School of Renewable Natural Resources Newsletter, Fall 2009 Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana State University LSU Digital Commons

Research Matters & RNR Newsletters School of Renewable Natural Resources

2009 School of Renewable Natural Resources Newsletter, Fall 2009 Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/research_matters

Recommended Citation Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College, "School of Renewable Natural Resources Newsletter, Fall 2009" (2009). Research Matters & RNR Newsletters. 13. http://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/research_matters/13

This Book is brought to you for free and open access by the School of Renewable Natural Resources at LSU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Research Matters & RNR Newsletters by an authorized administrator of LSU Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Fall 2009 Managing resources and protecting the environment . . . making a difference in the 21st century

Outdoor Classrooms

School of Renewable Natural Resources 1 ers and alumni in the near future. Once it is completed Director’s Comments we will post our entire strategic plan on our Web page (www.rnr.lsu.edu), which will include our mission and Another academic year has passed vision statements, identified programs of excellence, and the School continues to make goals we will strive to achieve and specific objectives improvements in our core mission on how to achieve these goals. This will be an ongo- areas of teaching, research and exten- ing process and we encourage each of you to provide sion. Our undergraduate and gradu- suggestions on how we can continue to improve the ate enrollment has shown increases, mission of the School. we continue to be leaders in the Recent restructuring of our graduate programs was AgCenter in publication numbers and extra-mural grant undertaken to allow more integration across historic funds, and our extension and service contacts continue degree boundaries, which should result in students to increase. Given our economic situation this is a trib- that are better prepared to deal with the complexities ute to the quality of our faculty, staff, research associ- of natural resources management issues. As a result we ates, and graduate and undergraduate students. Similar no longer have a M.S. degree in fisheries and a Ph.D. to universities across the country we suffered budget degree in wildlife and fisheries science. We have sus- cuts in operating funds, which has impacted all aspects pended these degrees, but have submitted paperwork to of our mission. In addition we have lost several fac- the Board of Regents creating a M.S. and Ph.D. degree ulty positions, which have forced us to accomplish our in renewable natural resources with areas of concentra- charge with diminished numbers and resources. tion in forestry and forest resources, forest products, Given the current economic circumstances and the wildlife, fisheries and aquaculture and watershed sci- likelihood that we will face continued budget down ence. These recent changes are just steps toward moving turns, we could be satisfied with letting the program from our five historic graduate degrees (M.S. degrees in remain static, but as a faculty we are committed to fisheries, wildlife and fisheries; Ph.D. degrees in forestry continued program improvements. To help guide us and wildlife and fisheries science) to one M.S. and one to become one of the country’s best natural resources Ph.D. degree with identified areas of concentration. programs we continue to revise our strategic plan. The This summer we successfully launched the first edi- School’s new strategic plan is currently in the draft tion of the School’s Research Matters, an AgCenter pub- phase and we will be soliciting input from stakehold- lication spotlighting research from our team of faculty, post doctoral, research associates and graduate students. We have received many accolades concerning this new publication and plan to continue with annual issues. This first edition can be viewed on the School Web site. Contents We are constantly trying to maintain contact with Outdoor Classrooms...... 3 the School’s alumni, which is a daunting task in a mobile society. I would ask each of you to update your Extension News...... 4 contact information by sending me an e-mail (druther- Louisiana Natural Resources Symposium...... 6 [email protected]) or dropping me a note. If pos- sible, we would love to be able to contact you by e-mail, In the Spotlight - Dr. Charles L. Shilling . . . . 7 so let us know where you are and what you are doing! Research Notes - Dr. Sabrina Taylor ...... 8 As you can see many exciting things are happening Who’s Who ...... 9 in the School. The quality of our core mission continues to improve giving RNR alumni and supporters many International Crossings...... 10 reasons to be proud!! During this time our biggest Student News ...... 11 challenge is to maintain program excellence in the face of dwindling resources, thus any contributions you can Student Meetings Attended ...... 13 make to support the program would be very helpful. If Club News ...... 16 you need more information on specific ways of giving Southern Forestry Conclave...... 18 or priority area of need, do not hesitate to contact me ([email protected]; 225-578-4187). Alumni News ...... 20 Thank you for your continued support.

ON THE COVER: This summer Dr. Sammy King led a group of 13 students on a 10 day Allen Rutherford field course in the Intermountain West region.

2 School of Renewable Natural Resources Outdoor Classrooms Wetland Studies in the Intermountain West by Dr. Sammy King growing season and cold climate. seeing it, getting dirty and talking This summer I had the oppor- Reflecting on the course, Vanessa to the managers than I ever would tunity to teach 13 students a 10- Tobias (Ph.D. student in wildlife) have in a lecture class.” (Rachel Vil- day field course entitled “Wetlands emphasized the importance of un- lani) “I think the best way for me to of the Intermountain West”. The derstanding water rights issues; “…I learn is out in the middle of what I course focused on conservation and thought I understood how they am studying. When there are struc- management challenges associated worked pretty well before the class, tures, I can take notes and sketches with selected wetland ecosystems but every refuge had a different set on how they are built and what their of Utah, Montana, Wyoming and of issues that the water rights laws function is in the landscape. I can Idaho. The students had varied brought on.” Rachel Villani (M.S. begin to understand the purpose backgrounds and included landscape student in wildlife) concurred, stat- of the functions of the landscape as architects, invertebrate specialists, ing that she “…was amazed at the a whole: the hydrology, geology, a hydrologist and several avian and water rights, and water law, and how history, geomorphology and tec- wetland ecologists. Although two of it was different between states, and tonics.” (Brooke Donahue, M.S., the students were from Louisiana, how it could be such a challenge for landscape architecture). others were from Ohio, Maryland, management.” The interaction with managers Pennsylvania, Georgia, California, What is the value in field- and biologists in the region are also Texas and Alabama, as well as Cana- based courses? Field-based courses extremely valuable. Classroom dis- da, South Korea and South Africa. are often expensive, they require cussions are important, but largely Students arrived in Salt Lake time to organize and they require a academic and lack the full range City, Utah on July 19, and we began fair amount of the instructor’s time of bio-political issues that dictate the class with a visit to Bear River during the course. Plus, you may be conservation and management deci- National Wildlife Refuge and the sleeping on floors, camping and you sions. Furthermore, students get Great Salt Lake near Brigham City, have no down time. So why would a feel for the types of information Utah. In subsequent days we visited we try to offer these courses? Well, needed to make land management Cokeville Meadows, Seedskadee, most of us had at least one field decisions and the role of science in Bear Lake, Grays Lake, Camas, Red course that had a significant effect solving these problems. “Going out Rocks Lake and Lee Metcalf Na- on our career. For me, it was a 20- and being in a place, talking to the tional Wildlife Refuges, as well as day field ecology course in Florida managers and biologists, and see- wetlands on the Targhee National that opened my eyes to wetlands. ing the issues first hand is the best Forest. In all, we traveled over 2000 Most managers that visited with us way to understand what is going on. miles and were fortunate to meet on the trip also recalled a particu- There is no way I would have gotten with over a dozen biologists who lar field-based course that inspired (Continued on page 4) shared their insights on wetland and them to pursue their current voca- wildlife ecology, restoration and tion. I also believe that students management. learn so much more from field- Obviously, the scenery was based courses, or at stunning but what did the stu- least courses with a dents learn? Water rights are significant field com- complex, they vary by state, and ponent, than strictly they affect refuges in a myriad of classroom courses. ways. Some refuges have too much This idea is confirmed water or water at the wrong time of by comments from the year, whereas others have too students. little water to support their func- “In the past, the tions. Wetland acquisitions are often classes that I’ve had necessary to secure or protect water, that were at least par- because the water is often more tially field based are valuable than the land that comes the ones I’ve learned with them. Wetland management the most from. This strategies are often limited because class was the same – I of water rights issues and they are learned so much more further complicated by the short by being out there,

