Recording Available for Powell Center Seminar: How do we predict the next high-impact insect invaders: The origin story of the i-Tree Pest Predictor Tool - Kathryn Thomas (USGS) and Ashley Schulz (Mississippi State University)
The recording is now available for the Powell Center seminar "How do we predict the next high-impact insect invaders: The origin story of the i-Tree Pest Predictor Tool" with Kathryn Thomas (USGS) and Ashley Schulz (Mississippi State University)
This seminar was recorded and is available by emailing powellcenter@usgs.gov.
Join us for the first in a three-part Powell Center seminar series on Monday, January 30th, from 1-2pm ET.
How do we predict the next high-impact insect invaders: The origin story of the i-Tree Pest Predictor Tool - Kathryn Thomas (USGS) and Ashley Schulz (Mississippi State University)
Forest ecosystems are increasingly threatened by introduced insects. Most introductions result in little ecological impact, but some cause regional tree mortality or functional extinction. Robust forecasts of insects likely to cause substantial impacts are needed to improve forest biosecurity. Our Powell Center working group used data from introduced insects established in North American forests to identify drivers of introduced insect impact. We considered four drivers – insect traits, host traits, host evolutionary history, and insect evolutionary history – and found host evolutionary history to be the most important driver. We developed and incorporated five composite models into the new i-Tree Pest Predictor tool which can be used to forecast which non-native insects have a high probability of causing tree mortality on 360+ hardwood and 50+ conifer trees native to North America. This tool will help predict the next high-impact insect invaders in North American forests, aid decision-making, and improve biosecurity measures. Post-Powell Center synthesis, additional funding for further insect invasion work was obtained from the USDA Forest Service National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council (NUCFAC) Challenge Cost-Share Grant Program. Davey Tree Expert Company collaborated with Powell center participants and helped to support the iTPP tool.
Click here to join the meeting on Teams.
Monday, February 27th at 1-2pm ET: Cascadia Earthquake Hazards with Lydia Staisch
Monday, March 27th at 1-2pm ET: Causes, Consequences, Changes, and Management of Streamflow Depletion Across the U.S. with Andrea Brookfield
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