Forest ThreatNet

EFETAC ecologist Bill Hargrove, research hydrologist Pete Caldwell, and biological scientist Johnny Boggs were among more than 18,000 global attendees at the fall meeting of the American Geophysical Union (AGU) held in San Francisco, CA, in December. Hargrove and collaborating scientists presented four posters detailing the developing Early Warning System for detecting potential threats to forest health. Caldwell delivered a presentation about the Water Supply Stress Index (WaSSI) modeling project. In a carbon sequestration session co-chaired by several presenters including EFETAC cooperating scientists from North Carolina State University, Asko Noormets and Jean-Christophe Domec, Boggs presented a poster describing tree species conversions and impacts on water uptake. The annual AGU meeting allows researchers, teachers, students, and consultants to share and learn about the latest issues affecting the Earth, the planets, and their environments in space. Visit http://www.agu.org to learn more.

EFETAC Welcomes New Team Members

Bill Christie joined EFETAC in August 2010 as a biological scientist. His role involves technical and analytical Geographic Information Systems (GIS) operations, creating web-based mapping applications, advancing technology transfer, and creating partnerships to connect and deliver EFETAC’s science and tools to public and private land management/forest stewardship entities. Christie received undergraduate degrees in forestry and geography and obtained his master’s in geography from the University of South Carolina.

Brent Timothy joined EFETAC in June 2010 as a statistician located in Boise, ID. Timothy is currently working on the Fire Program Analysis (FPA), where he performs SAS programming and helps estimate large fire probability and cost. He received his bachelor’s degree in statistics from Brigham Young University, his master’s in statistics from George Washington University, and completed PhD coursework at the University of Wyoming.

Andy Tait joined EFETAC as a forestry technician through the Student Temporary Employment Program (STEP) and is building an eastern wildfire history database with research ecologist Steve Norman. Tait holds an Associate of Applied Science degree in forestry and has served as a field forestry technician at Bent Creek Experimental Forest. He is currently pursuing a Master of Science degree in forestry.

Jennifer Torgerson joined EFETAC in August 2010 as a STEP biological science technician. She works with ecologist Qinfeng Guo to advance population of the invasive and exotic plants database. Currently attending Western Carolina University, Torgerson is pursuing a master’s degree in biology with a focus in botany and ecology. Her thesis work focuses on quantifying the genetic distance between and among populations of goldenseal, Hydrastis canadensis, in North Carolina.

New Publications and Products

For a complete list of EFETAC publications and products, please visit www.forestthreats.org or www.treesearch.fs.fed.us.

Boggs, J.L. and G. Sun. 2011. Urbanization alters watershed hydrology in the Piedmont of North Carolina. Ecohydrology. In press.

Guo, Q. and R.E. Ricklefs. 2010. Domestic exotics and the perception of invasibility. Diversity and Distributions 16:1034-1039.

Yemshanov, D., F.H. Koch, Y. Ben-Haim, and W.D. Smith. 2010. Detection capacity, information gaps and the design of surveillance programs for invasive forest pests. Journal of Environmental Management 91(12):2535-2546.

EFETAC and the Southern Research Station’s Youth and Partnerships Program recently collaborated to develop a series of colorful bookmarks highlighting climate and severe weather, wildland fire, invasive plants, and insects and diseases. Please visit http://www.forestthreats.org to view, print, and order bookmarks.

Visit http://www.forestthreats.org/publications/fact-sheets to view, download, and print new EFETAC fact sheets.