School of Renewable Natural Resources 3 Wetland Studies in the Intermountain West Award Recipients Extension News (Continued from page 3) Congratulations to the RNR Louisiana Commercial even half as much out of this class faculty and students that received if it had been based on traditional awards at the recent Gamma Sig- Arborist Continuing classroom lectures and reading dis- ma Delta and Campus Life Lead- Education Program cussions.” (Vanessa Tobias). ership and Involvement Awards This year marks the seventh The managers at the refuges ceremonies. Students and faculty year since the LSU AgCenter took were also inspired by this group in the School were well represent- on the task of training tree care of bright, energetic students. One ed at these awards programs. professionals for the state licensing refuge manager commented that LSU Student Organization Advisor program. In 2002 the Louisiana “These bright smiling faces remind of the Year Arborist Association, a non-profit me of why I do this; it truly inspires professional society, turned over the Niels de Hoop me”; another commented “You continuing education program for state licensed arborists to the LSU have to do this trip every year! This Gamma Sigma Delta Spring was great!” Awards AgCenter and Dr. Hallie Dozier. The exposure to wetland systems Outstanding Master’s Graduate The program has gone from train- in different regions is critical to truly Student of the Year ing roughly 300 license holders to understanding wetland processes almost 600 each year. The number Melissa Fries and large scale wetland conservation of workshops has risen from five to issues. It is impossible to understand Outstanding Senior-Scholarship eight (and following the hurricanes how climate affects wetlands, until Award of Merit in 2005 and 2008 – up to ten). Dr. Dozier takes advantage of you see wetlands under different Ian Stone climatic scenarios. The students ob- professional tree care conferences viously gain from these trips, but I Graduate Student Merit Honor Roll each year to “shop” for professional also learn a great deal including that trainers for Louisiana arborists who Priyan Perera sleeping on a floor is not as easy as it Rangika Perera specialize in the basics: chain saw used to be! These trips are also great Yanjun Xu safety and precision felling, climb- exposure for the School of Renew- ing safety and positioning; CPR and able Natural Resources. Faculty Research Award of Merit first aid, crane and air knife use and “tree detectives” (diagnostics). And These courses are not cheap, Zhijun Liu but given the right planning can be she makes sure that the tree care fairly economical. In this class, we Special Award of Contribution to specialists in Louisiana also have the utilized free housing on refuges and Gamma Sigma Delta, LSU Chapter opportunity to learn about legal tents for all but one night. A gener- aspects of their business, as well as Mary Bowen ous donation from an anonymous new techniques and approaches for donor and funds from RNR covered growing their business and improv- Teacher Merit Honor Roll the expenses. Without the donor, ing service and client relations. however, this trip would not have Michael Chamberlain Louisiana has one of the best happened. In all, the trip cost about Cornelis de Hoop arboriculture training programs and William E. Kelso $3,300 and included the rental of 3 D. Allen Rutherford also one of the most comprehensive vans and all gas and miscellaneous Charles Shilling and aggressive licensing programs items. The students paid their travel in the country. In this mostly self- Outgoing GSD President regulated industry, only Louisiana to Salt Lake City. We would love to continue to offer this course. The Richard Vlosky and a handful of other states require course evaluations are being used to a license. Louisiana and Virginia are modify the course and the experi- Sophomore Scholarship Award of the only two that require continuing ences of the first trip will go a long Merit education as part of licensure. The regulating agency for the way in improving this course. Please Carolyn Haworth let us know if you would like to Lauren Hebert arborist license in Louisiana is the sponsor or co-sponsor this course Ryan Leeson Horticulture Commission of the next year, all donors will be grate- Louisiana Department of Agricul- fully appreciated. ture and Forestry. The LDAF and its predecessors have been licensing tree care experts since 1936. Roughly 600 individuals in the state

4 School of Renewable Natural Resources hold commercial licenses and ap- Dr. Charles Shilling Continues with Extension Activity proximately 300 maintain a utility arborist license with the sate. Home Dr. Charles Shilling helped in forester and the Southwest Lousiana and business owners who wish to conducting three Louisiana Mas- Forestry Association. employ a tree care professional ter Logger’s workshops. “Leaders, The three also conducted two should only engage the services of Managers and Followers” was pre- prescribed burning certification a state licensed arborist. For a list sented in Ruston to an audience of workshops; 39 participants attended of licensed professionals view the twenty-two. Dr. Shilling joined rep- the workshops and passed their cer- LDAF Web site. resentatives from Louisiana Logging tification exams. For more information contact Council in presenting the day-long During the 4-H University for- Dr. Hallie Dozier at 225-278-7219 workshop. Shilling and Dr. Niels de estry contest, Shilling directed three, or [email protected]. Hoop, LSU AgCenter, presented two-person teams in the environ- the workshop “Google Earth and mental threat contest. These proved GPS” in Natchitoches and Shreve- to be outstanding 4-Hers who Louisiana 4-H’ers Earn port to a total of 54 participants. worked diligently during their time 3rd Place in National 4-H Shilling, with Ed Robichaux and on campus researching the topic of Forestry Contest Alan Small of the Louisiana Depart- invasive plant and animal species. A Louisiana 4-H team placed ment of Forestry and Agriculture, The teams were required to write a third among 14 state teams that presented a three day prescribed short paper, develop a PowerPoint participated in the National 4-H burning and certification workshop presentation and deliver the pre- Forestry Invitational July 26-30 at at the War Memorial Center, De- sentation to a panel of judges. The West Virginia University’s Jackson’s Ridder, La. Eighteen nonindustrial students performed magnificently. Mill State 4-H Camp and Confer- private forest landowners (NIPF) Shilling and de Hoop have four ence Center near Weston, W.Va. attended. The workshop was con- additional Google Earth and GPS Louisiana was represented by ducted at the invitation of Keith workshops scheduled during the Karl Simon of Broussard, Morgan Hawkins, LSU AgCenter area remainder of this calendar year. Smith of Sulphur and Amanda Wolff and Laura Wolff of Baton Rouge. The team was coached by Ricky de Hoop Named Advisor of the Year Kilpatrick, LSU AgCenter agent in Dr. Niels de Hoop, advisor to the LSU student chapter of the Bossier Parish. Lauren Smith helped Society of American Foresters, received the Advisor of the Year Award Ricky to coach and chaperon the from LSU Campus Life, a division of the dean of students office, “for team. Lauren is Morgan’s older outstanding service, support and dedication to a student organization at sister and is about to complete a LSU, 2008-2009.” He was nominated by the officers of the LSU stu- degree in forestry from the School dent chapter and has done an excellent job mentoring students through of Renewable Natural Resources. the various club activities over the last several years. 4-H members competed for overall team and individual awards in several categories. Three of the four Louisiana 4-H’ers were in the top 10 for the individual award. Morgan Smith was fourth; Laura Wolff was seventh; Amanda Wolff was ninth. Events included, tree identification, tree measurement, compass and pacing, insect and disease identification, topographic map use, the forestry bowl and forest evaluation. The Farm Credit System and the Cooperative Extension Service sponsored the event. More than 5.5 million young people participate in 4-H, and Randy Graves, president of the student chapter presents the award to Dr. nearly 100,000 are part of the 4-H de Hoop. forestry program.

School of Renewable Natural Resources 5 RNR Hosts 3rd Louisiana Natural Resources Symposium The School of Renewable was devoted to markets and eco- into bio-energy. Most presenters Natural Resources hosted the third nomics and featured presentations were focused on bio-diesel produc- Louisiana Natural Resources Sym- from Drs. Michael Salassi and Rich tion. The final half day session dealt posium on July 16-17, 2009 at Vlosky, professors with the LSU Ag- included presentations from Drs. the Lod Cook Conference Center Center’s Department of Agricultural Gary Breitenbeck and Chandra and Hotel on the campus of Loui- Economics and Agribusiness and Theegala from Louisiana State Uni- siana State University. The theme School of Renewable Natural Re- versity dealing with the potential for of the symposium was “Bioenergy sources, respectively. Other present- incorporating alternative feedstocks Opportunities for Louisiana” and ers included Dr. Michael McDaniel such as Chinese tallow trees, ani- attracted over 120 participants from from Louisiana State University and mal wastes and algae into bio-diesel throughout the southeastern U.S. Dr. Shannon Ferrel from Oklahoma produciton. Dr. Emily Heaton from This year’s event was the third in State University. Iowa State University spoke about the biannual series loosely mod- The second half day session growing dedicated energy crops, eled after the highly successful LSU focused on conversion technologies and Dr. Jim Catallo from Louisiana Forestry Symposiums that were of various bio-based materials into State University presented informa- held on an annual basis but had bio-energy. The speakers in this ses- tion about the potential for hydro- become inactive through much of sion included Dr. Mark Zappi, dean thermal treatment of noxious plant the 1990s. The 2009 symposium from the University of Louisiana at vegetation and lignocellulosics into featured papers from leading inter- Lafayette and Dr. Les Groom from petrochemicals. national experts from academia and the USDA Forest Service’s Southern The cosponsors for the Sympo- private industry covering all issues Research Station in Pineville, La. sium included the Louisiana Agri- related to bioenergy. A professional They were joined by Drs. Bill Car- cultural Experiment Station, Louisi- proceedings edited by Drs. Todd ney and Donal Day with the LSU ana Cooperative Extension Service, Shupe, professor in RNR and Dr. AgCenter and Dr. Rakesh Bajpai LSU AgCenter, Southern Regional Mike Dunn, associate professor in from the University of Louisiana at Extension Forester, USDA Forest the LSU AgCenter’s Department Lafayette. These speakers discussed Service Southern Research Station, of Agricultural Economics and current technologies such as gasifi- Louisiana Forestry Association and Agribusiness, was presented to all cation, pyrolysis, and other methods Louisiana Society of American For- attendees (all copies have been dis- to convert wood, bagasse, algae esters. The planning committee was tributed). The first half day session and other bio-based raw materials comprised of LSU AgCenter faculty from various departments and academic backgrounds and included Ragon Joins LSU Wood Durability Lab Drs. Todd Shupe, Mike Dunn, Kurt The Louisiana Forest Products Development Center, School of Guidry, Rich Vlosky, Niels deHoop, Renewable Natural Resources, LSU AgCenter, is pleased to announce Glenn Thomas and Charles Clé- that Dr. Kevin W. Ragon was added to its staff as postdoctoral research ment. scientist. Ragon has 10 years of experience, both industrial and academic, in the forest products industries where he has multiple publications and patent applications. He holds degrees in forestry, environmental science, and forest products. Ragon completed his Ph.D. in Wood Sci- Vlosky Re-elected ence from Mississippi State University in 2007 where his research was Dr. Richard Vlosky, direc- focused on the Formosan subterranean termite. During his doctoral tor, Louisiana Forest Products program he was selected as the Ph.D. student of the year in 2007 for Development Center, School of his body of work during his tenure. He also received the Ron Cockcroft Renewable Natural Resources, Award from the International Research Group on Wood Protection, an LSU AgCenter, was re-elected as outstanding service award for recovery efforts after Hurricane Katrina, leader for the team of specialists and received the inaugural Thad Cochran Entrepreneurial Award for on forest products markets and entrepreneurial work with his intellectual property. In his current posi- marketing under the auspices of tion, Ragon will be directing laboratory and field testing for the LSU the joint United Nations Eco- AgCenter’s Wood Durability Lab (WDL). According to Dr. Todd nomic Commission for Europe Shupe, director of the WDL, “Kevin‘s educational and employment Timber Committee-UN Food background makes him uniquely qualified to help expand our testing and Agriculture Organization capabilities and improve our service to our clients.” European Forestry Commission.

