©Michael Balint U.S. Forest Service Pacific Southwest Research Station

Serving , , and the Pacific Islands

D

E E

P R

A U R T LT 2015 Accomplishments Report MENT OF AGRICU Station Director’s Message

I am proud to present the Pacific Southwest (PSW) Research Station’s 2015 Accomplishments Vision and Mission Report. As part of the U.S. Forest Service, the station provides research that addresses The Pacific Southwest contemporary questions about trees, forests, and Research Station is a ecosystems, and their relationship to people now world leader in natural and into the future. The scientific knowledge, expertise, and tools that our research station resources research provides are instrumental in delivering and through our scientific sustaining benefits from forests and grasslands in excellence and the and beyond. To frame our work, we have established four robust outcomes that are responsiveness to the designed to provide and enhance forest resources needs of current and and benefits that are important to the American public: (1) forest landscapes that are resilient to disturbance, especially fire; (2) enhanced benefits to urban communities future generations. Our from the natural environment; (3) clean and reliable water resources; and (4) sustained mission is to develop and ecological resources and services. These outcomes represent lofty goals that can only communicate science be achieved through broad and strong collaboration with many governmental and nongovernmental entities. Our role is to conduct rigorous science that addresses needed to sustain forest research priorities in these areas. Our science is the foundation upon which successful ecosystems and their policies and management can be implemented. The station has a rich and impactful history of conducting and delivering relevant science throughout California, Hawaii, benefits to society. and the Pacific Islands over the past 90 years. Current events, such as drought and wildfire in California, and threats from invasive species and disease in Hawaii, have brought an increased sense of urgency to our About Us work. I’m encouraged by the developments I’ve seen over the last year within our station and among our partners to collaborate to find ways to make our landscapes The Pacific Southwest Research Station more resilient. The highlights in this document demonstrate a few of the many ways our (PSW) represents Forest Service Research work is moving us closer to the four desired outcomes. None of this would be possible and Development in California, Hawaii, and without the tireless efforts of our dedicated staff, and the numerous collaborators involved in our research nationally and internationally. Our station has many leaders, the U.S.-affiliated Pacific Islands. Our region some of whom are mentioned within these pages; but many are not. I would like to has the lowest, driest desert in the country, dedicate this year’s Accomplishments Report to the diverse group of people – the highest elevations within the 48 volunteers, collaborators, students, spouses and family, and students – who have contributed to our research, which has led to the impressive achievements presented contiguous States, and the wettest tropical in this report. Without you, none of this would have been possible! forests. An abundant diversity of native plants Alexander L. Friend, Ph.D. and animals and nearly half of the Nation’s Station Director, Pacific Southwest Research Station threatened and endangered species live in this region. At PSW, we develop and deliver science to help inform decisions about natural resources management, and conservation. Much of our work is accomplished in cooperation with other research institutions, such as universities, state and other federal agencies.

Caspar Creek Experimental Watershed. (U.S. Forest Service/Sherri Eng)

Message from the Director, Vision and Mission Forest Service at a Glance The mission of the U.S. Forest Service, a federal agency under the U.S. Department The Forest Service at Work in the Pacific Southwest Region of Agriculture, is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the Nation’s California and Hawaii are located in the Pacific forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. Southwest Region (Region 5) of the Forest Service. The Established in 1905, the Forest Service: Pacific Southwest (PSW) Research Station, headquartered in Albany, California, partners with 18 • Manages 193 million acres of national forests and grasslands. national forests in California, and with State and Private • Shares responsibility, working in concert with state and local agents, for the stewardship of Forestry programs throughout California, Hawaii, and about 500 million acres of nonfederal rural and urban forests. the Pacific Islands. The Forest Service comprises several major branches that work together to manage the Leaders of Region 5 and PSW Research Station have a Nation’s forests and protect global forest resources: common goal of retaining and restoring ecological resilience of national forest lands to achieve • The National Forest System sustains healthy terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems while addressing sustainable ecosystems that provide a broad range of the need for resources, commodities, and services. This system is divided into nine regions. services to humans and other organisms. Combined • State and Private Forestry helps private landowners, state forestry organizations, tribes, and effects of changing climate and hydrologic patterns, communities achieve forest management, protection, and utilization objectives through a unhealthy forests, and rapidly growing human wide range of cooperative programs in the State and Private Forestry mission area. populations are resulting in increasingly over-allocated • Research and Development provides long-term research, scientific knowledge, and tools that and undervalued ecosystem services (especially are used to manage forests and rangelands across the United States and overseas. water); a dramatic increase in large wildfires, floods, The Forest Service has seven research stations with research units located throughout and insect and disease outbreaks; threats from the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Pacific. terrestrial and aquatic invasive species; and a growing need to revitalize rural economies in California, Hawaii, • International Programs promotes sustainable forest management and biodiversity and the Pacific Islands. Region 5 and PSW Research conservation internationally. Station are facing these challenges together and • Law Enforcement and Investigations enforces federal laws and regulations governing through collaboration with external partners around national forest lands and resources. watershed restoration and forest resiliency.

PACIFIC NORTHWEST Klamath PACIFIC RESEARCH Six Modoc STATION R1 Rivers Northern SOUTHWEST R6 Shasta Pacific Trinity Lassen REGION Northwest FOREST National Forests and Grasslands PROPRODUCTS R2 LABOORATORYRATORY Mendocino Plumas Rocky Mountain Tahoe Lake Tahoe Basin R4 R9 McClellan Management Unit Intermountain ROCKY Eastern NORTHERN Regional Facility Eldorado MOUNTAIN RESEARCH Regional STATION Office Stanislaus R5 RESEARCH PACIFIC Pacific STATION SOUTHWEST Southwest Inyo RESEARCH Sierra STATION SOUUTHETHERN R3 RESEARCH Southwest STATION Los Padres R8 Sequoia Southern

INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF Los Padres TROPICAL Angeles FORESTRY San Bernardino R10 Alaska Cleveland LEGEND Pacific Northwest Research Station Station Headquarters Pacific Southwest Research Station Forest Products Laboratory Rocky Mountain Research Station International Institute of Tropical Forestry Northern Research Station Forest Service Regional Boundary Southern Research Station

Forest Service at a Glance Pacific Southwest Research Station at a Glance Scientists and staff of the PSW Research Station work across eight laboratories, 12 experimental forests and ranges, and two research watersheds comprising the station’s facilities in California and Hawaii. Research is also conducted in more than 90 research natural areas linked to a nationwide system of nonmanipulative research, monitoring, and educational opportunities. Research is organized into five research units:

1. Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry Scientists conduct tropical ecosystem research and technology transfer. Research furthers sound management, conservation, and restoration of grassland, forest, and wetland ecosystems and landscapes in Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, and Palau (see Pacific Islands map). 2. Conservation of Biodiversity Program Scientists conduct research on genes, species, habitats, landscapes, and the biological processes necessary to maintain diversity of organisms and functioning ecosystems. Research focuses on enhancing the conservation of plant and animal species and habitats, and the restoration and maintenance of native ecosystems. 3. Ecosystem Function and Health Program Scientists examine forest function and conduct research to protect and preserve water, air, and soil resources while considering the effects of a changing climate, unpredictable precipitation, air pollution, and constant threats from insect pests and plant pathogens. 4. Fire and Fuels Program Scientists conduct research on how fuel types and conditions affect fire behavior and how physical properties of fuels influence fire severity and intensity. Research includes decision-support models that analyze risk, resource allocation economics, and fire-danger forecasting. 5. Urban Ecosystems and Social Dynamics Program Scientists examine the interconnections of people and natural resources. Research focuses on developing knowledge and tools in natural resources management to better serve the public, and to connect urban dwellers with public lands through urban forestry and social science research.

