PORTLAND, Ore. April 2, 2007. An exotic
beetle that has killed about 20 million trees in the mid West over
the past 5 years will be studied as a preventive measure to control
its potential movement further West. A Prineville, Ore., based
federal research center recently announced a visiting scientist
program of which the emerald ash borer will be the first target
William “Bill” Jacobi, a plant pathologist and
professor at Colorado State University, will assess the movement
of the emerald ash borer and the insect’s
potential impact on Western landscapes. Jacobi has been named the first visiting
scientist at the Western Wildland Environmental Threat Assessment Center. He
arrives in June 2007, and will conduct research, lectures, and outreach activities
about the emerald ash borer during his month’s tenure.
By studying the likely pathways by which the insect is advancing west, both
by natural and man-assisted means, we may be able to stop the spread and
to develop control measures for this damaging insect,” says Jerry Beatty,
Director of the Forest Service’s Western Wildlands Environmental Threat
Assessment Center in Prineville.
People may inadvertently aid the insect by
bringing firewood from infested areas to cabins or other recreational sites
in the West, says Beatty. Movement
transport of nursery stock, wooden packing crates, tree-to tree spread along
steams are examples of other pathways that Jacobi will investigate.
There are at least 10 species of ash in various western wildlands, including
some that form critical wildlife habitat along certain streamsides. Ashes
are also important shade and park trees in many western cities and have been
used in windbreaks by farmers and ranchers.
The visiting scientist program
will periodically bring scientists from other institutions to interact
with center staff on development of rapid and specific
risk assessments. For more information about center activities, please