30, 2005
2008-2009
Annual Report
1
This document summarizes the activities of the Ecosystem
Science Center for the period from July 1, 2008 ─ June 30, 2009.
Table of Contents
Introduction to ESC – A Message from the Director ....................................................................3
ESC Members & Focus Area........................................................................................................4
ESC Award and Expenditure Synopsis ....................................................................................10
ESC Active Research Awards....................................................................................................11
ESC Member Publications 2008 ................................................................................................18
ESC Activities .............................................................................................................................22
Distinguished Ecologist Lecture Series ................................................................................22
Sponsored Graduate Student Travel Grants.........................................................................23
Sponsored Undergraduate Student Research Grant ............................................................24
Sponsored Graduate Student Research Grants ...................................................................25
5th Annual ESC/BRC Graduate Research Forum ................................................................26
Global Change Teachers' Institute ……………………………………………………………….27
AERC membership and meeting ..........................................................................................28
Society of Conservation Biologists Special Session ............................................................28
USFS NASP class - Spring 2009 ..........................................................................................29
ESC Equipment Purchase - REF infrastructure Enhancement.............................................27
Carbon in Northern Forests Meeting.....................................................................................28
Photo credit on cover, Jill Witt 2009
2
Introduction to ESC – A Message from the Director
The Ecosystem Science Center completed its fifth successful year, but suffered a significant loss in
October, when our Director, Dr. David Karnosky, suddenly passed away. It is with sorrow that I
assume the duties as Director of the Center. Dave’s contributions to the ESC and the University will
be greatly missed, as will his leadership and friendship. I hope to continue the ESC’s legacy of
research accomplishment, graduate education, and promoting the excellent programs at Michigan
Tech that Dave worked so hard at during his time as Director. As part of this, I am pleased to
announce that the ESC has significantly expanded its membership during the past year. The 14 new
members we welcomed have increased our size to over 40 members from five academic units. I
gladly welcome these new members and look forward seeing their diverse skills and research
expertise used to enhance the Center’s programs.
During the past year, the ESC’s research awards and expenditures have continued to rank us as one
of the top centers and institutes on campus. We also have worked hard to support educational
experiences for a diverse audience, including middle and high school teachers, natural resource
professionals, ESC members, and especially our graduate and undergraduate students. We have
continued our popular graduate student research forum, and research and travel grants for graduate
and undergraduate students, as well as the international exchange initiative for faculty and staff. In
addition we have joined the Association of Ecosystem Research Centers, and send a representative to
Washington, DC for the organization’s annual meeting. We continued our support for the popular
Distinguished Ecologist Lecture Series, and our members once again served as instructors for the very
successful Global Change Teacher’s Institute and the Ecological Systems Course of the US Forest
Services’ National Advanced Silviculture Program (NASP). Both of these efforts draw participants
from across the nation.
We hope you enjoy the report. Michigan Tech is a great place to conduct research and education in
