A new report models current wildfire risks across the Southeastern US, projecting changes by the middle of this century under various scenarios. Prescribed fires can reduce wildfire risk through reduced fuels, promoting healthy forest growth.
A recent study by USDA Forest Service researchers highlights the critical need for understanding and managing nonnative forest specialist and generalist pests. Specialists caused more tree deaths, while generalists inflicted more nonlethal damage due to their broader impact across multiple species.
A new report assesses water resources in the southern US states, finding that forestry best management practices can mitigate climate and land use effects on water quality. The study projects future scenarios of water stress due to extreme precipitation events, emphasizing the importance of adaptive management.
The report analyzes six scenarios for the future and how each might impact the forest products markets in the South. The steepest declines are projected for the pulp and paper sector due to labor-saving technologies and reduced demand.
A new study found that the Kirtland's Warbler's home range and core area are linked to vegetation age and food resource distribution in the Bahamas. Conservation efforts at a landscape scale are necessary to sustain patches with sufficient food resources for this near-threatened species.
The study reveals significant differences in the nucleolus organizing region (NOR) of the two species, which has major implications for blight-resistance in American chestnut restoration. Researchers used fluorescent in situ hybridization to analyze the NOR region and found unique DNA arrangements.
After Hurricane Maria, the African tulip Tree's total biomass increased, potentially reclaiming its prominence among native tree species in Puerto Rico. This shift was attributed to improved light conditions in forest canopies post-hurricane damage.
A new USDA Forest Service study projects that residential structures will continue to increase carbon storage through 2070 and beyond. The research examines how population growth and income can be combined to project rates of new housing construction and its impact on carbon storage in wood products.
A recent study found that nonnative plant invasions can occur through hitchhiking seeds on shipping containers, with potential risks to agriculture and native ecosystems. The researchers propose strategies such as liquid pre-emergent herbicide application and inspection for exterior seeds to reduce risk of invasion.
African baobab trees can live over a thousand years, providing food, medicine, and resources. The recent study reveals the tree's chromosome count, offering insights into conservation and agricultural applications.
Researchers have discovered two new species of burrowing crayfishes in southwestern Alabama and southeastern Mississippi. The Lonesome Gravedigger and the Banded Mudbug are considered Vulnerable to extinction due to their limited ranges.
A new research special issue analyzes landscape patterns to understand their effects on resource sustainability, ecosystem health, habitat connectivity, and other societal values. The study highlights the importance of measuring and monitoring these patterns to ensure sustainable landscapes.
A new special issue of Landscape Ecology assesses the state of science on landscape pattern analysis, highlighting its implications for resource sustainability and ecosystem health. The issue includes articles on current problems, new approaches, and promising research directions.
Climate change could cause Western Hemisphere cloud forests to shrink and dry by 60-80% in as few as 25 years. The loss of clouds would nearly disappear the highly diverse alpine ecosystems above these equatorial cloud forests, known as páramo.
A broad-scale study found a significant relationship between tree diversity and nonnative pest invasions. High tree diversity reduces pest invasions by creating ecological niches that make it harder for pests to find resources, while low diversity increases the risk of invasion. The study's results have important implications for fores...
A new study projects a four percent increase in acres burned by wildfire in the Southeast by 2060, with substantial uncertainties and variations by state and ecoregion. Climate change models and societal changes, including land use and population growth, are key drivers of this projected increase.
Research finds water yields from unmanaged forested watersheds in the southern Appalachian Mountains declining due to climate change and gradual shifts in forest structure. The study's findings have implications for managing forest composition to ensure water supply under future climate change.
A warmer climate could lead to higher growth and productivity on US national forests and grasslands, but at the cost of reduced freshwater yields. The study projects a 4-7% decrease in water yield by 2100, with the most severe declines in the Northwest, West North Central, and Southwest regions.
The USDA Forest Service's new interactive guide, Southern Forest Products - An Economic Engine, tells the story of forest products in the South over the last decades. Using FIA data loaded onto the Esri ArcGIS Online platform, the guide provides a constantly updated guide to southern timber product outputs and mills that process them.
The world lost more than twice as much interior forest area than it gained between 2000 and 2012, with a net loss of 3.76 million square kilometers. This resulted in a fragmentation of remaining forests, increasing ecological risks.
The US forest products market share has declined from 28% in 1999 to 17% in 2013, mainly due to decreases in construction and paper manufacturing. However, a return to long-term housing market averages could bring the demand for wood as a construction material back up.
The US Forest Service found that forest carbon sequestration may decline overall over the next 25 years, with some regions experiencing a gradual decline and others a rapid decline due to disturbances like fire and insect epidemics.
Researchers mapped social vulnerability at the district level, identifying three clusters of most vulnerable districts containing over 1 million people. The study highlights the importance of addressing water quality, food insecurity, and access to medical care to prevent Ebola infections and deaths.
A recent USDA Forest Service study found that warming temperatures and acidity threaten coldwater aquatic species in the southern Appalachians, with an estimated 10-20% loss of habitat for brook trout. The research highlights the importance of watershed management and climate adaptation planning to mitigate these impacts.
A new study by U.S. Forest Service scientists shows that changes in forest structure may be contributing to declines in native bee populations. Bees prefer open forests with diverse herbaceous communities, which require prescribed fire to maintain. Managing for open forests can also help sustain other species and pollination.
A new species of tree-killing bark beetle has been described in a paper published online in the Annals of the Entomological Society of America. The mesoamerican pine beetle was found to work in concert with the southern pine beetle, causing catastrophic damage to pines in Central America.
