C perspectivesO & tools toMPAS benefit southern forest resources from the southern research station S issue 11

Return of the American Chestnut

The American Chestnut: A Legacy to Come...page 3 Solutions from the Double Helix...page 6 Where Great Forests Once Stood. . . p a g e 1 4 inside... the science

American American chestnut was an important part of everyday life 1 for millions of people almost a century ago, a magnificent Chestnut and tree and an integral component of a forest ecosystem that Beyond provided habitat and abundant food sources for animals by Jim Reaves and Zoë Hoyle and people. Still, why should we devote research time and money to a tree that’s now mostly a memory?

The American In 1983, a group of scientists who had long believed 3 that there was a strong chance of reviving the American Chestnut: a chestnut formed The American Chestnut Foundation with legacy to come the sole purpose of restoring the tree to its native forests. by Meghan Jordan

Solutions from SRS geneticist Tom Kubisiak has worked with The 6 American Chestnut Foundation on just about every aspect the Double of their restoration program, from charting the genetic Helix diversity of the American chestnut trees still living to by Zoë Hoyle helping map the genome of the chestnut blight fungus.

A Chromosomal The goal of The American Chestnut Foundation’s breeding 11 programs is to transfer Chinese chestnut blight resistance Conundrum to American chestnut while transferring as little Chinese by Zoë Hoyle chestnut genetic material as possible. Producing these blight-resistant hybrids is not as simple as it might seem.

Chestnut Cytogenetics, the study of the behavior of chromosomes 13 Cytogenetics: and their effect on heredity, has a long and distinguished Faridi, history that includes several winners of the Nobel Prize. Burnham, and McClintock by Paul Sisco

compass—june 2008 Where Great Old photographs on file at the SRS Coweeta Hydrologic 14 Forests Once Laboratory offer a dramatic portrayal of where great forests once stood. In warm summer months, when Stood American chestnut trees cloaked themselves with white by Gary Kuhlmann blossoms, the Southern Appalachian Mountains looked like they were blanketed with snow.

Can Chestnuts In spring 2009, the Forest Service will begin planting three 18 generations of hybrid seedlings on national forests in Survive On Their Tennessee, North Carolina, and Virginia. Research forester Own? Stacy Clark, SRS lead scientist for implementing the first by Claire Payne test plantings, works with a range of partners interested in finding out what will help chestnut seedlings survive out in the wild.

departments briefs

Experimental Forests...... 21 The American The Promise of a 2 10 Science You Can Use!...... 25 Chestnut Foundation...... Virus Blighted...... Mighty Giants...... 2 A Prolific and Around the Station...... 27 Cherokee Uses of Chestnut...... 3 Nutritious Nut...... 16 New Products...... 30 The Meadowview Coweeta Hydrologic Research Farms...... 4 Laboratory...... 17 The Way Forward is Back...... 5 The First Enemy of American Chestnut...... 17 Why American Chestnut?...... 7 Take a Chestnut Journey Chestnut Blight...... 9 Along the Appalachian Trail.....26 Research Work Units...... 42

Cover photo: Photo showing the three distinctive nuts contained in the American chestnut burr. (Photo by Joe Schibig, courtesy of The American Chestnut Foundation)

Email: [email protected], [email protected] communication of program information (Braille, large print, Telephone: 828-257-4388 audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at C OMPASS Editors: Zoë Hoyle, Science Writer, and Claire Payne, (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). Technical Information Specialist Science You Can Use! Art Director: Rodney Kindlund To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Contributing Staff Writers: Carol Whitlock, Livia Marqués, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, June 2008 — Issue 11 and Wilma Fant SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, or call (800) 795- perspectives and tools to benefit southern forest resources 3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal The mission of the Southern Research Station is to create opportunity provider and employer. the science and technology needed to sustain and OMPAS is published by the Science Delivery Group of C S enhance southern forest ecosystems and the benefits The use of trade or firm names in this publication is for the Southern Research Station (SRS), Forest Service, U.S. they provide. reader information and does not imply endorsement Department of Agriculture. As part of the Nation’s largest by the U.S. Department of Agriculture of any product or forestry research organization—Forest Service Research The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits service. and Development—SRS serves 13 Southern States and discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis beyond. The Station’s 130 scientists work at more than of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where The opinions and recommendations offered by guest 20 units located across the region at Federal laboratories, applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental authors and interviewees are not necessarily those of the universities, and experimental forests. status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Forest Service, or the political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an Southern Research Station. Future issues can be obtained by returning the postcard individual’s income is derived from any public assistance included in this issue. program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) ISSN: 1931-4906 Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for Printed on recycled paper Printed with soy ink www.srs.fs.usda.gov An American chestnut tree in West Salem, WI, planted outside the chestnut’s natural range in the early 1900s by settlers. Under the tree are, from left: TACF president and CEO Marshal Case, Dr. Cameron Gundersen, and Bruce Gabel. (Photo courtesy of Daphne Van Schaick)

compass—june 2008 American Chestnut and Beyond by Jim Reaves and Zoë Hoyle

ou might wonder why we would nurtured them spiritually? Since the fungus itself—and its relationship with Ydevote an entire issue of Compass turn of the century, we’ve lost almost a virus—are providing fundamental to the American chestnut. As you all of the magnificent chestnut trees information about how the pathogens will read, American chestnut was an to the chestnut blight. Monumental that invade trees evolve and important part of everyday life for strides have been made to bring these interact among themselves. Another millions of people almost a century trees back to forests. Now that we’ve SRS scientist looks into the very ago, a magnificent tree—tall and been somewhat successful in bringing chromosomes of tree cells to find out spreading—and an integral component these trees back, how can we keep why a particular hybrid won’t grow or of a forest ecosystem that provided them and other foundation species— reproduce. habitat and abundant food sources for those that define a forest—intact in the While other SRS scientists study animals and people. But why should face of further invasions? how well both pure and hybrid we devote research time and money to American chestnut seedlings do on a tree that’s now mostly a memory? “The death of the American a range of sites, they’re gathering The death of the American chestnut chestnut across the the data that will guide the planting across the Eastern United States Eastern United States was of trees in the future. They’re also was just the beginning of a series just the beginning of a adding data to that long-term record of of decimations of great American series of decimations of disturbance and regrowth in American trees by pathogens and pests not great American trees by forests that the Forest Service started native to our climate and ecosystem. pathogens and pests not collecting over a century ago—data These “nonnative invasives,” as we native to our climate and that’s coming into its own in computer call them right now, are brought in ecosystem.” models that predict where best to inadvertently—on landscape plants plant trees after a major disturbance. (or as landscape plants), in shipments Other models are designed for rapid of goods, inside tires, even on the As a result of long years of research risk assessment, to let us know about shoes of travelers. Once here, they’re and the traditional crossbreeding a major invasion such as chestnut unhampered by the organisms that program started by The American blight before it’s too late to do kept them in check in their native Chestnut Foundation (TACF), there anything about it. lands, and can move quickly through will soon be blight-resistant American This issue of Compass celebrates our forests, laying low chestnut, elm, chestnut seedlings (at least 94 percent the 25th anniversary of TACF, itself ash, oak—in some cases, tipping the pure) available for planting throughout the culmination of decades of effort ecological balance toward yet more the tree’s former range. While breeders by thousands of individuals. We invasions. were patiently searching forests for hope that what we’ve learned about pollen-producing trees and pollinating How will we respond as these bringing back this great American tree, by hand on research farms, the science invasions continue, possibly especially what we’re learning in the of genetics and genomics came of age. accelerated by global climate change? accelerating world of tree genetics, Genetic research by our own Station How can we keep our native forests can help us figure out how to move scientists is providing growers with vital and diverse, graced with the more rapidly in the future—how to diagnostics to make crossbreeding tall old trees that we’ve written and keep chestnut, hemlock, oak, ash, and more effective and precise, while sung about, that built our ancestors’ elm in our forests as the invasions and genetic studies on the chestnut blight houses, provided shade and food, and disturbances continue.

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The American Chestnut Foundation

The goal of The American Chestnut Foundation (TACF) is to restore the American chestnut tree to its native range within the woodlands of the Eastern United States using scientific research and the breeding program developed by its founders. TACF harvested its first blight-resistant nuts in 2005, and will begin reforestation trials with blight- resistant American-type trees before the end of this decade. The return of the American chestnut to its former niche in the Appalachian hardwood forest ecosystem is a major restoration project which has involved research and sustained funding, but most importantly, the hopes and service of thousands of dedicated members and individual volunteers.

For more information: TACF: www.acf.org/history.php

The natural range of the American chestnut (Castanea dentata) extended from Mississippi to southern Ontario and as far northeast as Maine. (Map courtesy of The American Chestnut Foundation)

Mighty Giants With the publication of its first Lincoln, Carter, Thoreau, Frost, and book, Mighty Giants: An American Wyeth—the story of the once mighty Chestnut Anthology, The American native chestnut tree is a lesson for Chestnut Foundation has brought our times. It is ultimately a story of to life, in words and pictures, the how people, working together, can story of the American chestnut tree harness the power of community, over the last century. From Native scientific knowledge, and our growing Americans and early explorers, to awareness of the workings of nature to colonists, naturalists, loggers, and make a difference. industrialists—from presidents, For ordering information: poets, and artists, including Jefferson, www.acf.org/

2 compass—june 2008

THE AMERICAN CHESTNUT: A LEGACY TO COME by Meghan Jordan

“In the youth of a man not yet old, native Chestnut was still to be seen in glorious array­—the great forest below waving with creamy white Chestnut blossoms in the crowns of the ancient trees, so that it looked like a sea with white combers plowing across its surface.” —Naturalist Donald Culross Peattie

ou can still see American chestnut builders used the wood and bark from Ytrees in the forests of the Southern these giants to create a rustic, all- Appalachians, but most are small, American style that became known as mere echoes of the giants that once the “vacation architecture” of western fed wildlife and livestock and provided North Carolina. that famous spreading shade for Then the chestnut blight arrived farmhouses and city streets alike. In in the Southern Appalachians, and the first half of the 20th century, nearly the consequences were devastating. 4 billion of these iconic trees were Mountain families were left without a felled by a lethal fungus known as major source of food and cash income; chestnut blight, and southern forests Gathering Chestnuts, painting by Ernest many had grown used to harvesting Smith (1907–75), a Tonawanda Seneca and their inhabitants were transformed the nuts to sell during the holidays artist and craftsman. (From the collections of the by what has been called one of the Rochester Museum & Science Center, Rochester, NY) in cities as far away as New York. greatest ecological disasters of all Families would fatten their hogs on time. sweet-tasting American chestnuts, Cherokee Uses of The American chestnut tree grew living on the meat during the long Chestnut tall and straight—80 feet or more high mountain winters. Once the tree and several feet in diameter—and was gone, either felled by blight or Tea of year-old leaves for heart was often free of branches for the first cut down by landowners to salvage trouble; leaves from young sprouts 50 feet or so. Because of its strong what they could for lumber, an entire cure old sores; cold bark tea with wood, the chestnut was known in the generation of Americans would never buckeye to stop bleeding after birth; Southern Appalachians as a “cradle- know the beauty and grandeur of this apply warmed galls to make infant’s to-grave” tree; its strong, rot-resistant giant. navel recede; boil leaves with mullein wood served a multitude of purposes As the blight spread throughout including home building, fencing—and and brown sugar for cough syrup; dip the natural range of the American of course, cradles and coffins. leaves in hot water and put on sores; chestnut, many species of wildlife tea for typhoid; for stomach; bark The late 19th and early 20th declined or disappeared altogether makes brown dye; firewood (pops centuries brought a wave of visitors from eastern forests. Before the badly); lumber (wormy or good); rails to the mountains of western North blight, the American chestnut was the Carolina. Drawn by the fresh mountain most important wildlife food source for fences; acid wood; coffee substitute air, some of these visitors decided throughout it range, especially in the (parched). to settle down and build summer mountains of western North Carolina. From: Hamel, P.B.; Chiltoskey, M.U. homes, while others opened lodges The single most abundant tree, its 1975. Cherokee plants and their uses, and resorts. With the plentiful supply plentiful, reliable nut crop provided a 400 year history. Sylva, NC: Herald of American chestnut in local forests, Publishing Co. 65 p. (continued)

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The Meadowview The American Chestnut: individual members. Today, TACF is A Legacy to Come closer than ever to producing that Research Farms blight-resistant tree, though the winter sustenance for deer, rabbits, progenies of its breeding program bear, raccoons, wild boar, squirrels, are still in the testing phase, their In 1989 The American Chestnut mice, wood rats, wild turkeys, grouse, value still to be determined on many Foundation (TACF) established the crows, and jays. forest sites over the next decade. By Wagner Research Farm in Meadowview, Today, you can walk through harvesting only the most highly blight- VA, to start the backcrossing program almost any forest in the Southern resistant nuts, TACF will be able to developed by TACF founding scientists Appalachians and see the remains of ensure that later generations of trees Charles Burnham, David French, and the American chestnut—fallen logs will survive infection and grow to full Philip Rutter. Plant pathologist Fred and giant stumps, sometimes several height. Hebard was persuaded to move to feet in diameter, with young sprouts The first blight-resistant seeds to Meadowview to manage the research growing up out of the root collars. be tested were harvested in 2005. As farm, where he immediately began Some of these sprouts will grow tall, seed production is gradually increased testing the backcross method. By 1993, perhaps very tall, but they will almost over the next few years, these blight- Hebard had produced thousands of always succumb to chestnut blight resistant seeds will be distributed to healthy trees, including several highly before they even flower. blight-resistant seedlings, from two cooperators to test in sites across the In 1983, a group of scientists who intercrossed generations. Hebard has natural range of the American chestnut had long believed that there was a been able to reduce the time it takes tree. At some point, TACF hopes strong chance of reviving the American chestnut to flower from between 6 and to harvest enough blight-resistant chestnut formed The American 10 years to between 2 and 4 years, seeds to make them available to TACF Chestnut Foundation (TACF) with which has stepped up the pace of members and eventually to the general the sole purpose of restoring the breeding for blight resistance. public. tree to its native forests. Inspired At the same time, TACF is continuing By 1995, the research farm was filled by the work of noted geneticist and its breeding program to make further to capacity, with over 5,800 chestnut corn breeder Charles Burnham, the gains in disease resistance, growth trees at various stages of backcrossing. group embraced the idea of using a rate, and tree form. A new testing A generous donation allowed TACF to traditional backcross plant-breeding phase that begins in 2009 will include purchase a tract of land nearby, now method based on Burnham’s work plantings on national forest land under known as the Glenn C. Price Research with corn. Scientists, including a Memorandum of Understanding Farm. TACF purchased a third farm in geneticists and plant pathologists, signed in 2004 with the Forest 2002 and a fourth in 2006. Today, there crossed the American chestnut with Service. After 25 years, TACF’s plant are four research farms at Meadowview, its blight-resistant cousin, the Chinese pathologist Fred Hebard describes with over 34,000 trees at various stages chestnut. By crossing the two species, this phase in TACF’s national breeding of breeding on more than 150 acres. scientists were able to confer a degree program as “the end of the beginning.” of blight resistance on the American While there is still much work to be chestnut. The ultimate goal: a 15/16 Meadowview Research Farms. (Photo done, he feels confident that the next pure American tree that’s resistant to courtesy of The American Chestnut Foundation) phase of TACF’s program will bring chestnut blight. even more success in producing a From that initial group of blight-resistant American chestnut. scientists, TACF has expanded its national breeding program to include four research farms located in Meghan Jordan is director of communications for the Southern Meadowview, VA; more than 34,000 Appalachian Regional Office of The trees in various stages of the breeding American Chestnut Foundation located in process; and a network that includes Asheville, NC. 17 State chapters and nearly 6,000