WORKFORCE WEB METRICS • Total station workforce: • Number of users on the PSW Research Station Paci c Islands 228 employees website: 51,506 • Permanent workforce: • Number of sessions on the PSW Research Hawai‘i 156 employees Station website 78,872 Northern Mariana Islands (U.S.) Guam (U.S.) • Of the permanent workforce, • Countries or territories users originated from: 41 employees (26.3%) are research scientists. 188 MARSHALL ISLANDS PALAU • In addition to the permanent workforce, • Page views of PSW Research Station publications: MICRONESIA (FSO) 9 employees are postdoctoral researchers. 14,567 • Temporary workforce: • Number of followers on Twitter: 72 employees 1,682 FUNDING American Samoa (U.S.) Funding shown by fiscal year in millions (US $) Indian Ocean

$29.00 2011 23.7 5.3 PSW’s area of responsibility also includes six U.S.-affiliated Pacific Islands.

$26.20 2012 22.5 3.7 Extramural funding received PUBLICATIONS and $23.80 2013 21.6 Base research operations 2.2 MEDIA METRICS FY12 FY13 FY14 FY15 Total funding $26.30 Total Publications 267 403 175 112 2014 22.9 3.4 Peer-reviewed journal articles 120 124 109 81 $22.70 2015 17.6 5.1 Media Mentions 32 43 24 65 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 Press releases 13 10 8 7

Pacific Southwest Research Station at a Glance Community Involvement Climate-ready trees planted, benefits evaluated Students convene to discuss ​Research forester Greg McPherson joined the Sacramento Tree Foundation, City of forest restoration in the Sierra Sacramento Parks and Public Works Departments and local volunteers to plant 24 trees along the Kohl’s Bike Trail in Sacramento, California. Two representatives of ​Research ecologist Angela White, in conjunction with the University of California, each of the 12 species have been planted in four Sacramento parks and a control Berkeley, facilitated a 2-day workshop on fire and forest restoration objectives for plot at the University of California, Davis, as part of a 20-year study to evaluate the coniferous forests in the Sierra Nevada. Twenty students from across the Nation drought tolerance, pest vulnerability, growth and survival of promising new species. participated in a discussion on current threats to forest integrity and the impacts of different forest management options on the economic, societal, and ecological values of forested ecosystems. Workshop participants also visited the site of the King Fire, which burned in the Eldorado National Forest in 2014, and discussed the role of the Forest Service in meeting future challenges.

Volunteers plant “climate-ready” trees along Kohl’s Bike Trail in Sacramento. (U.S. Forest Service/Greg McPherson)

Local Scouts learn about forest genetics and earn badges ​On a cold winter afternoon, Girl Scouts of America Troop 12 received a warm welcome from station scientists at the Institute of Forest Genetics in Placerville, California. The fifth-, sixth-, and seventh-graders learned about the history of the institute and early genetic studies, ongoing research of white pine blister rust (WPBR), efforts to map the WPBR- resistant gene, and more. The scouts earned their Trees merit badges following their interactive learning experience. Girl Scouts of America Trees merit badge. Research ecologist Angela White leads a workshop on fire and forest restoration in the Sierra Nevada. Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry joins Students volunteer to clean up the National Geographic BioBlitz Hawaii Experimental Tropical Forest The Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry participated in National Geographic’s Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry staff and Laupa¯hoehoe Community Public BioBlitz, an event that brought students, teachers, and families together with Charter School students participated in a day trip to Laupa¯hoehoe Forest, a unit ​ traditional ecological experts, scientists, and naturalists for exploration in the of the Hawai‘i Experimental Tropical Forest (HETF). As part of a school project ​ Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Staff members created and hosted the studying the effects of pigs in the forest, students visited a fenced exclosure that interactive Biodiversity Challenge demonstrates how fencing protects natural habitats, viewed the destructive ​ game in which teams, totaling more evidence of abundant pig populations, and helped remove invasive weeds and ​ than 200 players, competed for old fencing material left prior to the establishment of the HETF. scoreboard fame as they worked ​ to keep the balance of a native ecosystem intact. Institute cares for the land and community at Ki¯holo fishpond ​Scientists and staff from the Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry participated in a School children from Kaumana Elementary hold their ecosystem cleanup day at Ki¯holo fishpond, in an effort to give back to the lands on which they (net) in balance as to not lose any of their native species through the holes. Game Master, Kainana Francisco (center), reads a Chaos do research. They removed nonnative overhanging kiawe and ironwood branches Card instructing participants to jump once, disrupting the balance and hauled the wood to a staging area to be reused. The Ki¯holo anchialine ponds, of their ecosystem and causing game pieces to fall through the net. (U.S. Forest Service) landlocked water adjacent to the ocean, are rich in history and tradition and provide a sustainable food source for the Hawaiian community and critical habitat for rare invertebrate species endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. The ponds are threatened by Volunteers spruce up Richmond Edible Forest exotic/invasive species introductions, coastal development, and habitat destruction. ​Station Director Alex Friend, Assistant Director Jane Hayes, and Northern Research Station Assistant Director Hao Tran worked with youths and partners to weed and clean up the Forest Service- sponsored Richmond Edible Forest in Richmond, California, as part of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service. The Richmond Edible Forest project received a More Kids in the Woods grant and a USDA MLK Drum Major for Service Award in 2012. Partners include Urban Tilth, the National Park Service, Wood debris is hauled from the shoreline to a Kaiser Permanente, and ​ staging area where usable materials (L-R) Hao Tran, Alex Friend, and Jane Hayes worked with partners and community local communities. (firewood, fenceposts, etc.) are made volunteers to care for the Richmond Edible Forest on Martin Luther King Jr. Day of available to the community. The Nature Conservancy and Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry staff members wrestle with Service. (U.S. Forest Service) interlocking limbs of nonnative kiawe trees. Community Involvement Recent Activities and Achievements at PSW’s Experimental Areas For more than 100 years, research conducted throughout a network of experimental forests and ranges has provided invaluable information about forest health and change across the United States. The station’s 12 experimental forests and ranges and two research watersheds represent the diverse terrain, history, and culture of the west coast, Hawaii, and the U.S.-affiliated Pacific Islands. These living laboratories contribute a vast body of knowledge to guide land management decisions that can sustain forest ecosystem services and benefits in California, Hawaii, and beyond. Drought affecting western pond turtle populations Streamflow research debunks assumptions about effects The western pond turtle (Actinemys marmorata) is a Species of Special Concern in of climate change on Sierra Nevada forests California and a candidate for federal listing. In 2006, the pond turtle population at the San Joaquin Experimental Range (SJER) in Madera County, California, was An important ecosystem service provided by national forests is high-quality surface estimated at only 10 to 12 individuals and consisted entirely of individuals older than water. Researchers have measured precipitation and streamflow in 10 headwater 12 years of age. Following the initiation of invasive bullfrog (Lithobates catesbianus) catchments on the Kings River Experimental Watersheds (KREW) since 2002, control efforts, juvenile turtles have covering a range of wet and dry years. Knowledge of streamflow variability is been seen in most years and the necessary for land managers in determining how to best manage catchments without population appeared to be affecting other ecosystem services. Initial results indicate that the evapotranspiration rebounding. Four years of drought (the conversion of water into water vapor) greatly exceeds the amount of water have caused the stock pond that leaving the KREW catchments as streamflow serves as their primary water source (water available for downstream uses). Thus to dry up in late summer (2012 and runoff ratio values (streamflow divided by 2013) or to not form at all (2014 and precipitation) were mostly less than 50 2015); the latter has never been percent. Historically, this ratio increases by 3 recorded at SJER since its inception percent per 100 meters of elevation increase in 1935. Station researchers (i.e., there is less evapotranspiration and observed high levels of turtle greater streamflow). Although average annual mortality during this period. evapotranspiration decreased as elevation Researchers observed extensive increased, no significant difference was terrestrial movements and movement found in the elevation patterns of into new areas, both of which make evapotranspiration between wet and dry the turtles vulnerable to predation years. The current assumption is that as the and are considered high-risk climate changes, snow-dominated high- behavior. Low precipitation and elevation catchments will change to function The western pond turtle is a Species of Special Concern in California. drought are likely to negatively affect like lower elevation catchments; however, the (U.S. Forest Service) observed hydrologic response of cold, wet Research ecologist Carolyn Hunsaker measures stream temperature the already imperiled pond turtle acidity and electric conductivity (a measure of water quality) at the populations in California. ​ years compared to dry, warm years does not Kings River Experimental Watershed. support that assumption. (U.S. Forest Service/Jose Canchola) New approach to forest restoration garners broad support Historical streamflow charts go electronic A “variable-density thinning” study on Streamflow has been measured on the San Dimas Experimental Forest since the late the Stanislaus-Tuolumne Experimental 1930s. Paper charts document stream discharge over time but are cumbersome to Forest proved not only to be a valuable use for most practical investigations. Now these stream charts have been converted opportunity for learning about the to electronic spreadsheets, allowing comparison and analysis for ecosystem ecological outcomes of thinning and disturbances including the hydrologic response to wildland fire and to management prescribed fire treatments, but also a manipulations, such as vegetation type-conversion and prescribed burning. The catalyst for consensus building. This records may also contain surrogate conditions for global climate change research, thinning approach is designed to restore serving as a benchmark against which to validate current model outcomes. The the variability that was historically found in dataset has also allowed the participation in a national cross-site comparison of these forests and has gained the support of experimental forest and range reference watersheds. both environmental groups and the timber industry. Station researchers were invited by the Yosemite Stanislaus Solutions Understanding how forests have changed Research ecologist Malcolm North (center) explains the collaborative group to give several variable-density thinning approach to creating resilient forests to presentations and tours of the study area. in northeastern California interested stakeholders and members of the media during a The group is interested in facilitating the fieldtrip to the Stanislaus-Tuolumne Experimental Forest. (U.S. In a unique study of sampling methodologies conducted in 1933 and 1934, a Forest Service/Eric Knapp) wider application of treatments to prevent complete census was taken of all trees in a 10,000-acre forest at Blacks Mountain future catastrophic wildfires. Experimental Forest in northeastern California. This included over a half million trees observed on 4,000 contiguous plots. Low rainfall leads to declining salmon populations With this information, station scientists were in Caspar Creek able to evaluate the effect of scale on forest variability. Historical observations showed that A 52-year record of streamflow and rainfall at the Caspar Creek Experimental tree density decreased as scale increased Watersheds in northwest California was evaluated to identify long-term changes in from 2.5 to 500 acres across the forest. the seasonality of precipitation and runoff in the 473-hectare (1,169-acre) North Fork Similar patterns were seen when considering and 424-hectare (1,048-acre) South Fork watersheds. Autumn rainfall and runoff other metrics such as aboveground biomass, were found to have decreased in recent decades. Periods of relatively high flow crown area, and average tree size. The early in the wet season scientists confirmed that 80 years ago, these (November-December) are forests had a higher proportion of pine and a important for allowing coho lower stem density, but much higher levels of salmon to move upstream to standing biomass than the current forest. spawn in these watersheds, Specifically, these stands historically had and a decrease in these approximately twice the biomass on one-fifth fish-passage flows may the number of stems. Crown area percentage contribute to decreased of trees was roughly half of what is observed coho salmon populations in current forests. The metrics derived in this along California’s north study can be used as guides by forest central coast. managers who are conducting restoration Decreased streamflow may lead to decreased coho salmon populations along California’s Historical data on forest density can help guide restoration efforts. north-central coast. (U.S. Forest Service) efforts at a wide variety of scales. (U.S. Forest Service)