6 School of Renewable Natural Resources Perhaps most importantly, Dr. In the Spotlight Shilling is responsible for coor- Perera and Vlosky dinating with the associate dean, Publish Book Seeking a career in College of Agriculture, regarding review of degree audits of graduat- Rangika Perera, a Ph.D. the out-of-doors? ing seniors. This process begins the student in forestry working in You need to know and will semester prior to graduation for all the Louisiana Forest Products want to know Dr. Charles L. students or those with 100 hours of Development Center and her ad- Shilling. degree credit, and records for each visor Dr. Richard Vlosky recently Are you an undergraduate graduating student are reviewed at published a book entitled “An student and need a scholarship, an least three times to avoid errors. Dr. Overview of the Wood Product internship, advising, mentoring, a Shilling also works with Dr. Kelso Import sector in the U.S.” The summer job or a permanent position to advise new freshmen at spring book is available through VDM upon graduation? Are you a parent testing (April), during several sum- Verlag Dr. Müller Aktiengesell- and need help in advising your son mer registration periods and at the schaft & Co. KG, Dudweiler or daughter? Do you need assurance beginning of the spring semester. Landstr. 125 a, D - 66123 Saar- that the degrees we offer are right Transferring students should brücken, Germany. 92p. ISBN for you or them? Do you want to always seek his advice before and 978-3-639-13770-5. know more about careers in renew- soon after their arrival at LSU. Most able natural resources, forestry, faculty members will tell students Dr. Shilling also serves as chair wildlife, fisheries or environmental interested in transferring from other of RNR scholarship committee consulting? universities or other college pro- and is involved with other faculty Dr. Charles L. Shilling can grams to “check with Dr. Shilling.” in selecting students best meet- provide the answers, based on his He possesses significant experi- ing criteria as recipients for various experiences with undergraduate ence when it comes to dealing with RNR scholarships. In this role, he students for over 35 years and his registration problems and opportu- also coordinates with the Louisiana role as director of student services nities, and can evaluate transcripts Forestry Foundation to announce in the School of Renewable Natural and advise students transferring to scholarships and distribute appli- Resources for the past twenty years. RNR from other LSU departments, cations. In addition he schedules Dr. Shilling has long been known as as well as evaluate transcripts and courses for the School and serves on “the person to see” for advice about determine course equivalents for the College of Agriculture courses most things that affect undergradu- students transferring to the School and curriculum committee. Over his ate students, from pre-enrollment from other universities. career he has served and continues counseling of incoming freshmen or Want to get started early on to serve on a variety of committees freshmen to be, to job placement as- ensuring your position in the job that place emphasis on undergradu- sistance upon graduation. Students market and a great career? Look ate student education, courses, cur- often say they could never have to Dr. Shilling and other faculty ricula, scholarship and other related made it without his advice and often for advice. Shilling advises students activities. give him credit for the many good interested in cooperative education Dr. Shilling is in large part what things to come their way regarding activities and assists in completing undergraduate education at LSU, education and career opportuni- required forms for university credit, and in the RNR in particular, is ties. While most faculty members in and also advises students and assists all about. Faculty members in the the School are very knowledgeable in development of transfer credit- School gratefully acknowledge his advisors and mentors, or counsel- forms on courses taken while on critical contributions to the educa- ors, few have had a positive effect national or international exchange tion and employment of our under- on so many students as Dr. Shilling. programs. He is the School’s chief graduates, and if you are a current Nearly every student over the last 20 placement officer for summer or prospective student, you will years has visited with him more than employment, summer intern posi- likely find that you are extremely once, and some have visited him a tions, cooperative education posi- lucky to have him advising and car- number of times each semester. Dr. tions and entry-level employment ing for you! Shilling is responsible for the aca- upon graduation. He assists students demic records of all undergraduate in obtaining position descriptions, students in the School, he advises 8 preparing resumes, providing letters Visit our Web site to 10 students each semester as their of recommendation and scheduling assigned advisor and also advises all their interviews with employers visit- students with academic problems. ing the LSU campus. www.rnr.lsu.edu

School of Renewable Natural Resources 7 Research Notes New Assistant Professor Sabrina Taylor

Dr. Sabrina Taylor is a new assistant professor in the School of Re- newable Natural Resources specializing in the field of conservation genetics. Her research interests include (1) the relationship between genetic variation and fitness in individuals and (2) the population structure of threatened species, especially studies that use vintage DNA to examine historical genetic structure prior to population bottlenecks. She also enjoys participating in behavioral ecology studies that have a genetic aspect: for example, studies that use genetic data to assess inbreeding avoidance and extra-pair paternity in birds. Dr. Taylor is currently working on three collaborative projects. The first examines whether genetic variation in Arctic Peary caribou is Dr. Sabrina Taylor is a new assistant professor in the School of Renewable Natural Resources lost more quickly at functional genes specializing in the field of conservation genetics. than at neutral “junk” sequences, the sequences that are typically used to measure genetic variation. If parison of genetic variation between global warming, which is decreasing functional genes maintain genetic unhatched eggs and hatched nest- the amount of alpine habitat avail- variation and neutral sequences mates to assess whether individual able on the mainland (the treeline is do not, then accurate measures of genetic variation affects survivor- rising with increasing temperature). genetic variation should probably in- ship when inbreeding is controlled. Sabrina and her collaborators pro- clude functional genes. This project Analyses are underway and future pose to examine population struc- uses museum DNA to determine work will likely involve assessment of ture and explore the possibility of baseline levels of genetic variation variation-fitness relationships based moving low elevation populations to prior to population bottlenecks – on functional genes. high elevation areas in combination luckily, Captain Robert Peary col- The last project will exam- with predator control in those areas. lected hundreds of Peary caribou in ine population structure and as- Dr. Taylor is excited about the early 1900s and deposited them sisted migration in New Zealand establishing her research program in in the American Museum of Natural rock wren. In New Zealand, most Louisiana and would like to begin History. threatened species are translocated with studies examining the popula- The second project is part of a to offshore islands to protect them tion structure and dispersal capabil- 35-year study on song sparrows, a from introduced predators. How- ity in threatened gopher tortoises, as particularly useful data set for in- ever, rock wrens are restricted to well as other species such as raptors depth genetic studies because it con- alpine areas and there is insufficient and snakes that are hard to catch or tains complete sparrow pedigrees. alpine habitat on offshore islands have a low density, but which are The project is focusing on a com- to provide an adequate sanctuary. commonly brought in for rehabilita- This problem is compounded by tion.

Show your support! For contribution information call 225-578-4131 or complete the form on page 23.

8 School of Renewable Natural Resources Who’s Who “Sounds of Healing” Concert Raises Funds for Komma and Allam Memorial Fountain Recognizing the healing and uplifting power of music, the “Sounds of Healing” concert series returned to the LSU International Cultural Center on May 1. Dr. Richard Vlosky, faculty advisor for the International Student Association at LSU, and his son James were among the performers featured at the concert, sponsored by the LSU Chapter of Gamma Sigma Delta, the Honor Society of Agriculture and Allied Sciences. Dr. Richard Vlosky, Louisiana Forest Products Development Center, was Begun as a means of lending support and calling one of the performers at the “Sounds of Healing” concert. attention to international disaster relief projects in the wake of the devastating 2004 tsunami that hit Southeast Asia, the concert presented an evening of hopeful and The concert raised more than $1,000 to go toward engaging music in an acoustic setting. The concert se- a memorial garden to be built at LSU in remembrance ries has generated funds for the victims of the tsunami, of Komma and Allam including a $300 contribu- those affected by Hurricane Katrina, an orphanage in tion from the Indian Student Association at LSU. On Pakistan that cares for orphans affected by the Kashmir completion of the memorial garden, there will be an earthquake in 2005, and a memorial fund for of Cha- official dedication ceremony to honor and remember drasekhar Komma and Kiran Allam, two international the two students. students who were killed in 2007.

