(i.e., Summer 2008, AY 2008-2009)
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND FOREST BIOLOGY
SUNY-ESF
NAME: Melissa K. Fierke
I. INSTRUCTIONAL ACTIVITIES
1. Regular Course Offerings
Course No.
Title
Credit
Hrs.
No.
Students
FALL:
EFB101
Gen Bio I
3
309
SPRING:
EFB797 (w/ J. Brunner)
Adaptive Peaks Grad Sem
1
10
No. of Lab.
Sections
2. Non-Scheduled Course Offerings (e.g., 496, 899, 999)
Course No.
EFB498
Title
Research Problems (Sirex)
Credit
Hrs.
No.
Students
2
1
3. Continuing Education and Extension (short courses, workshops, etc.)
Analysis of Ecological Communities - 3 day graduate workshop during spring break.
4. Guest Lecture Activities
Course No.
EFB351
Title
Forest Entomology
No. of Lectures
1
II. STUDENT ADVISING
A. Number of undergraduates for whom you are the student’s official advisor 13 and unofficial advisor 4.
B. Graduate Students: (Name, degree sought, starting date, month & year; if a degree was completed, please give
date and full citation for the thesis or dissertation).
MAJOR PROFESSOR
Patrick Eager
Peter Rockermann
Warren Hellman
MS
MS
MS
01/08
05/08
01/09
MEMBER, STEERING COMMITTEE (other than those listed above)
Keith Post
MS
Paul Bryant
Monica Phillips
Amanda Dillon
MS
MS
MS
4/2009 Non-target effects of transgenic pathogen-resistant American heritage trees
on insect herbivores
CHAIRMAN OR READER ON THESIS EXAMS, ETC.
Phillip Barber
MS Examiner
Brandy Brown
MS Examiner
Jacob Wickham PhD Examiner
Asa Kline
MS Chairman
11/2008 Water Table Fluctuation in a Raised-Bed Phytoremediation System
III. RESEARCH COMPLETED OR UNDERWAY
A. Departmental Research (unsupported, boot-legged; title - % time spent)
NY DEC has provided summer field research transportation (a truck and a car with gas and repairs
included).
B. 1. Grant-supported Research (source, subject, amount - total award and current year, award period starting
and ending dates; list graduate research assistants supported by each grant)
Doug Allen, Melissa Fierke, USDA Forest Service, Survey of Siricidae (Sirecinae) and their parsitoids in
the pine forests of central New York state, with special emphasis on the exotic Sirex noctilio, $47,074,
08/07 - 08/10, Patrick Eager
Melissa Fierke, SUNY-ESF Seed Grant. Dedroentomology and oviposition scars of S.noctilio, $3,200,
01/08-06/09
2. Research Proposals pending (as in B.1., above)
Melissa Fierke, D. Parry, D. Allen. Evaluating impacts of native parasitoids on the invasive
Sirex noctilio in New York. McIntire-Stennis Cooperative Forestry. Funded. $79,800, 10/09–9/12.
Melissa Fierke, Dylan Parry, Doug Allen. Documenting entomopathogens of the exotic Sirex noctilio.
Forest Service RFP. $75,000. In review.
Melissa Fierke, Dylan Parry. Assessment of Pinus health and defenses against the exotic Sirex noctilio.
Forest Service RFP. $75,000. In review.
Melissa Fierke, Documenting Buprestid Diversity throughout New York State and at Michigan Emerald
Ash Borer Parasitoid Release Sites, Forest Service FHTET, $3,000-12,500. In review.
M. Hosmer-Briggs, R. Smardon, N. McCracken, N. Abrams, K. Doelle, C. Kroll, M. Fierke, A. Drew, D.
Kuehn, P. Lawler, K. Limburg, C. Salter, and W. Tully. REESE: Convergent Discourse Development
and Negotiating Intended Meaning in the Scientific Writing of Multi-Native Language, Non-Native
English Speaking (NNE) Graduate Students.
IV. PUBLICATIONS (Full bibliographic citation, i.e., do not use "with Jones," or "Jones, et al."; please list only
publications published, in press, or actually submitted during this reporting period --- do not list manuscripts
in preparation).
A. Refereed Publications
M.B. Kelley, M.K. Fierke, F.M. Stephen. 2009. Identification and distribution of Armillaria species
associated with an oak decline event in the Arkansas Ozarks. J. Forest Pathology. doi: 10.1111/j.14390329.2009.00600.x
M.K. Fierke, F.M. Stephen. Historic populations of red oak borer (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) in living
northern red oaks from the Boston Mountains of Arkansas. Canadian Journal of Forest Research. In
review.