Ecosystem Science, and we look forward to creating new opportunities for both in the coming year.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about the report or the Center.
Andrew Burton
Associate Professor & Director,
Ecosystem Science Center
School of Forest Resources &
Environmental Science
Michigan Tech University
1400 Townsend Drive
Houghton, MI 49931 USA
ajburton@mtu.edu
phone: 906-487-2566
fax: 906-487-2915
For more information or to see past annual reports, visit our website which is
currently under reconstruction at: http://ecosystem.mtu.edu/
3
ESC New Members
ESC membership greatly expanded during the year, as scientists performing ecosystem
research from five units on campus joined the ESC. The following people were nominated,
accepted our invitation and joined as new ESC members in January 2009
Paul Doskey, Professor, SFRES & Civil & Environ. Science
John Forsman, Assistant Research Scientist, SFRES
Katherine Halvorsen, Associate Professor ,SFRES, Social Sciences
Casey Huckins, Associate Professor, Biological Sciences
Mike Hyslop, GIS Analyst, SFRES
Maria Janowiak, Research Scientist ,SFRES and US Forest Service
Glenn Larkin, Research Scientist I, SFRES
Alex Mayer, Professor, Geological & Environ. Engineering
Audrey Mayer, Assistant Professor,SFRES, Social Sciences
Judith Perlinger, Associate Professor ,Civil & Environ. Science
Dana Richter, Research Scientist II, SFRES
Noel Urban, Professor , Civil & Environ. Science
Leah Vucetich, Research Assistant, SFRES
Hairong Wei, Assistant Professor, SFRES
4
Current Members
Joeseph Bump,
Mike Hyslop,
Rolf Peterson,
Trophic control of
ecosystem function
Resource flux
Stable isotopes in
wildlife ecology
Natural Resource
Remote Sensing
applications to
forest resource
management
Population ecology of
mammals
Andrew Burton,
Maria Janowiak,
Thomas Pypker,
Forest response to
global change
Belowground ecology
Carbon & nutrient
cycling
Climate change effects
on forests
Adaptation
Forest carbon
management
Molly Cavaleri,
Martin Jurgensen,
Assistant Professor
Associate Professor &
Director of the ESC
Assistant Professor
Forest response to
global change
Carbon and water
cycling in forests
Tree Ecophysiology
GIS Analyst
Research/ Out reach
Scientist
Professor
Forest soil productivity
Global climate cha nge
impact on soil biology
Ecosystem nutrient
cycling
Rod Chimner,
Evan Kane,
Wetland ecology
Wetland restoration
Peatland ecology
Climate c hange and
carbon cycling
Soil carbon
Plant/soil
relations hips
Decomposition
Dissolved organic
carbon
Assistant Professor
Assistant Professor
Research Professor
Predator-prey dynamics
Ecological studi es at
Isle Royale Nat. Park
Assistant Professor
Forest hydrology
Ecohydrology
Carbon cycling
Stable isotopes
Sigrid Resh,
Adjunct Assistant
Professor
Forest carbon
Soil C sequestration
and restoration
Isotope applications in
forests
Dana Richter,
Adjunct Associate
Professor
Forest mycology and
pathology
Fungal ecology
Paul Doskey,
Peter Laks,
Andrew Storer,
Environmental
biogeoc hemistry
Atmospheric organic
chemistry
Atmosphericbiosphere exchange
Decomposition
processes
Woody decay fungi
Wood destroying
insects.
Forest health and
management of
invasive species
Jenn Eikenberry,
Glen Larkin,
Chris Swanston,
Decomposition
processes
Forest soil carbon
cycling
Climate c hange
adaptation
Professor
Assistant Research
Scientist
Uses of stabl e
isotopes in
ecosystems
Ecosystem nutrient
cycling
Professor
Research Scient ist 2
Mike Falkowski,
Erik Lilleskov,
Terrestrial remote
sensing
Biometrics
Landscape ecology
Habitat modeling
Fire ecology
Quantitative Ecology
Global change biology
Soil micro- and
macrobiota and
ecosystem function
Soil invasive species
Assistant Professor
Adjunct Professor
Professor
Assistant Professor
Catherine
Tarasoff,
Assistant Professor
Invasion ecology
Road ecology
Applied restoration
and weed control
5
ESC Current Members Continued…
David Flaspohler,
Amy Marcarelli,
Noel Urban,
Conservation biology
Avian ecology
Herbivory
Island ecology
Aquatic ecology
Ecosystem and
community ecology
of streams & rivers
Biogeochemistry
Limnology
Chemistry of natural
organic matter
Wetland biogeochem.
Environ. impact and
fate of pollutants
John Forsman,
Alex Mayer,
Associate Professor
Assistant Researcher
Detecting decay in
trees and lumber
Physical properties of
wood
Assistant Professor
Professor
Human-biophysical
interactions in wa ter
systems
Watershed &
groundwater
management &
modeling
Professor
Ken Vrana,
Director of Isle Royale
Institute
Ecological studi es,