Shupe Elected Southern Regional copper arsenate (CCA) treated wood and potential effects on SWST Vice Extension Forestry groundwater: evidence in Florida” President Awards published in Chemosphere. He also received another bronze award Dr. Todd Shupe has been Drs. Richard Vlosky and Todd in the short publication category elected vice president of the Soci- Shupe, Louisiana Forest Products for “Causes and Control of Wood ety of Wood Science and Technol- Development Center, and Dr. Mi- Decay, Degradation and Stain.” ogy (SWST). Shupe will officially chael Dunn, Department of Agricul- assume this new responsibility at tural Economics and Agribusiness, the Society’s next international were recent recipients of South- annual convention in Boise, ern Regional Extension Forestry Baffoe Receives Idaho. The following year he Awards. Vlosky received a silver ITTO Fellowship will assume the role of president award in the computer software Twenty-three fellowships were elect. He will ascend to the role of and/or Web site category for build- awarded to 23 students at the president for one year at the Soci- ing and maintaining the United 44th session of the International ety’s meeting in 2011. Shupe will Nations “Current Issues In Forestry Tropical Timber Council in No- be the youngest president in the and Forest Products Markets Web vember 2008. One of this year’s history of the organization, which site.” Vlosky and Dunn received a fellowship recipients is Abraham was founded in 1958. The SWST silver award in the journal publica- Baffoe (Ghana), who is work- is an internationally recognized tion category for their paper “A Re- ing on an M.S. research project professional organization of wood gional View of Extension Employee entitled “Implications of Forest scientists, engineers, marketing Perceptions of Scholarship in the Certification on Forest Manage- specialists and other profession- Workplace” published in the Jour- ment and Timber Export Trade als concerned with science and nal of Extension. Shupe received a in Ghana” under the direction of technology of wood and lignocel- bronze award in the journal publica- Dr. Richard Vlosky, director and lulosic materials. The SWST Web tion category for his paper “Evaluat- professor, Louisiana Forest Prod- site is www.swst.org. ing landfill disposal of chromated ucts Development Center.

School of Renewable Natural Resources 9 International Crossings RNR Hosts Intern from Zamorano Student Internship Program The internship program is a 15 week program with 40 hour work week. The interns work with scientists in the School of Renewable Natural Resources to learn more about research related to the educational program and to explore avenues for research that may be related to their future graduate program. The main goal of the program is for these students to return to LSU for their masters degree. In the past, assistantships have been made available from the chancellor’s office. RNR researchers studied birds in Amazonian rainforest fragments Michelle Sabillon, RNR’s intern, graduated from in 2009. Here are (from left) Dr. Phil Stouffer, RNR Ph.D. students Escuela Agrícola Panamericana, also known as Zamo- Erik Johnson and Karl Mokross, and Brazilian collaborator Marconi Cerquiera at the conclusion of a survey of nocturnal birds. They found rano University in Honduras. Zamorano is a very well 10 species of night birds in this fragment- three nighthawks or nightjars, known and respected, private international university. three potoos and four owls. Michelle’s program was in socioeconomic development and the environment. The Zamoano programs concen- trate on sustainability. Som Bahadur Bohora-New Michelle worked for three faculty members. Dr. Jim Chambers served as her primary advisor, but she also Master’s Student from Nepal worked for Drs. Hallie Dozier and Richard Keim. Mi- chelle explored a diverse set of projects for these three scientists. Her work included tree measurements, tree coring and growth analysis for an urban forestry project involving tree growth and flood responses following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. She assisted graduate students in research plot establishment regarding coastal wetland forests sustainability in south Louisiana and conducted some forest hydrology research and mapping of studies. During her internship she was exposed to the scientific literature, research methods and research techniques. She took advantage of some opportunity for travel to see different ecosystems and urban communities. In addition, she was exposed to the culture of south Louisiana.

Som is pursuing a master degree in forestry concen- trated on sustainability of southern forested wetlands. Som, a student from Nepal, will be evaluating the regeneration condition classes of cypress-tupelo swamps with regard to flood duration, depth and timing. The sustainability an health of many cypress-tupelo swamps in the southeastern coastal zone is currently in question. Without long-term hydrological data on each specific site it is currently difficult or impossible to evaluate the potential for natural regenerations. Som and Dr. Cham- bers, his major advisor, hope to develop techniques to identify the regeneration potential of each site through simple short-term evaluation techniques. Som’s research Michelle Sabillon, a student at Zamorano University in Honduras, assists will help forest managers, state agencies and others in tree-ring dating and growth assessments as part of an LSU AgCenter evaluate the potential of various sites to regenerate Internship program aimed at attracting highly qualified students into graduate programs within the School of Renewable Natural Resources. when harvested.

10 School of Renewable Natural Resources Highly computer savvy Dr. Tom Dean gets assistance from LSU Information Technology Andreja Pirc (left), Ph.D. student and Consultant Barbara McManus while the rest instructor with the forestry faculty, University of the RNR faculty smirks at his dilemma. The of Zagreb, Croatia, is a visiting research faculty was getting educated about a web- fellow working with Dr. Richard Vlosky. They based program that tracks grades and class will be conducting a study of innovation and RNR Ph.D. student Luke Powell is thrilled assignments. competitiveness in the U.S. furniture industry. to handle a motmot (Momotus momota) captured in Amazonian Brazil.

Student News Student Gets Hands Muddy at the Mouth of the Mississippi

Matt Huber is an undergraduate Wetland Conservation Corps, Matt from the Bird’s Foot Delta dur- student majoring in natural resource has accumulated a wide range of ing the mid-1900’s occurred when ecology and management who has experiences but most of his effort navigation and flood control most spent the last year engrossed in has been focused on the Pass A confined the river within artificial wetland ecology and restoration. Loutre Wildlife Management Area levees, which probably increased His wetland journey began in 2008 (WMA), which is operated by the freshwater flow through the Bird’s as a student worker providing field Louisiana Department of Wildlife Foot Delta. Increased freshwater and laboratory assistance to Ph.D. and Fisheries and is at the very end would allow less salt-tolerant species students Amy Scaroni and Vansessa of the Mississippi River. This area to out-compete black mangroves. Tobias, who work with Dr. Nyman is known by many as the Bird’s In recent decades however, salin- at the School of Renewable Natu- Foot Delta because of its shape. It ity has increased at Pass A Loutre ral Resources. Matt left his job as protrudes ~40 miles further into WMA as indicated by the death of a student worker in the spring of the Gulf of Mexico than the rest of virtually all baldcypress and many 2009 when he was accepted by the Louisiana, but freshwater vegeta- willow trees since the 1980s. Fac- America’s Wetland Conservation tion prevails because of massive tors that increased salinity since the Corps. They place members at sites freshwater inflows from the Mis- 1980s probably include (a) reduced throughout Louisiana to coordinate sissippi River. Saline waters intrude river flow caused by sediments that hands-on coastal restoration projects only during tropical storms and were dredged from the main navi- and hands-on education projects for extreme low flow of the river dur- gation channel and dumped where volunteers and communities in an ing continental drought. The most the Mississippi River enters Pass A effort to promote stewardship and salt and flood tolerant plant species Loutre WMA; (b) freshwater diver- conservation, raising public aware- native to Louisiana, black mangrove sions constructed miles upstream to ness of the negative impact that the (Avicennia germinans), currently restore river flow to marshes there, loss of Louisiana’s wetlands has on does not occur in the Bird’s Foot which reduced freshwater flow the state, national and worldwide Delta. In 1936, LSU Botany Profes- through the Bird’s Foot Delta; and ecosystems. Matt continued work- sor Claire Brown wrote that many (c) more frequent tropical storm ing with Dr. Nyman, who also of the islands and lower bayous surges. Tropical storm intensity is serves as a site supervisor via the there had rank growths of black expected to increase further because LSU AgCenter’s partnership with mangrove. By 1967, RNR Profes- of climate change, which would the America’s Wetland Conservation sor Robert Chabreck noted that increase the number of storm surges Corps. black mangrove no longer occurred affecting the Bird’s Foot Delta. The As a member of America’s there. The loss of black mangrove (Continued on page 15)

