Quantified ground survey technologies for emerald ash borer
PARTNERS: USDA Forest Service Forest Health Protection (Northeastern Area); Michigan Technological University
SUMMARY: This project will test a range of transect-based approaches to emerald ash borer ground surveys and relate the data from these surveys to known distributions of emerald ash borer and ash resources in three SLAM (Slow Ash Mortality) project areas in Upper Michigan. The effectiveness of each transect survey design will be evaluated to characterize the percent of known infestation that was discovered by the particular transect design and the percent of known ash resource that was encountered. This transect survey technology will allow newly infested areas to be rapidly evaluated using systematic methods that yield results of known accuracy.
EFETAC'S ROLE: This project is supported by Eastern Threat Center funding.
STATUS: Completed
PROGRESS: In the 2013 field season, researchers established 35 transects of traps of which 26 had traps at all four distances (0, 25, 50 and 200m) from the road. The remaining nine transects had traps at 0m, 25m and 50m from a road. At each point where traps were placed, researchers collected information on basal area of ash and the condition of the ash tree used for the trap. Researchers collected traps and removed beetles from them in October 2013. The time of trap collection was delayed due to the late spring and observation of beetles flying in September in previous years. Researchers are currently analyzing data from these traps.
LINKS:
CONTACT: Andrew Storer, Michigan Technological University, storer@mtu.edu or (906) 487-3470
Updated May 2016