4 compass—june 2008

The Way Forward is Back

he American Chestnut and Chinese stock. He started by a particular trait among species that TFoundation (TACF) breeders pollinating mature Japanese chestnuts are able to interbreed. With others began planting the final generation with pollen from American chestnuts; interested in producing a blight- of blight-resistant chestnut hybrids he crossed the resulting hybrids with resistant tree with the timber qualities on their research farms in Virginia Chinese chestnut trees and with of American chestnut, Burnham set in 2005. Backcrossing Chinese and one another. As breeding continued, out the backcross method that TACF American chestnut trees towards this crossing hybrids with Asian stock has used to move towards producing point has been a long and painstaking started to yield inconsistent and blight-resistant, almost pure American process built on the efforts of people discouraging results. An apparently chestnut seedlings. who just wouldn’t give up on the idea healthy tree might grow for decades, of restoring American chestnut to but top out at 40 feet because of a How It’s Done eastern forests. high percentage of Asian genes. Many The backcross starts off by others never made it through the Arthur Graves, professor at the pollinating the female flowers of a resistance trials. Yale School of Forestry at the turn of blight-resistant Chinese chestnut with the 20th century, tried for years to Around 1980, Charles Burnham, a pollen from an American chestnut, find native resistance in the American geneticist and plant pathologist who producing a first-generation hybrid chestnut trees that remained after the had worked with food crops most with half of its genes from each parent blight first swept through. In 1930, of his career, turned his attention to and resistance somewhere between he decided that the path to resistance the American chestnut. Burnham’s that of the parents. This Chinese- lay in breeding, in crossing American expertise was in backcrossing, a plant American hybrid is pollinated with chestnut with resistant Japanese breeding method designed to transfer pollen from an American chestnut—a cross “back,” or backcross, to

(continued)

Chinese x American — This cross produces an F1

1/2 F1 x American — This is the first backcross to the American and produces a 1B

F1

3/4 BC1 x American — This is the second backcross to the American and produces a B2

B1 7/8 BC2 x American — This is the third backcross to the American and produces a BC3

B2 BC x BC — This is the first intercross which 15/16 3 3 produces a BC3F2

BC3 BC3F2 x BC3F2 — This is the second intercross 15/16 which produces a BC3F3

BC3F2

BC F — This is the final product; a 15/16 3 3 Note: In each step, the backcross 15/16th American chestnut which breeds is selected for resistance true with resistance equal to that of the original Chinese parent BC3F3 www.srs.fs.usda.gov 5

The Way Forward Is Back the American that increases the Solutions From the percentage of American chestnut genes in the second generation—again, with Double Helix blight resistance somewhere between that of the two parents. by Zoë Hoyle After the seedlings from the first backcross have grown enough to reveal their form—usually 5 years om Kubisiak spends a lot of his separate pure American chestnut from or until they’re around 1.5 inches in Ttime in a world that’s invisible to hybrids just by looking. European and diameter—they’re inoculated with the most of us—the double-stranded, DNA Asian chestnut trees have been planted blight to test for resistance. Only the world of genes and chromosomes. A extensively in the East since European most resistant seedlings with straight geneticist based at the SRS Southern settlement, crossing with native trees (rather than spreading) forms are Institute of Forest Genetics in to produce hybrids that look very selected to be crossed back again to Saucier, MS, Kubisiak is a master at similar to American chestnut. American chestnut for the second using small snippets of DNA called Problems can also arise in the generation of hybrids. genetic markers to tease out variations research fields themselves, where among individuals—whether they’re The process of testing hybrids and breeders produce hybrids by controlled trees or the pathogens that infect backcrossing them with pure American pollination, bagging inoculated flowers them. He has worked with The chestnut is continued for three more to protect them from other pollen American Chestnut Foundation generations, using the pollen from a sources. Even though the flowers are variety of American chestnut trees (TACF) on just about every aspect protected, it’s still possible for pollen to prevent inbreeding and maintain of their restoration program, from from a rogue source to fall onto an genetic variation. Trees grown from charting the genetic diversity of the uncovered female flower. For the long the third backcross are then pollinated American chestnut trees still living process of backcrossing to recapture with one another (intercrossed) to to helping map the genome of the the desirable characteristics of an produce the fifth generation; a small chestnut blight fungus. Most of his almost pure blight-resistant American percentage of these have the blight research for TACF has had immediate chestnut, it’s particularly important resistance of the first generation practical application—a rarity in the that mistakes don’t get bred in and Chinese chestnut and the desired world of genetic research. repeated in future crosses. characteristics of the American chestnut. These fifth-generation trees Is it Really American Chestnut? In some cases, the only way to tell are then intercrossed to produce the for sure if a tree is pure American There are still millions of American grail—a blight-resistant, almost pure chestnut is by testing its DNA—in chestnut trees in eastern forests, American chestnut tree. much the same way as the DNA of though most are actually sprouts At Meadowview, TACF has reached human children can be tested to from roots of trees killed long ago the sixth generation of the breeding establish paternity. Kubisiak and by chestnut blight. In full sunlight, program; the first seedlings to be fellow researchers started working these sprouts can grow up to 30 feet tested in the field were produced in on the problem in the late 1990s, tall, sometimes flowering and even 2005, and TACF projects that the screening DNA from pure American producing nuts before the blight kills seedlings will be widely available by chestnut, the foreign chestnut species, them again. To maintain genetic 2015 to 2020. —ZH and various hybrids. For markers, they diversity in their breeding nurseries, examined stretches of neutral DNA, TACF volunteers regularly search Adapted from: Lord, W. 2007. Burnham fragments of genetic code that differ forests for flowering native chestnuts relights the torch. In: Bolgiano, Chris, among individuals but haven’t been they can use as “mother trees.” ed. Mighty giants: an American chestnut tied to a specific trait. anthology. Bennington, VT: The American It’s important that the “mother Chestnut Foundation: 204–205. “We don’t know anything else trees” used to produce blight-resistant about the markers, whether, for hybrids are pure American chestnut. instance, they’re a gene or not,” says Out in the forest, it can be hard to

6 compass—june 2008

Why American Chestnut?

Why go to so much trouble to restore American chestnut when other blight-resistant chestnut species from Asia will grow in the former range of the American giant? Uniquely adapted to Eastern North America, the American chestnut tree lived longer and grew taller than the Asian species. Flowering late, the tree was unaffected by the late frosts that are typical of the Appalachian Mountains. American chestnut trees produce more hard mast than other chestnut species; their nuts have been shown to have higher nutritional value and were once the major food source for wildlife and for livestock in rural communities. Before the chestnut Tom Kubisiak with the gene sequencer he uses to map the genomes of chestnut blight, American chestnut lumber was blight and other organisms. (Photo by John Butnor, U.S. Forest Service) a major rural industry; lightweight, straight-grained, and easily worked, Kubisiak. “You can think of them as So far, TACF has only used markers the wood was ideal for fence posts, little monitors along a strand of DNA to look at seedlings from early railroad ties, barn beams, and home that allow you to look at variation in generation backcrosses. But several construction—as well as for fine individuals. If you’re comparing two of these progeny turned out to be furniture and musical instruments. trees, you look at how many of these products of contaminating pollen, so markers they share to see how alike even these results have helped guide Chestnut burrs. (Photo courtesy of The they are.” TACF in its breeding program. As more American Chestnut Foundation) markers become available and easier Kubisiak showed that markers and less expensive to use, they may can be used to distinguish between be routinely used to determine such the different chestnut species and to things as the percent of American quickly determine if a given tree is chestnut in hybrids. likely to be a pure American chestnut. “Fortunately, chestnut species are Diversity Issues turning out to be different enough that each species harbors its own The markers Kubisiak is examining unique variation that can be used are also being used to ensure that the for identification purposes,” says hybrids TACF develops are genetically Kubisiak. “The challenge we face now diverse. is to characterize this variation and TACF’s ultimate goal is to restore determine which set of markers will a blight-resistant form of American be most useful for excluding hybrids. chestnut throughout a native range To be operationally feasible, the assay that extends from Maine southwest needs to be simple and inexpensive.” (continued) www.srs.fs.usda.gov 7 Solutions From the baseline study that analyzed DNA Kubisiak and Roberds suggested that Double Helix markers from 993 surviving American breeding efforts collect material from a chestnut trees from 22 sites across fairly large number of individuals (50 to Mississippi, which means creating the natural range. “We found that to 100 or more) from each of several seedlings adapted to different American chestnut acted like one geographic areas to capture variation climate and soil conditions. When big population,” says Kubisiak. “We associated with adaptive traits. They they started their breeding program, showed that roughly 95 percent of the also suggested that at least three TACF researchers already suspected natural genetic variation in the species areas—northern, central, and southern that the seedlings they produced on occurred in any one local population.” parts of the range—be considered as research farms in Meadowview, VA, locations for breeding efforts. There might not survive in northern Maine or That sounds like good news, but are now 17 State chapters, each with southern Mississippi. They turned to Kubisiak cautions that because breeding programs that use surviving the geneticists to find out how much researchers work with neutral genetic variation still existed in native DNA fragments, they’re not able American chestnuts in their States, American chestnut trees, and whether to determine if the individual trees to ensure that there are materials this information might be used to sampled have developed genetic adapted for much of the natural range. help TACF decide how many different adaptations to local environments. Breeding Resistance breeding locations they needed to “Again, our study was based on capture most of the genetic variation neutral gene fragments, rather than Kubisiak’s genetic markers really still present in the species. on genes for traits such as bud break paid off for the hybrid breeding work or cold hardiness that might show when, in the late 1990s, he identified In 2003, Kubisiak and SRS research adaptations for specific locations,” geneticist James Roberds did a genetic markers linked with regions says Kubisiak. of the Chinese chestnut genome associated with resistance to chestnut blight. A DNA-based toolkit to test hybrid seedlings for resistance—as well as for how much unwanted Chinese chestnut still remains—is allowing researchers to know where they are in the quest to produce an almost pure American chestnut with full blight resistance. To breed for blight resistance, TACF started off by simply crossing resistant Asian trees with American trees and testing for resistance by inoculating the resulting seedlings with chestnut blight. Resistant seedlings are then “backcrossed” with pure American chestnut three more times and then intercrossed with one another (see page 5). As backcrossing proceeded, TACF needed to know how many resistance genes from Chinese chestnut had to be present for crosses to produce elite trees with full blight resistance in later generations.

Microscopic view of the fruiting bodies of chestnut blight fungus. (Photo by Ministry of Agriculture and Regional Develpment Archive, Hungary)

8 compass—june 2008 “Fortunately, there don’t seem to be that many genomic regions conditioning resistance,” says Kubisiak. “We were able to identify two regions that repeatedly show significant associations, which was very good news for TACF breeders. If more genes were involved, they might have to screen thousands to tens- of-thousands of plants to find elite seedlings for each cross.” Meanwhile, out on the TACF research farms, the latest backcross seedlings are growing towards the revival of a great American tree. TACF projects that they’ll have tens-of-thousands ready for planting by 2015. For more information: Tom Kubisiak at 228–832–2747, x213 or [email protected]

Recommended reading: Kubisiak, T.L. 1999. Using DNA markers to distinguish among chestnut species and hybrids. The Chestnut sprouts with blight. (Photo courtesy of The American Chestnut Foundation) Journal of The American Chestnut Foundation: 13(1): 38–42. Chestnut Blight Kubisiak, T.L.; Roberds, J.H. 2003. Genetic variation in natural Chestnut blight is caused by rounded structures on the surface populations of American chestnut. The Journal of The American Chestnut Cryphonectria parasitica, a member of the bark. These stromata produce Foundation: 26(2): 42–48. of the largest group of fungi, the two types of spores—ascospores and Kubisiak, T.L.; Roberds, J.H. 2006. ascomycetes. C. parasitica enters conidia. Ascospores appear whenever Genetic structure of American through cracks in chestnut bark conditions are right, and are forcibly chestnut populations based on and through wounds, causing dead expelled from the stromata to be neutral DNA markers. In: Restoration of American chestnut to forest lands: areas on bark called cankers. Once carried away on the wind. The second Proceedings of a conference and introduced, the fungus grows rapidly, spore types, conidia, ooze out after workshop. Natural Resour. Rep. producing a network of filaments rain and can be carried by waterdrops NPS/NCR/CUE/NRR–2006/001. [Washington, DC]: U.S. Department called mycelial fans that quickly girdle or on the feet of insects, birds, of the Interior, National Park Service, the tree and grow down into the squirrels, and other creatures. National Capital Region, Center for wood, where they destroy the vascular Urban Ecology: 109–122. systems that carry sap. The leaves Adapted from: Hebard, F.V.; Double, on the stem then die, showing the M.L.; MacDonald, W.L. 2007. A pathogen symptoms that give rise to the name without rival. In: Bolgiano, Chris, ed. Mighty giants: an American chestnut “chestnut blight.” anthology. Bennington, VT: The American Chestnut Foundation: 172–174. When the cankers grow into the

wood, the fungus forms bright orange, www.srs.fs.usda.gov 9 The Promise of a Virus Blighted

Tom Kubisiak’s real passion is blight fungus in Europe. Managers process, and there is evidence that unlocking the genetic secrets of tree inoculate chestnut blight cankers with more are likely to exist, so it won’t diseases, which, like those in humans, the virus and let it spread through the be a matter of just changing one are rarely simple, often involving fungus. Unfortunately, though it once gene to turn on or off compatibility. interactions among multiple life forms. held great promise, using hypoviruses The fungus is quite sexual and keeps Take, for example, the interactions to weaken the effects of blight has not producing even more variability that among American chestnut trees, the panned out for American chestnuts can, in turn, increase incompatibility chestnut blight that’s killed most of in forest settings, where the fungus among strains, making it very difficult them in the Eastern United States, continues to kill new chestnut sprouts to make one alteration that would and a group of viruses that infect the unabated. allow the virus to spread.” fungus. Kubisiak, geneticist with the Though the promise of Chestnut blight is caused by a SRS Southern Institute of Forest hypovirulence as a biocontrol for fungus that probably entered the Genetics, and Michael Milgroom chestnut blight in America has waned, United States on nursery stock in the at Cornell University are studying the Kubisiak is still excited about studying late 1800s. First noticed when the genome of C. parasitica to learn more the genes that govern compatibility American chestnut trees in the Bronx about the mechanisms that affect the in chestnut blight. “The ultimate goal Zoological Park started dying, the spread of hypoviruses. They’re looking is to understand these genes from a fungus was identified as Cryphonectria for clues in the system fungi evolved fundamental viewpoint—what they parasitica in 1905. A weak parasite in for self-recognition called “vegetative do, what their evolutionary purpose its native China, the fungus spread compatibility,” which allows fungi to is,” says Kubisiak. “Why are they ferociously in America—up to 50 miles fuse together to share resources—and there, and what is the underlying a year—killing an estimated 4 billion to spread hypoviruses. biochemical mechanism? Maybe, trees in just half a century. One clue to the continued virulence

In the 1930s, C. parasitica showed of chestnut blight fungus in America In Europe, hypoviruses can be used to control chestnut blight. (Photo by Piero Amorati, ICCroce - up in Europe. It looked as if European may lie in the genetic diversity of Casalecchio di. Reno, Bugwood.org) chestnut trees would also be killed off, American strains. In Europe, one but in the 1950s researchers started strain of chestnut blight fungus finding chestnut trees that seemed usually dominates in a given area, to be recovering from the blight. The freely passing along the hypovirus fungus isolated from these trees had a from canker to canker, tree to tree. unique white color, which was in stark In American forests, the presence contrast to the bright orange isolates, of genetically different but sexually or samples, recovered from nonhealing compatible chestnut blight strains trees. Eventually plant pathologists ensures that genetic variation in discovered that the blight itself was the fungus is high, reducing the infected with a unique virus that chances that any two isolates will be altered the pigment produced by the vegetatively compatible—which means fungus and reduced virulence to the they won’t merge and share the virus. host tree, an effect which they called “We wanted to find markers in the “hypovirulence.” blight genome linked to vegetative Numerous “hypoviruses” that compatibility so we could clone these infect the blight fungus have been genes and begin to study the dynamics discovered since, and several strains of this system in natural populations,” have been used to control chestnut says Kubisiak. “So far, we know of at least seven genes involved in the