outreach & education
at Isle Royale National
Park
Robert Froese
Audrey Mayer,
John Vucetich,
Forest modeling
Forest biometrics
sampling, inventory
and monitoring
Ecocsystem carbon
Sustainability science
Environmental
policy
Landscape ecology
Demographic and
genetic elements of
population biology
Ecology of wolves and
moose
Associate Professor
Assistant Professor
Assistant Professor
Oliver Gailing,
Rachel Mcdonald,
Ecological Genetics
Population Genetics of
forest Tree
Conservation Genetics
Forensic Genetics
Human impacts on
forest nutrient
cycling
Forest ecosystem
restoration
Sustainable harvesting
Kathy Halvorsen,
Linda Nagel,
Chris Webster,
Sociology of natural
resources
Natural resource and
environmental policy
Forest vegetation
dynamics
Silviculture
Invasive plants in
forested ecosystems
Disturbance ecology
Exotic species biology
Restoration
silviculture,
Wildlife habitat
relations hips
Assistant Professor
Associate Professor
Research Associate
Associate Professor
Leah Vucetich,
Research Assistant
Professor
Isle Royale wolf genetics
Field research methods
Associate Professor
Casey Huckins,
Judith Perlinger,
Hairong Wei
Aquatic ecology of
riparian systems,
lakes and streams
Functional
morphology of fishes
Environmental
transport and
transformation of
organic chemicals
Genomics and
bioinformatics on tree
growth
Gene function
prediction
Associate Professor
Associate Professor
Assistant Professor
Staff
Jill Fisher,
Trish Burton,
Program Manager for
the Ecosystem
Science Center and
the Midwest office
of NICCR
Financial Manager for
the Ecosystem
Science Center
Assistant Research
Scientist
Assistant Research
Scientist
Carrie Richards,
Staff Assistant
Web page Manager
for the Ecosystem
Science Center
6
photo by Jill Witt
Linda Nagel, Andrew Burton, Mike Hyslop and Chris Webster in the field for the 2009 NASP class
FY08
ESC Award and Expenditure Synopsis
ESC
Centers/Institutes
at MTU (15 total)
Number of Awards:
40
311
Award Amount:
$4,135,570
$29,261,736
Number of Projects:
55
448
FY08 Expenditures:
$4,832,080
$33,506,988
FY09
ESC Award and Expenditure Synopsis
ESC
Centers/Institutes
at MTU (15 total)
Number of Awards:
65
211
Award Amount:
$5,669,344
$23,203,188
Number of Projects:
69
484
FY09 Expenditures:
$5,519,172
$33,864,074
7
ESC Active Awards FY09
Name
PI, Co-PI(s)
Sponsor
Name
Burton,
A.J.
Nat. Science Foundation
Burton,
A.J.
Nat. Science Foundation
Burton,
A.J. (DF
Karnosky
through
10/08)
Burton,
A.J., &
Lilleskov
Burton,
A.J., &
Lilleskov
Burton,
A.J.
US Dept of Energy
US Dept of Energy, NICCR
NSF pass-through from
University of Nevada-Reno
DOE pass-through from
University of Nevada-Reno
Project Title
Collaborative LTREB: Long Term Ecosystem
Response to Chronic Atmospheric Nitrate
Deposition
REU supplement to: Collaborative LTREB: Long
Term Ecosystem Response to Chronic
Atmospheric Nitrate Deposition
Impacts of interacting elevated atmospheric CO2
and O3 on the structure and functioning of a
northern forest ecosystem: Operating and
decommissioning the Aspen FACE Project
Short and long-term temperature acclimation of
roots systems in woody plants and the
moderation of warming-induced enhancement of
soil CO2 efflux
From Genes to Ecosystems: Mechanisms
Controlling Long-Term Ecosystem Response to
Nitrogen Deposition
Ecosystem response to Elevated Tropospheric
CO2 and O3 is Regulated by Plant-Microbe
Interactions in Soil
Burton,
A.J.
US Dept of Energy
Midwestern Regional Center of the National
Institute for Climatic Change Research:
Research Subawards
Burton,
A.J.
US Dept of Energy
Midwestern Regional Center of the National
Institute for Climatic Change Research:
Project Administration
Start Date
End Date
Award
Amount
9/1/2008
8/31/2009
$30,507
9/1/2008
8/31/2009
$7,000
4/1/2008
3/31/2010
$1,108,180
4/1/2009
3/31/2010
$1,497,888
4/1/2008
3/31/2010
$268,868
6/15/07
8/31/09
$117,978
9/1/08
8/31/09
$50,349
6/15/07
8/14/09
$93,721
8/15/08
8/14/09
$59,296
2/1/06
2/1/07
2/1/08
2/1/09
12/1/05
12/1/07
12/1/08
11/30/09
11/30/09
11/30/09
11/30/09
11/30/09
11/30/09
11/30/09
$2,189,633
$1,429,895
$1,353,353
$1,395,769
$400,000
$134,324
$134,328
8
ESC Active Awards FY09 – continued
Name
PI, Co-PI(s)
Sponsor
Name
Burton,
A.J.
USDA Forest Service
Burton,
A.J.
USDS Forest Service
Chimner,
R.
Chimner,
R.
Chimner,
R.
US Dept of Agriculture
US Dept of Interior
The Nature Conservancy
Chimner,
R.
US Dept of Energy NICCR
Chimner,
R.
Mich Tech University
Flaspohler,
D.J.
Flaspohler,
D.J.
