Contact: Ben Dolan, The University of Findlay, dolan@findlay.edu; Jason Kilgore, Washington and Jefferson College, jkilgore@washjeff.edu
Initiated: 2012
Project Status: Currently accepting participants
Description
The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) Project is supplemental to the Permanent Forest Plot Project (PFPP) and also builds on the Complementary Vegetation Survey (cVeg) protocol.
Hypotheses/Objectives: The objective of the EAB project is to address questions related to the loss of ash (Fraxinus spp.) trees in forest communities, especially those impacted by emerald ash borer (EAB, Agrilus planipennis). In addition to the data collected by the EREN Permanent Forest Plot Project (PFPP), this project calls for additional data specific to EAB infestation and ash decline and loss. Additionally, this project examines the response of understory plants by following data collection procedures outlined in the Complementary Vegetation Survey (cVeg).
Summary of Methods: Refer to the PFPP materials (PFPP protocols are used to quantify the overstory plant community) and the cVeg protocol (cVeg protocol is used to quantify changes to the forest understory plant community) for the general methods to support this supplemental EAB Project. This EAB Protocols document describes research questions, experimental design (including site selection and plot placement), data collection and analyses, and timeline to publication.
Expanded project info: This EAB Indicators Data File Template provides the column headings and sample data (highlighted) for the EAB Indicators and Understory Community variables. Download this file, replace the existing data with your data, re-save the file as “EAB Impacts Study – EAB Indicators – <site name> – <monthyear>.csv”, and email the file to Ben Dolan. After reviewing the data, Ben will add your data to a Google Sheet and make this document accessible to you.
Curriculum: Refer to the PFPP Collaborators Page (curriculum exchange site) for relevant curricular materials.
Other Project Materials: None.
Publications:
Dolan, B., and J. Kilgore. (2018) Forest Regeneration Following Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis Fairemaire) Enhances Mesophication in Eastern Hardwood Forests. Forests.