School of Renewable Natural Resources 11 is one factor limiting longevity of chemical composition of black man- Student News Bird’s Foot Delta wetlands. grove leaves. Matt returned to the The purpose of Matt’s restora- site during July with volunteers to Student Gets Hands Muddy at tion project is to reestablish popula- count surviving trees (59%) and to the Mouth of the Mississippi tions of black mangrove that can collect plant samples for his research (Continued from page 14) serve as a source of seed and vegeta- project. Matt also traveled to Grand State Master Plan calls for two new tive spread in the Bird’s Foot Delta. Isle to collect samples for his re- diversions that will be large enough Mike Materne, who works for the search project from black mangroves to create new wetlands. Those LSU AgCenter at the School of growing in more saline areas. Matt land-building diversions will further Plant, Environmental & Soil Sci- will return to both sites in fall and reduce freshwater and sediment ences, donated 396 juvenile black spring to monitor survival for the inflow to the Bird’s Foot Delta, and mangrove trees that he and his team restoration project and to collect eventually may require abandon- grew from seeds they had collected plant samples for his research proj- ment of the Bird’s Foot Delta. Even in the fall of 2007 from an intertidal ect. Although the primary purpose if approved today, those diversions saline Spartina alterniflora-mangrove of undergraduate research projects would take decades to begin creat- marsh just north of Fourchon is to provide learning experiences ing new wetlands. While wetlands in Beach. Matt organized a dozen vol- for students, these data may lead to the Bird’s Foot Delta cannot persist unteers, most of whom were RNR techniques that restoration manag- indefinitely, their longevity can be students, to spend their 2009 spring ers can use to determine how big of promoted until land building diver- break planting those trees dur- an effect river diversions have on our sions have begun to create new wet- ing very unpleasant weather. Todd coastal wetlands. lands. In other words, a delta in the Baker, the biologist at Pass A Loutre hand is worth two in a plan. Justifi- WMA, selected a barrier beach just cation for longevity arises from the west of South Pass as the planting National Nonpoint Source services that Bird’s Foot Delta wet- site. In the summer of 2009, the Monitoring Conference lands provide in the form of storm LSU College of Agriculture awarded RNR graduate students Kris surge reduction, fish habitat, wildlife an Undergraduate Research Grant Brown, April BryantMason, Den habitat, recreation, and commercial to Dr. Nyman and Matt to test Davis and Ryan Mesmer, all from fishing. A lack of salt tolerant plant hypotheses related to the effects Dr. Jun Xu’s watershed hydrology species in the face of rising salinity of river water and seawater on the research group, recently presented at the 17th National Nonpoint Source Monitoring Conference. Their presentations included “Moni- toring the effectiveness of forestry New Graduates BMP implementation in a low-gra- dient watershed in Louisiana” (Den and Kris), “Comparison of nitrogen isotope signals between the Lower Mississippi River and its distribu- tary - the Atchafalaya” (April) and “Stormwater effects on phosphorus mass transport to a subtropical urban lake.” (Ryan)

Show your support! For contribution information call

In May 2009 the School of Renewable Natural Resources graduated eight students with a B.S. 225-578-4131 in Natural Resource Ecology & Management, six with a B.S. in Forestry and three with a M.S. Pictured are: (front row, l to r) Justin Thayer, Randy Graves, Ian Stone, Bonnie Britt, Connie Pope, or complete the form Russell Freeland, Jr.; (back row) Hunter Hutchinson, David Smith, Kevin Borne, Alex Richard and Christine Wolf. on page 23.

12 School of Renewable Natural Resources Meetings Attended

The Waterbird Society held the annual meeting on South Padre Island, Texas, in November 2008. Brad Pickens (Ph.D. student; King) gave a presentation on conservation planning for waterbirds in southwestern The Louisiana Association of Professional Biologists Annual Meeting Louisiana. Jonathon Valente (M.S. degree 2009; King) and Dr. Sammy and Symposium was on August 13th and 14th, 2009 in Lafayette, King presented research on King Rails in Louisiana. Cecilia Leumas (M.S. Louisiana. Drs. Andy Nyman and Sammy King attended the symposium, student; Rohwer) spoke about social facilitation in seabirds on Louisiana accompanied by graduate students who presented talks or posters about barrier islands. Rachel Villani (M.S. student; King) and Sung-Ryong Kang their research. Cecilia Leumas, Hugo Gee, Matt Pieron, Vanessa Tobias, (Ph.D. student; King) presented posters on shorebird use of moist soil and Rachel Villani gave presentations, and Jake Gray, Sung-Ryong Kang, units and Whooping Crane food availability, respectively. and Brad Pickens presented posters. Matt Pieron won the award for best student presentation for his presentation titled “Quantifying the Effects of Predator Management on Mallard Recruitment in North Dakota.”

American Fisheries Society 139th Annual Meeting was as resounding The Society of Wetland Scientists met in Madison, Wisconsin, in June success for RNR students and faculty. Two RNR students, Chris Bonvillain 2009. Vanessa Tobias (Ph.D. student; Nyman) talked about the effects and Jonathan West, and one faculty, Dr. Mike Kaller, presented research of flooding on marsh grass productivity and attended the SWS board in Nashville, TN. Mr. West and Dr. Kaller presented papers in a special meetings as the student representative. Hugo Gee’s (Ph.D. student; King) symposium about Headwater Streams, which was also co-chaired by presentation was about climate and river stage effects on tree growth. Dr. Kaller. Mr. West presented, ”Spatiotemporal patterns of ecosystem Brad Pickens gave a poster on factors affecting the distribution of King respiration in Gulf of Mexico coastal plain streams,” and Dr. Kaller Rails in Gulf marshes. Sung-Ryong Kang also attended the SWS meeting. presented, “Fishes of concern in southeastern Louisiana: the rare are Dr. Jim Chambers presented his research on coastal wetland forests. Dr. getting rarer and extirpation may be running rampant.” Mr. Bonvillain Mike Kaller reported the impacts of feral swine on wetlands. Dr. J. Andy presented a poster entitled, “Biotic and abiotic influences on wild crayfish Nyman gave a talk about water levels and salinity in coastal restoration. populations in the Atchafalaya River Basin, Louisiana.”

The School was well represented at the 17th Annual Meeting of the Louisiana Chapter of the American Fisheries Society in January 2008 in New Orleans. Faculty, undergraduate and graduate students as well as RNR alumni were all participants. Mike Kaller served as meeting Program Chair, Abstract Editor, symposium chair, and presented research. R. Glenn Thomas served on the Registration Committee, Organizing Committee, and presented research. Chris Green chaired an aquaculture symposium, served on the Programming Committee, and presented research. Graduate students Chris Bonvillain, Charles Brown, Raphael Cuevas-Uribe, Kayla DiBenedetto, Thorpe Halloran, Shauna Harris, E Hu, Melissa Fries, Douglas Kuenz, Peter Markos, April Newman, Noel Novelo, and Brian Ward presented their research. Charles Brown, Raphael Cuevas-Uribe, Melissa Fries, Peter Markos, and Jonathan West also moderated sessions. Catherine Murphy chaired and moderated a symposium. RNR undergraduate Chris Algero staffed a booth representing the Aquaculture and Fisheries Club. The meeting was considered, if not the best, among the top Southern Division of the American Fisheries Society in their 64 years of hosting meetings.

School of Renewable Natural Resources 13 Meetings Attended

Several fisheries students attended the 62nd Annual Conference of the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies held at Corpus Christi, TX, October 13-15. Fisheries students Thorpe Halloran, Chris Bonvillain, Melissa Fries, Peter Markos, and Brian Ward presented aspects of their graduate research. Melissa won the Best Poster award.

RNR graduate students Yu-Hsin Hsueh and Som Bohora attended the 19th North American Dendroecological Fieldweek (NADEF held) this year at Hampshire College, Ma. in June. Yu-Hsin is a Ph.D. student in Forestry; she is from Taiwan studying under Drs. Richard Keim and Jim Chambers. Som Bohora is from Nepal and is pursuing a M.S. in Forestry under Dr. Jim Chambers.

The 25th Annual Louisiana Remote Sensing and GIS Workshop was held at LSU in April, 2009. Graduate students, Biao Zhong and Fugui Wang, presented research in both poster and oral formats that the worked on with Dr. Jun Xu and Dr. Thomas Dean.

Graduate students and RNR faculty made a strong showing at the 5th North American Duck Symposium in Toronto, Ontario in August 2009. Dr. Frank Rohwer chaired and presented in one of the Plenary Sessions of this meeting that is held every three years. Four graduate students from Rohwer’s lab, Matt Pieron, Bruce Davis, and Tim Kimmel, presented 5 posters and papers. Dr. Alan Afton, who organized the first duck symposium, was also very prominent at the meeting. Graduate students Jacob Gray and Luke Laborde soaked in waterfowl knowledge and met waterfowl legends as well as fellow students from around the world. Matt Pieron came back flush with cash after winning both a poster award and an award for an oral presentation.

14 School of Renewable Natural Resources Meetings Attended

In August Dr. Phil Stouffer and graduate students Matt Brooks, Erik Johnson and Luke Powell traveled to Philadelphia for the annual meeting of the American Ornithologists’ Union, which was held at the University of Pennsylvania. Phil and Erik gave oral presentations on their research with Amazonian birds in rainforest fragments. Erik also presented a poster on the bird community at an undisturbed Amazonian site. Matt gave a Once again, Dr. Niels de Hoop traveled to the national convention of the poster on his research with winter bird communities in forests damaged Society of American Foresters with several RNR students – including (l. by Hurricane Katrina. Stouffer was also elected a Fellow of the AOU, a to r.) Lauren Smith (president of the LSU student chapter), Steven Upton, prestigious honor that officially places him among the old farts in American and graduate students Nathan Prince and Ragan Parajuli. The meeting ornithology. was near Orlando in early October, 2009 so the group took time for a side trip to the Disney Wilderness Preserve, a 12,000-acre preserve of The Nature Conservancy that fulfills wetlands mitigation requirements for some of the Disney developments. Dr. de Hoop presented a poster that describes the results of hearing tests conducted on three logging crews (most loggers suffer from hearing loss at the 4,000 Hz. level due to noise).

