Publication Roundup: October 2020

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MITPPC researchers published numerous research papers this summer. We thank the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources for their support of these efforts. 

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Fallon, B., Yang, A., Lapadat, C., Armour, I., Juzwik, J., Montgomery, R., & Cavender-Bares, J. (2020). Spectral differentiation of oak wilt from foliar fungal disease and drought is correlated with physiological changes. Tree Physiology, 40(3).

  • Researchers used hyperspectral reflectance tools to detect oak wilt before symptom appearance, and classified the disease with high accuracy in symptomatic leaves. Going forward, this system can be used for specific detection of disease across a multi-species forest stand exhibiting multiple stress symptoms.

Gobster, P., Schneider, I., Floress, K., Haines, A., Arnberger, A., Dockry, M., & Benton, C. (2020). Understanding the key characteristics and challenges of pine barrens restoration: Insights from a Delphi survey of forest land managers and researchers. Restoration Ecology.*

  • Using a three‐round modified Delphi survey, forest land managers and researchers identified the key characteristics of pine barrens and important current and future management challenges.

Gullickson, M., Flavin Hodge, C., Hegeman, A., & Rogers, M. (2020). Deterrent Effects of Essential Oils on Spotted-Wing Drosophila (Drosophila suzukii): Implications for Organic Management in Berry Crops. Insects, 11(8).

  • Researchers conducted laboratory and field studies to determine the efficacy of botanical products, such as essential oils, to prevent infestation of Spotted-wing drosophila in raspberry and blueberry crops. 

Lake, T., Runquist, R., & Moeller, D. (2020). Predicting range expansion of invasive species: Pitfalls and best practices for obtaining biologically realistic projections. Diversity and Distributions.

  • Researchers examined alternative methods of spatial bias correction and multiple methods for model evaluation for seven invasive plant species.

Miksanek, J. (2020). Population Ecology of Aphelinus certus, an Adventive Parasitoid of Soybean Aphid in North America, with Implications for Biological Control [Doctoral dissertation, University of Minnesota]. ProQuest Dissertations Publishing. 

  • This work explored the parasitoid Aphelinus certus, which has been accidentally introduced into North America, and its potential as a biocontrol agent for the soybean aphid.

Miksanek, J., & Heimpel, G. (2020). Density-dependent lifespan and estimation of life expectancy for a parasitoid with implications for population dynamics. Oecologia.

  • Researchers assessed the survival and reproduction of Aphelinus certus, a parasitoid of the soybean aphid, over a range of host densities using a laboratory assay. They found a positive, asymptotic relationship between host density and the lifespan and fecundity of A. certus that was supported by a traditional survivorship analysis as well as a logistic model. 

Rice, K., Montgomery, R., Stefanski, A., Rich, R., & Reich, P. (2020). Species-specific flowering phenology responses to experimental warming and drought alter herbaceous plant species overlap in a temperate-boreal forest community. Annals of Botany.*

  • Researchers examined the flowering phenology responses of five herbaceous perennials to experimental warming and reduced summer rainfall over three years. Changes to phenology under future climate scenarios may lead to fewer resources for insects or a mismatch between plants and pollinators.

Schuster, M., Wragg, P., Williams, L., Butler, E., Stefanski, A., & Reich, P. (2020). Phenology matters: Extended spring and autumn canopy cover increases biotic resistance of forests to invasion by common buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica). Forest Ecology and Management, 464.

  • Using buckthorn seedlings in an experimental forest, researchers found that canopies that permitted ≤3% transmission of incoming light had almost complete mortality of buckthorn and that growth of surviving buckthorn was strongly tied to light availability, but not canopy richness. This finding means that planting species with extended spring or autumn canopy cover will offer the greatest resistance to buckthorn invasion. 

Sun, K., & Gebre-Egziaber, D. (2020). Two-Stage Batch Algorithm for Nonlinear Static Parameter Estimation. Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics, 43(5).

  • A two-stage batch estimation algorithm for solving a class of nonlinear, static parameter estimation problems that appear in aerospace engineering applications is proposed. It is shown how these problems can be recast into a form suitable for the proposed two-stage estimation process.

Windmuller-Campione, M., Russell, M., Slesak, R., & Lochner, M. (2020). Regeneration responses in black ash (Fraxinus nigra) wetlands: implications for forest diversification to address emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis). New Forests.*

  • The goal of this study was to quantify the structure and composition of black ash regeneration 5 to 11 years post-harvest in three silvicultural systems to evaluate the potential for establishment of other tree species. Researchers found that specific silvicultural systems in combination with site quality may help to promote non-ash species in black ash forests that are threatened with emerald ash borer. 

Wragg, P., Schuster, M., Roth, A., Bockenstedt, P., Frelich, L., & Reich, P. (2020). Revegetation to slow buckthorn reinvasion: Strengths and limits of evaluating management techniques retrospectively. Restoration Ecology.

  • Researchers evaluated how management techniques affected re‐establishment of buckthorn. Sites revegetated using native herb (grass and wildflower) seed, after removing buckthorn, had higher herb cover and lower buckthorn cover than non-revegetated removal sites. This project also illustrated how retrospective studies can offer relatively inexpensive first assessments of long‐term effects of management techniques. 

 

 *Not funded by MITPPC