10 compass—junecompass—maycompass—june 2008 A Chromosomal Conundrum

at some point, we’ll discover key he goal of The American cytogenetics lab. “Faridi can literally regulators that could be used as TChestnut Foundation’s (TACF) watch through a microscope as a on-off switches to override the entire breeding programs is to transfer chestnut pollen cell goes through compatibility system and hence break Chinese chestnut blight resistance to meiosis, the elegant process by which the barrier that is hampering the American chestnut while transferring the paired chromosomes from two spread of the hypoviruses.”—ZH as little Chinese chestnut genetic parents recombine into a single set of For more information: material as possible. Producing chromosomes ready to fertilize an egg Tom Kubisiak at 228–832–2747, these blight-resistant hybrids is cell.” x213 or [email protected] not as simple as it might seem. As Mismatched Pairs Recommended reading: early as 1999, TACF scientist Paul Sisco, SRS research geneticist Tom Chinese and American chestnut Kubisiak, T.L.; Dutech, C.; Milgroom, M.G. 2006. Fifty-three Kubisiak, and others were reporting trees both have 12 pairs of polymorphic microsatellite loci on DNA marker studies that indicated chromosomes, but Faridi found that in the chestnut blight fungus, irregularities in the genetic maps of their chromosomes differ structurally Cryphonectria parasitica. Molecular Chinese/American chestnut hybrids— from one another, which can create Ecology Notes. 7: 428–432. defects that could throw a spanner problems when the two trees are Kubisiak, T.L.; Milgroom, M.G. into breeding efforts. In a 2006 review crossed. Faridi started looking at 2006. Markers linked to vegetative incompatibility (vic) loci and a of TACF’s science program, Ron pairing between Chinese and American region of reduced recombination Phillips (University of Minnesota) chestnut chromosomes during meiosis near the mating type locus (MAT) also noted the irregularities and urged in first-generation hybrids, which in Cryphonectria parasitica. Fungal TACF to investigate whether there were were half Chinese and half American Genetics and Biology. 43: 453–463. differences in chromosomal structure chestnut. What he’s seen in hybrid

In Europe, hypoviruses can be used to control chestnut blight. (Photo by Piero Amorati, ICCroce - between the two species. chestnut mother pollen cells isn’t Casalecchio di. Reno, Bugwood.org) To take a closer look at the exactly good news. chromosomes themselves, TACF turned “One problem is that one of the to SRS research geneticist Nurul chromosome pairs from the two Faridi, lead scientist with the SRS species doesn’t really match up,” says Forest Tree Molecular Cytogenetics Sisco. “So when it comes time for Laboratory located in College Station, the Chinese and American chestnut TX. While most genetic scientists chromosomes to exchange genes work with techniques that result in during recombination, they don’t line two-dimensional printouts or maps, up precisely. They pair only on the cytogeneticists use high-powered ends, leaving a bulge in the middle. In microscopes and fluorescent probes genetics, we call this an inversion.” to look directly at chromosomes and Another problem involves 2 other genes. pairs of the 12 chromosomes. Eons “Dr. Faridi is one of a very few ago chromosomes from one pair broke scientists worldwide who can do this and recombined with another pair to work,” noted Dana Nelson, project cause what is called a translocation. In leader for the Southern Institute of the Chinese/American chestnut hybrid, Forest Genetics that manages the (continued)

www.srs.fs.usda.gov 11

A Chromosomal can either work for or against us in chestnut. Faridi’s next project, partly Conundrum transferring Chinese resistance to funded by a TACF grant, is to see American. The hope is that the genes whether known resistance genes four chromosomes come together for resistance are out on the ends of are on the chromosomes that have into a cross shape instead of the the chromosomes, where the strands abnormal pairing, and, if they are, normal linear shape. Translocation, meet and interlock so they can be whether the genes are in the middle like inversion, hinders the exchange easily transferred from Chinese to of the chromosomes, where pairing of genes between the two species American chestnut without bringing is hindered, or at the ends, where and causes some pollen to abort. along a large block of Chinese pairing is more normal. —ZH And what if the genes for genes.” For more information: resistance are on those areas that If a resistance gene is on one of Nurul Faridi at 979–862–3908 or don’t match up? “There’s some the sections that doesn’t interlock, [email protected] evidence that this might be the case a large segment of the Chinese Dana Nelson at 228–832–2747 or for at least two of the three genes genetic code might get carried [email protected] involved in resistance that have been over along with the gene when the identified so far,” says Sisco. “The chromosomes combine, which would (Above) Fluorescent in situ chromosomal differences between make it more difficult to breed an hybridization (FISH) image of chestnut Chinese and American chestnut almost pure, but resistant American chromosome taken by Nurul Faridi, U.S. Forest Service.

12 compass—junecompass—june 2008

Before coming to Cornell in 1929, Burnham completed his Ph.D. with Alexander Brink at the University of Wisconsin. Brink and Burnham discovered semisterile maize lines with unusual inheritance patterns. They suspected that the pollen sterility was caused by chromosomal differences, but they had no way of looking at the chromosomes to make sure. At Cornell, McClintock taught Burnham how to stain and visualize chromosomes under a light microscope, and with her help, Burnham was able to prove the hypothesis that he and his professor Brink had made about the maize line. After his stint at Cornell, Burnham went on to a long and distinguished career at the University of Minnesota, where he helped train generations Charles Burnham, upper left, was a postdoctoral student in his mid-twenties studying corn cytogenetics when this photo was taken at Cornell University in 1929. Marcus of maize cytogeneticists, including Rhoades, standing next to Burnham, and George Beadle (with dog), were graduate Ron Phillips, who headed up two students of Dr. R.A.Emerson (in cap), head of the Cornell Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics. At right is Barbara McClintock, who taught Burnham, Rhoades, and Beadle scientific reviews of TACF in 1999 how to work with chromosomes. McClintock and Beadle both won a Nobel prize in and 2006—and who came up with Medicine. (Photo courtesy of Richard Zeyen, University of Minnesota) the hypothesis about chestnut chromosome recombination that SRS Chestnut Cytogenetics: geneticist Faridi is now investigating. Faridi, Burnham, and McClintock Just as McClintock helped Burnham and Brink prove their hypothesis, by Paul Sisco Faridi has come up with good evidence to prove the hypothesis Cytogenetics, the study of the when research on corn revealed the posed by Phillips. Almost 80 years behavior of chromosomes and their link between chromosome behavior after what was seen as its “golden effect on heredity, has a long and seen under the microscope and genetic age,” cytogenetics has once again distinguished history that includes changes seen in corn plants in the shown itself to be an extremely useful several winners of the Nobel Prize. field. tool—this time in the effort to restore American chestnut trees to the forests Charles Burnham, one of the A group of students and of Eastern North America. founding scientists of The American postdoctoral research associates which Chestnut Foundation (TACF) included Burnham, George Beadle, would be very interested in the Marcus Rhoades, and Harriet Recommended reading: cytogenetic studies of chestnut that Creighton worked with R.A. Emerson Rhoades, M.M. 1984. The early Nurul Faridi has taken on at the in genetics and Barbara McClintock years of maize genetics. Annual SRS Southern Institute of Forest in botany on the pioneering research Review of Genetics. 18: 1–29. Genetics. Burnham, a distinguished that led to the discovery of the cytogeneticist and generous teacher, chromosomal basis of heredity. Beadle Paul Sisco is regional science coordinator trained at Cornell University during and McClintock went on to become for the Southern Appalachian Regional the “golden age of maize cytogenetics” Nobel Laureates. Office of The American Chestnut Foundation located in Asheville, NC. in the late 1920s and early 1930s, www.srs.fs.usda.gov 13 Where Great Forests Once Stood Chestnut Blight and the Loss of Foundation Species by Gary Kuhlmann

ld photographs tell part of the forest hardwoods over 200 million regions in the mid-Atlantic and Ostory. A few on file in the offices acres from Maine to Florida. Today Northeast, and investigations limited of the SRS Coweeta Hydrologic all that remains are decaying stumps to using existing chestnut stumps as a Laboratory near Otto, NC, offer a and sprouting saplings—and Elliott reference. dramatic portrayal of where great and other scientists are seeing fewer of “Our study area, a basin of more forests once stood. In warm summer these small saplings in the woods. than 4,000 acres, is larger and more months, when American chestnut “A large tulip tree or eastern environmentally varied than those trees cloaked themselves with white hemlock may give you a sense of what examined previously, and the period blossoms, the Southern Appalachian an old hardwood forest looked like covered by our observations—about Mountains used to look like they were once upon a time,” Elliott says. “But 60 years—is longer than those in other blanketed with snow. But that was a nothing left today looks like the old studies,” says Elliott, who conducted long time ago. The rest of the story is photographs of American chestnut the study with fellow Coweeta scientist about a botanical plague, the lethal forests.” Wayne Swank. fungus known as chestnut blight that moved across the Eastern United Fortunately, Elliott and her Elliott and Swank’s findings illustrate States from 1920 to 1950 and wiped colleagues at Coweeta have more the unique role the American chestnut out chestnut trees more efficiently than to work with than old photographs. played in the Southern Appalachians. the fiercest wildfire. The Forest Service started taking Mountain streams probably benefited inventories of tree species across most from chestnut forests, because Scientists at Coweeta are interested 987 plots at Coweeta back in the decomposition of chestnut wood is in the details of that story. Katherine 1930s; Elliott and other Coweeta much slower than other hardwoods, Elliott, an ecologist at Coweeta for the researchers used this data as the basis even slower than oak and hemlock. past 17 years, has spent a lot of time for reconstructing what a Southern Chestnut logs remained in the streams in Coweeta’s 5,400-acre experimental Appalachian chestnut forest was like longer, providing structure and habitat forest, where she and her colleagues before the blight struck. for fish. The species’ abundant, have been digging into the details. yearly production of nuts provided Their work adds to knowledge about The data fills in a poorly a reliable supply of food for wildlife. the loss of the American chestnut, but documented history of how the blight Additionally, because chestnut trees its real importance may lie in what’s transformed southeastern forests. grow fast, chestnut forests quickly happening now to foundation species For most historical invasions like stored, or sequestered, carbon and across the globe. the chestnut blight, scientists don’t nutrients. have much to go by—neither good A foundation species is a primary baseline data on the distribution and Where oak grew up in place of life form, one that’s abundant and abundance of the affected species chestnut, rapidly decaying chestnut influential in its ecosystem—coral nor information on basic ecosystem leaves with high-nutritional quality in a coral reef, kelp in kelp forests, processes. Until now, what scientists for aquatic insects and other chestnut in chestnut forests. Studying have known about the loss of the macroinvertebrates were replaced the loss of a foundation species such American chestnut has come mostly by more slowly decaying oak leaves as American chestnut is especially from records of a few preblight plots with lower nutritional quality. As difficult when very little is left of the in Connecticut, short-range studies a consequence, leaf processing trees that once made up a quarter of (none longer than 20 years) of blighted and consumption rates would have

14 compass—june 2008 declined, decreasing growth rates and another round of changes to Southern Circling Back to Chestnut adult body mass in macroinvertebrate Appalachian forests. Despite an Elliott’s colleagues at Coweeta— shredder communities. aggressive campaign to control the Clinton, James Vose, and Jennifer adelgids, the region’s hemlocks may be Knoepp—are very interested in This Time, Eastern Hemlock dead within the next decade, opening studying the possibility of planting Chemicals in the leaves of the up the forest canopy and removing American chestnut seedlings in areas American chestnut may have shade from cool mountain streams. opened up by dying hemlocks. The suppressed the growth of other Elliott and others at Coweeta seedlings would have to be the blight- riparian trees and shrubs, including are looking closely at the effects of resistant hybrids TACF scientists are eastern hemlock and rhododendron, hemlock death on the riparian zones, developing—big, fast growing, and according to research by another including changes to soil moisture, adaptable like the original American Coweeta scientist, Barry Clinton. stream temperature, and water quality. chestnuts but with the blight “Ironically, the loss of one foundation “When forests lose whole species of resistance of Chinese chestnuts. species—American chestnut—may trees, the impact is profound,” Elliott The question is whether even the have facilitated the establishment of says. “Foundation species are, by hybridized chestnuts would ever grow another—eastern hemlock—which definition, irreplaceable. For example, tall enough to get past the dense in turn is now threatened,” Elliott without hemlocks, hemlock forests thickets of rhododendron that have says. But history does have a way of cease to exist. No other native conifer taken over many cove forests of the repeating itself. The hemlock woolly can do exactly what the hemlock Southern Appalachians. adelgid, an exotic insect smaller than does for the forest, particularly along a poppy seed, threatens to bring riparian corridors.” (continued)

Coweeta Basin in western North Carolina. (Photo by Rodney Kindlund, U.S. Forest Service)

www.srs.fs.usda.gov 15 Where Great Forests Once relationships—or models—using Stood forest composition, tree growth and water use, and microclimate, then we Coweeta studies implicate the demise can identify possible future trends in of the chestnut in the spread of forests. This kind of information has rhododendron. Because it tolerates application worldwide.” shade and reproduces vegetatively, Studying the effects of this rapid and rhododendron has extended its possibly dramatic ecological change influence far beyond streamsides and could even lead to better predictions into upland forests, where its thick about the effects of disturbances— growth blocks the sunlight needed by from not only insects and pathogens many tree seedlings to establish and but also land use change, human grow. population growth, and hurricanes, to Worldwide Loss Prevention name a few—at regional, national, and global levels. “Hemlock and chestnut are only two examples of the many foundation “How do we respond to the loss Chestnuts were a favorite food source species worldwide that provide of a tree species? How soon do for hogs in the early 1900s. (Illustration we become aware that there is a courtesy of The American Chestnut Foundation) fundamental structure and function to ecosystems,” Elliott says. “We have problem—a serious threat? Look how A Prolific and long-term data from inventoried tree quickly we lost the chestnut,” Elliott Nutritious Nut plots. We have species-level measures says. “Because foundation species are of water use, and we have stand- common and abundant, and they have level measurements of microclimates a wide distribution, our responses to The prolific chestnut reportedly related to light, temperature, and a potential threat often come late and produced many millions of soil moisture. Together these give us are not enough. The introduction of a bushels of nuts in hundreds important findings about the dynamics nonnative species such as the hemlock of thousands of square miles of foundation species. If we develop woolly adelgid can reduce or eliminate across the Eastern United States. a species in a short time.” A mature American chestnut tree could reliably produce as many as 6,000 nuts each year. In contrast, white oaks produce approximately 1,000 nuts per tree and red oaks produce about 2,000 nuts per tree—and neither family of oaks produces acorns reliably. Chestnuts are a high- energy food, containing roughly 11 percent protein compared to acorns, which average 6 percent. Chestnuts also contain around 16 percent fat and a whopping 40 percent carbohydrates.

(Right) Katherine Elliott. (Photo by Randy Fowler, U.S. Forest Service)

16 compass—junecompass—maycompass—june 2008 For more information: Coweeta Hydrologic Katherine Elliott at 828–524–2128, x110 or [email protected] Laboratory Recommended reading:

Elliott, Katherine J.; Established in 1933 as the Swank, Wayne T. [In press]. Long- term changes in forest composition Coweeta Experimental Forest, and diversity following early the laboratory today represents the logging (1919–1923) and the decline longest continuous environmental of the American chestnut (Castanea dentata). Plant Ecology. study on any landscape in North America, as well as one of the oldest Ellison, Aaron M.; Bank, Michael S.; Clinton, Barton D. [and others]. gauged watershed sites in the world. 2005. Loss of foundation species: Located in the Nantahala Mountain consequences for the structure and Range in western North Carolina, dynamics of forested ecosystems. Frontiers in Ecology and the the 5,400-acre laboratory is made Environment. 3(9): 470–486. up of two adjacent, bowl-shaped Ford, Chelcy R.; Vose, James M. basins containing several well-defined 2007. Tsuga canadensis (L.) Carr, watersheds and more than 45 miles of mortality will impact hydrologic processes in Southern Appalachian stream. It is covered with a deciduous forest ecosystems. Ecological forest typical of the Southeastern Applications. 17(4): 1156–1167. United States, with a mix of oak, Vandermast, D.B.; Van Lear, hickory, and rhododendron, as well D.H.; Clinton, B.D. 2002. American chestnut as an allelopath in the as scattered groups of pitch pine and Southern Appalachians. Forest eastern hemlock, and an understory of Ecology and Management. 165: dogwood, maple, and birch. 173–181.