Cornell University
US Dept of Interior
Project Title
Analysis of Weevils for Carbon and Nitrogen
Stable Isotopes
Soil Carbon Cycling and Storage in Response
to Elevated Tropospheric CO2 and O3 at the
Aspen FACE Experiment
Developing Methods for Restoring Fens in the
San Juan National Forest, Colorado
Analyze Water Isotopes to Determine Impacts
of Burning in Mesic Burr Oak Forest
Restoration of Sleeper Lake Peatlands
Effects of plant species, organic matter quality,
and microbial activity on peatland ecosystem
function and resilience to climate change
REF-RS Developing Restoration Techniques for
Coastal Wetlands
Golden-Winged Warbler Conservation Initiative
Start Date
End Date
Award Amount
4/1/08
6/30/09
$1,000
07/01/05
06/30/10
$39,000
2/23/07
12/30/09
9/30/09
$17,499
$3,000
6/21/07
4/1/10
$3,000
5/1/09
1/1/11
$20,481
9/1/07
8/31/10
$268,058
7/1/09
8/31/10
$28,530
8/30/08
$15,000
9/1/08
$17,000
12/31/09
$6,000
12/31/10
$15,000
5/1/07
Optimizing Both Habitat Quality for
Conservation-Concern Bird Species and Tree
Productivity in Aspen Forests in the Great Lakes
Region
4/1/08
Forsman,
J.
Conner Sports Flooring
Testing Hardwood Flooring Systems II
7/1/08
7/1/09
$7,647
Froese, R.
MI Dept of Mgt and Budget
Timber Inventory Plot Design for the Michigan
Department of Natural Resources
12/3/08
6/1/09
$49,936
Froese, R.
Wolverine Power
Cooperative
Carbon Inventory for the Wolverine Energy Crop
Trials
7/1/08
6/30/09
$13,007
9
ESC Active Awards FY09 – continued
Name
PI, Co-PI(s)
Sponsor
Name
Froese, R.
US Dept of Agriculture
Froese, R.
Wolverine Power
Cooperative
Janowiak,
M.K.
US Dept of Agriculture
Janowiak,
M.K.
Nat. Assoc. of
Conservation Districts
Project Title
Decision Support for Biomass Production in Northern
Forests
Biomass Production and Carbon Sequestration Trials
for the Wolverine Clean Energy Venture
Sustainable Forest Management in the Context of
Climate Change: Training and Tools for Strategy
Development and Application
Woody Biomass Utilization for Michigan’s Upper
Peninsula
Develop Forest Plan Soil Quality Monitoring Protocols
and Validate in Region 1
Start Date
End Date
Award
Amount
10/1/07
9/30/08
$7,000
1/1/09
12/31/09
$57,178
5/1/08
6/1/12
$132,971
7/31/08
6/30/09
$2,000
6/16/06
12/31/08
$15,000
6/16/06
12/31/08
$141,190
Jurgensen,
M.F.
US Dept of Agriculture
Jurgensen,
M.F.
US Dept of Agriculture
Effects of Red Pine Thinning and Stand Age on
Ecosystem Carbon Pools and Fluxes
12/23/08
7/31/12
$43,969
Jurgensen,
M.F.
US Dept of Agriculture
Evaluating Fire Impacts on Wood Decomposition
7/29/08
12/31/09
$35,000
Jurgensen,
M.F.
US Dept of Agriculture
Harvesting Effects on Residual Stand Growth and the
Inherent Productive Capacity of Soils
10/1/07
9/30/08
$10,920
US Dept of Agriculture
Validation of Soil Monitoring Methods and their
Relationship to Vegetative Growth and Belowground
Processes
8/22/07
Jurgensen,
M.F.
12/31/09
12/31/09
12/31/09
12/31/10
$45,000
$150,000
$25,000
$30,000
Jurgensen,
M.F.
US Dept of Agriculture
Validation of Region 1 Soil Quality Standards and
Protocols on the Custer National Forest
7/30/08
12/30/10
$32,999
10
ESC Active Awards FY09 – continued
Name
PI, Co-PI(s)
Sponsor
Name
Project Title
Start Date
End Date
Award
Amount
USDA McIntire-Stennis
Impacts of Interacting Atmospheric CO2 and O3 on
Northern Forest Ecosystems
10/1/06
9/30/08
$7,000
Karnosky,
D.F.
US Dept of Energy
Impacts of Elevated CO2 and O3 Alone and in
Combination, on the Structure and Functioning of a
Northern Forest Ecosystem: Operating the Aspen
FACE User Facility
4/1/07
3/31/09
$1,592,274
Karnosky,
D.F.
