on environmental issues), and we always strongly
recommend the use of native plants in the landscaping proposed for new
developments. Some plants proposed are clearly non-native, but many times
an applicant will propose use of a variety, or hybrid, or some other
cultivar of a native species. Since I am not a botanist, I wonder about
the appropriateness of using cultivated varieties. Is there some limit on
how much hybridization or cross-cultivation (I'm not even sure these are
the correct terms) can be allowed before a plant is no longer considered
native? And if so, how can a layperson recognize that the line has been
crossed?
Any input on this matter would be appreciated.
Steve Kunz
Vice-Chair, Schuylkill Township EAC
Chester County, Pennsylvania
**See AOL's top rated recipes
(http://food.aol.com/top-rated-recipes?NCID=aoltop000304)
--
-
Kathleen S. Knight
Re: Pens or pencils for field notes
To collect data in the field, I use the Rite-in-the-rain copy paper to make data sheets, the Rite-in-the-rain notebooks to take notes, and use the Rite-in-the-rain pen with them. I'm left-handed, so pencil smears. You can hold the paper under running water and still write on it. A bit pricey ($8.00 for a pen) but great products. The only problem I have with the Rite-in-the-rain pens is that the pen itself is black, so when you drop it in the woods it's difficult to find. I tie a brightly-colored piece of plastic to it. If they made some in bright orange or yellow, it would be perfect. As for permanence, I have no idea. Things I did 6 years ago still look fine, but I have no idea how they'll look in 50 or 100 years. -Kathleen On Jun 5 2007, Barbara White wrote: We would like to solicit people's ideas about what kind of pens or pencils they think are appropriate for taking field notes with respect to permanence. -- - Kathleen S. Knight
Epidermal peels for Fraxinus papillae
I am doing some research that involves monitoring ash (Fraxinus spp.) populations in Michigan and Ohio. Green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica, also referred to as red ash) and white ash (Fraxinus americana) are difficult to distinguish. We have been using habitat (upland vs. riparian), leaf scars (U-shaped vs. shield-shaped), and bark (depth of furrows) to tell them apart, but we know that none of these characteristics are absolute. It would be nice to have a definite, yet inexpensive, method to check our identifications. Sylvia May Obenauf Taylor (1972), ecological and genetic isolation of Fraxinus americana and Fraxinus pennsylvanica, describes a method of distinguishing the two species based on the presence or absence of papillae on the lower leaf surface. Microscopic examination of lower epidermis of leaflets was made by means of epidermal peels made by spreading Duco Cement (a synthetic adhesive) on the surface of either fresh or dried leaves. When dry, the cement was removed and mounted on glass slides... The papillae are finger-like projections present on the lower epidermal cells of white ash leaves, but never on the leaves of red ash. So my questions to you are: 1. Do you have any experience with epidermal peels? If so, what kind of adhesive do you use? If we press and dry the leaves this summer, will we be able to do the peels and see the papillae this winter? 2. Do you know of any good pictures of papillae of Fraxinus or other species? 3. Is the presence of papillae still accepted as a good way to distinguish these species? Thank you for your help! -Kathleen - Kathleen S. Knight Research Ecologist USDA Forest Service Northern Research Station