(Right) Weir at Coweeta Hydrologic Gary Kuhlmann is a freelance science Laboratory. (Photo by Rodney Kindlund, U.S. writer based in Elgin, SC. Forest Service)

The First Enemy of American Chestnut

In the early to mid-1800s, the and crop trees, including avocado and American chestnut got its first shock walnut. from Phytophthora cinnamomi, an According to SRS research forester exotic root-borne fungus. Called ink Stacy Clark, one question being disease because it turns roots black, posed in nursery production of P. cinnamomi reduced the range of the chestnut seedlings relates to the American chestnut by eliminating it best fertilization and irrigation from lower elevations. The disease protocols to limit the growth of fungal causes root rot and persists in wet pathogens such as ink disease. Field clay or compacted soils. Globally, studies have shown that American P. cinnamomi causes economic and chestnut seedlings planted in soils ecologic damage to forest, ornamental, contaminated with P. cinnamomi have little to no chance of survival. www.srs.fs.usda.gov 17 Can Chestnuts Survive on Their Own?

by Claire Payne

n spring 2009, the Forest Service I(FS) will begin planting a mixture of pure American chestnut, three generations of hybrids, and Chinese chestnut seedlings on national forests in Tennessee, North Carolina, and Virginia. According to Stacy Clark, SRS lead scientist for implementing the first test plantings, the hybrids will include 100 final- generation seedlings and 300 to 400 seedlings from earlier generations. Clark, research forester with the SRS Upland Hardwoods unit, works closely with Scott Schlarbaum, professor and director of the Tree Improvement Program at the University of Tennessee, to run the science component of the chestnut outplanting project. They also work with Don Tomczak, regional silviculturalist for the FS Southern Region, to locate ideal sites for the first outplanting. They have already secured the nuts from Fred Hebard of The American Chestnut Foundation (TACF), who designed the nursery experiments, and will lay out the test plantings in the field in 2009. The FS began working with TACF in 2004 when former Chief Dale Bosworth signed a memorandum of understanding to cooperate on restoring American chestnut on national forest land. If nuts germinate and grow as expected, over 100 of the hybrid seedlings will

(Photo by Brad Smith, courtesy of The American Chestnut Foundation) 18 compass—junecompass—june 2008 be planted on the Cherokee National What Chestnuts Need Jackson County, AL; the Cherokee Forest in Tennessee, the George National Forest in Tennessee; the Clark and Schlarbaum have found Washington-Jefferson National Bent Creek Experimental Forest in that chestnut seedlings planted in Forest in Virginia, and the National North Carolina; and at the Bankhead soils that are not free of Phytophthora Forests in North Carolina. John National Forest in Alabama. cinnamomi, the exotic root-borne ink Blanton, forest silviculturalist for the Clark is in charge of analyzing the disease that reduced the chestnut’s National Forests in North Carolina, is experiments, and she hopes results range in the 1800s, will have little to working with Clark, Tomczak, regional will help forest managers understand no chance of survival. That disease geneticist Barbara Crane, pathologist what’s needed to grow, establish, and persists in wet clay or compacted soils Bill Jones from the Forest Health outplant chestnut seedlings—as well in the Southeastern United States, Protection (FHP) unit, and district as provide chestnut breeders with particularly in lower elevations of the silviculturalists to determine which a better understanding of genetic tree’s original range. districts in North Carolina are best influence on early establishment of suited for the chestnut seedlings. The national forest sites chosen to forest plantings. grow the chestnut seedlings already In 2010, the FS and TACF intend to “A lot of attention has been given include small chestnut trees—sprouts extend the experiment to the Daniel to producing a blight-resistant tree, from still living roots that grow to Boone National Forest in Kentucky but foresters need to know the a certain height then succumb to and the Monongahela National best methods needed for seedling chestnut blight, usually before they Forest in West Virginia. It will take establishment and growth if there is to can flower. The presence of sprouts at least 3 to 4 years for the hybrid be any chance of success for chestnut indicates the soil is likely free of P. seedlings to demonstrate how blight restoration,” says Clark. “We need cinnamomi, which completely kills resistant they are. to find out how competitive these chestnuts. The national forest sites are seedlings are going to be in the face The seedlings destined for national chosen to insure that site and climatic of fierce competition and insect and forest lands grow from nuts from conditions are similar to those of the animal pests.” trees grown at the TACF farm in seed source of Meadowview, VA, but Meadowview, VA. The nuts are the the outplanted seedlings will have to The scientists used both clearcut result of years of crossbreeding the be able to make it on their own. and shelterwood sites to test response American chestnut with the Chinese to light and competition. Early results “We’re not going to pamper them,” chestnut in an attempt to make them indicate a high level of mortality. says Tomczak. “TACF wants us to resistant to the Cryphonectria parasitica The scientists report that successful see how they do against natural fungus that causes the chestnut establishment of pure American competition. According to people who blight. FS scientists and cooperators, chestnut seedlings in forest stands have tried to grow them, they should FS Southern Region silviculturalists will depend on conditions not easily grow pretty quickly, and there’s a good and geneticists, and FHP scientists controlled, including animal damage, chance they’ll do well. We’ll plant have been working with TACF to the presence of ink disease, and other them under two-aged shelterwood develop a hybrid that is 94 percent exotic pests such as gypsy moth, systems, with ample but not full pure American chestnut. Seedlings the Oriental chestnut gall wasp, sunlight.” Tomczak, retiring after from the nuts are grown for a year in and numerous varieties of ambrosia a 30-year FS career, will leave the a commercial nursery before they’re beetles. project in the hands of co-coordinator outplanted. Clark and Schlarbaum Crane. It’s been tough going for the young have also implemented a first study seedlings, with as many as 86 percent of its kind to find out which nursery Give Pure A Chance dying due to attacks from hungry breeding materials work best, and rabbits and exotic pests; the good will be able to determine differences Clark, along with scientists Henry news is the survivors grow very fast, in blight resistance and outplanting McNab and David Loftis from the keeping up with yellow-poplar and red performance among pure American SRS Upland Hardwoods unit, has maple in some test plots. seedlings and hybrid seedlings. set up preliminary research plots with pure chestnut seedlings on The project is in its early stages, and four sites: timber company land in survivors will reveal what it takes for

(continued) www.srs.fs.usda.gov 19 Can Chestnuts Survive Recommended reading: Oak, S.W. 2002. From the Bronx to Birmingham: impact of chestnut on their Own? Clark, S.L.; Schweitzer, C.J.; blight and management practices Schlarbaum, S.E. [and others]. [In chestnuts to reclaim their place. The on forest health risks in the press]. American chestnut (Castanea cost of losing the American chestnut Southern Appalachian Mountains. dentata) restoration research: a Journal of The American Chestnut has been too high and the benefits genetic and silvicultural approach. Foundation. 16(1): 32–41. of restoring the species too many to In: Stanturf, John A., ed. Proceedings get discouraged. For many people, of the 14th biennial southern Sisco, P.H. 2007. Southern this effort is a long-term trial with silvicultural research conference. Appalachian regional breeding summary. Journal of The American numerous participants and vested e-Gen. Tech. Rep. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Chestnut Foundation. 21(1): 53–60. cooperators. For some, the restoration Service, Southern Research Station. of the American chestnut is a life’s McNab, W.H.; Patch, S.; Nutter, work. A.A. 2003. Early results from a pilot For more information: test of planting small American Stacy Clark at 256–372–4251 or chestnut seedlings under a forest [email protected] canopy. Journal of The American Chestnut Foundation. 16(2): 32–41. Barbara Crane at 404–347–4039 or [email protected]

(Illustration courtesy of The American Chestnut Foundation)

20 compass—june 2008 he earliest research foresters were Tnot a sentimental lot. They had a big job to do in the 1920s—restoring the Southern Appalachian forests left by logging, subsistence farming, and approaching chestnut blight—and they had a very small appropriation from Congress to bring to the task. Working out of three rented rooms at the Asheville Citizen-Times newspaper office and supported by a single secretary, the first Forest Service research director in the South and his three technical assistants began an ambitious program at the Bent Creek Experimental Forest that stretched well beyond its boundaries. They lived in tents, prepared their own What can Experimental Forests teach us about American chestnut? Bent Creek Experimental Forest near Asheville, NC

food on campfires, and divided their time between installing plots, making shingles from dead and dying trees, helping with surveys, and writing research papers.

It is no surprise that these early pioneers viewed the approaching chestnut blight not as the tragedy that many see it as today, but as just one more obstacle between them and their goal of establishing a new forest that would be a continuous source of goods and services to the American public.

(continued)

A healthy American chestnut tree in Jackson County, TN, spring 2007. (Photo by Joe Schibig, courtesy of The American Chestnut Foundation) www.srs.fs.usda.gov 21 Experimental Forests New Research Builds on Old

Trees had to be cut. Uses needed The irony is that the demise of to be found for the chestnut trees American chestnut coincided with the that were dying. Decisions had beginnings of forest research; today’s to be made about which species researchers know little about the would take the place of American ecology of the species—or how chestnut in the forest and in a it will compete if successfully myriad of products—not only reintroduced into the forest tannin for a thriving leather- landscapes of the 21st tanning industry, but also century. nuts for animal and human These questions sustenance and wood for log interested Henry McNab, cabins, furniture, caskets, and a research forester at Bent fences. Creek who shares the same The land had to be prepared practical bent and ingenuity for the new “crop” of trees. that characterized his early Later, when stump sprouts began predecessors. In 1998, McNab to appear where chestnut trees had began a pilot study, planting pure been felled, steps had to be taken to American chestnut seedlings to test ensure that these doomed offspring their survival and growth in relation to would not crowd out other more viable canopy density using three adjacent species before dying themselves. (continued) In the midst of this activity, the researchers found time to record valuable information about the forest that was dying at Bent Creek. In 1926 and 1927, two timber sales removed most of the American chestnut trees there. But first, foresters mapped the distribution of the species, measured 7,190 individual trees, and tagged their stumps. Although their goal was to understand the new forest that would replace the old, the foresters ended up taking one of the few detailed records of where and how the American chestnut, which once made up 25 percent of the Southern Appalachian landscape, grew in different terrains and elevations.

22 compass—junecompass—june 2008 Experimental Forests shelter treatment and lower with the (Above) Research forester Henry McNab fertilizer treatment. at the site of a chestnut study that he sites: one under a dense canopy, a established in the late 1900s. (U.S. Forest second cleared of all trees, and a third McNab cautions that this pilot Service photo) with partial canopy. McNab also study was too small to draw any firm (Left) An early researcher measures tested three treatments: fertilization conclusions, but the results do suggest American chestnuts destined to be felled only, installation of plastic tree shelters ahead of Cryphonectria parasitica, a blight that small chestnut seedlings can that destroyed the species throughout the only, and combined fertilization and hold their own in forests with little Eastern United States. (U.S. Forest Service shelter installation. After 5 years, or no investment of time, equipment, photo) McNab found that survival was higher and followup attention. “One thing in the plots under the full canopy than that people forget is the reason in those with partial or no canopy. that American chestnut was such a When compared with seedlings that dominant species in the Southern were left untreated in a control plot, Appalachians,” says McNab. “Thanks survival was higher with the tree (continued) www.srs.fs.usda.gov 23 Experimental Forests Appalachian region, from its early continuing to collect long-term data. days of abusive logging and farming “If we can find uses today for chestnut to its extensive root system, its ability to the replacement forests that information that was collected a to sprout when conditions are right, grew in abundance to the effects of hundred years ago, who knows what and its rapid growth, the American urbanization that we see today. As will be needed in another half century? chestnut was once able to outcompete such, it is a living record of history It’s important to keep our options its rivals for sunlight and nourishment. as well as a source of data, both open.” This was true both on dry slopes published and as yet untapped. where oaks now prevail and in the For more information: rich, moist cove sites that are currently Although the researchers of Henry McNab: 828–667–5261 x119 or [email protected] dominated by yellow-poplars.” the 1920s did not know how the information they were collecting would Stacy Clark: 256–585–0652 or Plans are underway to continue [email protected] be used, their training and integrity chestnut research at Bent Creek—a Recommended reading: compelled them to collect it anyway. restoration study adjacent to a popular This ethic continues among the Beattie, R.K.; Diller, J.D. 1954. Fifty bicycling and hiking trail, and a years of chestnut blight in America. researchers at Bent Creek today. study on using herbicides to control Journal of Forestry. May: 323–329. competition in a hybrid chestnut But the landscapes of the Southern Loftis, D. 2005. Planting trials with American chestnut in Southern plantation—but McNab’s involvement Appalachians are becoming more Appalachian forests. In: Steiner, will be to advise and share fragmented and the suburbs of K.C.; Carlson, J.E., eds. Proceedings perspectives with the next generation Asheville are rapidly expanding of the conference on restoration of American chestnut to forest lands. of research foresters. Stacy Clark will towards Bent Creek, ratcheting up Natural Resour. Rep. NPS/NCR/CUE/ add the Bent Creek studies to those demands for hiking, horseback NRR—2006/001. Washington, DC: U.S. she has already underway in Alabama riding, mountain biking, and other Department of the Interior, National Park Service, National Capital Region, and on the Cherokee National Forest urban pressures—often at the Center for Urban Ecology: 167–172. in Tennessee. cost of installing new studies and McNab, W.H.; Patch, S.; Nutter, maintaining old ones. McNab thinks A.A. 2003. Early results from a pilot A Final Word that it’s important to temper those test of planting small American The Bent Creek Experimental pressures with yet unknown threats chestnut seedlings under a forest canopy. Journal of the American and opportunities for discovery by Forest is a microcosm of the Southern Chestnut Foundation. 16 (2): 32–41.

Loggers with an oxen-drawn sled containing a chestnut log. (Photo courtesy of Great Smoky Mountains National Park Library)

24 compass—junecompass—june 2008 You Can Use!