Recent Activities and Achievements at PSW’s Experimental Areas Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry Research focuses on the following areas: A center of research and technology transfer since 1967, the Institute of Pacific • Increase understanding of invasive species Islands Forestry addresses information needs to support the management, interactions with factors including fire, disturbance, conservation, and restoration of natural forest and wetland ecosystems and landscapes watershed management, and recreation. throughout the Pacific. The institute’s area of responsibility includes the State of Hawaii and six U.S.-affiliated Pacific Islands: the Territory of Guam, the Territory of American • Assess water quality, food web structure, and Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Republic of the fish and invertebrate assemblages in a number of Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau. watersheds to improve protection, management, and restoration of forested wetlands and water The focus of research and technological assistance centers on Hawaii and other islands resources in the Pacific Islands. of the Pacific, but results are applicable to many tropical and temperate ecosystems of the world, including the U.S. mainland. The research conducted through the institute encompasses the station’s four program areas. The Hawaii Experimental Tropical Forest (HETF) is the first experimental forest in the Pacific Islands and directly contributes to a better understanding and conveyance of information about climate change, biological diversity, and ecosystem processes in the Pacific region and tropical ecosystems worldwide. The HETF encompasses remarkable gradients of climate, forests, soils, and resource history that allow station researchers and collaborators to address critical natural resource and conservation questions fundamental to effectively managing tropical forests to maintain and enhance important ecosystem services in a changing climate.

2015 Research Highlights Impacts of climate change on Pacific Island streams Many climate models predict warmer and drier conditions declined with decreasing rainfall, while flow variability throughout the tropics, yet it is unclear how this will affect increased. Reduced streamflow resulted in a shift in tropical streams. Using a naturally occurring rainfall invertebrate production, and lower algal growth, food gradient along the north Hilo coastline of Hawaii Island, quantity, and invertebrate fitness. For example, shrimp station scientists have been monitoring how streamflow egg production fell with decreasing streamflow as did and various ecological parameters from 12 streams will the timing and frequency of shrimp larvae. respond to changes in rainfall, streamflow, flow stability, and flashiness (the frequency and rapidity of short-term Research ecologist Rich MacKenzie sets drift nets to sample larval fish and changes in streamflow in response to storm events) all shrimp that are released to the water column. (U.S. Forest Service)

Understanding the impact and spread of the Rapid ‘Ōhi‘a Death disease on Hawaii’s native forests The ‘O¯ hi’a tree is an ecologically dominant and culturally forests would prompt a deeply devastating cascade of iconic native Hawaiian tree. It is the dominant tree species ecological losses that would affect native birds, insects, in 80 percent of Hawai’i’s native forests. Since 2010, a ecological community structure, and the culture and devastating fungal pathogen, Ceratocystis fimbriata, society of Hawai’i. Station scientists, working with several threatens to kill ‘O¯ hi’a on Hawai’i Island and statewide. partners, including the USDA Agricultural Research The Rapid ‘O¯ hi’a Death (ROD) disease has shown to be Service, the University of Hawai’i, and the State Division highly virulent, spreading to over 6,000 acres with a of Forestry and Wildlife have conducted research to mortality rate greater than 50 percent. Symptoms include discover the nature of the disease, how it manifests itself, blackening of wood, withered leaves, and tree mortality and what can be done to contain its spread in order to within 100 days. The demise of Hawai’i’s native ‘O¯ hi’a protect native forests. Rapid ‘O¯hi’a Death is threatening Hawaii’s native forests. (U.S. Forest Service)