Researchers found that future carbon accumulation rates are highly sensitive to land use changes, with afforestation and deforestation impacting rates. Forests in the region are relatively resilient to natural disturbances, but aging forests and land use transitions can slow down accumulation.
A new study by US Forest Service scientists found that eastern hemlock loss due to the hemlock woolly adelgid insect has no significant effect on short-term stream flow, but increases peak flows after extreme storm events. The loss of foundation species in forested riparian zones could amplify climate change impacts.
A special journal section assesses regional interactions between climate change, fire, and forests in the US, providing insights into projected changes and ecosystem services. The goal is to inform forest management choices and policy responses to mitigate these impacts.
A new U.S. Forest Service study introduces a network model to assess risk of forest pest spread via recreational travel. The model identifies likely origin and destination locations for campers transporting infested firewood, enhancing survey and public education efforts.
The sequencing of the loblolly pine genome has identified a candidate gene involved in resistance to fusiform rust, a devastating disease affecting southern pines. Researchers can use this gene as a marker to track resistance in breeding populations and inform tree planting decisions.
A modeling study by US Forest Service researchers shows that reforesting the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley can significantly reduce runoff from agricultural lands and sediment entering rivers and streams. Converting agricultural lands to forests in or near battures can greatly lessen water outflow and reduce sediment load, with a t...
A recent study assesses the economic viability of salvaging standing timber killed by mountain pine beetles in western US states. While some regions like Idaho, Montana, Washington, Oregon, California, and South Dakota can generate positive net revenues from salvage, others like Colorado and Wyoming face losses due to saturated markets.
A new article synthesizes recent findings on climate-fire interactions, highlighting the significant regional climate effects of smoke particles and their impact on global temperatures and precipitation. The study also explores the role of black carbon in accelerating snow melting and its influence on terrestrial ecosystem services.
A new study by US Forest Service scientists finds that eastern hemlock decline due to invasive insect infestation will impact forest transpiration and alter seasonal stream flow patterns. The replacement of hemlock with species like rhododendron or sweet birch may lead to reduced winter stream discharge and increased summer stream flow.
Researchers predict significant changes in summer ranges of endangered Indiana bats due to climate change. Suitable habitats are expected to shift to the northeastern US and Appalachian Mountains.
Ozone's impact on forest watersheds amplifies drought and alters stream flow, reducing available water supplies. Forest ecosystems and people dependent on water flow during dry seasons will be affected.
A study by the USDA Forest Service Southern Research Station found that Georgia's forest land area remained stable over the past 50 years, while timber inventory more than doubled. The majority of commercial timberland is privately owned, with individual or family forests making up a significant portion.
Researchers found that acorns inside leaf litter or soil are protected from fire, while those on top of the litter are vulnerable to low-intensity surface fires. The study suggests optimal timing and conditions for prescribed burning to promote oak regeneration without harming acorns.
Fine-scale measurements can be incorporated into models to reduce wildfire hazard in the southeast, according to a new study published in Forest Ecology and Management. The research focuses on methods that incorporate hundreds of fuel observations into tools used by managers to assess wildfire potential.
Research ecologist Katherine Elliott and her team found that cutting and burning sites reduces heavy fuel loads, improves soil nutrient status, and opens the canopy for restoration of shortleaf pine communities. However, poor pine regeneration was observed due to drought, seed production issues, and hardwood competition.
The USDA Forest Service's Eastern Forest and Western Wildland Environmental Threat Assessment Centers have unveiled a new satellite-based monitoring and assessment tool called ForWarn. This web-based tool recognizes and tracks potential forest disturbances caused by various natural or human-caused events, providing near-real-time views...
The publication brings together the latest knowledge on eastern big-eared bats, a group of species at risk due to habitat loss and environmental contaminants. The research provides guidance on securing or improving habitat for these bats, including discussions of conservation and management strategies.
The southern pine beetle is the most destructive forest pest in the US, causing significant economic and ecological harm. The new synthesis, Southern Pine Beetle II, updates research on the insect's biology, ecology, and management, providing current state-of-the-art knowledge.
Researchers used long-term data from Coweeta Hydrological Laboratory to examine the feasibility of managing forests for water supply. The analysis revealed significant increases in temperature and extreme wet and dry years, with conversion from hardwoods to pines decreasing streamflow.
Researchers have identified a specific viral gene responsible for manipulating the behavior of infected European gypsy moth caterpillars, causing them to climb high into trees and die. This phenomenon, known as Wipfelkrankheit, offers a new insight into how viruses can influence host behavior.
The USDA Forest Service and University of Florida have published a new book detailing the viability of using wood as an energy source in southern wildland-urban interface areas. The book provides recent research on woody biomass production, conversion to energy, and economic analysis of bioenergy development.
A five-year study funded by DOD aims to assess the ability of longleaf pine ecosystems to absorb climate-changing carbon dioxide. Researchers will analyze data from Fort Polk, Fort Benning, and Camp Lejeune to develop biologically based models for managing these forests.
Researchers found that wildfire prevention education in Florida significantly outweighs its costs, with benefits ranging from 10- to 99-fold. The study suggests media efforts are the most effective method, yielding largest net benefits per unit, while presentations in public venues can also be effective.
The USDA Forest Service has developed an early warning system to monitor forest health using satellite imagery and land surface phenology data. The system aims to provide near-real-time information on forest conditions impacted by insects, diseases, wildfires, or extreme weather events.