US Dept of Agriculture
Starting the Second Decade: Operating the Aspen
FACE Experiment
5/16/06
4/24/11
$29,999
Laks, P.E.
Arch Wood Protection
Inc.
Maunawili Ground-Contact Decay and Depletion Test
of Arch Wood Presevatives – May 2008
5/1/08
12/31/10
$20,750
Laks, P.E.
Arch Wood Protection
Inc.
Kipuka Above-Ground Decay Test of Arch Wood
Preservatives: Aug 2008
8/1/08
12/31/11
$29,676
Laks, P.E.
Arch Wood Protection
Inc.
Austin Cary Above-Ground Decay test of Arch Wood
Preservatives: Aug 2008
8/1/08
12/31/11
$21,876
Laks, P.E.
Arch Wood Protection
Inc.
Third Party Inspection of AWPA E18 Specimans for
Arch Wood Protection
1/1/2009
12/31/2011
$11,025
Laks, P.E.
Arch Wood Protection
Inc.
Extended Hawaiian Field Lap-Joint Test of Arch Wood
Protection Experimental Wood Perservatives 4January 2009
1/1/2009
12/31/2011
$17,249
Karnosky,
D. F.
11
ESC Active Awards FY09- May 1, 2009– continued
Name
PI, Co-PI(s)
Sponsor
Name
Start Date
End Date
Award
Amount
1/1/2009
12/31/2011
$20,000
1/1/2009
12/31/2011
$17,249
1/1/2009
12/31/2011
$18,750
Extended Hawaiian Above-Ground Decay Test of Arch
Experimental Wood Preservatives: November 2006 -1
1/1/2009
12/31/2011
$18,750
Extended Florida Above-Ground Decay Test of Arch
Experimental Wood Preservatives: August 2006 - 1
1/1/2009
12/31/2009
$18,750
5/1/2009
7/31/2012
$23,300
10/1/2008
12/31/13
$30,001
2/9/07
9/30/09
$106,568
Project Title
Extended Above-Ground Field Test of Arch Wood
Perservative Formulations 4 - January 2009
Laks, P.E.
Arch Wood Protection
Inc.
Laks, P.E.
Arch Wood Protection
Inc.
Laks, P.E.
Arch Wood Protection
Inc.
Laks, P.E.
Arch Wood Protection
Inc.
Laks, P.E.
Arch Wood Protection
Inc.
Laks, P.E.
Arch Wood Protection
Inc.
Kipuka Field Exposure of WPC Decking for Trex - May
2009
Larkin, G.
Osmose Inc
Maunawili AWPA E7 Test of Osmose Project 2008TPI-4
Nagel. L.
US Dept of Agriculture
Extended Washington Ground Proximity Decay Test
Experimental Wood Preservatives Oct. 2006 Protocol 1
Extended Washington Above-Ground Decay Test of
Arch Experimental Wood Preservatives: October 2006
-1
National Advanced Silviculture Program III of the US
Forest Service, Ecological Systems Course
12
ESC Active Awards FY09 – continued
Name
PI, Co-PI(s)
Sponsor
Name
Project Title
Start Date
End Date
Award
Amount
4/24/09
5/31/11
$15,000
01/01/05
09/30/10
$26,600
02/07/06
12/31/10
$36,600
4/20/2009
9/30/13
$44,549
1/22/2009
1/22/10
$5,401
4/1/08
10/30/09
$44,999
10/30/09
$79,475
4/1/07
6/30/08
6/30/09
6/30/09
$392,790
$55,000
$275,000
4/1/08
6/30/09
$212,080
4/1/07
8/31/08
$81,330
5/15/07
8/31/08
$60,999
04/01/04
04/03/06
12/31/08
12/31/08
$30,106
$28,999
6/23/2008
6/30/2011
$30,499
6/23/2008
6/30/2011
$39,999
3/1/05
12/31/09
$117,877
Nagel. L.
US Dept of Agriculture
Assessing Vegetation of Isle Royale National Park with
FIA Data
Peterson,
R., J.
Vucetich
US Dept of Interior
Wolf/Moose Population Monitoring, Isle Royale
National Park, 2005-2010
Pypker, T.
US Dept of Agriculture
Richter, D.
Trex Co Inc
Storer, A.
Wisconsin DNR
Storer, A.
US Dept of Agriculture
2007 Michigan and Wisconsin Emerald Ash Borer
Detection Survey
Storer, A.
US Dept of Agriculture
2008 Detection Survey for Sirex noctillo in Michigan
Storer, A.
US Dept of Agriculture
Storer, A.