M.K. Fierke, F.M. Stephen. Variation in phenolic composition of oaks attached by red oak borer, Enaphalodes
rufulus (Haldeman) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) a native wood-boring beetle. J. Chem. Ecol. In revision.
B. Non-refereed Publications
W.E. Hellman and M.K. Fierke. 5/09. 2009 Philornis downsi trapping and rearing report. Charles Darwin
Research Foundation.
C. Papers Presented at Science Meetings (give title, date, occasion, and location)
F.M. Stephen, M.K. Fierke, J. M Guldin, L.J. Haavik, J. J. Riggins and J. A. Tullis. 06/08. Red oak borer as an
agent of change in Arkansas forests: an historical perspective. Invited presentation in a symposium entitled
“Impacts of insects on forest landscapes: implications for forest health management." International
Congress of Entomology, Durban, South Africa. Oral presentation.
M.K. Fierke, C. Landis, M. O’Brien, J. Riddle, N. Werner, R. Germain. 08/08. Economic and ecological
impacts of emerald ash borer and Sirex noctilio. Annual meeting of the Ecological Society of America.
Milwaukee WI. Oral presentation.
M.K. Fierke. 10/08. Emerald ash borer: Status, biology, impacts, and current research. Invasive Non-Native
Forest Pest Conference. Ithaca, NY. Oral presentation.
P.T. Eager, D.L. Allen, M.K. Fierke. Investigating the Sirex noctilio (Hymenoptera: Siricidae) – parasitoid
complex in central New York. Poster.
Presented at: Finger Lakes Conference. 10/08. Canandaigua, NY.
USDA Interagency Research Forum on Invasive Species. 1/09. Annapolis, ML.
P.T. Eager, D.L. Allen, M.K. Fierke. Optimal sampling of the Sirex noctilio (Hymenoptera: Siricidae)parasitoid complex in Central New York State. Poster.
Presented at: Eastern Branch Meeting of the Entomological Society of America. 03/09. Harrisburg, PN.
ESF Spotlight on Student Research. 4/09. Syracuse, NY.
P.J. Rockermann, C.L. Landis, M.K. Fierke. Tree composition of New York riparian forests in advance of
emerald ash borer. Poster.
Presented at: Finger Lakes Conference. 10/08. Canandaigua, NY.
USDA Interagency Research Forum on Invasive Species. 1/09. Annapolis, ML.
Eastern Branch Meeting of the Entomological Society of America. 03/09. Harrisburg, PN.
ESF Spotlight on Student Research. 4/09. Syracuse, NY.
G. Williams, M.K. Fierke. 4/09. Dendroentomological evidence of Sirex noctilio oviposition. ESF Spotlight on
Student Research. Syracuse, NY. Poster.
N. Werner, D. Parry, M.K. Fierke, DC. Allen. 4/09. Assessing native parasitoid influences on an introduced
wood-boring wasp, Sirex noctilio. ESF Spotlight on Student Research. Syracuse, NY. Poster.
D. Public Service Presentations (lectures, seminars, etc. to and for the public; give group or occasion, date(s), and
attendance)
M.K. Fierke. Forest entomology presentation at Clark Reservation. 8/08. 5.
M.K. Fierke. Impacts of emerald ash borer and Sirex noctilio. SU-ESF ENSPIRE seminar series. 10/08.
Syrucuse, NY. 3.
N.A. Werner, M.K. Fierke. Ecological and socio-economic aspects of emerald ash borer. Cornell University
Agricultural and Food Systems In-Service. 11/08. Ithaca, NY. 30.
WSYR Channel 9 televison interview about Galapagos research on anniversary of Charles Darwin. 2/09. UK#.
WCNY radio interview about Galapagos research on anniversary of Charles Darwin. 2/09. UK#.
M.K. Fierke. Entomology: The study of Insects – with a focus on invasive forest pests. Naturally New York,
Envir. Interp. Prog. Presentation 5/28/09 and field trip 5/30/09 to Clark Reservation. 12.
V. PUBLIC SERVICE
A. Funded Service (include consulting activities) - None
1. Government Agencies (Federal, State, Local):
2. Industrial and Commercial Groups, etc.
B. Unfunded Service to Governmental Agencies, Public Interest Groups, etc.
Answered questions from the public on insects/arthropods through the reporting period.
ESF entomology display at the 2008 New York State Fair. >100 people stopped by and asked
questions ranging from “do you know what this was” to very relevant questions on invasive forest insects.
VI. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
A. Professional Honors and Awards (for teaching, research, outreach, etc.) - None
B. 1. Activities in Professional Organizations (offices held, service as chairman, member, participant or
consultant) - None
2. Professional Society Membership
Ecological Society of America
Entomological Society of America
Natural Areas Association
Canadian Entomological Society
3. Other Professional Activities
a. Editorial activity - None
b. Reviewer
Journal(s)
No. of manuscripts
Arboriculture & Urban Forestry
Environmental Entomology
Economic Entomology
Canadian Entomologist
1
1
1
1
Agency
None
No. of proposals
Other
c. Participation (workshops, symposia, etc.)
