SPOTLIGHT SERIES

Meet the Researcher: Benjamin Held

Research Scientist

Benjamin Held is part of an MITPPC-funded team led by Robert Blanchette and Kathryn Bushley. Check out this profile's companion piece, "Fungal Friends and Foes," and Q+A with project member Nick Rajtar.

Can you give a quick overview of your work with MITPPC?

My main involvement is determining the fungal community associated with emerald ash borer (EAB) galleries and the importance of those fungi. What this means in practice is isolating fungi from the galleries, getting them in pure culture and sequencing the ITS region, which is considered to be the 'barcode' for fungi that helps us identify them. Then, with certain groups of interest, we sequence other genes to further characterize them.

We’re finding lots of interesting fungi! New species, canker and decay fungi and entomopathogens, or fungi that infect insects. I also support other research activities with the project.

What drew you to invasive species research?

I think most important is that invasive species have been so incredibly devastating to the ecosystem. The first invasive species that I worked with – and continue to work with – was Dutch elm disease. It has altered the urban landscape dramatically. This kind of work is also meaningful because it can have real-world impacts, but at the same time it's challenging because of all the complexities.

What is one thing you hope people can take away from your research project by the end of it?

Trees and forest resources are extremely important, and we have to do all we possibly can to reduce the damaging impacts caused by invasive species. I hope to bring an understanding that fungi are incredibly important in many ways that people might not expect.

While an insect is the main problem here, shedding light on its relationships with fungi is also important and really interesting. They can both be positive, as with the entomopathogens, or negative in the case of canker- and decay-causing fungi. And we are finding many new species of fungi that have never been described, right here in Minnesota on these ash trees.

When you are not out in the field or in the lab, what do you like to do for fun?

All kinds of outdoor activities and I’ve more recently become obsessed with sourdough baking.

SPOTLIGHT SERIES

Meet the Researcher: Nick Rajtar

Master's Student  | he/him/his

Nick Rajtar is part of an MITPPC-funded team led by Robert Blanchette and Kathryn Bushley. Check out this profile's companion piece, "Fungal Friends and Foes," and Q+A with project member Benjamin Held.

Can you give a quick overview of your work with MITPPC?

I am involved in identifying canker-causing fungi associated with the emerald ash borer (EAB). In general, I take wood samples from the field, and culture any fungi I find on the wood back in the laboratory. Then I isolate the fungal cultures into pure samples for DNA sequencing and identification.

What drew you to invasive species research?

During my undergraduate studies I interned for S&S, the Davey Tree Expert Company. I treated trees all summer for emerald ash borer, Dutch elm disease and oak wilt.  It was primarily field work, and I became very interested in pests and diseases that affect trees. It’s fascinating to now study the emerald ash borer and the fungi associated with it in a laboratory setting. Previously, I only saw the end result where people were taking down trees. It is very rewarding for me to be involved in the scientific investigations.

What is one thing you hope people can take away from your research project by the end of it?

I hope this important work on canker-causing fungi will provide new information on a serious problem affecting Minnesota and other states, and help lead to better methods that can be used to control EAB.

When you are not out in the field or in the lab, what do you like to do for fun?

I’m basically an “outdoors type,” so I like going to the Boundary Waters and doing other outdoor activities. Now that I’ve been in Bob Blanchette’s research lab and have taken his "Diseases of Forest and Shade Trees" class, I have been so much more aware of tree diseases and fungi whenever I’m outdoors and exploring. I like to foray for edible fungi and admire the ones that aren’t edible too. My favorite would have to be the genus Ganoderma. I also enjoy fishing and enjoy music – I have a large vinyl record collection.

SPOTLIGHT SERIES

Meet our Staff: Maggie Nesbit

MITPPC Communications Intern  | she/her/hers

Maggie was a communications intern with the MITPPC in the summer of 2019. Check out some of her work on the "In the News" section.

What are some of the projects you worked on this summer?

This summer, I worked on writing blog features for a soybean-related series. These blogs focused on projects being done by our MITPPC researchers on insects, plants, and pathogens affecting soybean production. 

Another project that I worked on this summer was a printed brochure piece. I worked on the layout design of the brochure as well as the copy that describe our projects related to natural resources. 

Lastly, I worked on creating social media content that was posted on our Twitter account as well as the Biotweeps Twitter account. 

What has it been like to interview scientists about their work?

At first, I was pretty nervous about interviewing the scientists about their research because I did not have a solid background in science. However, once I sat down for my first interview, I started to get excited about how much I was learning from the researchers. I have gained an incredible amount of knowledge about environmental science and biology this summer and have become much more aware and passionate about the invasive species issues impacting Minnesota and beyond. 

What new ideas and experiences are you taking away from this internship?

