We conduct research to understand tree diseases so that we can
develop management strategies and planning tools to achieve our
goal of healthy timberlands and woodlands, plantations and urban
landscapes. Our research falls into three major areas of focus:
Invasive
species
- Non-native invasive species (those entering from
outside our region) as well as native invasives are
posing increasing threats to our forest resources.
Current research topics on invasive species include
prediction and prevention,
detection and monitoring,
management and restoration, as well as specific
diseases caused by invasive pathogens, including
Sudden Oak Death (SOD),
white pine blister rust,
butternut canker,
red pine shoot blights,
oak wilt, and
Armillaria root disease.
Oak
health in the Midwest
- Oaks occur on over 5 million hectares of land in
the Midwest and are important for wildlife habitat, for
wood products, and in landscapes. In addition to
Sudden Oak Death (SOD), and
oak wilt, current research addresses the threats
posed by
Phytophthora species,
oak decline, and
urbanization.
Diseases
and changing forest management in the Midwest
- Forest management is changing, and sometimes these
changes inadvertently create conditions conducive to the
development of damaging diseases. We are developing
guides and
site suitability models to assist managers of
hybrid poplar plantations in avoiding outbreaks of
damaging diseases, and we are studying
red pine shoot blights and pine management to reduce
losses caused by these diseases.
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