US Dept of Agriculture
Storer, A.,
L. Nagel
US Dept of Agriculture
Storer, A.
US Dept of Interior
Storer, A.
US Dept of Agriculture
Carbon, Water, and Soils Research Support
Mold-Stain Test #16 of Wood Plastic Composites with
Inhibitor Coatings for the Trex Co., Inc. (MTU/WPG
090123A)
2006 Michigan and Northern Wisconsin Emerald Ash
Borer Detection Survey in WI and Northern MI
Living with Emerald Ash Borer: Refinement of Trap
Tree Technologies
2007 Ash Damage Survey - Ground Evaluation of
Aerial Imagery
Interactions Among Prescribed Fire, Mechanical
Treatments, Insect Pests and Pathogens in Red Pine
Multicriteria Risk Models and Management Studies for
Invasive Plants at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore:
Development, Validation and Implementation
Demonstration Plots of Implementation of Ash Phloem
Model
13
ESC Active Awards FY09 – continued
Name
PI, CoPI(s)
Vucetich,
J. A.
Vucetich,
J.
Peterson,
R.
Webster,
C
Sponsor
Name
Project Title
US Dept of Interior
Wolf-Moose Monitoring, Isle Royale National Park
National Science
Foundation
LTREB: Multi-Level Trophic Dynamics of Wolves,
Moose, and Vegetation
US Dept of Agriculture
Supplemental: Stable Isotope Analysis to Elucidate the
Physiological Basis of Silvicultural Treatment
Response in Great Lakes Pine Ecosystems
Webster,
C
Focus on Energy
Webster,
C
US Dept of Agriculture
Webster,
C
US Dept of Interior
Webster,
C
US Dept of Agriculture
Webster,
C
US Dept of Interior
Identifying Trade-offs Between Biomass Production
and Biological Diversity in Wisconsin's Forests and
Grasslands to meet Tomorrow's Bioenergy and Biofuel
Needs
Stable Isotope Analysis to Elucidate the Physiological
Basis of Silvicultural Treatment Response in Great
Lakes Pine Ecosystems
Determine the impacts of Aluminum Toxicity and
Calcium Loss on Threatened High Elevation Spruce-fir
Stable Isotope Analysis to Elucidate the Physiological
Basis of Silvicultural Treatment Response in Great
Lakes Pine Ecosystems
Determine the Impacts of Aluminum Toxicity and
Calcium Loss on Threatened High Elevation SpruceFir
Start Date
End Date
Awarded
Amount
1/1/05
12/31/10
$36,600
08/15/99
07/31/11
$90,000
8/1/04
7/31/12
$90,001
8/2/2005
9/30/2010
$30,000
7/1/08
8/31/2010
$130,678
08/02/05
09/30/09
$35,000
7/1/07
7/1/09
$27,142
8/2/05
9/30/09
$15,000
9/30/10
$30,000
7/1/09
$27,146
7/1/07
14
Chris Miller and Bharat Pokharel sampling soil for C and nutrient budgets at energy crop trial
ESC Member Publications
for calendar year 2008 and up to May 2009
Note that ESC faculty members are bolded and ESC supported graduate students are
underlined.
Andrew, C.; Lilleskov, E.A. 2009. Productivity and community structure of ectomycorrhizal fungal
sporocarps under increased atmospheric CO2 and O3. Ecology Letters. 12: 813-822.
Beyer, D.E., R.O. Peterson, J.A. Vucetich, & J.H. Hammill. 2009. Wolf Population Changes in
Michigan. Pages 65-86 In: A.P. Wydeven, T.R. Van Deelen, & E.J. Heske, E.J. (eds.)
Recovery of Gray wolves in the Great Lakes Region of the United States, An Endangered
Species Success Story. Springer Press, New York, NY.
Bump, J.K, C.R. Webster, R.O. Peterson, J.A. Vucetich, J.M. Shields, and M.D. Powers.
(accepted pending minor revisions) Ungulate carcasses perforate ecological filters in forest
herbaceous layers allowing trees a competitive advantage. Ecosystems.
Bump, J.K., K. Tischler, A. Schrank, R.O. Peterson, & J.A. Vucetich. 2008. Large herbivores &
aquatic-terrestrial links in southern boreal forests. Journal of Animal Ecologoy 78(2):338-45.
Burton, A.J., and K.S. Pregitzer. 2008. Measuring forest floor, mineral soil, and root carbon
stocks. Chap. 10 In R. Birdsey and C. Hoover (eds). Handbook of Measurements for
Landscape Scale Carbon Monitoring. Springer.