I was able to expand my knowledge on communications and learned an incredible amount about science communication and science writing. I was able to develop into a better communicator and strategic thinker. I broke out of my comfort zone and had the opportunity to interview scientists about their work, which helped me evolve into a bolder individual. 

Favorite invasive species research fact?

My favorite invasive species to learn about was the soybean aphid. It’s insane how many aphids can infest a single soybean plant (1000, easily)!

What are your future plans, at the University of Minnesota and beyond?

I plan on finishing my English and Strategic Communications degrees. To my excitement, I was asked to continue my communications work with MITPPC throughout the upcoming school year. I'll also be continuing in my Content Creator position at the student-run communications agency on campus, CLAgency.

During the rest of my time at the U, I want to keep pursuing activities and internships that will deepen my interest in communications and advance me in my career. After graduation, I plan to look for internships and jobs in the communications and public relations fields.

Any tips for future science communications undergraduate interns?

If you don’t have an extensive background in science, that’s okay! You’ll get to learn something new every day.

SPOTLIGHT SERIES

Meet our Staff: Caroline Silvola

MITPPC Communications Intern, Summer 2019  | she/her/hers or they/them/theirs

Caroline SIlvola (Caro) was a communications intern with the MITPPC in the summer of 2019. Check out some of her work on the "In the News" section.

What are some of the projects you worked on this summer?

My major writing project was the "Highlighting Partnership" series which focused on the connections and relationships MITPPC researchers have fostered with outside partners, from community organizations to government agencies. I also built a larger photo database for the Center and redesigned the official Twitter page.

What has it been like to interview scientists about their work?

I have genuinely enjoyed getting to interview MITPPC researchers this summer. I love getting to talk to people who are so passionate about their work. I’ve been delightfully surprised by the number of scientists who are extremely passionate about effective science communications. I have had the pleasure of learning so much about their personal efforts to make their research accessible to wider audiences, as well as their pretty wacky and unique hobbies.

What new ideas and experiences are you taking away from this internship?

This internship has taught me so much about communications strategy (as the five-page plan for oSTEM it has inspired will show you). During my time here, I’ve made so many connections with amazing professionals and found resources within the science communications community. It has seriously changed the way I approach sharing research and information with those around me. Likewise, I’ve gained so much experience in interviewing and journalistic work that I previously wasn’t exposed to. I am now incredibly excited to further explore this fascinating field and continue my work in sci-comms and community engagement. Plus, I had the opportunity to jump back into digital photography and hone my portrait photography skills.

Favorite invasive species research fact?

I’m still fascinated by the mechanics of dwarf mistletoe and the way it spreads. Did you know it can launch its seeds at speeds of up to 60 mph? Absolutely wild.

What are your future plans, at the University of Minnesota and beyond?

Well, I hope to graduate with my two degrees (B.A. in English & B.S. in Bioproducts & Biosystems Engineering) and stay heavily involved in student activism and organizing during my time here. As a Community Advisor (CA) in Comstock, secretary of oSTEM, and a member of the Community Engagement Scholars Program, I hope to foster student involvement with community partners and organizations.

After graduation, I am considering multiple paths, including law and higher education. In the end, however, I hope to pursue work in environmental justice movements improving scientific literacy, engagement and participation for currently underrepresented groups.

Any tips for future science communications undergraduate interns?

Take full advantage of all the opportunities at your fingertips. I learned so much and was able to seriously network during sci-comms conventions, events and lectures we attended this summer. Science communications organizations and communities are active and incredibly helpful, and using your internship to find connections and in-roads is an essential skill. Also, never be afraid to ask questions. This summer, the most interesting and meaningful conversations I’ve had (with researchers and coworkers alike) were bourne out of curious quandaries I had.

SPOTLIGHT SERIES

Meet the Researcher: Rebecca Hall

Master's Student  | she/her/hers

Rebecca Hall is part of an MITPPC-funded team led by plant pathologists Dean Malvick and Kathryn Bushley. Check out this profile's companion piece, "Stopping Sudden Death."

Can you give a quick overview of your work with MITPPC?

I'm currently determining the distribution of Fusarium virguliforme –the cause of soybean sudden death syndrome (SDS) – and the survival strategies that allow this invasive pathogen to survive in the climate of Minnesota.

What drew you to invasive species research?

As a plant pathologist, I'm passionate about caring for our agriculture system and want farmers to grow the best produce possible. The introduction of invasive pathogens can cause detrimental effects on agriculture and I want to help understand how to stop them.

What is one thing you hope people can take away from your research project by the end of it?

I hope that my research can help soybean growers with the management of Sudden Death Syndrome and stop their fields from developing the disease.

When you are not out in the field or in the lab, what do you like to do for fun?