Long-term fragmentation reduces ecosystem carbon storage and productivity Forest fragmentation poses a great threat to tropical more than 130 years ago by flowing lava. The scientists forests. Yet the long-term effects of fragmentation are found that carbon storage in aboveground living biomass poorly understood because (1) most effects require many and in coarse woody debris declined dramatically with decades to materialize, (2) the effects of edges on forest decreasing fragment size, as did stand productivity. canopy structure as a function of fragment size are Forest canopy structure varied strongly between forest unknown, and (3) fragmentation studies are often fragment center and edge and between large and small confounded by various factors that are difficult to control. fragments, with canopy becoming sparser in edges and in Station scientists quantified the long-term (centennial) small fragments. Finally, nutrient return through litterfall effects of fragmentation on forest carbon storage, declines as fragment size declines, indicating stronger productivity and canopy structure using ground-based nutrient losses from small versus large fragments. These Airborne Carnegie Airborne Observatory-LiDAR image from a January sampling and airborne light detection and ranging (LiDAR) changes caused by long-term fragmentation highlight the 2008 flight showing vegetation height for more than 100 kipuka (a of Hawaiian montane forest fragments ranging in size ecosystem benefits of maintaining large forested areas.​ place surrounded by lava, protected, and able to flourish) in the kipuka field system on the Island of Hawaii. Inset shows one example kipuka of from 0.02 to 1000 hectares (0.05 to 2,470 acres), created roughly 25 hectares. (Carnegie Institution for Science/Greg Asner) A Costa Rican butterfly may help control invasive miconia in Hawaii Explorations in Costa Rica and Brazil have yielded several hatched and their caterpillars tested on a wide range of plant promising natural enemies of Miconia calvescens, an species from Costa Rica and Hawaii. Encouragingly, no invasive tree that shades out native plants, which station sustained feeding occurred on any native Hawaiian plants scientists are now evaluating for use in Hawaii. Their strategy while feeding was recorded on many Melastomataceae, the is to develop a suite of biocontrol agents attacking stems, plant family of miconia. These data and observations of the leaves, and fruits of miconia, resulting in long-term butterfly in its native habitat indicate its host range is suppression of the invasive tree. To date, the miconia confined to M. calvescens and its close relatives. Given that butterfly (Euselasia chrysippe) is the most promising leaf- all melastomes are alien in Hawai’i, this butterfly promises to The introduction of miconia butterfly as a biocontrol could be used to feeding enemy. Euselasia eggs from Costa Rica were help control invasive miconia in Hawai’i. manage the invasive miconia tree. (U.S. Forest Service)

Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry Conservation of Biodiversity Research focuses on the following areas: The station research area includes oceanic islands, • Determine environmental conditions needed elevational clines from coastal to alpine ecosystems for terrestrial species persistence. in temperate and tropical ecosystems, and species • Identify conditions that can support aquatic and communities that occur nowhere else in the biodiversity and ecosystem services. world. The area faces significant species local • Determine the genetic origins of traits that can extirpations and extinctions, and wildlife habitat enhance tree adaptability and utility. throughout the area continues to be threatened. • Develop innovative approaches to reduce The Conservation of Biodiversity Program ecological impacts of nonnative species. provides high-quality, relevant information across the conservation continuum: status, threats, vulnerable components, response of organisms and ecosystems to threats, tradeoffs in desired management outcomes, efficacy of management approaches through adaptive management, restoration and recovery techniques and tools, and effectiveness monitoring and evaluation techniques.

2015 Research Highlights Balancing act: Meeting the demands of fish and frogs in regulated rivers Managing rivers with regulated waterflows (e.g., owing to management of flow and temperature for salmonids can dams or water storage) for both yellow-legged frogs and affect frog breeding success. Low-temperature releases salmonids can be difficult as each species depends on were predicted to delay tadpole metamorphosis, which specific temperatures and streamflows that if altered can reduce overwinter survival. Mitigating this impact could significantly affect one species or the other. through warmer reservoir releases was predicted to Specifically, frogs lay eggs in rivers in spring and depend cause adult frogs to lay eggs before spring flow releases on declining flows and warming temperatures for egg and for salmonids, which would destroy the eggs. Land tadpole survival and growth. Alternatively, salmonids managers can use this model to inform how to manage depend on high spring flows and low-temperature regulated rivers to accommodate these divergent life reservoir releases to successfully move upstream to history strategies. spawn. Station scientists built a model of how Yellow-legged frog. Miniature sensors reveal big news in bat ecology The migratory patterns of bats between their summer and farther than 50 kilometers per night, although flight directions winter habitats have been inferred from limited existing data, but were not predictable. One hoary bat traveled 130 kilometers in their actual migration routes and behavior remain largely just one night, and 1000 kilometers in a single month. By linking unknown. Station scientists teamed with the U.S. Geological activity and temperature data from the sensors with local Survey, Bat Conservation International, and a veterinarian to weather data, the team discovered a new phenomenon in that pioneer the ability to attach global positioning system (GPS) and one bat engaged in multiweek bouts of torpor during the winter. temperature/activity/light sensors to migratory hoary bats. The This project yielded new insights into bat ecology.​ GPS tags revealed that some hoary bats regularly traveled Conserving California’s hardwood ecosystems: The Valley Oak field trial Valley Oak, a majestic California native oak found throughout the species by creating a living conservation bank for the California’s foothills, valleys, and flood plains, is under threat genetic diversity of valley oak, and establishing an invaluable owing to habitat loss, low success rates, and climate change. scientific resource through the study of how each tree In 2015, PSW Research Station, in collaboration with University responds to different climatic conditions (such as temperature of California, , established the first fully replicated and precipitation), and what genetic characteristics are field trial (provenance test) consisting of 600 seedlings associated with trees that fare well and poorly under different representing 95 populations of valley oak planted at two conditions. The short- and long-term results of this work will separate sites in California (Placerville and Chico). This field help guide valley oak management, conservation, and trial represents a major accomplishment in the conservation of restoration efforts throughout California.

Scientists tracked the migration routes of migratory hoary bats. (Gabe Reyes)

Valley Oak seedlings at the Institute of Forest Genetics in Placerville, California. (U.S. Forest Service/Sherri Eng)

Good news for the Point Arena mountain beaver The mountain beaver has a restricted distribution in the Pacific nondetection) locations that were used to develop a habitat Northwest due to its physiological limits to heat stress and suitability model by relating the locations to local environmental water needs. The Point Arena subspecies is an endangered conditions. New detections expanded the known geographic species and has an extremely small and isolated distribution. range by over 50 percent, and well over a third of this expanded Station scientists sampled the occurrence of Point Arena range was estimated to be suitable habitat. The identification of mountain beavers to learn more about their range-wide high-suitability areas through the range has moderated distribution, predict the environmental features that best concerns about habitat loss and will allow land managers to describe their occurrence, and establish a baseline for prioritize areas for conservation and evaluate how a changing monitoring their distribution. Surveys yielded detection (and climate may affect the distribution in the future. Point Arena mountain beaver. (U.S. Forest Service)

Conservation of Biodiversity Program Ecosystem Function and Health Research focuses on the following areas: United States forests and wildland ecosystems are exceedingly diverse and provide a • Determine how biophysical factors influence wide array of societal goods and services. From clean water, timber and non-timber the function and productivity of tropical, products, and carbon sequestration to recreational use, aesthetic beauty, and native subtropical, and temperate ecosystems. biodiversity, these ecosystems are national treasures that contribute to the prosperity • Quantify and predict ecosystem responses and of current and future generations. A growing list of environmental pressures, including adaptation to environmental stressors. climate change, insect outbreaks, water scarcity, and an increasing human population, threaten the health and integrity of these ecosystems. • Define and measure the impacts of biotic and abiotic stresses on hydrological and The Ecosystem Function and Health Program focuses on the interactions atmospheric systems. among changes in or brought about by biotic and abiotic factors, such as • Develop models and tools, and evaluate temperature and precipitation, invasive species, air pollution, insects, pathogens, management options for restoring, sustaining, and and past and current land management actions. Station scientists conduct enhancing ecosystem function and productivity. research that provides an integrated understanding of the biophysical conditions that threaten ecosystem resilience, including how environmental changes are initiated and progress, what thresholds are associated with these changes, and what the consequences are of crossing identified thresholds.