Name of workshop, etc.
Date
New York Forest Health Advisory Council
USDA Interagency Research Forum on Invasive Species
3/09
1/09
C. Further Education/Re-training Undertaken, Leaves, Workshops, etc.
Show me the grants, 5/09, SUNY ESF
Show me the shortcuts (in research), 5/09, SUNY ESF
Place
Cortland, NY
Annapolis ML
D. Foreign Travel (Where, When, Purpose)
Galapagos, Ecuador, February 2009, Research
VII. ADMINISTRATIVE AND SERVICE RESPONSIBILITIES (include committee participation)
A. Department-level
EFB Curriculum and Course Assessment Committee
Arranged a gathering of outstanding female seniors, 21 attendees
Scholarship committees: Roskin undergraduate award to outstanding female senior
Burgess outstanding PhD student award in ecology
Stegeman invertebrate ecology graduate award
Attended candidate seminars for the EFB Molecular faculty position.
B. College-level
Member of the ESF Learning Community.
Presentation on Balancing Family and Career for SUNY-ESF Women’s Caucus and SU Women in Science
and Engineering seminar series.
Group leader in two discussion groups of freshmen ESF required reading of Cradle to Cradle.
Participated both weekends of the Freshmen Learning Community Retreat at Orenda Springs.
Habitat activity for Take Your Daughter/Son to Work Day coordinated through the ESF Women’s Caucus.
Helped organize and carry out a fall interdisciplinary freshmen stream cleanup event with Kelly Donaghy.
(Chemistry) at 5 sites along three local rivers. >100 students participated.
Attended candidate seminars for the Dean of Graduate students and the Library Director positions.
Advised EFB transfer students 1/09.
Represented Forest Health at the EFB student recruitment event 4/09.
May and December convocations as well as May Student Award dinner.
Participated in Syracuse St. Patrick’s day parade representing ESF.
C. University-wide, including Research Foundation - None
VIII. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITIES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS DURING THIS
REPORTING PERIOD, ESPECIALLY THOSE MOST NOTEWORTHY AND RELATIVE TO THE
COLLEGE’S AND DEPARTMENT’S MISSION. One paragraph on each of the following would be most helpful:
this past year, what have you done for our students, department/college, and self professionally? NOTE: The
information in this section (along with the supporting specific information elsewhere in this report) should be your
strongest case for being considered for a discretionary raise, which I’ll continue to award based on your contributions to
the department and college this reporting period.
In the fall semester, I taught General Biology for the first time ever here at ESF and it turned out that we had
record numbers of freshmen enroll, forcing me to teach two sections three days a week. Quite challenging as I had
to develop lectures, write and grade lecture quizzes and exams, supervise 2 graduate TAs and their workshops
with over 10,000 grades. I posted lectures and other materials to blackboard and personally contacted students that
were doing poorly. I was quite satisfied with the end of the course with a 74.1 class average and class evaluations
of 4.0 and 4.2 on the two lecture sections. I worked with an undergraduate in the spring semester, Greg Williams
and he presented a poster at the Student Spotlight on Research on Sirex noctilio oviposition scars in the tree ring
record. I facilitated two summer internships, one on the endangered American burying beetle research in NW
Arkansas and another on horse-breeding for a pre-vet student in Environmental Science. I’m also helping another
undergraduate develop research to determine the importance of toad/frog predation of pests in organic vs non-
organic farms. I helped coordinate the Adaptive Peaks Graduate Seminar series in the spring with seven
presentations, several of which were outside quality researchers and presenters.
A unique research opportunity was undertaken at the suggestion/encouragement of James Gibbs on a parasitic fly
in the Galapagos islands of Ecuador. Since its inadvertent introduction Philornis downsi, a parasitic fly, has
reached population densities capable of colonizing >90% of nests and is directly responsible for imposing large
fitness costs on endemic altricial bird species on a majority of the islands in the archipelago. I spent seven days on
the island of Santa Cruz and my newest graduate student, Warren Hellman, spent seven weeks investigating the
biology of this fly in an effort to promote future eradication efforts, e.g., sterile insect technique. Though we were
disappointed upon arrival to find that the science wasn’t as far advanced as anticipated, Warren was able to make
strong strides forward in our understanding of the fly and development of diets for the larvae. Initially our efforts
went into finding more efficient ways of trapping adults and from there we studied mating and oviposition cues
and behavior. We hope to pursue further funding of this research in an effort to contribute to the noble effort of
saving several endemic finch and mockingbird species in this unique and iconic archipelago.