I love camping, hiking, looking for mushrooms - anything that gets me out of the house and into the forest!

August 28, 2019

Since 2002 when the emerald ash borer (EAB) was first identified in Michigan, the insect has become something of a poster child of terrestrial invasive species in the central and Great Lakes region of the US. 

EAB is a wood-burrowing pest whose larvae target all North Amerian ash trees (Fraxinus spp). This feeding can cause a rapid decline in tree health, resulting in death in anywhere from 1-4 years depending on a tree’s size and initial health.

The pest threatens an estimated 1 billion ash trees across Minnesota. That risk also extends to urban green spaces, where ash can make up more than half of a city’s tree population.

MITPPC-funded researchers led by biologists Robert Blanchette and Kathryn Bushley are now taking an innovative approach to EAB management by exploring the fungal communities associated with infestation. The team is hoping to identify fungi that degrade ash wood after infestation, along with any fungal species that could naturally control EAB.

Emerald ash borer larvae feed on ash wood and leave visibly destructive 'galleries' behind. (Credit: Caro Silvola, MITPPC)

The research team identifies fungal specimens collected from EAB-infested ash trees by growing them in culture plates. (Credit: Caro Silvola, MITPPC).

Top: Fungal fruiting body specimens collected by professor Robert Blanchette for use in his forest mycology laboratory classroom. Bottom: Showalter explains how logs that have been sprayed with fungal spores are inoculated with emerald ash borer eggs. He secures the insect eggs on the tree with gauze and waits for the larvae to begin feeding and interacting with the fungus. (Credit: Caro Silvola, MITPPC).

A little help from our (fungi) friends

While the research team and its external partners are collectively thrilled about the potential impact this research will have for arborist safety, they are also looking forward to the possibility of identifying certain entomopathogenic fungi – fungal species that cause disease in insects – for biocontrol of EAB. Assistant professor of plant and microbial biology Kathryn Bushley, graduate student Sofia Simeto Ferrari and post-doctoral researcher David Showalter are working on this aspect of the project. 

“Biocontrol would be one more piece in the puzzle of how to slow the spread of emerald ash borer.”

“Biocontrol would be one more piece in the puzzle of how to slow the spread of EAB,” said Potyondy. “Especially on the edges of EAB’s climate range, a fungal disease that infects EAB could take the lead in moving it from a primary pest to a secondary pest, particularly when there are other control agents working in harmony with it.” 

Currently, EAB infestation has been limited primarily to the central part of the state and the Duluth area. By analyzing this potential control method arborists will have another tool to add to their management strategies as they work to slow the spread of EAB and protect Minnesota forests. Potyondy finds that prospect exciting.

“This is a huge piece of knowledge to help avoid calamities at multiple scales. So it could have a very big impact in either changing management or cultural practice out in the field and can lead, I think, to a better urban forest.”

Funding for this project was provided by the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative and Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources.

Check out our 'Meet the Researcher' Q+A with Nick Rajtar and Benjamin Held.

August 28, 2019

Soybean Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS), caused by the invasive soilborne fungus Fusarium virguliforme, has been somewhat of a mystery since it was first detected in the United States in the 1970s. It was first found in southern Minnesota in 2003. Since then, it has been spreading and has been confirmed as far north as Ottertail County, not far from Alexandria, Minnesota. The fungus also causes root rot on dry edible bean and other legumes. Yield losses in affected crops can reach 50%.

F. virguliforme has been identified as a priority species for research by the Minnesota Invasive Terrestrial Plants & Pests Center. At the forefront are questions about the distribution of the disease – where it is developing and why. 

“It strikes me that we don’t really know that much about the fundamental things like its survival ability and basic biology,” said Kathryn Bushley, assistant professor in the Department of Plant and Microbial Biology and a co-investigator on an MITPPC-funded project designed to improve our understanding of F. virguliforme and SDS ecology. 

The rest of the team – plant pathologist Dean Malvick, post-doc Rod Olarte and master's student Rebecca Hall – has come across preliminary evidence that the disease-causing fungus may have spread even farther north in recent years. They are doing survey work to determine distribution in the northwestern part of the state.

Symptoms of soybean sudden death syndrome (SDS) at its early (left) and late (right) stages. (Credit: Dean Malvick)

SPOTLIGHT SERIES

Meet the Researcher: Lori Knosalla

Citizen Science Program Coordinator  | she/her/hers

Lori Knosalla is part of an MITPPC-funded team led by forest ecologist Peter Reich. Check out this profile's companion piece, "Cover it Up."

Can you give a quick overview of your work with MITPPC?

I joined the "Cover It Up!" research team in May 2019 to lead the new citizen science component of the project. The project explores how we can use native Minnesota plants to suppress buckthorn regeneration following buckthorn removal efforts.