2015 Research Highlights Digging in the dirt: forest resilience found in soil The Long-Term Soil Productivity Study (LTSP) was storage, nutrient content, root penetration, and water and conceived in the 1980s by a consortium of U.S. and air movement, did not differ dramatically among Canadian scientists. Recognizing that healthy soil is a treatments, and, of equal surprise, differences in tree prerequisite for the health of all growth response were ordinary. These findings support forested ecosystems, the the concept that scientists designed and installed a soil functions LTSP Network common experiment at more than can remain Core sites 100 sites to test the resilience of robust following Affiliated sites soils and forests following a one-time forest moderate to severe disturbance. harvest disturbance By 2015, most study sites in of considerable California had reached the 20-year severity. mark, and the findings provided A severely compacted plot on the Long-Term Soil Productivity Study. Field biologist Paul Renslow measuring unexpected evidence of forest soil Common treatments at installations across the United States and soil greenhouse gases in a young stand Canada include a gradient of soil compaction (none, moderate, in California, circa 1997. resilience and recovery. Diagnostic Location of study installations severe) and organic residue retention (high, moderate, none). across the United States and Canada. (U.S. Forest Service) soil properties, such as carbon (U.S. Forest Service)

Using LiDAR to better map and estimate snags in forested landscapes In recent years, recognition of the essential roles accurate estimates. To address this problem, a station standing dead trees (snags) play in forest ecosystems researcher and collaborators explored and successfully has significantly increased. Snags provide key habitat developed a new method that uses remotely sensed components for many threatened and forest-health- airborne LiDAR (light detection and ranging) data to indicator species while also serving as key indicators of identify, map, and measure snags across the forest biodiversity. Unfortunately, assessing the number landscape. The method helps overcome the inherent of snags is inherently difficult owing to their irregular difficulties associated with estimating and monitoring and sparse distribution across the landscape. Most snags, while also providing snag stem maps that can be standard sampling designs are not efficient for rare used to explore the spatial distribution of snags across events, such as snags, and thus require complex and the landscape. expensive sampling procedures to produce sufficiently

Redistributing windrow topsoil enhances tree growth and alters understory species Windrowing is a site-preparation operation that piles after treatment. The results of the study indicate that the debris and shrub slash in linear rows. The process often negative effects of windrowing site preparation can be displaces significant amounts of topsoil including mitigated by carefully redistributing windrowed topsoil, nutrients and carbon into these linear rows. Although even in an established plantation. seedling survival and short-term growth may increase on account of the early control of competing vegetation, this practice can reduce long-term productivity, which affects the ability to restore forests. To test forest practices and productivity, station scientists studied the effect of redistributing windrowed topsoil on growth and development of ponderosa pine plantations. By redistributing about 18 centimeters of windrowed topsoil, stand growth increased significantly. Redistributing Windrowing site preparation and planted seedlings or trees (A) and 54-year-old plantation (B) in which a 2012 topsoil reduced understory woody plant biomass but thinning for fuels reduction was conducted around the research blocks (five rectangular strips). Picture B is significantly enhanced herbaceous biomass six years adapted from Google Earth.

Quantifying impact of wildland fires on particulate matter in central California As California’s climate warms and wildfires increase in particulate matter values, but only on days with high frequency and severity, air quality regulators and land smoke density plumes above the site. The study also managers are becoming increasingly interested in found that fires in most years and locations have no understanding the impacts and spatial extent of smoke significant impact on compliance with current federal from wildland fire on air quality. Station researchers used regulatory thresholds and that the majority of the PM2.5 real-time smoke data and statistical modeling to assess pollution in the Sierra Nevada appears to be driven by the contribution of smoke to surface fine particulate human-caused emissions, rather than the episodic matter (PM ) levels. The study estimated between 27 natural sources, such as fire. 2.5 Decaying snag providing a diversity of ecological functions. (U.S. Forest and 47 percent chance of a fire affecting ground-level Service/Kelly Smith)

Ecosystem Function and Health Program Fire and Fuels Research focuses on the following areas: Managing fire and the vegetation conditions that fuel fire is a paramount • Improve measurement, modeling, and challenge to land managers throughout most of California, Hawaii, and the prediction of wildland fire and weather U.S.-affiliated Pacific Islands. The mission of the Fire and Fuels Program phenomena in complex landscapes and fuels. is to provide scientific findings that will improve management actions intended • Determine the ecological effects of fire and fire to enhance resiliency and sustainability of wildland ecosystems affected by fire, removal on landscapes throughout California, and reduce the potential for adverse effects resulting from wildland fire, Hawaii, and the U.S.-affiliated Pacific Islands. including loss of life and property. • Evaluate the short- and long-term outcomes of fuels, fire, and postfire management strategies. • Determine and quantify the interactions between climate, vegetation, and fire in the face of a changing climate and improve our understanding and predictability of these interactions in order to manage forests and wildlands more effectively. • Describe and quantify uncertainty and risk in a science-based decisionmaking framework for fire and land management planning.

2015 Research Highlights Fuel loads vary with overstory in a fire-excluded Sierra Nevada mixed-conifer forest Understanding fuel loads is critical to research and canopy cover and tree species, explained between 16 and management in forests with altered fire regimes. Fuel 29 percent of the variation in fuel load. Greater canopy loads are difficult to measure because of their variability, cover and white fir abundance were associated with but a better understanding of fuel bed characteristics can greater fuel loads, while greater pine abundance was aid in evaluating fire behavior and effects. Overstory associated with lower load of fine woody fuels and greater (canopy) forest structure and composition, which are load of litter. Knowledge of relationships contributing to easier to measure than fuels, would be expected to variation in fuel loads increases our understanding of fuel influence fuel accumulation. To assess this, station accumulation and improves our ability to anticipate researchers used intensive tree and fuel measurements in variability in fire behavior and effects. a fire-excluded Sierra Nevada mixed-conifer forest to Accumulated forest fuel at the Stanislaus Tuolumne build predictive models that relate overstory structure and Experimental Forest, during a prescribed burn in 2013. composition to surface fuel. Overstory variables, such as (U.S. Forest Service/Eric Knapp)

Paleoclimate fire history study reveals that humans have greater affect on forest ecosystems Station scientists studied two low-elevation lakes near differences between the two lakes. Climate has been prehistoric American Indian villages. Former paleoclimate viewed as the dominant determinant of vegetation studies in the region assumed that the fire regime was structure and composition change over time, but primarily influenced by climate alone. However, the PSW ethnographic and anthropological evidence suggest that Research Station study indicates that despite having Native American land use practices (i.e., fire use) had similar climate histories, the two lakes have differing fire significant landscape effects on vegetation. This research regimes and associated vegetation over the last several highlights the importance of using multidisciplinary thousand years. Lake basin size, sediment deposition methods to investigate the potential affects that climate, rates, distance from human habitation sites, coastal prehistoric, and early historic American Indian fire influence, regional precipitation, and human influences management, as well as the effects of fire exclusion, have Research ecologist Frank Lake shows Ukonom Hotshots the desired fire on local fire regimes are likely responsible for the on forest ecosystems. scars on stump sample. (U.S. Forest Service)