Chestnuts grow well in slightly Although once a massive tree acidic soils—the same sort of reaching over 80 feet tall, American conditions preferred by azaleas and chestnuts are now found mostly as blueberries. The nuts should be stump sprouts, less than 20 feet tall. directly seeded in the spring, as soon The native chestnut is most often as you can work the soil. Don’t plant confused with Chinese chestnut, the nuts deeper than about 1 inch chinkapin, and native hybrids. in the ground and protect nuts and For more information: seedlings from rodents and deer. Planting—chestnut.cas.psu.edu/ Locating surviving American Procedures/growing/planting.htm chestnut trees is another critical component of efforts to conserve the Purchasing—Pure American chestnut species. These native trees are the seeds and seedlings are available from foundation for building a breeding The American Chestnut Foundation How Can stock to develop blight-resistant (TACF) as a member benefit. TACF also trees. The goal is to marry the best provides a list of other suppliers on characteristics of the American and its Web site at www.acf.org/seeds_ You Help? Asiatic chestnut species through seedlings.php. backcrossing. It’s important to have Identifying—(see the guide on the next page) genetic diversity in the American by Livia Marqués The American Chestnut Foundation: chestnut trees used in backcrossing, www.acf.org/find_a_tree.php. which takes at least 6 generations. lthough it may seem Acounterproductive to plant a tree knowing it will become infected and die, there are several reasons you American chestnut seedling. (Photo courtesy of The American Chestnut Foundation) might want to plant the pure American chestnut seedlings available now. The most significant reason is to preserve the diversity of native American chestnut genetic material. New plantings can help guarantee that the genetic background of living chestnuts will be conserved for a couple more generations. The trees you plant could also be used for future breeding to support conservation efforts. With proper care, pure American chestnut seedlings can grow to 30 feet in height and be very productive before succumbing to blight. If you plant several trees, you can harvest crops of chestnuts which can further preserve the stock, give others an opportunity to plant and grow chestnuts, and provide a food source for wildlife.

www.srs.fs.usda.gov 25 Take a Chestnut Journey 1 Along the Appalachian Trail Chestnut Identification

Allegheny Chestnut Beech Chinese American Chinquapin Oak Chestnut Chestnut As part of its 25th anniversary celebration, The American Chestnut Foundation (TACF) has invited the group’s members, volunteers, and scientists to collect data on the Straight Slightly Curved Curved Straight remaining American chestnut trees curved to stem to along the Appalachian Trail (AT) this taper Leaf summer. The data will not only help Straight Slightly Straight Curved Straight curved to tip to TACF scientists estimate how many Taper American chestnut trees remain along 1–3 mm, small, Scalloped Small teeth, Large or small, 6 mm, big, sharp, no hook hook no hook and often curved

the AT, but also enable them to locate Teeth (hooked) and document trees that produce flowers towards incorporating more Sun leaves Sun leaves Sun leaves Sun leaves Sun leaves not hairy, noticeably hairy somewhat hairy somewhat hairy obviously hairy long, sparse hairs genetic diversity into their breeding Leaf only on midrib programs. underside Hairy tips, tan to Slender, smooth, The idea of hiking the AT to study Hairy tips, purple Stout, brown Slender, light pea green, large, hairless, reddish or brownish-grey in color brown in color elliptical yellow brown, small white the American chestnut population Twig lenticils lenticils began in 1999 when Eric Wiese, a graduate student of Hill Craddock Up to 3 mm, Up to 3/4 Hairy, tan, dull Up to 6 mm, smooth, downy, dark red, Brown, multiple inch long, brown to black, reddish brown to pointed rather buds, conical and light brown, rounded and flat yellow, pointed or

at the University of Tennessee, Bud than wide, sticks pointed overlapping against stem longer than wide, counted the number of American out from stem scales sticks out from stem chestnuts along the trail as part of his Two nuts, 1/2 2–3 nuts, 3/4 to 2 One nut, 1/2 inch Acorn, one nut, to 3/4 inch inches, rounded, 2–3 nuts, 1/2 to 1 degree program. Wiese documented tip pointed with a approximately long, irregularly hairy tip, blurred inch, pointed tip,

Nut 1/3 to 2/3 downy, 40,701 American chestnut trees as round cross-section 1 inch long triangular, sunburst pattern, shiny brown often light brown sunburst at base visible from the AT, with the highest population density in the Nantahala Sweet Somewhat Sweet Sweet Sweet bitter Mountains of southwestern North Taste Carolina, and the most evidence None High High High Low to none of blooming and nut production in (varies with variety)

Pennsylvania. blight to Resistance Resistance Those interested can print off the 1Information provided by The American Chestnut Foundation, Southern Appalachian Regional Office, Asheville, NC. tree identification sheet on the right or from the TACF Web site. Hikers are TACF Celebrates 25 Years! encouraged to log the miles they walk as a way to focus attention on the 1983–2008 importance of restoring the American entertainment by a very special guest. chestnut to its native forests as well as 25th Annual Meeting Sunday will be a day of reflection on the ongoing work of TACF, its State Please join us in Chattanooga, TN, where we look back on the last 25 chapters, and its volunteer community. October 24–26, 2008, at the Sheraton years—what was, what is, and what The 2008 “chestnut journey” ends Read House. We begin with a chestnut will be. This will be a day not soon in Chattanooga, TN, at TACF’s 25th feast at our annual reception, followed forgotten. Don’t miss this once in a annual meeting October 24–26. by a visual journey through a virtual lifetime event! forest. On Saturday, we will be touring TACF Trail Walk: historic Ashland Farms—The Patten For more information: www.acf.org/apptrail/index.php Family Home, followed immediately www.acf.org/anniversary25th.php by an elegant sit-down lunch and live

26 compass—june 2008 Experimental Forests he STATION... 1 Bent Creek NC t d 2 Blue Valley NC 3 Coweeta NC n 4 John C. Calhoun SC

u 5 Santee SC o

r 6 Scull Shoals GA a 7 Hitchiti GA 8 Olustee FL 9 Chipola FL 10 Escambia AL 11 Tallahatchee MS 12 Delta MS 13 Harrison MS 14 Palustris LA 15 Stephen F. Austin TX 16 Crossett AR 17 Alum Creek AR 18 Sylamore AR 19 Henry F. Koen AR

New Director for the science research is uniquely poised to Chief for Research and Development in have a voice in the decisions that can Washington, DC, he provided national Southern Research affect the changing landscapes of the leadership for research programs Station South. and enhanced the Agency’s external partnerships. Reaves has also held by Perdita Spriggs “I am excited to come back to the key Forest Service positions and South and work with the Station’s conducted research on both the east esteemed scientists, whose research and west coasts. He has represented is recognized internationally,” says the United States as a delegate to the Reaves, who served as a SRS project United Nations Forum on Forestry leader, research scientist, and assistant in Switzerland, led scientists on station director from 1991 to 1998, a USDA delegation to China, and as well as a team leader during the served as a keynote speaker at a consolidation of the two experiment forest restoration conference in Seoul, stations. “My hope is to foster an Korea. A plant pathologist by training, atmosphere that encourages our Reaves’ research has been published employees to conduct innovative and in national and international science usable research that informs natural journals. resources policy and land management Dr. Jim Reaves assumed the helm decisions. I want the Station to be a The wealth of experience Reaves of the Southern Research Station premier natural resources organization brings to the directorship gives him (SRS), headquartered in Asheville, NC, which leads cutting-edge research and exceptional insight into leading a in January 2008, as only the second encourages and values a dynamic and science organization that can lend director since the Southeastern Forest diverse workforce.” sound science to emerging forest Experiment Station in Asheville and issues. “We will continue to place With a 26-year career with the the Southern Forest Experiment Station emphasis on forecasting natural Forest Service, Reaves understands the in New Orleans merged in 1995. His resource issues for land managers and Agency well, and he knows his science. leadership comes at a time when forest Most recently, as Associate Deputy (continued) www.srs.fs.usda.gov 27 New Director SRS Scientists Win assistant manager for research at the Savannah River Site near Aiken, SC. policymakers, ensuring our science Wings Across The is consistently relevant to current Americas Awards Loeb leads a comprehensive issues and diverse audiences,” says research program on the ecology Reaves, who will focus on people, On March 27, SRS scientists Susan and conservation of southern forest Loeb and Paul Hamel received honors partnerships, and communications bats developed in direct response to at the Wings Across the Americas needs expressed by customers and during his tenure. He is committed to awards ceremony held at the 73rd cooperators. The program is part of helping employees “be empowered, North American Wildlife and Natural the SRS Upland Hardwoods unit, but grow, and contribute” to the Agency; Resources Conference in Phoenix, continues to serve the research needs developing and enhancing effective AZ. Awards go to Forest Service of managers in a variety of ecosystems partnerships to interconnect social and (FS) employees and their partners, throughout the Southeast. economic natural resources issues; including conservation organizations, Paul Hamel, SRS wildlife biologist, and exploring new and improved universities, volunteers, foundations, received the International Cooperation communication technologies to share and private-sector firms. Award for the Cerulean Warbler cutting-edge science with internal and Wings Across the Americas is an FS Nonbreeding Habitat Assessment external audiences. program that represents an integrated conducted by El Grupo Cerúleo, “So much has changed regarding and collaborative approach to bird a subcommittee of The Cerulean natural resources issues in the South conservation across Agency program Warbler Technical Group, of which since I last worked at the Station,” areas. The annual awards ceremony Hamel is a founding member. Project says Reaves, who grew up on a celebrates exceptional work that locations in the Northern Andes of tobacco farm in rural South Carolina. conserves birds, bats, and butterflies South America include Venezuela, “This is an exciting time for natural and their habitats across America, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. recognizing the important roles that resources research as we address Hamel is an expert on the cerulean these sometimes overlooked species rapidly changing land uses and serious warbler, a bird that is becoming a play in the environment and in relation impacts from drought, wildland fire, less common sight in the Eastern to human concerns. and other natural disturbances. I United States; habitat loss and also strongly believe that SRS is SRS research ecologist Loeb shared fragmentation is thought to be behind positioned to deliver our science in the Bat Conservation Award for a steady decline in recent decades. a timely, effective manner that can cooperative research on the ecology Hamel’s studies on the national be comprehended by a variety of and conservation of forest bats with and international assessments audiences. When people think about the National Forests, Region 8; the of bird conservation needs and natural resources in the South, I want Sumter, Chattahoochee, Daniel Boone, opportunities—along with research, them to think of the Southern Research and Nantahala National Forests; the monitoring, and evaluation for bird Station.” Congaree and Great Smoky Mountain habitat protection—were key to his National Parks; the U.S. Fish and receiving this award. The award will Reaves earned a bachelor’s degree Wildlife Service; Clemson University; be shared among FS employees and 40 in biology from Voorhees College in and MeadWestvaco. Individuals other partners involved in the project. Denmark, SC, and a master’s and recognized include Eric Britzke, a —WF doctorate, both in biology/plant private consultant, and John Blake, FS pathology, from Atlanta University in Georgia. He is a member of the Society of American Foresters, American Phytopathological Society, Smithsonian Institute, Kennedy Center, and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. Reaves and wife, Adrienne Scott-Reaves, are avid dog lovers and enjoy the outdoors with their bichon friese and Japanese akita.

Perdita Spriggs is communications director for the SRS Eastern Forest Environmental Threat Assessment Center, Asheville, NC. Susan Loeb. (U.S. Forest Service photo) Paul Hamel. (U.S. Forest Service photo)

28 compass—june 2008 in five Southern States and as wind damage, on plant and animal is headquartered at the Bent communities. Another is to show how Creek Experimental Forest in different forest types and silvicultural Asheville, NC. She succeeds disturbances affect the production of David Loftis, who continues to forest food resources, such as native work at Bent Creek as a full- fleshy fruit and hard mast. time research forester. Since she began her new role as Greenberg holds a Ph.D. project leader, Greenberg and the from the University of Florida Upland Hardwood Ecology and in wildlife ecology, an M.S. Management research team have been in wildlife ecology from the working with State and private partners University of Tennessee, on a new multidisciplinary study that and a B.A. in philosophy focuses on methods for regenerating from the George Washington upland oak hardwood forests across University. Before coming to a moisture gradient and at a regional

(Photo by Julia Murphy, U.S. Forest Service) Forest U.S. Julia Murphy, by (Photo Bent Creek in 1995 she studied scale. Drawing on the geographic fire ecology and forest management locations and expertise within the Greenberg Named impacts in Coastal Plain ecosystems in research unit and their partners, the New Project Leader Gainesville, FL. study will address how prescribed fire and other treatments that alter light for Upland Hardwoods Since moving to Asheville, levels and competition affect a wide Research Unit Greenberg’s research focus has shifted range of ecological responses, ranging to forest communities of the Southern from the regeneration of hardwood tree Cathryn (Katie) H. Greenberg Appalachians. One major effort is to species to herbaceous plants to bats, is the new project leader with the study the effects of forest management birds, mice, and salamanders. SRS Upland Hardwood Ecology practices, such as timber harvesting, and Management unit, which fuel reduction practices, and prescribed Greenberg lives in Arden, NC, with includes research scientists and staff fire, and natural disturbances, such her husband and five children, ages 7 to 13.

Compass Wins National NAGC announced the award on April Compass brings into focus the issues Award 29, 2008. the region faces while highlighting the work of SRS researchers and The National Association of Compass, published by the SRS collaborators to come up with Government Communicators (NAGC) science delivery group, is designed solutions. recently awarded Compass a second to inform a wide range of audiences place Blue Pencil award in the about SRS research on focused Issue 9 of Compass, which focused category of external magazines. topics. Now in its fourth year, the on upland hardwood forests in the NAGC is a national not-for-profit magazine has covered subjects South, was submitted for the award. professional network of Federal, State ranging from the possibilities and SRS staff writers contributing to and local government employees who challenges of biomass-based energy the issue included Zoë Hoyle, Livia disseminate information within and to the interaction of forests with Marqués, Claire Payne, Perdita outside government. Their annual Blue global climate change. The region Spriggs, and Carol Whitlock. Art Pencil awards honor the best in print- served, the Southeast, is one in which director Rodney Kindlund designed the related government communications the pressures of development, lost magazine and took many of the photos products in 36 different categories. timber economy, and climate change for the issue. increasingly affect forest ecologies.

www.srs.fs.usda.gov 29 NEW PRODUCTS

natural resources inventory and monitoring 1 Bechtold, William A.; Patterson, Paul L., eds. 2005. The enhanced forest inventory and analysis program— national sampling design and estimation procedures. Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS-80. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station. 85 p. The Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) Program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service is in the process of moving from a system of quasi-independent, regional, periodic inventories to an enhanced program featuring greater national consistency, annual measurement of a proportion of plots in each State, new reporting requirements, and integration with the ground-sampling component of the Forest Health Monitoring Program. This documentation presents an overview of the conceptual changes, explains the three phases of FIA’s sampling design, describes the sampling frame and plot configuration, presents the estimators

Service) that form the basis of FIA’s National Information Management System (NIMS), and shows how annual data are combined for analysis. It also references a number of Web-based supplementary documents that provide greater detail about some of the more obscure aspects of the sampling and estimation system, as well as examples of calculations for most of the common estimators produced by FIA.