Peter Markos and Jonathan West, RNR graduate students working with Drs. Kaller and Kelso, attended the North American Benthological Society conference in Grand Rapids, Michigan in May 2009. Peter April Newman, forestry graduate student and her advisor, Dr. Richard presented his Master’s research on the effects of channel stability on Keim, represented the School at the American Geophysical Union in San benthic macroinvertebrate community structure in southeastern Louisiana Francisco, Ca., December 2008. April presented a poster on her thesis streams. Jonathan West presented a part of his Ph.D. project involving research entitled “Water and Solute Transport in the Shallow Subsurface spatial variation of primary production and ecosystem respiration in of a Natural Levee.” This fall, over 16,000 scientists from all over the world streams throughout the Florida Parishes. are expected to assemble for this premier meeting of the earth and space sciences.

Show your support! For contribution information call 225-578-4131 or complete the form on page 23.

School of Renewable Natural Resources 15 environmental scientist at the Louisiana Department of Club News Environmental Quality, introduced Louisiana’s Non- point Source (NPS) pollution control program and Activity of the LSU Student Chapter of the discussed with faculty and students from various depart- American Water Resources Association (AWRA) ments about NPS pollution monitoring and abatement Early this year, the LSU student chapter of AWRA strategies. teamed up with Colleen Morgan, founder and president Most recently, the chapter created a Facebook Web of Bayou Rebirth Wetlands Restoration and Education, page to increase connectivity among RNR’s student as well as a group of Tulane students, for a tree plant- organizations. ing and invasive species removal project at the Audubon Nature Center in New Orleans. The event was part of ongoing efforts to restore habitat surrounding the Na- Society of American Foresters ture Center that was severely damaged following Hur- 2008 and 2009 Meetings ricane Katrina. Dr. Niels de Hoop and four RNR students attended In the spring, the chapter sponsored a seminar on the national convention of the Society of American For- technical and policy development for statewide water- esters held near Orlando September 30 to October 4, shed management. Invited speaker Jan Boydstun, senior 2009. The students enjoyed meeting foresters and other students from all over the country while absorbing a myriad of exhibits and scientific sessions. Dr. de Hoop presented a poster titled, “Hearing threshold shift of loggers exposed to long-term noise,” which describes the results of hearing tests conducted on three logging crews (most loggers suffer from hearing loss at the 4,000 Hz. level due to noise). The group took time for a side trip to the Disney Wilderness Preserve, a 12,000- acre preserve owned and operated by The Nature Con- servancy that serves as a wetlands mitigation for some of the Disney developments. Six LSU forestry undergrads attended the national convention of the Society of American Foresters held in Reno, Nevada in November 2008. They were Lauren Smith, Jacques Boudreaux, Ian Stone, Kevin Borne,

Den Davis and Ryan Mesmer preparing to plant a seedling.

Dr. Niels de Hoop preparing a snowball at Lake Tahoe. He accompanied the LSU students to the Society of American Foresters national convention in Reno in November 2008. Ryan Mesmer, Caitlin Zlatos and Brittany Roussel taking a break from the hard work.

16 School of Renewable Natural Resources Jason Kalantari and David Smith. RNR Director Allen Club News Rutherford and a graduate student also attended. Dr. Tom Dean attended the silviculture instructor’s tour. Besides attending some of the hundreds of scientific presentations, posters and exhibits, they had an opportunity to go up into the mountains around Lake Tahoe and observe first-hand some of the forest fuel reduction projects that are ongoing in an attempt to reduce wildfire hazards. Since fresh snow was on the ground, the U.S. Forest Service had begun to burn some of the slash piles while the fire danger was still very low. The students got to meet many foresters and forestry students from all parts of the country.

Aquaculture and Fisheries Club The Aquaculture and Fisheries Club in the School of Renewable Natural Resources is dedicated to community service and fellowship among students who Shown touring the Disney Wilderness Preserve, Florida, are Lauren Smith share a common interest in aquaculture and fisheries. (president of the student chapter at LSU), freshman Steven Upton, and graduate students Nathan Prince and Ragan Parajuli. The 2008-2009 school year was another exciting year for the club with many successful events. With the help of the Society of Wetland Scientists and the Wildlife So- ciety, the annual fall Pig Roast and the spring Crawfish Boil drew big crowds. Last year also saw successful re- cruiting at Fall Fest and educating excited grade school students at Ocean Commotion. This coming year AFC will again host the annual Pig Roast and Crawfish Boil as well as several other social events throughout the year. All students are welcome to attend and get involved with AFC activities.

Ian Stone Receives the Xi Sigma Pi Regional Scholarship Award Ian Stone, a forestry graduate from LSU, received Jacques and Lauren overlooking Lake Tahoe. Yes, that’s a snowflake the $1000 Regional Scholarship Award from Xi Sigma between Lauren and the camera, and the wind was very cold. Pi, a forestry honor society. This prestigious award is given each year to a forestry student, selected among those nominated by six universities in the West-central region. Ian won the award because of his excellent academic achievements and his leadership involvement in Xi Sigma Pi (forester), Student SAF Chapter at LSU (president and vice-president) and the LSU College of Agriculture Les Voyageurs (ambassador). Ian Stone received his B.S. in Forestry from LSU in May, 2009 and is currently a graduate student at the University of Maine. Chapter Nu of Xi Sigma Pi at LSU has been pro- ducing outstanding members. LSU has been very com- petitive in the west central region, winning more than its share of Xi Sigma Pi Regional Scholarships. Recent RNR winners of this award are: 2002 Benjamin Hogue 2004 Angela Secott Forestry majors Jacques Boudreaux and Lauren Smith check out an area around Lake Tahoe where potential wildfire fuels (brush and low hanging 2006 Matthew Reed limbs) have been cut and hand-piled, awaiting an appropriate time to burn. 2009 Ian Stone With the fresh snow, some of the piles were being set afire that day.

School of Renewable Natural Resources 17 Club News 2009 Southern Forestry Conclave Congratulations to the students who competed on be- half of the School at the 2009 Southern Forestry Conclave hosted by Alabama A&M! The RNR team of Kevin Borne, Jason Kalantari, Brent Tassin, Ian Stone, Jacques Boudreaux, Hunter Hutchinson, Lauren Smith, Merri Hull, Christina Stihl awarded our students a 2-man racing crosscut saw. Perez, Billy Dahmen, Connie Pope and Randy Graves placed fifth out of fifteen schools! The team was led to a third place finish in the wildlife identification competition by Merri Hull and Connie Pope and to a third place finish in log birling by Randy Graves. Hunter Hutchinson represented LSU in a 4-event iron man competition that was aired on ESPNU’s Stihl Timbersports Collegiate Challenge, placing third and fourth in two of the events. The chainsaw company, Stihl, awarded our students a 2-man racing crosscut saw made by custom sawmaker Jim Taylor of California. The conditions were cold, rainy and muddy, but our students warmed things up with a crawfish boil and the students reported having a great time! We appreciate them for representing the School so well.

18 School of Renewable Natural Resources Student Wetland Society The Student Wetland Society at LSU had a busy year. In addition to our monthly meetings, our members have been involved in a number of social, outreach and professional activities. Last semester we participated in “Earth Day Baton Rouge” to increase public awareness of the importance of wetlands as habitat for fish and wildlife. We sponsored an RNR seminar inviting Dr. Craig Colten, LSU Department of Geography and Anthropology, to discuss environmental equities and hurricanes in coastal Louisiana. The spring canoe trip to Lake Fausse Point provided a chance for our club’s members to spend a stress-free weekend in the wetlands. We finished off the semester with a crawfish boil, jointly sponsored with the Aquaculture and Fisheries Club, that raised money for future endeavors. This fall SWS members will get their hands dirty picking up litter around the University Lakes during the 2009 Beach Sweep. They will also share their knowledge and love of wetlands with grade school children during Sea Grant’s annual Ocean Com- motion. A number of our students attended the annual SWS meeting in Madison, Wisconsin this past July. We also hope to send a contingent to the SWS south central chapter meeting this October in Denton, Tx. The Student Wetland Society is excited to announce our sponsorship of a wetlands-themed graduate student symposium entitled, “Connecting Wetland Communi- ties,” on November 14 at the Burden Conference Cen- ter in Baton Rouge. LSU has 20 departments that have been involved with wetlands research. This symposium will provide an opportunity for LSU students across a range of disciplines who study wetlands to get together and share their research. To learn more about SWS, please visit our website, www.rnr.lsu.edu/sws or email [email protected].