To date, our research has taken place in forests around the greater Twin Cities, but we know that buckthorn is present in almost every county in Minnesota. Through the citizen science program, we are taking what we’ve learned so far and applying it across the state in a wide range of environments. Participants in the project will remove buckthorn from a small forested area on their property, or in a park where they volunteer, or in a forest they manage. After the removal, participants will plant a mix native species in experimental plots using a seed mix we provide. Each summer between 2020-2022, participants will collect observations and report their findings back to us.

What drew you to invasive species research?

Like many born and raised in Minnesota, I’ve always loved being outside, learning about the natural world and enjoying Minnesota’s diverse landscapes. I knew at an early age that I wanted my career to involve working to protect these landscapes. After volunteering with local organizations like Friends of the Mississippi River, I became passionate about ecological restoration and management of invasive species and pursued a graduate degree at the University of Minnesota. I recently completed my Master's, which focused on the impacts of prescribed fire season in Minnesota's lowland brush ecosystems. It’s exciting to be able to contribute to the protection and conservation of forests in Minnesota, and I hope I’m lucky enough to continue doing so throughout my career.

What is one thing you hope people can take away from your research project by the end of it?

I hope that people feel empowered to take action to help reduce the impact buckthorn has on their forests and woodlands, and to feel inspired to work collaboratively in their communities to help others make informed management decisions.

When you are not out in the field or in the lab, what do you like to do for fun?

Pretty much anything that involves being outside, especially biking and working in my vegetable gardens. It’s so much fun to see what does well, when things bloom, and when veggies are ready for harvest. I particularly enjoy introducing my 3-year-old to gardening and enjoying the outdoors. This summer we are having a lot of fun camping, biking, hiking, and swimming. In a few weeks we are headed to the Boundary Waters, and I can’t wait to introduce my kid to the great Minnesota Northwoods!

August 16, 2019

Buckthorn affects countless acres and wallets in Minnesota. Those who attempt to remove the invasive shrub without a post-management strategy often see it return to the same spot a few years after removal. This continuous cycle poses both economic and environmental threats. 

Mike Schuster is a University of Minnesota postdoctoral associate looking to solve these issues. He is part of an MITPPC-funded project called “Cover It Up!.” Fellow team members include principal investigators Peter Reich and Lee Frelich and postdoctoral associate Peter Wragg, all of the Department of Forest Resources. Together, they hope to improve forest health by using dense native plant cover to shade out buckthorn after removal. 

Calling on citizen scientists

A new MITPPC grant will allow the team to expand their revegetation study for environments all across Minnesota. They will continue to explore how seeding interacts with other forest management efforts, like controlled burns or the allowance or exclusion of deer. This will also look at whether seeding shrubs is a viable strategy for establishing sufficient shrub cover. 

As a part of this second phase, Lori Knosalla – the project’s citizen science program coordinator – has taken action by promoting the involvement of those with buckthorn on their properties in Minnesota. Citizen science refers to research completed by members of the general public, often in collaboration with or under the direction of professional scientists and scientific institutions. In this project, a network of citizen scientists will help carry out experiments in woodland areas across the state.

“It's a good project for people to come together.”

“It’s a good project for people to come together,” Knosalla said.

So far, Knosalla reports that the opportunity has attracted many property-owners with buckthorn on their land, but she hopes to see a wide range of participant backgrounds – from soybean growers to school classes. 

“I am excited about engaging groups that may or may not have a history of working in science or working in natural settings,” said Schuster. “It can be really rewarding for people in a variety of ways.” 

Knosalla has recently started collaborating with the Cover It Up! team and hopes to recruit around 100 participants by the end of the growing season. She also expects that those participants will come from all around the state, representing multiple environments in Minnesota where buckthorn is present. 

Close-up of glossy buckthorn, Frangula alnus (Photo credit: Caro Silvola)

Join the research efforts for buckthorn control

The "Cover it Up!" citizen science project is expected to run through summer 2022 and will focus on forested and woodland areas throughout the state where buckthorn is currently present. Prior to spring 2020, participants will be asked to remove buckthorn from an area of about 30 x 40 ft. 

Participants will then establish six, 5x5 ft plots and replant with native seed mixes containing a variety of grasses, sedges, wildflowers, shrubs and trees. During each summer between 2020-2022, participants will report information about their plots back to the program. Training and materials needed for the experiment will be provided at no cost by the University of Minnesota. You can visit the "Cover it Up!" website to learn more about the project timeline and activities, or to sign up to be involved.

Funding provided by the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative- Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources

Find more information about the original Cover it Up!, or sign up to be a citizen scientist by filling out a quick survey. 

Also check out our 'Meet the Researcher' Q+A with Lori Knosalla.