(Photo by Rodney Kindlund, U.S. Forest Kindlund, U.S. Rodney by (Photo 2 Bentley, James W.; Lowe, Larry. 2007. Kentucky’s timber industry—an assessment of timber product output and use, 2005. Resour. Bull. SRS-124. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station. 32 p. In 2005, roundwood output from Kentucky’s forests totaled 191 million cubic feet, 3 percent more than in 2003. Mill byproducts generated from primary manufacturers increased 2 percent to 91 million cubic feet. Ninety-six percent of plant residues were used, primarily for fuel, miscellaneous, and fiber products. Saw logs were the leading roundwood

Southern Reseacrh Station headquarters in spring 2007. headquarters Station Southern Reseacrh 30 compass—june 2008 from the Southern Research Station...

product at 143 million cubic feet; 5 Brandeis, Thomas J.; Oswalt, Sonja In 2005, industrial roundwood output pulpwood ranked a distant second at N. 2007. The status of U.S. Virgin from North Carolina’s forests totaled 25 million cubic feet; composite panels Islands’ forests, 2004. Resour. Bull. 784 million cubic feet, 1 percent more were third at 14 million cubic feet. The SRS-122. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department than in 2003. Mill byproducts generated number of primary processing plants of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern from primary manufacturers declined 3 declined from 297 in 2003 to 292 in Research Station. 61 p. percent to 306 million cubic feet. Almost 2005. Total receipts increased 2 percent all plant residues were used primarily to 214 million cubic feet. The first forest inventory of the U.S. for fuel and fiber products. Saw logs Virgin Islands found that forest covered were the leading roundwood product at 3 Bentley, James W.; Schnabel, Doug. 61 percent of the islands. St. John had 400 million cubic feet; pulpwood ranked 2007. Tennessee’s timber industry— the highest percentage forest cover (92 second at 274 million cubic feet; veneer an assessment of timber product percent), followed by St. Thomas (74 logs were third at 60 million cubic feet. output and use, 2005. Resour. Bull. percent), and St. Croix (50 percent). The number of primary processing SRS-126. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department Forest cover decreased 7 percent from plants declined from 235 in 2003 to of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern 1994 to 2004, a loss of 1671 ha of 180 in 2005. Total receipts increased 9 Research Station. 31 p. forest. These forests are mostly young, million cubic feet to 751 million cubic In 2005, roundwood output from undeveloped stands, reflecting past and feet. Tennessee’s forests was 325 million present land use and disturbances. Black 8 Johnson, Tony G.; McClure, Nathan; cubic feet. Mill byproducts generated mampoo (Guapira fragrans) was the most Wells, John L. 2007. Georgia’s timber from primary manufacturers totaled 119 important tree, followed by gumbo limbo industry—an assessment of timber million cubic feet. Seventy-three percent (Bursera simaruba), and genip (Melicoccus product and use, 2005. Resour. Bull. of the plant residues were used primarily bijugatus), while tan tan (Leucaena SRS-123. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department for fuel and fiber products. Saw logs leucocephala) was the most important of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern were the leading roundwood product smaller-sized tree. Research Station. 36 p. at 189 million cubic feet; pulpwood 6 Johnson, Tony G.; Becker, Charles W. ranked second at 121 million cubic feet; 2007. Virginia’s timber industry—an In 2005, industrial roundwood output other industrial products were third at assessment of timber product and from Georgia’s forests totaled 1.17 13 million cubic feet. There were 354 use, 2005. Resour. Bull. SRS-125. billion cubic feet, 1 percent more than primary processing plants operating Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of in 2003. Mill byproducts generated from in Tennessee in 2005. Total receipts Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern primary manufacturers increased 4 amounted to 322 million cubic feet. Research Station. 34 p. percent to 433 million cubic feet. Almost all plant residues were used primarily 4 Brandeis, Thomas J.; Helmer, Eileen In 2005, roundwood output from for fuel and fiber products. Pulpwood H.; Oswalt, Sonja N. 2007. The status Virginia’s forests increased 3 percent to was the leading roundwood product at of Puerto Rico’s forests, 2003. 503 million cubic feet. Mill byproducts 543 million cubic feet; saw logs ranked Resour. Bull. SRS-119. Asheville, NC: generated from primary manufacturers second at 458 million cubic feet; veneer U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest totaled 179 million cubic feet, 5 percent logs were third at 74 million cubic feet. Service, Southern Research Station. 72 p. more than in 2003. Seventy-three The number of primary processing The third forest inventory of Puerto Rico percent of the plant residues were used plants was down from 187 in 2003 to shows the islands’ continued recovery primarily for fuel and fiber products. 181 in 2005. Total receipts increased 3 from past widespread deforestation. Saw logs were the leading roundwood percent, from 1.17 billion cubic feet in Forest cover has reached 57 percent for product at 228 million cubic feet; 2003 to 1.21 billion cubic feet in 2005. mainland Puerto Rico, 85 percent for pulpwood ranked second at 200 million 9 Johnson, Tony G.; Smith, Nathan. Vieques, and 88 percent for Culebra, cubic feet; composite panels were third 2007. South Carolina’s timber although these forests are still mostly at 57 million cubic feet. The number industry—an assessment of timber made up of young stands of smaller of primary processing plants declined product and use, 2005. Resour. Bull. trees. The most important tree species from 234 in 2003 to 196 in 2005. Total SRS-121. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department were the African tuliptree (Spathodea receipts increased 5 percent to 515 of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern campanulata), American muskwood million cubic feet. Research Station. 28 p. (Guarea guidonia), cabbagebark tree 7 Johnson, Tony G.; Mann, Michael (Andira inermis), and pumpwood C. 2007. North Carolina’s timber In 2005, industrial roundwood output (Cecropia schreberiana). Few trees were industry—an assessment of timber from South Carolina’s forests totaled 645 unhealthy or stressed, and widespread product and use, 2005. Resour. Bull. million cubic feet, 13 percent more than pest and disease problems were not SRS-127. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department in 2003. Mill byproducts generated from observed. Down woody materials and of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern primary manufacturers increased 10 forest fire fuel were estimated for the first Research Station. 33 p. percent to 186 million cubic feet. Almost time. www.srs.fs.usda.gov 31 all plant residues were used primarily Hurricane Katrina; whether softwoods for fuel and fiber products. Pulpwood or hardwoods were more susceptible was the leading roundwood product at to hurricane damage and whether that 318 million cubic feet; saw logs ranked susceptibility changed as distance from second at 258 million cubic feet; veneer landfall increased; the primary stand- logs were third at 42 million cubic feet. level factors influencing vulnerability to The number of primary processing damage; and whether tree-level damage plants remained at 75 in 2005. Total related to tree species, and whether receipts increased 8 percent to 582 damage types (bole, branch, lean, or million cubic feet. windthrow) differed by species. We accepted the hypothesis that damage 10 Oswalt, Sonja N.; Brandeis, differed among the developed zones, and Thomas J.; Woodall, Christopher W. confirmed the acceptability of the figures 2008. Contribution of dead wood initially generated. However, we were to biomass and carbon stocks in not able to accept the hypothesis that the Caribbean: St. John, U.S. Virgin softwoods experienced more damage Islands. Biotropica. 40(1): 20-27. than hardwoods. Our data showed a There is little information about dead marked increase in damage to hardwood wood in tropical ecosystems. Our species, except in the first zone of goal was to fill knowledge gaps in impact. Additionally, the likelihood current Caribbean carbon and biomass of hardwood damage increased with literature. We described the relative increasing distance from the zone of contribution of down woody materials impact. However, species group was to carbon stocks on the island of St. confounded with the other predictor John, compared the contributions across variables in many cases, making it subtropical dry and moist forests of difficult to separate the effects of each varying structure and composition, variable. and compared down woody materials’ carbon stocks on St. John to those observed in other tropical forests. forest ecosystem Our study indicates that down woody materials are important contributors restoration and to the total biomass and, therefore, management carbon budgets in subtropical systems. Contributions of down woody materials 12 Haywood, James D. 2007. Influence on St. John appear to be comparable of herbicides and felling, fertilization, to values given for similar dry forest and prescribed fire on longleaf pine systems. establishment and growth through six growing seasons. New Forests. 33: 11 Oswalt, Sonja N.; Oswalt, 257-279. Christopher M. 2008. Relationships between common forest metrics and In central Louisiana, nitrogen and realized impacts of Hurricane Katrina phosphorus fertilizer, multiple prescribed on forest resources in Mississippi. fires, and intensive vegetation control Forest Ecology and Management. 255: were applied to container-grown longleaf 1692-1700. pine plantings in two studies. In study 1 (grass dominated), fertilization resulted This paper compares and contrasts in lower longleaf pine survival. Six-year- hurricane-related damage recorded old longleaf pine trees were taller after across the Mississippi landscape in the 2 intensive vegetation control (3.4 m) years following Hurricane Katrina, with than after prescribed burning (1.8 m). In Foundation) The American Chestnut of courtesy (Photo initial damage assessments based on study 2 (brush dominated), survival was modeled parameters by the U.S. Forest unaffected by treatment. The longleaf Service. Logistic and multiple regressions pine trees were 4.7 m tall after intensive are used to evaluate the influence of vegetation control and were 3.9 m tall on stand characteristics on tree damage prescribe burned plots. Native fertility probability. This paper addresses was not limiting to longleaf pine growth four primary questions: whether in either study. inventory data substantiated damage zone estimates made using remotely sensed and climate data following

Male flowers of the American chestnut. Male flowers 32 compass—junecompass—june 2008 13 McCarthy, Heather R.; Oren, Ram; or savannas, appear to be important damage from wind alone. A total of 2.23 Finzi, Adrien C. [and others]. 2007. roosting habitat for male seminole bats million ha of timberland in the coastal Temporal dynamics and spatial during summer on the western edge of States of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, variability in the enhancement of their range. and Alabama was damaged. Although financial loss estimates are incomplete, canopy leaf area under elevated 15 Perry, Roger W.; Thill, Ronald E.; there is little doubt that these hurricanes atmospheric CO2. Global Change Carter, S. Andrew. 2007. Sex-specific caused extensive damage, and their Biology. 13: 2479-2497. [Editor’s note: roost selection by adult red bats in effects on the landscape will linger Southern Station scientist Kurt H. a diverse forested landscape. Forest for years to come. Crafting a strategy Johnsen co-authored this publication.] Ecology and Management. 253: 48-55. for incorporating large, infrequent Leaf area and phenology impact forest Because of their great abundance and disturbances into a managed landscape productivity, and species variation in insectivorous diet, eastern red bats such as the forested coastal plain of these traits impact species dynamics (Lasiurus borealis) likely play important the Southern U.S. must balance the and composition. Although elevated CO2 roles in forested ecosystems by desirable with the possible. We advance has been shown to cause increases in consuming forest pests and reducing an adaptive strategy that distinguishes forest productivity, there has been little disease-carrying insects. However, red event risk (hurricane occurrence) from research and no evidence on impacts bat ecology has received little attention vulnerability of coastal forests and on leaf area and/or phenology. At the until recently, and few studies have outcome risk (hurricane severity). Duke FACE site in Durham, NC, we compared roost selection between Our strategy focuses on managing the show that elevated CO2 had no impact sexes. Using radiotelemetry, we located disturbance event, the system after on pine needle phenology, although 142 tree roosts of red bats in forests of disturbance, and the recovery process, it did delay abscission of hardwood Arkansas. Both sexes roosted mostly followed by modifying initial conditions leaves. On average, following canopy in the leaves of large deciduous trees, to reduce vulnerability. We apply these closure, elevated CO2 increased pine but males occasionally roosted in small concepts to a case study of the effects and hardwood leaf area by 14 and trees (under 5 cm in diameter), whereas of recent Hurricanes Katrina and Rita 16 percent, respectively, relative to females did not. Females roosted at on forests of the coastal plain of the ambient-grown stands. Across all greater heights than males, possibly northern Gulf of Mexico. plots, enhancement only occurred on to protect their young from predators. sites with moderate soil fertility. These Both sexes preferred to roost in white results partly explain our past work oaks (Quercus alba) and hickories (Carya forest values, uses, showing increases in forest growth due spp.) but avoided pines (Pinus spp.). to elevated CO2 is dependent on soil Most roosts for both sexes were in and policies nutrition. forests dominated by mature (≥50 years 17 Call, Jessica; Hayes, Jennifer. 2007. old) trees, but many of those stands 14 Perry, Roger W.; Thill, Ronald E. A description and comparison of had recently been partially harvested. 2007. Summer roosting by adult selected forest carbon registries: Retaining some overstory hardwoods male seminole bats in the Ouachita a guide for States considering the and retaining unharvested buffers along Mountains, Arkansas. American development of a forest carbon stream drains in harvested forests Midland Naturalist. 158:361-368 registry. Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS-107. would benefit both sexes of red bats in Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Roost sites are an essential habitat managed landscapes during summer. component for the survival of bats. Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern The range of the seminole bat 16 Stanturf, John A.; Goodrick, Scott L.; Research Station. 36 p. (Lasiurus seminolus) is restricted to the Outcalt, Kenneth W. 2007. Disturbance There is increasing interest in tools for Southeastern United States, where it and coastal forests: A strategic measuring and reducing emissions of often roosts in the needles of southern approach to forest management in carbon dioxide, a major greenhouse gas. pines (Pinus spp.) during summer days. hurricane impact zones. Forest Ecology Two tools that have been receiving a We used radiotransmitters to locate 51 and Management: 250: 119-135. lot of attention include carbon markets roosts used by 17 male seminole bats The Indian Ocean tsunami focused and carbon registries. Carbon registries during summer in Arkansas. All but two world attention on societal responses are established to record and track roosts were located in the foliage of to environmental hazards and the net carbon emission levels over time. large (greater than 21 cm in diameter) potential of natural systems to moderate These registries provide quantifiable pines (Pinus spp.). Compared to random, disturbance effects. Coastal areas are and verifiable carbon for trade within seminole bats were more likely to roost critical to the welfare of up to 50 percent a market. This report discusses the in forests with abundant large pines, few of the world’s population. Coastal benefits and major elements of registries small pines, few large hardwood trees, systems in the Southern United States and then describes a selection of existing and abundant recently cut stumps. Most are adapted to specific disturbance registries and protocols with forest roosts were located in forests that were regimes of tropical cyclones (hurricanes) carbon components. The report focuses partially harvested or thinned recently, and fire. In August and September 2005, on forests because of their carbon but where large pines were retained. Hurricanes Katrina and Rita caused storage potential. The purpose of this Open park-like forests that contain large, what has been termed the most costly report is to provide a starting point for mature pines, such as pine woodlands natural disaster in U.S. history, including any State government or other party an estimated $2 billion to $3 billion in considering the development of a carbon registry with a forestry component. www.srs.fs.usda.gov 33 18 Cho, Seong-Hoon; Bowker, J.M.; tightly defined concepts of tourism Park, William M. 2006. Measuring and nature-based tourism relevant to the contribution of water and green assessing global impacts. We identified space amenities to housing values: and obtained contemporary best an application and comparison of data enumerating tourists, travels, spatially weighted hedonic models. and spending. Finally, we pulled Journal of Agricultural and Resource key concepts and data together for Economics. 31(3): 485-507. defining, quantifying, and spatially marking economic activities associated This study estimates the influence of with tourists traveling to visit and see proximity to water bodies and park protected natural lands. amenities on residential housing values in Knox County, TN, using the 21 Mitchell, Dana. 2006. Perspectives hedonic price approach. Values for on woody biomass fuel value and proximity to water bodies and parks specifications in Alabama. ASABE are first estimated globally with a Paper No. 068050. St. Joseph, MI: standard ordinary least squares model. ASABE: 1-7. A locally weighted regression model is Pulp and paper mills in Alabama buy then employed to investigate spatial woody biomass, but the specifications nonstationarity and generate local required by the mills vary and are not estimates for individual sources of widely known. Some characteristics of each amenity. Spatial nonstationarity woody biomass that are often included implies that regression coefficients in a in mill specifications include size, model looking at spatial relationships species, ash content, and moisture (proximity of park in explaining price content. These characteristics are briefly of house, etc.) can be different over reviewed in reference to how they impact the range of the model’s data or the energy value, physical handling, or applicability. The local model reveals processing of the material. An informal some important local differences in the structured telephone interview was effects of proximity to water bodies and used to obtain the mill specifications parks on housing price. and testing procedures used in some of 19 Cho, Seong-Hoon; Newman, David the pulp and paper mills in Alabama. H.; Wear, David N. 2005. Community Finally, the relationships between woody choices and housing demands: a biomass characteristics and the mill spatial analysis of the Southern specifications were summarized. Appalachian Highlands. Housing 22 Mitchell, Dana; Gallagher, Tom. Studies. 20(4): 549-569. 2007. Chipping whole trees for fuel This paper examines housing demand chips: a production study. Southern using an integrated approach that Journal of Applied Forestry. 31(4): combines residential decisions about 176-180. choices of community in the Southern A time and motion study was conducted Appalachian region with the application to determine the productivity and cost of a Geographic Information System of an in-woods chipping operation (GIS). The empirical model infers when processing whole small-diameter a distinctive heterogeneity in the trees for biomass. The study removed characteristics of community choices. biomass from two overstocked stands The results also indicate that socio- and compared the cost of this treatment economic motives strongly affect urban to existing alternatives. The treatment housing demands, while environmental stands consisted of a 30-year-old amenities affect rural housing demands. longleaf pine stand and a 37-year-old 20 Cordell, H. Ken; Bowker, J.M. 2007. loblolly pine stand. In the longleaf pine The global economic contribution stand, 71 percent of the trees removed of protected natural lands and were less than 5 in. dbh. In the loblolly (Photo courtesy of The American Chestnut Foundation) The American Chestnut of courtesy (Photo wilderness through tourism. The Wild pine stand, approximately 81 percent of Planet Project. Boulder, CO: The WILD the stems removed were less than 5 in. Foundation. 28-30. dbh. The harvesting system consisted of conventional ground-based harvesting These are the first-round results equipment and a three-knife chipper aimed at exploring at a global scale that processed the biomass into fuel the complex relationships between chips. The average production time to protected natural lands, tourism, and fill a chip van was 24.61 minutes. The economic growth. For this project we chip moisture content averaged 94.11