School of Renewable Natural Resources 19 sions at the college. Primary areas of “Alumnus of the Year” in 2008 had Alumni News responsibility included: oversight of a very successful career history. Her twelve academic degree or certificate first job was as a forester with In- James Andrew Allen programs, supervision of 16 full- ternational Paper Company, Noble, “Alumnus of the Year” time and about 10 adjunct faculty Louisiana. After that she was a for 2009 members, oversight of the division’s reclamation research forester with budget and resource allocation and DOW Chemical U.S.A. Jim began his education with an teaching (normally two courses per Between 1983 to 1989 she was A.A.S. in preprofessional forestry at semester) self-employed as a forestry man- Paul Smith’s College in New York. In July 2006 Jim became associ- agement consultant in Mansfield, He completes a B.S. in forestry and ate director and associate professor, Louisiana. wildlife at Virginia Polytechnic Insti- NAU School of Forestry. From 1989 to 1992 she was tute, Blacksburg, Virginia; a M.S. in He then served as interim execu- a soil conservationist (GS-457- natural resource policy and planning tive director from February 2007 09/01) with NRCS in Alexandria, from Cornell University and finished until assuming his current position Louisiana with a Ph.D. in forest ecology at in July 2008 as executive director From 1992 to 1995 she was an Louisiana State University. and professor, Northern Arizona area forester with USDA NRCS, From 1981 to 1984 he was a University (NAU), School of Forest- Alexandria, Louisiana. Peace Corps Volunteer (PCV), Swa- ry. Jim has authored or co-authored From 1995 to 2006 she served ziland with primary duties includ- 29 refereed journal papers, 3 book as state forester with USDA NRCS ing construction and management chapters and 46 other publications. in Little Rock, Arkansas. of a forest tree nursery, serving as a In October 2006 our Alumnus regional forestry extension officer of the Year was promoted to state and as a staff specialist in forestry resource conservationist NRCS in for an integrated rural development Nancy Lowe Young 2008 Little Rock, Arkansas. project. In addition he assisted with “Alumnus of the Year” Our “Alumnus of the Year” took administrative duties at Ministry Nancy obtained a B.S. in forest on two very special assignments. headquarters, wrote publications on management and wildlife manage- The first special assignment was a forestry-related topics and per- ment from Louisiana Tech Universi- three-month temporary duty assign- formed forest inventories. ty in Ruston, Louisiana, graduating ment in 2006 with the US Agency From September 1986 to April Magna Cum Laude. She completed for International Development in 1996 he was a research ecologist for an M.S. in forest ecology from the Kabul, Afghanistan. Nancy provided the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, School of Forestry and Wildlife forestry planning, project proposal National Wetlands Research Center, Management (now the School of writing and forestry technical train- Lafayette, Louisiana. His primary Renewable Natural Resources) at ing to personnel of the Islamic area of responsibility was research Louisiana State University. Our Republic of Afghanistan Ministry of on forested wetland restoration, Agriculture, Animal ecology and management. Husbandry, and From April 1996 until July 2000 Forest and Range Jim was a research ecologist-forester Department. The with the U.S.D.A. Forest Service at second assignment the Institute of Pacific Islands For- was a two-month estry, Honolulu, Hi. Primary area temporary duty of responsibility was research on the in 2008 through ecology and management of man- the U.S. State groves and other tropical forested Department at the wetlands. Much of the field work Embassy in Ma- was carried out on U.S.-affiliated nila, Philippines. islands in the Federated States of Nancy provided Micronesia. assistance to the In July 2000 he became dean Philippine Tropical of Paul Smith’s College of Forestry, Forest Conserva- Natural Resources and Recreation tion Foundation Division. He held this position until to streamline their to June 2006. Jim was the adminis- Dr. Jim Chambers presents the 2008 Alumnus of the Year award to U.S. Debt for Na- trative head of the FNRR Division, Nancy Lowe Young. ture grant process. which is one of three academic divi-

20 School of Renewable Natural Resources In addition to the above career accomplishments, since 1992 Campus Live Oak Endowments Nancy is a twelve-time recipient of Many of our alumni may know that for several years the LSU “Certificate of Merit” for superior Foundation has had a program of endowing live oaks on campus. For service in various activities includ- example, close to the RNR building there are live oaks endowed by ing state-wide forestry initiatives, for alumni Bob Blackmon, ‘69 Ph.D. forestry, and his wife, and by the outstanding productivity, teamwork, family of James G. Warmbrod, ‘38 B.S.F. The Foundation charges sev- and program effectiveness, out- eral thousand dollars for future care of each endowed tree. standing dedication implementing Few people may realize that our School was about 30 years ahead WRP and performance in assuring of the LSU Administration. In 1969 a few friends gathered at the high quality forestry practices in all northeastern corner of what was then called the Forestry Building on NRCS programs. South Stadium Road to plant a live oak in memory of Professor Mar- Nancy received the NRCS tin B. “Apple” Applequist. He taught dendrology at LSU’s Forestry Group Award for outstanding pro- School from 1947 through 1959, when he went to teach at North- ductivity, teamwork and program ern Arizona University. He died of cancer in 1969. During the past effectiveness in 1996. She also has 40 years, Apple’s tree has thrived -it is more than 3 feet in diameter. taken on additional leadership roles Apple, much loved by his fellow faculty members and his students, including chair for the Arkansas would be pleased. Board for Registration for Forest- ers, past team leader for the NRCS Ecological Sciences Team, past chair of the Caddo Chapter of the Society of American Foresters and past chair Charles Thomas “Tom” and drawers from drab to iridescent of the CenLa Chapter of the Society Carpenter, ’64 B.S.F., wrote Dr. shades lent a splash of color to the of American Foresters. Paul Burns at LSU from Scottsdale, pastoral scene. . . A final note—on Arizona. Tom needed another copy the first day of this week of dendrol- of the 1963 LSU Forestry Summer ogy, Carpenter’s bathing suit was Alumni News Camp Log. He lost the copy of the partially devoured by a Houndiaceae Rachel Rollason Billingham, ’63 Log which he had borrowed Boxus muttii.” The Log was signed ’96 B.S.F., works for the Pennsyl- from his former classmate, Roy C. “Blitz.” vania Bureau of Forestry in Harris- Beltz, ’64 B.S.F., ’76 Ph.D. for- Henry R.M. Childres, ’70 burg. She was recently appointed by estry. Dr. Burns found the ’63 Log B.S.F., lives in Watson and has the Society of American Foresters to in the School’s archives, copied it worked in Livingston Parish for chair the Public Outreach Working and mailed it to Tom. A Summer the Louisiana Department of Ag- Group. Camp Log has not been written for riculture and Forestry for the past Rex H. Caffey, ’98 Ph.D. many years. When these Logs were 23 years. He wrote that he enjoys wildlife & fisheries science, Louisi- written each day of summer camp whitewater kayaking, basketball, ana Sea Grant and LSU Ag Center was assigned by one of the class several grandchildren, wildland faculty member, was quoted in the leaders to a particular student, who firefighting all over the U.S., and of August 2009 issue of Country Roads wrote a sort of diary, covering a course, LSU sports. He is recuperat- Magazine. He has collected photo- subject to his liking without faculty ing from prostate cancer surgery and graphs of the Chandeleur Islands off input. The La. Forestry Commis- encourages alumni to get regular the coast of Louisiana, especially of sion’s typist wrote the diary, made check-ups. His email address is hb- the 102-year-old lighthouse, which copies and distributed them to the [email protected]. was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina students. For example, for Monday, Charles A. Collins, ’69 B.S.F., in 2005. Rex collaborated with the June 10, 1963, “Summer camp was visited the School in July 2009 Louisiana Sea Grant editor and the officially begun today, early today with his two sons. Charles is district Web coordinator to make these by most standards! James Turk and forester, Arkansas Forestry Com- images accessible to the public on a the ‘Honorable Harvey Joe’ were mission, Greenbrier, Ark. One of his website: www.laseagrant.org/light- elected to be the camp arbitrators sons is a Ph.D. student in forestry at house. Rex commented “There’s (bitchers). After a briefing on the Mississippi State University; his ma- a beautiful part of our coastal camp rules we embarked on a safari jor professor is David Lyle Evans, landscape that few people had the into the steaming forest led by Dr. LSU B.S.F. ’78, M.S. forestry ’81, pleasure of seeing. If nothing else, Bateman and Dr. Glasgow. There Ph.D. forestry ’86. maybe the Web site is a kind of call were those who didn’t bring suits to Emile S. Gardiner, ’86 B.S.F., to see it while you can.” the swimming hole this afternoon, works in the Center for Bottomland