Historical data yields insight into structure and fire in ponderosa pine and mixed-conifer forests Station researchers, with collaborators from the University mixed-conifer forests, and the similarity of canopy cover of California, Berkeley, analyzed historical timber survey in contemporary ponderosa pine and mixed-conifer data collected in 1911 in the Stanislaus and Sequoia forests. The 1911 data suggest that fires did not National Forests. The analyses showed that historical historically result in large patches (40 acres or more) of forest structure was very open, but highly variable. A stand replacement, as commonly occurs in contemporary comparison of the Sequoia National Forest data from wildfires. The results of this study will 1911 to current forest data found that forests have inform restoration efforts in Sierra Historical photo of a changed drastically, particularly in tree density, with Nevada ponderosa pine-mixed conifer “characteristic well-timbered increased small tree density and decreased large tree forests. region” near the Silver Fork of the American River in the El density, canopy cover, dominance of white fir in Dorado National Forest in 1899. (UC Berkeley Forestry Library) Thermal breakdown of forest fuels affected by how they are heated Wildland fire results when the gases released by heated forest fuels ignite. Current fire tools do not explicitly Combustion model the pyrolysis process (chemical decomposition of compounds caused by high temperatures) in which Pyrolysis - gases, physical and chemical changes occur to produce moisture, char gases. A station researcher and partners examined the importance of modeling chemical reactions in pyrolysis of Leaf a fuel exposed to radiant (flame) and convective (hot gas) Radiation heating. Factoring in the chemical reactions reduced the amount of time before the fuel ignited, producing a more realistic result. The type of heating (radiant or convective) also affected the amount of time required for the gases to ignite. The results demonstrate the importance of Convection chemistry in wildland fire spread and underscore the Simulation results suggest that Net Net value of studying other forest fuels for an accurate convection and radiation can Convection Radiation Internal Radiation have a significant effect on and Convection understanding of wildland fire behavior. pyrolysis of woody fuel particles.

Fire and Fuels Program

Urban Ecosystems and Social Dynamics Program Dynamics Social and Ecosystems Urban

facilitating pathways to proenvironmental action. proenvironmental to pathways facilitating

may report their own actions through stories and and stories through actions own their report may

Web 2.0 and social media in generating and/or and/or generating in media social and 2.0 Web

Contextual

regulating household energy use. energy household regulating

(TPAM): a conceptual model linking the functions of of functions the linking model conceptual a (TPAM): environmentally responsible behavior. Visitors to a site site a to Visitors behavior. responsible environmentally

Social

recycling, and and recycling, The Technologies for Proenvironmental Action Model Model Action Proenvironmental for Technologies The

communicating social norms supportive of of supportive norms social communicating

Personal

E.g., driving a hybrid vehicle, vehicle, hybrid a driving E.g.,

networking sites may be particularly effective in in effective particularly be may sites networking

Pathways

Proenvironmental Action Proenvironmental

youth. For example, the relational function of social social of function relational the example, For youth. anticipated effectiveness. anticipated

environmentally responsible behaviors, especially among among especially behaviors, responsible environmentally approaches with greater greater with approaches

personal, social, and contextual pathways to to pathways contextual and social, personal, to focus efforts to those those to efforts focus to Generate

relational, and experiential) can generate or facilitate facilitate or generate can experiential) and relational, efforts within the agency, helping helping agency, the within efforts

Facilitate functions of Web 2.0 and social media (i.e., informational, informational, (i.e., media social and 2.0 Web of functions media outreach and engagement engagement and outreach media

conceptual framework that explains how different different how explains that framework conceptual principles may enhance social social enhance may principles

Experimential

the Technologies for Proenvironmental Action Model, a a Model, Action Proenvironmental for Technologies the this model and the underlying underlying the and model this

Relational

proenvironmental action. A station researcher developed developed researcher station A action. proenvironmental similar measures. Making use of of use Making measures. similar

Informal

facilitating connections to nature and spurring spurring and nature to connections facilitating encouraging others to take take to others encouraging

Social Media Functions Media Social

Web 2.0 and social media have considerable potential for for potential considerable have media social and 2.0 Web first-hand accounts, thereby thereby accounts, first-hand

WEB 2.0 and and 2.0 WEB

Model serves as tool to improve environmental responsibility through social media media social through responsibility environmental improve to tool as serves Model

2 at maximum efficiency. maximum at stored in the the in stored CO the of percent 17 to 10 for accounted

(City Plants/Elizabeth Skrzat) Plants/Elizabeth (City

2

equipment and vehicles, and twofold by operating them them operating by twofold and vehicles, and equipment emissions from irrigation irrigation from emissions CO great, is demand water

activities? care tree by emitted amount the exceed Angeles Los in

Will the amount of carbon stored over the next 50 years by street trees trees street by years 50 next the over stored carbon of amount the Will can be reduced threefold by selecting energy-efficient energy-efficient selecting by threefold reduced be can disposing of the tree. In Los Angeles, where irrigation irrigation where Angeles, Los In tree. the of disposing

2 emissions emissions CO respectively. scenarios, efficient least producing, planting, pruning, watering, removing, and and removing, watering, pruning, planting, producing,

2 than emissions associated with different practices for for practices different with associated emissions than stored in the tree for the most and and most the for tree the in stored CO of percent 4 and

California sycamore tree planted in Los Angeles is greater greater is Angeles Los in planted tree sycamore California from vehicles and equipment accounted for less than 1 1 than less for accounted equipment and vehicles from

2 stored over 50 years by a a by years 50 over stored CO whether examined bioenergy (70 percent) or mulch (79 percent). Emissions Emissions percent). (79 mulch or percent) (70 bioenergy

study conducted by a station researcher and partners partners and researcher station a by conducted study converting the wood from the removed tree into into tree removed the from wood the converting

other similar-sized industries in the service sector. A A sector. service the in industries similar-sized other This amount was substantially less than emissions from from emissions than less substantially was amount This

2 2 per year than than year per CO more release may them maintain to stored in the tree. tree. the in stored CO the of percent 25 for accounting

2 the atmosphere, the heavy equipment and vehicles used used vehicles and equipment heavy the atmosphere, the emissions for many years, years, many for emissions CO delayed products wood

2 ) from from ) (CO dioxide carbon removes trees planting While tree. Converting the wood from the removed tree into into tree removed the from wood the Converting tree.