American chestnut leaves. American chestnut 34 compass—june 2008 percent (dry basis). Using machine rates project must meet unique criteria that a national perspective using data from and Federal labor wage rates, the in- differentiate fuel chips created for the a variety of sources. The report is woods cost of producing fuel chips was power plant from those of typical fuel organized according to the Criteria and $9.18/green ton (gt). The cost of the chips. The wood fuel was to be created Indicators for the Conservation and biomass chipping operation ($15.18/ from whole-tree chips and co-milled Sustainable Management of Temperate gt), including transportation, compared with coal. Biomass specifications were and Boreal Forests of the Santiago favorably to existing alternative primarily limited by size so that the Declaration. The results of several treatments of cut-and-pile or mulching. chips would pass through the current analyses of forest fragmentation are fuel handling system in the plant. In synthesized to evaluate fragmentation 23 Mitchell, Dana; Gallagher, Tom. addition, the fuel chips must have in U.S. forests. Drought in 2004 is 2007. Physiological and psychological edges that are fairly clean and sharp presented, and drought over the impacts of extended work hours in to prevent plugging fuel pathways decade 1995-2004 is compared with logging operations. ASABE Paper No. in the plant. One of the initial steps the historical average. Areas of intense 075011. St. Joseph, MI: ASABE: 1-5. was to examine output from a variety forest fire activity during the 2004 fire A study was initiated in 2006 to develop of in-woods processing equipment season are identified. Ozone bioindicator an understanding of considerations to determine which could meet the data are used to create an interpolated of using extended work hours in the specifications with one-pass processing. ozone map of the United States, and logging industry in the Southeastern After further review, it was determined the possible impact on sensitive tree United States. Through semistructured that a cutting action, as opposed to a species is examined. Aerial survey data interviews, it was obvious that loggers shearing action, was needed to meet are used to identify hotspots of insect were individually creating ways of the raw material handling requirements and disease activity based on the relative successfully implementing extended within the plant. Output from a specially exposure to defoliation- and mortality- working hours without understanding equipped horizontal grinder was the final causing agents. Data from the Forest potential impacts. Some use rotating equipment choice. Inventory and Analysis down woody shifts, while others use permanent materials indicator are analyzed to 25 Onokpise, Oghenekome U.; shifts. Some work 24 hours/day while produce preliminary per-acre estimates Rockwood, Don L.; Worthen, Dreamal most did not. Many employers said they of amounts of woody debris and H.; Willis, Ted, eds. 2008. Celebrating had problems with employee retention carbon pools stored in down woody minority professionals in forestry while trying to initially implement materials. Data from the Forest Inventory and natural resources conservation: extended working hours with existing and Analysis soil quality indicator proceedings of the symposium on logging crews. This paper provides a are analyzed to provide preliminary the tenth anniversary of the 2 + 2 brief synthesis of existing literature information about erosion and soil Joint Degree Program in Forestry on physiological and psychological compaction, soil pH, and effective cation and Natural Resources Conservation. impacts of extended working hours on exchange capacity, and to produce Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS-106. Asheville, NC: employees. Because little documentation preliminary per-hectare estimates of soil U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest is available about extended working carbon. Service, Southern Research Station. 111 p. hours in the logging industry, these 27 Ambrose, Mark J.; Conkling, Barbara interview data are compared and The 22 papers in this symposium L.; Riitters, Kurt H.; Coulston, John W. contrasted with published shift work highlight the program and its 2008. The Forest Health Monitoring impacts from other industries. contribution to increasing minority national technical reports: examples professionals in forestry and natural 24 Mitchell, Dana; Rummer, Bob. 2007. of analyses and results from resources conservation. The 10th Processing woody debris biomass 2001-2004. [Brochure]. Science Update anniversary symposium brought together for co-milling with pulverized coal. SRS-18. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department graduates of the program, current ASABE Paper No. 078049. St. Joseph, MI: of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern students and officials from universities, ASABE: 1-5. Research Station. [Not paged]. the Forest Service, other agencies, and This woody biomass utilization project private industry. The theme of the This brochure presents examples of involves removing small diameter stems symposium was “Education, Training, analyses included in the first four Forest and unmerchantable woody material and Diverse Workforce.” Health Monitoring (FHM) national from national forest lands and delivering technical reports. Its purpose is to it to a coal-fired power plant in Alabama introduce the reader to the kinds of for energy conversion. The Alabama threats to forest health information available in these and Power Company will test the utilization subsequent FHM national technical 26 Ambrose, Mark J.; Conkling, Barbara of the woody biomass in one of their reports. Indicators presented here L., eds. 2007. Forest Health Monitoring energy production facilities to determine include drought, air pollution, forest 2005 national technical report. Gen. the feasibility of this new market. The fragmentation, and tree mortality. These Tech. Rep. SRS-104. Asheville, NC: Talladega National Forest and the and other indicators were generally U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Gadsden Steam Plant are serving as the analyzed by broad ecological regions Service, Southern Research Station. 76 p. demonstration areas for the project. One characterized by similar climate, of the first steps in this project was to The Forest Health Monitoring program’s vegetation, geology, and soils. Sources select in-woods processing equipment. annual national technical report presents are provided for additional information The biomass fuel to be created in this results of forest health analyses from about these analyses, as well as the FHM Program in general. www.srs.fs.usda.gov 35 28 Boggs, Johnny L.; McNulty, Steven results, new to the national report, are Southeast Asia. Trees affected by the G.; Pardo, Linda H. 2007. Changes presented as examples of ways forest disease often exhibit a rapid wilting of in conifer and deciduous forest health data can be used. This report foliage and a dark, black discoloration foliar and forest floor chemistry has eight sections. The first contains of sapwood. The fungus is apparently and basal area tree growth across a introductory material. The next four introduced during attacks on stems nitrogen (N) deposition gradient in contain results from analyses of status and branches. This is the first ambrosia the Northeastern U.S. Environmental and change for selected forest health beetle symbiont known to cause vascular Pollution. 149: 303-314. indicators, e.g., several measures of wilt. Frequent introductions of ambrosia forest fragmentation, mortality and beetles on solid wood packing materials There was much concern about the defoliation-causing insects and diseases, suggests similar pathogens may appear impacts of acid rain on New England crown condition, and tree mortality, on our shores. Because this disease forests during the 1980s. Acid rain is similar to analyses in previous FHM affects redbay and sassafras as well as composed of automobile and industrial national reports. The next two sections other members of the Lauraceae, we emissions of nitrogen and sulfur, and the describe analytical techniques and propose the common name “laurel wilt.” amount of acid rain increases from east provide information about assessments The disease threatens members of the to west across the region. In 1987, SRS presented in the national report for Lauraceae indigenous to the Americas, research ecologist Steve McNulty lead the first time, and the final section is a including avocado in commercial a research project to sample soil and summary. production. needle processes and chemistry across 161 high elevation (mainly) spruce sites 30 Ebermann, Ernst; Moser, John C. 32 Koch, F.H.; Cheshire, H.M.; from Maine to New York. The study 2008. Mites (Acari: Scutacaridae) Devine, H.A. 2006. Landscape- concluded that acid rain was negatively associated with the red imported scale prediction of hemlock woolly impacting for health in the western (i.e., fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren adelgid, Adelges tsugae (Homoptera: highest acid rain) end of the region. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), from Adelgidae), infestation in the In the early 1990s, the U.S. Congress Louisiana and Tennessee, USA. Southern Appalachian Mountains. passed the Clean Air Act that removed International Journal of Acarology. 34(1): Environmental Entomology. 35(5): much of the sulfur but did little to reduce 55-69. 1313-1323. [Editor’s note: This research was funded by the U.S. Forest Service the nitrogen loading to the forests. In the Four species of Scutacarus and one Forest Health Monitoring Program.] early 2000s, a subset of the plots from of Imparipes (Acari: Scutacaridae) are the 1987 sampling was re-sampled to documented as phoretic from alates The spread of hemlock woolly adelgid examine how continued nitrogen inputs and workers of the red imported (HWA) had been described in broad had changed forest health. The study fire ant (Solenopsis invicta Buren) in terms, but factors predicting where it found that while some of the areas have Louisiana and Tennessee, USA. Imparipes would first invade a landscape had not begun to recover, other areas continue (Imparipes) louisianae n. sp., Scutacarus been analyzed previously. We examined to deteriorate due to continued nitrogen nanus n. sp., and Scutacarus tertius n. first-year infestation locations in the additions. Additional studies are now sp. are described. The biology and Great Smoky Mountains region to underway to examine how low nitrogen phoretic behaviors of all five species are identify possible factors. We derived inputs must be to allow for forest discussed from those collected from the statistical classification functions recovery. vicinity of Pineville, LA. distinguishing infested from uninfested sites based on environmental variables, 29 Coulston, John W.; Ambrose, Mark 31 Fraedrich, S.W.; Harrington, T.C.; and used the functions to generate risk J.; Riitters, K.H.; Conkling, Barbara Rabaglia, R.J. [and others]. 2008. maps. Our results suggest roads, trails, L. 2005. Forest Health Monitoring A fungal symbiont of the redbay and riparian corridors provide important 2004 national technical report. ambrosia beetle causes a lethal wilt connectivity, enabling long-distance Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS-90. Asheville, NC: in redbay and other Lauraceae in dispersal of HWA, probably by humans U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest the Southeastern USA. Plant Disease. or birds. The derived functions can also Service, Southern Research Station. 81 p. 92:215-224. [Editor’s note: Southern be used to make risk maps for elsewhere Research Station scientists M.D. The Forest Health Monitoring (FHM) in the Southern Appalachians, allowing Ulyshen, J.L. Hanula, and D.R. Miller co- Program’s annual national technical better targeting of control efforts. report presents results of forest health authored this publication.] 33 McNulty, Steven G.; Cohen, Erika analyses from a national perspective Extensive mortality of redbay, a tree in C.; Moore Myers, Jennifer A. [and using data from a variety of sources. the laurel family commonly found in the others]. 2007. Estimates of critical Results presented in the report pertain Coastal Plain forests of the Southeastern acid loads and exceedances for forest to the Santiago Declaration’s Criterion United States, has been observed in soils across the conterminous United 1— Conservation of Biological Diversity Georgia and South Carolina since 2003, States. Environmental Pollution. 149: and Criterion 3—Maintenance of Forest and Florida since 2005. Mortality is due 281-292. [Editor’s note: SRS scientist Ecosystem Health and Vitality. We to vascular wilt caused by a previously Harbin Li co-authored this paper.] include status and trend information unknown fungus related to the Dutch where possible, consistent with previous elm disease pathogen. The new fungus For several decades Europe (and most FHM national technical reports. is associated with the redbay ambrosia recently Canada) has used the notion of Additional analytical techniques and beetle, an exotic insect native to “critical acid load” to measure the state of health of their forests. Acids such

36 compass—june 2008 as nitrogen and sulfur can negatively impact forest health, and a critical acid load is a measure of a forest’s ability to absorb acid without showing negative impacts. If acid loads exceed the forest’s ability to absorb acid, then tree mortality may increase. Steve McNulty, SRS research ecologist, led a study to estimate critical acid loads for all forests in the lower 48 United States at a 1 km2 resolution. Most of the exceedance of the critical acid load occurred in high elevation Northeastern States, but some also occurred in eastern North Carolina. Findings from this study will help forest managers to locate areas of potential exceedance of critical acid loading so that additional study, and, if necessary, corrective management plans can be established. 34 Paoletti, Elena; Bytnerowicz, Andrzej; Andersen, Chris [and others]. 2007. Impacts of air pollution and climate change on forest ecosystems—emerging research needs. The Scientific World Journal. 7(S1): 1-8. [Editor’s note: Southern Station scientist Steven McNulty co- authored this publication.] This paper summarizes outcomes from the 2006 meeting “Forests under Anthropogenic Pressure—Effects of Air Pollution, Climate Change, and Urban Development.” Tropospheric or ground- level ozone (O3) is still the phytotoxic air pollutant of major interest. Challenging issues include how to make O3 standards or critical levels more biologically based and at the same time practical for wide use; quantification of plant detoxification processes in flux modeling; inclusion of multiple environmental stresses in critical load determinations; new concept development for nitrogen saturation; interactions between air pollution, climate, and forest pests; effects of forest fire on air quality; the capacity of forests to sequester carbon under changing climatic conditions and coexposure to elevated levels of air pollutants; and enhanced linkage between molecular biology, biochemistry, physiology, and morphological traits. 35 Pardo, Linda H.; McNulty, Steven G.; Boggs, Johnny L.; Duke, Sara. 2007. Regional patterns in foliar 15N across a gradient of nitrogen deposition in the Northeastern U.S. Environmental Pollution. 149: 293-302.

American chestnut burr. (Photo by Paul Wray, Iowa State University, Bugwood.org) www.srs.fs.usda.gov 37 In the 1980s acid rain was partially Termite baits attempt to control large responsible for the death of high numbers of termites by providing food elevation spruce forests across New containing trace amounts of toxicants England. Research studies determined that eventually kill the insects. Toxicants that sulfur and nitrogen were the typically are liquid synthetic compounds. primary contributors to the damage. In cooperation with industry, U.S. Forest In 1990, the U.S. Congress passed Service personnel examined the use of the Clean Air Act, which reduced the a natural insecticide—a mineral called amount of acidic precipitation by over cryolite—mixed with cellulose as termite 70 percent. Linda Pardo, Northeastern bait. Cryolite is sold commercially Research Station research ecologist, as Kryocide® (by Cerexagri, Inc.) led a study to examine how the forest for controlling moths and beetles in has responded to changes in acid rain vegetable crops. Active concentrations levels using nitrogen isotopes (δ15) in and sizes of cryolite crystals were the leaves of spruce needles. The team determined in the laboratory. This is compared samples collected in the late an important first step in identifying a 1980s by SRS research ecologist Steve potential new bait active ingredient for McNulty with those collected from the controlling termites. same sites in the late 1990s by SRS research biologist Johnny Boggs. The study concluded that spruce needle watershed science δ15 N was strongly correlated with N 38 Adams, Susan B. 2007. Freshwater deposition, and was also positively sculpins: phylogenetics to ecology. correlated with net nitrification potential Transactions of American Fisheries (i.e., an indicator of forest health). This Society. 136: 1736-1741. research suggests that very complex ecosystem processes and conditions Freshwater sculpins are small fishes of forest health can be simplified using that live in cool- and coldwater habitats. measurements of foliar chemistry. This More than 60 sculpin species occur. technique may be useful for rapidly Sculpins frequently constitute the largest assessing forest health in the future. component of stream fish communities and serve diverse ecosystem functions. Riitters, Kurt; Estreguil, Christine, 36 Although sculpins are often ignored, eds. 2007. International research to many management and conservation monitor sustainable forest spatial goals may be better met by focusing patterns: proceedings of the 2005 on sculpins than on sport fishes. We IUFRO World Congress symposium. review recent literature on freshwater e-Gen. Tech. Rep. 106. Asheville, NC: sculpins and introduce a module of U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest papers reporting sculpin research from Service, Southern Research Station. diverse perspectives. The objectives are http://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/pubs/28859 to (1) highlight the various scales at [Date accessed: April 21, 2008]. which sculpin research is informative, Presentations from the symposium (2) stimulate interest in sculpin research “International Research to Monitor and conservation, and (3) illustrate some Sustainable Forest Spatial Patterns,” conservation needs and management which was organized as part of the uses of sculpins that are unique from International Union of Forest Research those of sport fishes. Organizations (IUFRO) World Congress 39 Adams, Susan B.; Hamel, Paul B.; in August 2005, are summarized in this Connor, Kristina [and others]. 2007. report. The overall theme of the World Potential roles of fish, birds, and Congress was “Forests in the Balance: water in swamp privet (Forestiera Linking Tradition and Technology,” and acuminata) seed dispersal. the symposium addressed the Congress Southeastern Naturalist. 6(4): 669-682. sub-theme “Demonstrating Sustainable [Editor’s note: Southern Station scientist (Photo courtesy of The American Chestnut Foundation) The American Chestnut of courtesy (Photo Forest Management.” Emile S. Gardiner co-authored this 37 Shelton, Thomas G.; Cartier, publication.] Laurent; Wagner, Terence L.; Becker, Suspecting diverse seed dispersal Christian. 2007. Influence of a avenues for swamp privet (Forestiera mineral insecticide particle size on acuminata), a common wetland plant in bait efficacy against Reticulitermes the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley, we flavipes (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae). launched an interdisciplinary study of Sociobiology. 50(2): 521-533.