School of Renewable Natural Resources 21 nician program at Louisiana Techni- Alumni News Dr. Sangyeob Lee, who gradu- cal College, Oakdale. The executive ated with a Ph.D. in forestry in committee of the Louisiana Society Hardwoods Research, Stoneville, 2006 based on his research in the of American Foresters has awarded Miss. He wrote an article, published Louisiana Forest Products Develop- Finis a Certificate of Appreciation. in the Journal of Forestry, on the ment Center, received the Outstand- Nianfu Song, ’06 Ph.D. for- value of the Sharkey Restoration ing Research Award from Mississippi estry, has left LSU and has gone to Research and Demonstration Site. State University at a ceremony in the forestry department, University He wrote, that much of the work Starkville, Ms. in April. Dr. Lee, cur- of Missouri-Columbia, where he that he tries to advance in Stoneville rently working as a postdoctoral re- will work as a postdoc. Dr. Joseph is work initiated by Harvey E. Ken- search scientist in the Department of Chang, Song’s major professor at nedy, ’64 M.F., ’69 Ph.D. forestry, Forest Products at Mississippi State LSU, reports that Dr. Song and his and that Harvey’s work provides a University, is conducting research family are enjoying their stay in Mis- solid foundation for much of the on improving the performance of souri. Stoneville group’s current research. wood composites. The office of Ian Stone, ’09 B.S.F., worked S.C. “Tony” Hu, ’71 Ph.D. the vice president for research and for the University of Maine during forestry, has sold his restaurant in economic development and the vice the summer of 2008 and has gone Baton Rouge. He and his wife Pai- president for agriculture, forestry there to begin work on his M.S. in Cha live on the Pride-Baywood Rd. and veterinary medicine at Missis- forestry beginning in August 2009. near Clinton, La., in an old house sippi State University sponsor the James H. “Jay” Wright III, surrounded by a 100-acre pine for- annual research awards program to ’57 B.S.F., in late 2008 celebrated est of pole-sized trees. Tony and his honor faculty, research and support with his wife their 50th year of mar- wife take weekly ballroom dancing staff, graduate students and under- riage by going to the “Big Island” in lessons for exercise and recreation. graduate students from each college Hawaii. He wrote that when he was Edmonde “Mony” Jaspers, ’69 who contribute significantly to the in Thailand many years ago he was M.S. fisheries, returned to her native MSU research mission. issued a used U.S. Air Force travel Belgium after she received her Ph.D. bag which had “Lt. Col. Ronald from 40 plus years in Camden, Ark. in marine sciences in 1972 and since Dalrymple” permanently inscribed I had to have five bypass surgeries. has worked in Belgium. Mony, who on the side. I am doing great with maintenance Ronald Dalrymple lives in Bredene, was director, Insti- received his B.S.F. at LSU in 1956. re-hab three times a week. But at tute for Marine Scientific Research, Jay donated a photo of the LSU 82 I am a little slow getting back 1974-1999 and senior scientist, forestry class of 1928 for the School to normal. I’m sure my years in the Flanders Marine Institute 1999- archives. 2003. Co-founder, board member, woods and my wife’s good cooking and Editor, European Aquaculture kept and is keeping me healthy.” Society 1976-1985, she served on R.E. Lee McNeely, ’80 B.S.F., Alumni Deaths many national and international received an award in 2008 from the Vernon C. “Buck” Adkins, ’50 committees related to aquaculture Society of American Foresters. Lee B.S.F., died May 9, 2009 in Mon- and marine sciences. lives in Jefferson, Tex. roe, La., at age 86. A veteran of the ’85 B.S.F., is Robert J. Lilieholm, ’84 M.S. Steven G. Platt, U.S. Army during WW II and in the forestry, Ph.D., has been named an assistant professor in the Depart- U.S. Air Force during the Korean associate professor of forest policy ment of Biology at Sul Ross State War, he retired from Smurfit Stone at the University of Maine’s School University, a small school at the Container as wood procurement of Forest Resources. Besides teach- gates of Big Bend National Park manager after a 38-year career. He ing forest policy he will teach and in far west Texas. He wrote that was active in the Society of Ameri- conduct research in economics. He in 2005 his wife was conducting can Foresters, the Louisiana Forest- went to Maine from the College research on turtles in Malaysia, and ry Association and the Lions Club. of Natural Resources, Utah State he and his wife became acquainted He is survived by his wife, three University, Logan, where he spent with a Malaysian graduate of the daughters and six grandchildren. 18 years. School, Jasmi Bin Abdul,’77 B.S.F. Daniel C. “Danny” Cam- Jasmi, who prominently displayed F.N. “Nick” Margrave, ’48 eron, ’50 B.S.F., died March 1, B.S.F., wrote that “Martha and I LSU paraphernalia in his Malaysian 2009 in Denham Springs, La. He moved to Texarkana, Tex. in De- office, was very helpful and granted was an Army veteran of WW II cember 2007 to be with a daughter Steven’s wife carte blanche to do and retired from the Army Reserve and her family, including a grand- whatever she wished. as a lieutenant colonel. He had a child and three great grandchildren Finis H. Prendergast, Jr., ’63 43-year professional forestry career B.S.F, is director of the forest tech-

22 School of Renewable Natural Resources with Gaylord Container Corp. and Robert N. Helm, Jr. , ’82 ing in Starkville. He was active in Crown-Zellerbach and was active M.S. wildlife, died Sept. 3, 2008 of the Society of American Foresters. in the Society of American Forest- brain cancer in his home town of Surviving are his wife, one son, one ers and the Methodist Church. He Sunshine, La. at age 57. He was a daughter and two grandchildren. is survived by his wife, two daugh- waterfowl biologist with the Loui- Thomas R. “Robie” Scott, ’48 ters, one grandchild and one great siana Department of Wildlife and B.S.F., died Nov. 7, 2008, at age grandchild. Fisheries. His major professor at 84 in Monticello, Ark. A WW II Hamp W. “Bill” Echols, ’60 LSU was John D. Newsom, and his Army veteran and a football letter- B.S.F., died Feb. 29, 2008 in Mo- thesis dealt with nesting of gallinules man at Arkansas A & M, he earned bile, Ala., at age 78. After earning in marsh and rice fields of Louisiana. a Forest Technician degree in 1947. M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in forest George M. Purvis, ‘49 B.S.F., He joined Pomeroy & McGowin entomology, he worked for the U.S. ’50 M.S.G.M., died Aug. 15, 2008, Forestry Consultants and became Forest Service, the Mississippi For- age 83, in Little Rock, Ark. After its CEO, retiring in 1996. He was estry Commission, Sline Coating, service as a Navy ensign he worked active in the Society of American the University of Florida, and the for the Arkansas Game and Fish Foresters, Boy Scouts, civic clubs, U.S. Air Force, retiring to Mobile in Commission for 36 years, becoming and the Methodist Church. He 1989. He was active in professional, a widely-known outdoor author- is survived by three sons and five civic and Baptist organizations. He ity through newspapers, radio and grandchildren. is survived by his wife, Melionee, a television. Stressing ethics, he was Robert F. “Bob” Westbrook, brother and a sister. a passionate duck hunter, an avid ’66 M.F., died Feb. 16, 2009 in Arden O. French, Jr.,’56 fisherman, an archer and an ama- Pineville, La. Before attending LSU B.S.F., died Feb. 13, 2009 in teur painter. Survivors include two he earned his B.S. in forestry at Monroe, La., at age 74. Son of daughters and six grandchildren. Louisiana Tech in 1959. He worked LSU’s dean of students, he had a Ralph R. Robertson, ’48 for the U.S. Forest Service, State career of more than 40 years with B.S.F., died Feb. 4, 2009 in Do- and Private Forestry Division, at the insurance industry. He was an than, Ala., at age 89. He earned the the Forestry Sciences Laboratory in avid outdoorsman and a member of M.F. at Yale in 1956. He served in Athens, Ga., then in Pineville, La. Grace Episcopal Church in Monroe. the Army Air Corps in WW II and from 1976 until he retired in 2000. Survivors include his wife Cathi, two was employed by the Mississippi He is survived by his wife, two sons and two daughters, and five Forestry Commission and later as daughters, and one grandchild. grandchildren. Mississippi’s extension forester, liv-

Supporting the School of Renewable Natural Resources A New Level of Excellence

___ Yes, I want to support the School of Renewable Natural Resources. I would like my donation of $______to be used for: __RNR Excellence Fund __Paul Y Burns Scholarship __Elvin Choong Lecture Series __FWF Alumni Scholarship __Norwin E. Linnartz Scholarship __Once in a Lifetime Gift __Thomas Hansbrough Scholarship __Please contact me to discuss giving options.

Make checks payable to LSU Foundation and indicate the School of Renewable Natural Resources Excellence Campaign on the memo line.

For credit card contributions:

Type of credit card ___ Visa ___mc ___AmEx___Discover

Expiration Date______Card#______

Mail to: A New Level of Excellence School of Renewable Natural Resources Contact Director Allen Rutherford for 227 Renewable Natural Resources Building more information concerning contribu- Louisiana State University tions to the School of Renewable Natural Baton Rouge, LA 70803-6202 Resources at 225-578-4131.

School of Renewable Natural Resources 23 Non-profit Org. School of School of Renewable Natural Resources Renewable Natural Resources U.S. Postage Louisiana State University PAID D. Allen Rutherford, Director Baton Rouge, LA 70803-6200 Mike Chamberlain, Thomas Dean, Melinda Permit No. 733 Hughes, William Kelso and Frank Rowher, Baton Rouge, LA Editors

School of Renewable Natural Resources Louisiana State University Baton Rouge, LA 70803-6200 Tel (225) 578-4131 Fax (225) 578-4227 www.lsuagcenter.com

Louisiana State University Agricultural Center William B. Richardson, Chancellor David J. Boethel, Vice Chancellor and Director of Research Paul D. Coreil, Vice Chancellor and Director of Extension

Louisiana State University and A&M College Michael Martin, Chancellor College of Agriculture Kenneth L. Koonce, Dean

The LSU Agricultural Center provides equal opportunities in programs and employment. The Louisiana State University and A&M College is an equal opportunity/equal access employer. Produced by LSU AgCenter Communications

School of Renewable Natural Resources

Career opportunities in the conservation, preservation and management of America’s natural resources.

The Louisiana State University School of Renewable Natural Resources offers exciting opportunities for students to pursue a wide range of career opportunities in the conservation, preservation and management of America’s natural resources. We offer two undergraduate programs as well as M.S. and Ph.D. programs. For more information, visit www.rnr.lsu.edu.

Our undergraduate programs include nine areas of concentration: Ecosystem Restoration, Forest Resource Manage- ment, Conservation Biology, Fisheries and Aquaculture, Natural Resource Conservation, Wetland Science, Wildlife Ecology, Wildlife Law Enforcement and Pre-Veterinary Wildlife.

24 School of Renewable Natural Resources