15
Burton, A.J., J.M. Melillo and S.D. Frey. 2008. Adjustment of forest ecosystem root respiration as
temperature warms. J. Integr. Plant Biol. 50:1467-1483.
Chimner, R.A. and J.M. Karberg. 2008. Long-term carbon accumulation in tropical mountain
peatlands, Andes Mountains, Ecuador. Mires and Peat 3: Art. 4. (Online: http://www.miresand-peat.net/map03/map_03_04.htm).
Corace, R.G., III · D.J. Flaspohler · L.M. Shartell. 2009. Geographic patterns in openland cover
and hayfield mowing in the Upper Great Lakes region: implications for grassland bird
conservation. Landscape Ecology 24:309-317.
Darbah, J.N.T, M.E. Kubiske, N. Nelson, E. Oksanen, E. Vapaavuori, and D.F. Karnosky. 2008.
Effects of decadal exposure to interacting CO2 and/or O3 on paper birch (Betula papyrifera)
reproduction. Environmental Pollution. DOI 10.1016/jenvpol.2008.01.033.
Flaspohler, D.J., C. Webster, and R. Froese. 2009. Bioenergy, Biomass, and Biodiversity: A
review of key issues for terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Chapter 7, pp. 133-162 in
Renewable energy from forest resources in the United States, B. Solomon and V. Luzadis,
eds. Routledge Publisher, New York.
Holmes, S.A, C.R. Webster, D.J. Flaspohler, and R.E. Froese. (in press) Death and Taxus: the
high cost of palatability for a declining evergreen shrub, Taxus canadensis. Canadian
Journal of Forest Research.
Janowiak, M.K., L.M. Nagel and C.R. Webster. 2008. Spatial scale and stand structure in northern
hardwood forests: implications for quantifying diameter distributions. Forest Science 54:497506.
Lilleskov, E.A., Mattson, W. J., Storer, A.J. 2008. Divergent biogeography of native and
introduced soil macroinvertebrates in North America north of Mexico. Diversity and
Distributions. 14: 893-904.
Moyano, F.E., O.K. Atkin, M. Bahn, D. Bruhn, A.J. Burton, A. Heinemeyer, W. Kutsch, and G.
Wieser. (in press). Respiration from roots and the associated microorganisms. Chap. 6 In
W. Kutsch, A. Heinemeier and M. Bahn (eds). Soil Carbon Flux Measurements: An
Integrated Methodololgy. Cambridge University Press.
Nagel, L.M., R.G. Corace and A.J. Storer. 2008. An experimental approach to testing the efficacy
of management treatments for glossy buckthorn (Frangula alnus) at Seney National Wildlife
Refuge, Upper Michigan. Ecological Restoration. 26: 136-142
Nelson, M.P., R.O. Peterson, & J.A. Vucetich. 2008. The Isle Royale Wolf-Moose Project, 50
Years of Challenge & Insight. George Wright Society 25, 98-113.
Nelson, M.P. & J.A. Vucetich. 2009. Preservation. Pages 180-184 in Encyclopedia of
Environmental Ethics and Philosophy, Edited by: J. Baird Callicott and Robert Frodeman
(Farmington Hills, MI: Macmillan).
Nelson, M.P. & J.A. Vucetich. 2009. On Advocacy by Environmental Scientists, What, Whether,
Why, & How. Conservation Biology, in press.
Opuni-Frimpong, E., D.F. Karnosky, A.J. Storer, E.A. Abeney and J.R. Cobbinah. 2008. Relative
susceptibility of four species of African mahogany to the shoot borer Hypsipyla robusta
(Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in the moist semideciduous forest of Ghana. Gorest Ecology and
Management 255: 313-319.
16
Opuni-Frimpong, E., D.F. Karnosky, A.J. Storer and J.R. Cobbinah. 2008. Silvicultural systems
for plantation mahogany in Africa: Influences of canopy shade on tree growth and pest
damage. Forest Ecology and Management 255: 328-333.
Page-Dumroese, D.S., Dumroese, R.K., Jurgensen, M.F., Abbott, A., Hensiek, J.J. 2008. Effect of
nursery storage and site preparation techniques on field performance of high-elevation
Pinus contorta seedlings. Forest Ecology and Management 256: 2065–2072
Pokharel, B. and R.E. Froese. 2008. Evaluating alternative implementations of the Lake States
FVS diameter increment model. Forest Ecology and Management, 255 (5-6), 1759-1771.
Pokharel, B and R.E. Froese. (in press) Representing site productivity in the basal area increment
model for FVS-Ontario. Forest Ecology and Management.