How green is the “green” industry? “green” the is green How

youth. (BAYCAT) youth.

understand how to effectively reach diverse urban youth by by youth urban diverse reach effectively to how understand communities.

video about what the outdoors means to to means outdoors the what about video

A young filmmaker shoots footage for a a for footage shoots filmmaker young A methodology, and analysis for the study including: including: study the for analysis and methodology, positively transform their their transform positively

media. Three primary goals drove the direction, direction, the drove goals primary Three media. remain involved as they seek to to seek they as involved remain

employs underserved youth and young adults in digital digital in adults young and youth underserved employs engagement in the program, and and program, the in engagement

San Francisco nonprofit that educates, empowers, and and empowers, educates, that nonprofit Francisco San were inspired through through inspired were

young filmmakers produced the project through BAYCAT, a a BAYCAT, through project the produced filmmakers young variety of urban youth. Youth Youth youth. urban of variety

for the Zoom In 29: Outside Your Door video project. The The project. video Door Your Outside 29: In Zoom the for these media messages with a a with messages media these

and music videos about what the outdoors means to them them to means outdoors the what about videos music and and evaluate the effectiveness of of effectiveness the evaluate and

messaging. Twenty-four young people produced short films films short produced people young Twenty-four messaging. topics of interest to adolescents; adolescents; to interest of topics

through the use of social media and youth-driven youth-driven and media social of use the through urban and rural forests about about forests rural and urban

people’s relationship with, and views of, the outdoors outdoors the of, views and with, relationship people’s for diverse urban youth regarding regarding youth urban diverse for

cooperation with PSW Research Station) explored young young explored Station) Research PSW with cooperation develop sample key messages messages key sample develop

Researchers from State University (in (in University State Francisco San from Researchers identifying appropriate media; media; appropriate identifying

Young filmmakers bridge divide between urban youth and public lands public and youth urban between divide bridge filmmakers Young

Devil’s Slide hiking trail in the San Jacinto Wilderness. (U.S. Forest Service/Jose Sanchez) Service/Jose Forest (U.S. Wilderness. Jacinto San the in trail hiking Slide Devil’s

conservation of the resources. the of conservation

environmental and social costs and thus enhance enhance thus and costs social and environmental

catastrophic disturbances. This may reduce reduce may This disturbances. catastrophic

Devil’s Slide hiking trail in the San Jacinto Wilderness. (U.S. Forest Service/Jose Sanchez) other and wildfires from losses potential reduce and

managers plan more efficient fire management strategies strategies management fire efficient more plan managers

loss is estimated at $3.7 million. These findings can help help can findings These million. $3.7 at estimated is loss

completely close wilderness trails, the total recreation recreation total the trails, wilderness close completely

trails can be substantial. Should high-intensity wildfires wildfires high-intensity Should substantial. be can trails

analysis suggest that the recreation value of some hiking hiking some of value recreation the that suggest analysis

backcountry visitors recreating in the area. Results of the the of Results area. the in recreating visitors backcountry

partners analyzed and assessed survey data from from data survey assessed and analyzed partners

Wilderness in southern California, station researchers and and researchers station California, southern in Wilderness

To determine the recreation value of the San Jacinto Jacinto San the of value recreation the determine To

Determining the impact of wildfire on recreation values recreation on wildfire of impact the Determining

2015 Research Highlights Research 2015

people, and societies. societies. and people,

ecosystems, among interconnections the

science needed to understand and enhance enhance and understand to needed science

Program conducts research and communicates communicates and research conducts

Urban Ecosystems and Social Dynamics Dynamics Social and Ecosystems Urban The The

management, and restoration. and management,

social dynamics of natural resources conservation, conservation, resources natural of dynamics social

research that examines urban ecosystems and and ecosystems urban examines that research

along rural-to-urban gradients. rural-to-urban along

ensure benefits to society through interdisciplinary interdisciplinary through society to benefits ensure

ecological and social patterns and processes processes and patterns social and ecological

areas, enhance and protect quality of life, and and life, of quality protect and enhance areas,

Examine the impacts of public policies on on policies public of impacts the Examine •

functioning ecosystems in urban and wildland wildland and urban in ecosystems functioning

on use and sustainability of natural resources. resources. natural of sustainability and use on

Research Station strives to maintain forests, sustain sustain forests, maintain to strives Station Research

urbanization, socioeconomics, and technology technology and socioeconomics, urbanization,

connection to the land and wildlife. The PSW PSW The wildlife. and land the to connection

Ascertain the roles of changing demographics, demographics, changing of roles the Ascertain •

water, clean air, natural scenic beauty, and a a and beauty, scenic natural air, clean water,

and management. management. and

the resources that only nature can provide: clean clean provide: can nature only that resources the

uses, human values, ecosystem services, services, ecosystem values, human uses,

complex and enduring. People need and yearn for for yearn and need People enduring. and complex

Determine the relationships among human human among relationships the Determine • The interconnection between humans and nature is is nature and humans between interconnection The