I am happy with the progress of my current cadre of graduate students. Pat Eager has shown excellent progress in
our research into the parasitoids of Sirex noctilio and has presented his research at four separate venues and is in
the process of finishing up his first manuscript. Peter Rockermann has also presented his research on the
importance of ash in NY riparian zones at four venues and is currently developing methods to quantify ashspecialists in ash-dominated riparian forests that may face extirpation with the demise of ash due to emerald ash
borer. Warren Hellman will work for the NY DEC this summer on biomonitoring of emerald ash borer using a
buprestid-hunting native digger wasp. Part of this will include documenting current diversity of Buprestid beetles
ahead of the non-native parasitoids that have been introduced to control emerald ash borer. Nicole Werner has
just started working with me and is interested in entomopathogens of Sirex noctilio, which according to some of
Pat’s research are major mortality agents of this introduced wood-boring wasp.
My outreach efforts include pulling together and manning an entomology display in the ESF booth at the 2008
New York State Fair. I also participated in several other outreach efforts including Take Your Daughter/Son to
Work Day, a Stream Team day for freshmen in conjunction with Kelley Donaghy in the Chemistry department,
and I’ve answered public inquiries about insects throughout the year. I’ve served on the ESF Learning
Community committee as well as the EFB curriculum committee this past year and reviewed scholarship
applications for three EFB scholarships.
Professional development has included attending conferences and meetings, making contacts in the northeast in an
effort to get my name and interests known, finishing publications from my PhD research and postdoctoral work,
traveling to the Galapagos for research as well as writing grants. I gave a presentation as part of the NSF
distributed graduate seminar on the economic and ecological impacts of non-native forest pests for the 2008
Ecological Society of America meeting in Milwaukee WI. My talk focused on two recent introduced insects, Sirex
noctilio and emerald ash borer. There were 5 other participating universities from around the United States that
concentrated on other pests. I’ve also given presentations at local meetings on invasives species here in NY.
IX. A. FUTURE PLANS, AMBITIONS, AND POTENTIAL CONTRIBUTIONS FOR YOUR OWN
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND THE ENHANCEMENT OF THE PROGRAM IN
ENVIRONMENTAL AND FOREST BIOLOGY (brief summary)
This fall I will again be teaching the lecture section of Biology again with ~300 students as well as coordinating
the Adaptive Peaks Graduate Seminar Series and a seminar on Invasive Forest Pests. I anticipate teaching Zoology
in the spring and developing a forest health monitoring class to be taught in the summer of 2010. I will continue
my outreach and service efforts on behalf of ESF and EFB and exploring professional development avenues,
including attending several conferences in the coming year as my teaching load allows.
I will continue to finish up publications from previous research as well as encouraging current graduate students to
prepare mss from our research here at ESF. I will be writing more grants and volunteering to serve as a reviewer
on manuscripts and grants. I am very much looking forward to continuing working with my graduate students,
mentoring them through graduate school, facilitating their research projects and making sure they publish their
results. I have high hopes for future funding for Sirex noctilio research as well as emerald ash borer projects. I
strongly feel that documenting ash within New York forests is critical to our understanding of what we may be
losing as well as to future restoration efforts. I plan to attend several conferences this year with my graduate
students, e.g., Entomological Society of America in Indianapolis, IN, with the anticipation that they will be
presenting their research and I will give a presentation on “carving a niche in NE Forest Entomology”.
B. PROJECTED ACTIVITIES FOR NEXT YEAR
1. Summer 2009
a. Course(s) to be offered - none
b. Proposed research activity
Siricid parasitoids and pathogens, focusing on those affecting the introduced pest, Sirex noctilio.
Documenting ash-dependent Lepidoptera in NY riparian forests.
Biomonitoring of EAB in NY.
Arthropod diversity along a Ca gradient in the Adirondacks.
Toad abundance and insect pest diet in organic vs non-organic vegetable farms in Central NY.
c. University, professional society, and public service
EFB curriculum committee
Review manuscripts as requested and as time permits
2. Fall Semester 2009
a. Course(s) to be offered
EFB101. General Biology I: Organismal Biology and Ecology
Adaptive Peaks Seminar
Invasive Forest Pests Seminar
b. Proposed research activity
Continuing S. noctilio and emerald ash borer research.
c. University, Professional society, and public service
EFB curriculum committee
Review manuscripts and grants as called upon and as time permits
3. Spring Semester 2010
a. Course(s) to be offered
EFB285
Zoology
3 credits
b. Proposed research activity
Continuing S. noctilio and emerald ash borer research.
c. University, professional society, and public service
3 credits
1 credit
1 credit
EFB curriculum committee
Review manuscripts and grants as called upon and as time permits