Wormy chestnut paneling. chestnut Wormy 38 compass—junecompass—june 2008 its seed ecology. We identified channel reevaluation of height measurement catfish as seed dispersers and cedar is in order. The sine method is a waxwings as probable dispersers. trigonometric alternative that measures Several other bird species consumed, a real point in the crown and thus is but probably destroyed, the fruits. We not subject to the same assumptions inferred that passive seed dispersal as the similar triangle and tangent by water also occurs. The linkage we approaches. In addition, the sine identified between aquatic and terrestrial method is insensitive to distance from ecosystems presumably benefits both tree or observer position and cannot plants and fish. Diverse seed dispersal overestimate tree height, advantages avenues presumably allows for effective demonstrated with mature pines from dispersal under a wide range of Arkansas. hydrologic conditions. 42 Bragg, Don C.; Shelton, Michael G.; 40 Amatya, Devendra; Trettin, Carl. Guldin, James M. 2008. Restoring old- 2008. An eco-hydrological project growth southern pine ecosystems: on Turkey Creek watershed, South strategic lessons from long-term Carolina, USA. In: Meire, P.; Coenen, silvicultural research. In: Deal, M.; Lombardo, C. [and others], eds. R.L., tech. ed. Integrated restoration Integrated water management: practical of forested ecosystems to achieve experiences and case studies. NATO multiresource benefits: proceedings of science series IV. The Netherlands: the 2007 national silviculture workshop. Springer: 80: 115-126. Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-733. Portland, OR: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, The low-gradient, forested wetland Forest Service, Pacific Northwest landscape of the Southeastern Research Station: 211-224. U.S. Coastal Plain represents an important ecosystem, yet there is little The successful restoration of old- information available on the region’s growth-like loblolly and shortleaf eco-hydrological and biogeochemical pine-dominated forests requires the processes. Long-term hydrologic integration of ecological information monitoring can not only provide with long-term silvicultural research. information for understanding basic Conventional management practices processes and interactions with climate, such as timber harvesting or competition land use change, and other disturbances, control have supplied us with the tools but also baseline data for evaluating for restoration efforts. For example, responses and testing eco-hydrologic the Good and Poor Farm Forestry models. This information is crucial Forties on the Crossett Experimental for sustainable management of water Forest (CEF) have been under uneven- resources in the region, with its growing aged silvicultural prescriptions for population, rapid development, and 70 years and have provided insights timber and agricultural industries. This on pine regeneration, structural and paper presents a multi-collaborative compositional stability, endangered approach for building a monitoring and species management, and sustainability. modeling framework for conducting Other studies on the CEFs Reynolds long-term eco-hydrological studies on a Research Natural Area have provided 5,000 ha watershed in the S.C. Coastal lessons on the long-term impacts of Plain. fire suppression, woody debris and duff accumulation, hardwood competition, 41 Bragg, Don C. 2008. An improved and pine regeneration failures. tree height measurement technique tested on mature southern pines. 43 Dosskey, M.G.; Hoagland, K.D.; Southern Journal of Applied Forestry. Brandle, J.R. 2007. Change in filter 32(1): 38-43. strip performance over ten years. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation. Most methods to measure tree 62(1): 21-32. height follow either the geometric photo) Service Forest (U.S. approach of similar triangles or the Perennial vegetation is often established trigonometry-based tangent method. between agricultural fields and streams However, few adjust either technique to filter sediment and fertilizer out of for ground slope, tree lean, crown runoff water before they enter streams. shape, and crown configuration, making The performance of forested and grassed errors commonplace. Given known filter strips were tracked for 10 years discrepancies exceeding 30 percent, a following planting on bare ground in

American chestnut stump. American chestnut www.srs.fs.usda.gov 39 order to see what kind of vegetation disturbance ring in all specimens and 47 Harder, Scott V.; Amatya, Devendra works best and how long it takes for the often resulted in shell damage. Observed M.; Callahan, Timothy J. [and others]. filter strips to become fully functional. growth was similar to but slightly lower 2007. Hydrology and water budget Results show that grass and forest than growth predicted by von Bertalanffy for a forested Atlantic Coastal Plain vegetation (grass, shrubs, and trees) length-at-age models developed watershed, South Carolina. Journal of work equally well and that it takes about independently from shell annuli; further, American Water Resources Association. three growing seasons before these handling specimens in 2 consecutive 43(3): 563-575. [Editor’s note: Southern filters work their best, depending on years reduced growth more than Station scientist Carl C. Trettin co- how quickly a dense groundcover layer handling only once. These results show authored this publication.] develops. that mussels are extremely sensitive to handling. Brief handling does not Increases in timber demand and urban 44 Ford, Chelcy R.; Hubbard, Robert likely increase short-term mortality, but development in the Atlantic Coastal M.; Kloeppel, Brian D.; Vose, James repeated handling could decrease long- Plain over the past decade have M. 2007. A comparison of sap flux- term fitness. Handling effects should motivated studies on eco-hydrology based evapotranspiration estimates be considered in sampling programs and sustainable management of coastal with catchment-scale water balance. or when interpreting results of mark- plain watersheds. The purpose of this Agricultural and Forest Meteorology. recapture studies designed to estimate study was to quantify the water budget 145: 176-185. mussel growth. Production of annual of a first-order forested watershed Studies evaluating comparability of sap shell rings is a pervasive phenomenon located within the Forest Service Santee flux-based estimates of transpiration across species, space, and time, and Experimental Forest near Charleston, with alternative methods for estimating validated shell rings can provide SC. Annual rainfall of 1671 mm in 2003 transpiration at the landscape scale accurate estimates of age and growth. and 962 mm in 2004 was 300 mm are rare. Determining and accounting above and 400 mm below normal with 46 Hamel, Paul B. 2007. Handbook of for sources of variation are critical for runoff coefficients of 0.47 and 0.08, avian hybrids of the world; Eugene M. making landscape inferences about respectively, indicating a wide variability McCarthy. [Book review]. Integrative transpiration. We monitored sap flux of outflows as affected by antecedent soil and Comparative Biology. 47(5): in 40 trees in a 50-year-old eastern conditions. Estimated evapotranspiration 786-787. white pine plantation for two years. (~920 mm) in both years was a major We scaled estimates of transpiration The study of hybridization in nature is component of water loss. These results and interception to the catchment and a difficult task, principally because of may have implications as reference data compared these with water balance the very low probability of finding an for forest management practices on the estimates. For both years, the two animal that represents the offspring of Atlantic Coastal Plain watersheds. independent estimates were similar, the mating of a male of one species with 48 Li, Harbin; McNulty, Steven G. 2007. differing by an average of 10 percent. a female of another species. Certain Uncertainty analysis on simple mass Results indicate that sap flux-based situations are well-known, some in balance model to calculate critical estimates of transpiration may also North America, such as the hybridization loads for soil acidity. Environmental be useful in mixed-species stands and between the two subspecies of the Pollution. 149: 315-326. could provide a tool to evaluate impacts yellow-rumped warbler. In the Southern of species losses on catchment water States we have the “myrtle warbler” Simple mass balance equations (SMBE) balance. subspecies in abundance in the winter, of critical acid loads (CAL) in forest soil while in the Southwest the “Audubon’s were developed to assess potential risks 45 Haag, Wendell R.; Commens- warbler” subspecies spends the winter. of air pollutants to ecosystems. However, Carson, Amy M. 2008. Testing the Where the two subspecies’ ranges to apply SMBE reliably at large scales, assumption of annual shell ring meet in the northern Rocky Mountains, SMBE must be tested for adequacy and deposition in freshwater mussels. hybrids between the two are common. uncertainty. Our goal was to provide a Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Most hybrid situations are not well- detailed analysis of uncertainty in SMBE Aquatic Science. 65: 493-508. known, however. Thus, a debt of thanks so that sound strategies for scaling up We tested the assumption of annual is due to author Eugene McCarthy CAL estimates to the national scale could shell ring deposition by freshwater for the tremendous effort put into the be developed. Specifically, we wanted to mussels in three rivers using 17 species. Handbook of Avian Hybrids of the World. quantify CAL uncertainty under natural In 2000, we notched shell margins, He painstakingly compiled and evaluated variability in 17 model parameters, and returned animals to the water, and more than 5000 references documenting determine their relative contributions retrieved them in 2001. In 2003, we hybridization among bird species for in predicting CAL. Improvements in measured shells, affixed numbered this book. It provides a resource for estimates of these factors are crucial to tags, returned animals, and retrieved all those interested in bird species, in reducing uncertainty and successfully them in 2004 and 2005. We validated differences between bird species, and in scaling up SMBE for national deposition of a single internal annulus evolutionary pressures on bird species, assessments of CAL. per year in all species and in 94 percent not to mention in birdwatching, to of specimens. Most unvalidated shells add new species to their personal list. were old individuals with tightly crowded Most cases are nowhere near as well- rings. Handling produced a conspicuous understood as that involving the yellow- rumped warbler.

40 compass—june 2008 49 Skojac, Daniel A., Jr.; Ezell, Andrew 50 Williams, T.M.; Amatya, D.M.; W.; Meadows, James S.; Hodges, John D. Hitchcock, D.R. [and others]. 2007. 2007. First-year growth and quality Chapel Branch Creek TMDL response of residual hardwood development: integrating TMDL poletimber trees following thinning development with implementation. in an even-aged sawtimber stand. ASABE Paper No. 072042. St. Joseph, Res. Note SE-13. Asheville, NC: U.S. MI: American Society of Agricultural and Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Biological Engineers: 1-13. Southern Research Station. 6 p. Chapel Branch Creek, which drains a First-year diameter growth and 1600-ha area into Lake Marion, is listed epicormic branching responses of as an impaired water for excess nitrogen hardwood poletimber trees retained (N), phosphorus (P), chlorophyll-a, following thinning in a sawtimber and pH. Lake Marion is an important stand are reported. Poletimber trees recreational area generating economic were classified as either superior or benefits for both the adjacent Town inferior poletimber, and then retained of Santee and coastal South Carolina. on separate plots receiving identical The watershed has land uses with thinning treatments. Comparison varying potential nonpoint sources of of responses by the two classes of N and P. A project supported by SC poletimber was used to evaluate their Department of Health and Environmental future potential for grade sawtimber in Control is underway to develop and the thinned sawtimber stand. Thinning implement a Total Maximum Daily Load treatments included an unthinned (TMDL) for the above pollutants. The control, two levels of the desirable major challenge to implementation is treatment (retained preferred and developing stakeholder buy-in for load desirable sawtimber and either superior reductions. Successful implementation or inferior poletimber), and two levels requires both scientifically valid of the acceptable treatment (retained determination of source loadings preferred, desirable, and acceptable and clear demonstration of results to sawtimber and either superior or stakeholders. GIS-based watershed inferior poletimber). Preliminary characteristics and water quality results indicated that future sawtimber sampled from various land uses are production from residual superior being used to identify potential source poletimber trees may be a realistic areas. These and on-site measured option but appears less likely from their flow and weather data are being used inferior poletimber counterparts. The in a hydrology/water quality model desirable treatment yielded significant for calculating load allocations and first-year diameter growth of superior reductions needed to develop a TMDL poletimber trees (0.20 inches), but also and BMPs. This information will be stimulated greater production of new used to educate stakeholders about epicormic branches on the potentially model validity. Early involvement more valuable superior poletimber trees. of stakeholders in study design has The acceptable treatment minimized the facilitated development of a strong production of epicormic branches on cooperative attitude. superior poletimber.

(Photo courtesy of The American Chestnut Foundation) The American Chestnut of courtesy (Photo

Meadowview Research Farm. Research Meadowview www.srs.fs.usda.gov 41 Research Work Units Location & Project Leader Name & Web Site Phone Athens, GA Pioneering Forestry Research on 706-559-4263 Ken Cordell Emerging Societal Changes Forest Ecosystem Restoration and Management Asheville, NC Upland Hardwood Ecology and 828-667-5261 Cathryn Greenberg Management www.srs.fs.usda.gov/bentcreek Auburn, AL Restoring and Managing Longleaf 334-826-8700 Kris Connor Pine Ecosystems www.srs.fs.usda.gov/4111 Monticello, AR Southern Pine Ecology and Management 870-367-3464 James Guldin www.srs.fs.usda.gov/4106

Saucier, MS Forest Genetics and Ecosystems 228-832-2747 Dana Nelson Biology www.srs.fs.usda.gov/organization/ unit/mississippi.htm#SRS-4153 Forest Values, Uses, and Policies Gainesville, FL Integrating Human and 352-376-3213 Vacant Natural Systems www.srs.fs.usda.gov/trends Auburn, AL Forest Operations 334-826-8700 Bob Rummer www.srs.fs.usda.gov/forestops/ Pineville, LA Utilization of Southern Forest 318-473-7268 Les Groom Resources www.srs.fs.usda.gov/4701 Research Triangle Forest Economics and Policy 919-549-4093 Park, NC www.srs.fs.usda.gov/econ David Wear Threats to Forest Health Asheville, NC Eastern Forest Environmental 828-257-4854 Danny Lee Threat Assessment Center www.srs.fs.usda.gov/cc /threatassessment.htm Athens, GA Center for Forest Disturbance Science 706-559-4316 John Stanturf www.srs.fs.usda.gov/disturbance Pineville, LA Insects, Diseases, and Invasive 318-473-7232 Kier Klepzig Plants of Southern Forests www.srs.fs.usda.gov/4501 Forest Watershed Science Franklin, NC Center for Forest Watershed Research 828-524-2128 Jim Vose www.srs.fs.usda.gov/coweeta

Lincoln, NE National Agroforestry Center - Research 402-437-5178 Michele Schoeneberger www.nac.gov

Stoneville, MS Center for Bottomland 662-686-3154 Ted Leininger Hardwoods Research www.srs.fs.usda.gov/cbhr

Natural Resources Inventory and Monitoring The family of James and Caroline Shelton Knoxville, TN Forest Inventory and Analysis 865-862-2000 pose by a large dead chestnut tree in Bill Burkman www.srsfia2.fs.fed.us Tremont Falls, TN, circa 1920. The tree was found to be hollow. (Photo courtesy of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park Library)

42 compass—june 2008 “Linking science and human purpose, adaptive management serves as a compass for us to use in searching for a sustainable future.”

—Kai N. Lee, The Compass and the Gyroscope—Integrating Science and Politics for the Environment*

*Printed with permission from The Compass and the Gyroscope, Kai N. Lee, chapter 1. © Kai N. Lee. OMPAS Next Issue... C S In late summer 2005, Hurricanes Science You Can Use! Katrina and Rita laid waste to the U.S. Gulf Coast, destroying millions of U.S. Forest Service acres of forest in Alabama, Louisiana, Southern Research Station Mississippi, and Texas. In the 3 years Science Delivery Office since the hurricanes made landfall, 200 W.T. Weaver Boulevard SRS researchers have been studying the Asheville, NC 28804-3454 USA damage and working with partners to restore forests, and more importantly, to Address Correction Requested provide guidance for natural resource ______managers—as well as municipalities— on how to plan for future storms. OFFICIAL BUSINESS Penalty for Private Use $300

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Hurricane Charley, 2004. (Photo provided by the SeaWiFS Project, NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, and ORBIMAGE)