Research focuses on the following areas: following the on focuses Research Urban Ecosystem and Social Dynamics Social and Ecosystem Urban Research Partners The PSW Research Station depends on its many partners and collaborators in developing and delivering cutting-edge, practical science to the public. Conservation strategy developed for fishers in the Southern Sierra In 2015, a multiyear collaboration between currently being considered for both state the Conservation Biology Institute, USDA and federal endangered species listing. Forest Service Region 5, and PSW Using research data from multiple projects, Research Station resulted in the completion the science team developed an innovative of a comprehensive Fisher Conservation approach to map and evaluate habitat Fishers in the southern Sierra Nevada face numerous threats to their existence. Strategy for the southern Sierra Nevada needed by adult female fishers to survive (National Park Service) region. Faced with threats from habitat loss, and reproduce in a changing landscape. species conservation and a critical wildfire, poisoning from illegal marijuana The conservation strategy for the fisher component in forest plan revision for cultivation, and predation, fishers are represents a significant accomplishment for the three southern national forests. Partnership between the Carnegie Institution and the Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry celebrates a decade of research and development The Hawaiian Islands host unique flora management. Since 2005, station represent the most scientifically advanced, invasive species and fauna and encompass dramatic researchers have teamed up with the aircraft-based mapping and data analytics presence, fuel latitudinal and elevation gradients. Carnegie Institute to measure Hawaii's system operating in the civil sector today. conditions, Unfortunately, areas of Hawaii have ecosystems from the air. With support CAO-1 was deployed to Hawaii Island in Carnegie Airborne aboveground carbon already lost significant proportions of their from the W.M. Keck Foundation, the team 2008 and revolutionized natural resources Observatory mapping areas density, and from 2007 to 2008 flights native biodiversity, and remaining natural developed the Carnegie Airborne research, management, and over major forested regions structural forest areas are threatened with continued loss Observatory (CAO-1) in 2006 and the decisionmaking. These flights allowed for of Hawaii Island. These, and properties. additional forest zones, will without active, forward-thinking land CAO-3 in 2015. Together, these systems first-ever landscape-scale mapping of be remapped. (Carnegie Institution) The station and the Brazilian Ministry of the Environment Active fire plume from burning in tropical forest and pasture near Maraba, partner on fire and environmental change research Brazil, from which smoke was sampled and trace gases were measured. The Forest Service renewed its Service, Tom Tidwell. The cooperation is (U.S. Forest Service/Philip Riggan) cooperation with the ministry of the intended to build upon past work, current environment of the Federative Republic of efforts, and new technologies to realize a Brazil on the subject of fire and rapid, integrated, and practical system for environmental change in tropical fire monitoring and prediction that will ecosystems with the signing of a support fire management and policy, Declaration of Intent by the Brazilian contributing to reduction of greenhouse economical fire damages. Minister of the Environment, Izabella gas emissions, improving air quality, and Teixeira, and the chief of the Forest mitigating ecological, social, and Rapid feedback evaluations to inform meadow restoration Mountain meadows serve important become a priority in drought-stricken ecosystem service functions especially California. However, the restoration of to improve hydrologic function, as well in times of drought or flood: they hydrologic function is complex and as other benefits such as carbon enhance groundwater recharge, success can be elusive. Station sequestration and biodiversity dissipate energy from high flows, and scientists partnered with university conservation. store carbon in their oxygen-poor soils. researchers, land managers, and These ecological functions are reduced restoration practitioners to support when meadows and stream channels restoration efforts by developing a have been degraded as a result of land monitoring approach that can provide Geomorphologist Diane Montoya use or other disturbance events. rapid feedback to inform and enhance maps stream morphology at Big Restoring meadow functions has restoration implementation and success Flat on Cottonwood Creek. (U.S. Forest Service/Karen Pope) Understanding the effects of the Get to Know Program on children’s connectedness with nature The Get to Know Program is an international evaluation of three program components, youth. Youth participants had marked were less effective at eliciting increased program aimed at fostering connections to providing valuable insights to the program increases in connections with nature after connections with nature. These results will nature. Working with several academic, partners and environmental educators at actively engaging in the creative arts help in development of effective tools for government, and community organizations, large. Findings demonstrate the value of the contest. Findings also show that hiking a outreach focused on connecting the station performed the first systematic creative arts in environmental education for built adventure trail and taking a virtual hike participants with nature. Station adds new cooperating experimental forest to portfolio of PSW research areas The station signed an agreement with the provides a valuable opportunity to study Department of Natural Resources and the methods of resource conservation Environmental Sciences at Cal Poly San applied through sustainable management Luis Obispo to recognize their Swanton techniques. The U.S. Forest Service's Pacific Ranch as a new Cooperating system of experimental forests and Experimental Forest. The area, located ranges provides places specifically near Santa Cruz, California, is a 3,200- designated and administered to enable acre landscape composed of a majestic research that improves forest and range redwood forest, lush riverine ecosystems, management. The 5-year agreement will and expansive coastal grassland facilitate an increase in research projects overlooking the bay and the Pacific aimed at monitoring and predicting the Ocean. Recognized for its biodiversity effects of climate change on the nation’s and abundant resources, the ranch farm, range, and forest lands. Cal Poly San Luis Obispo’s Swanton Pacific Ranch joins the Forest Service’s network of experimental forests and ranges. (Cal Poly San Luis Obispo) Awards Researcher wins prestigious Wildlife crossing work receives “Tree Hero” honored for Scientists honored with Rise Station Director’s honor ornithology award national recognition dedication to sustainable to the Future awards awards recognize ​The Cooper Ornithological Society ​The Federal Highway urban forests ​Station scientists were among outstanding achievements recognized postdoctoral research Administration awarded its ​The Sacramento Tree the recipients of the Rise to the Station Director Alex Friend wildlife biologist Jared Wolfe with 2015 Environmental Excellence Foundation honored Research Future awards for Fisheries, presented PSW’s annual Station the 2015 Young Professional Award in Environmental Forester Greg McPherson Hydrology, Soil Science and Director’s Honor Awards. The Award for his outstanding Leadership to ARC (Animal with a Valley Oak Award for Air Programs. Research Plant Honor Awards recognize scientific research and contribu- Road Crossings) Solutions, his dedication to creating Pathologist Mark Fenn re- employees who have made tions to the ornithological profes- a partnership seeking to make sustainable urban forests ceived the Paul Miller Air significant contributions to the sion. Wolfe’s work includes highway wildlife crossing across the Nation. The founda- Award in recognition of his mission of the Forest Service. research on the effects of habitat structures a standard practice tion, committed to growing the international leadership in Award recipients included Jim and climate change on bird across North America through Sacramento region’s urban studying air pollution effects Baldwin for Distinguished populations in forested land- encouraging innovative cost- forest by leading an effort to on the environment leading to Science; Christie Aldrete for scapes. Results from this research saving designs. Forest Service plant 5 million trees, recognizes advancement in air program Innovation and Service within the suggest that many forest-dwelling awardees included PSW wildlife McPherson’s research, educa- management. The Kings River Station; Tom Cole for Safe and birds are highly sensitive to biologist Sandra Jacobson tional tools, and personal Experimental Watershed Healthy Workplace; and Craig fragmentation, exhibiting stark and Tahoe National Forest passion that inspire others to Group led by research ecolo- Thompson for Science Delivery. decreases in survival. public services officer Terry plant and protect trees. gist Carolyn Hunsaker received Brennan, both members of the the Jim Sedell Research ARC Solutions Steering Achievement Award for its role Committee. ARC is an interna- in developing and implement- tional network whose mission ing a long-term ecosystem is to identify and promote experiment on forest restora- leading-edge solutions to tion effects in the headwaters improve human safety, wildlife of the Sierra Nevada. mobility, and long-term land- scape connectivity. “Tree Hero” Greg McPherson (center) is pictured with former Sacramento Mayor Burnett Miller, Doris Matsui (L-R): 2015 Station Director’s Honor Award recipients (U.S. Congress, California District 6), Cindy Blain (California Craig Thompson, Christie Aldrete and Jim Baldwin pose ReLeaf), and Ray Tretheway (Sacramento Tree with PSW Station Director Alex Friend. Not pictured is (Kristin Brzeski) Foundation) at the awards ceremony. (Mary Gray) recipient Tom Cole. (U.S. Forest Service/Sherri Eng) Research Partners and Awards PSW Research Station Organization Locations

STATION DIRECTOR ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, RESEARCH PSW-Albany (Headquarters) Dr. Alexander L. Friend Dr. Jane L. Hayes 800 Buchanan Street (510) 883-8832 (510) 883-8835 Albany, CA 94710-0011 [email protected] [email protected] Phone: (510) 883-8830 Fax: (510) 883-8858

PSW-Arcata 1700 Bayview Drive ACTING ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, DIRECTOR, COMMUNICATIONS Arcata, CA 95521-6013 BUSINESS OPERATIONS Sherri Eng Phone: (707) 825-2900 Kari Vasenden (510) 883-8862 Fax: (707) 825-2901 (510) 883-8834 [email protected] [email protected] PSW-Davis 1731 Research Park Drive Davis, CA 95618 Phone: (530) 759-1700 DIRECTOR, DIRECTOR, RESEARCH PLANNING Fax: (530) 747-0241 PARTNERSHIPS AND COLLABORATION A.J. Duggan Dr. Rick Bottoms (510) 883-8836 PSW-Fresno (530) 759-1748 [email protected] 2081 E. Sierra Avenue [email protected] Fresno, CA 93710-4639 Phone: (559) 323-3200 Fax: (559) 297-3355

PROGRAM MANAGER, ACTING PROGRAM MANAGER, PSW-Hilo, Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry CONSERVATION OF BIODIVERSITY ECOSYSTEM FUNCTION AND HEALTH 60 Nowelo Street Dr. Patricia Manley Josh Wilson Hilo, HI 96720 (530) 621-6882 (530) 286-2255 Phone: (808) 933-8121 [email protected] [email protected] Fax: (808) 933-8120 PSW-Placerville, Institute of Forest Genetics 2480 Carson Road ACTING PROGRAM MANAGER, ACTING PROGRAM MANAGER, URBAN Placerville, CA 95667 FIRE AND FUELS ECOSYSTEMS AND SOCIAL DYNAMICS Phone: (530) 622-1225 Dr. Philip Riggan Dr. Patricia Winter Fax: (530) 622-2633 (951) 680-1534 (951) 680-1557 [email protected] [email protected] PSW-Redding 3644 Avtech Parkway Redding, CA 96002 DIRECTOR, INSTITUTE OF CREDITS Phone: (530) 226-2530 PACIFIC ISLANDS FORESTRY Director of Communications – Sherri Eng Fax: (530) 226-5091 Dr. Ricardo D. Lopez Writers – A.J. Duggan, Sherri Eng (808) 854-2601 Graphic design – Jason Blake PSW-Riverside 4955 Canyon Crest Drive [email protected] Riverside, CA 92507 Phone: (951) 680-1500 Fax: (951) 680-1501 April 2016 Electronic version available at: www.fs.fed.us/psw/about/accomplishments/ USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.