Powers, M.D. and L.M. Nagel. 2008. Disturbance dynamics influence Pennsylvania sedge
abundance in a northern hardwood forest. Journal of the Torrey Botanical Society
135(3):317-327
Powers, M.D., C.R. Webster, K.S. Pregitzer, and B.J. Palik. 2009. Spatial dynamics of radial
growth and growth efficiency in residual Pinus resinosa following aggregated retention
harvesting. Canadian Journal of Forest Research. 39:109-117.
Pregitzer, K.S., A.J. Burton, D.R. Zak, and A.F. Talhelm. (2008). Simulated chronic nitrogen
deposition increases carbon storage in northern temperate forests. Global Change
Biology 14: 142-153.
Pregitzer, K., Zak, D. R., Loya, W. M., Karberg, N. J., King, J. S., Burton, A. J. 2008. The
contribution of root - rhizosphere interactions to biogeochemical cycles in a changing world.
In Z.G Cardon, J.L. Whitbeck (Ed.), The Rhizosphere - An Ecological Perspective (pp. 155178). Burlington, MA: Elsevier Academic Press.
Pregitzer, K., Burton, A. J., King, J. S., Zak, D. R. 2008. Soil respiration, root biomass, and root
turnover following long-term exposure of northern forests to elevated atmospheric CO2 and
tropospheric O3. New Phytologist 180: 153-161.
Räikkönen, J., J. A. Vucetich, R. O. Peterson, M. P. Nelson. 2009. Congenital bone deformities
and the inbred wolves (Canis lupus) of Isle Royale. Biological Conservation 142(5): 10251031.
Riikonen, J., K. Kets, J. Darbah, E. Oksanen, A. Sober, E. Vapaavuori, M.E. Kubiske, N. Nelson,
and D.F. Karnosky. 2008. Carbon gain and bud physiology in Populus tremuloides and
Betula papyrifera grown under long-term exposure to elevated concentrations of CO2 and
O3. Tree Physiology 28:243-254.
Shields, J.M., C.R. Webster, and A.J. Storer. 2008. Short-term community-level response of
arthropods to group selection with seed-tree retention in a northern hardwood forest. Forest
Ecology and Management 255: 129-139.
Schwartz, M.K., and J.A. Vucetich. 2009. Molecules and beyond: assessing the distinctness of the
Great Lakes wolf. Molecular Ecology 18:2307-9.
Tarpey, R.A., M.F. Jurgensen, B.J. Palik, and R. K. Kolka. 2008. The long-term effects of
silvicultural thinning and partial cutting on soil compaction in red pine (Pinus resinosa Ait.)
and northern hardwood stands in the northern Great Lakes Region of the United States.
Canadian Journal of Soil Science 88: 849-857.
17
Taylor, G., M.J. Tallis, C. Giardina, K.E. Percy, F. Miglietta, P.S. Gupta, B. Bioti, C. Calfapietra, B.
Gielen, M.E. Kubiske, G.E. Scarascia-Mugnozza, K. Kets, S.P. Long, and D.F. Karnosky.
2008. Future atmospheric CO2 leads to delayed autumnal senescence in Populus over two
continents. Global Change Biol. 14:264-275.
Thiemann, J.A., C.R. Webster, M.A. Jenkins, P.M. Hurley, J.H. Rock, and P.S. White. 2009.
Herbaceous-layer impoverishment in a post agricultural southern Appalachian landscape.
American Midland Naturalist. 162:155-175.
Vucetich, J.A. & M.P. Nelson. 2008. Distinguishing experiential & physical conceptions of
wilderness. Pages 611-631 in Nelson MP & JB Callicott (eds.) The Wilderness Debate
Rages on: Continuing the Great New Wilderness Debate. University of Georgia Press.
Vucetich, J.A. & R.O. Peterson. 2009. Dynamics of wolf & moose on Isle Royale. Pages 35-48 in:
Wydeven, A.P., Van Deelen, T. R., & Heske, E.J. (eds.) Recovery of Gray wolves in the
Great Lakes Region of the United States, An Endangered Species Success Story. Springer
Press, New York, NY.
Vucetich, J.A., P.M. Outridge, R.O. Peterson, R. Eide, & R. Isrennd. 2009. Vucetich et al.
Mercury, lead and lead isotope ratios in the teeth of moose (Alces alces) from Isle Royale,
U.S. Upper Midwest, from 1952 to 2002. J. Environ. Monit., 2009, 11(7):1352–1359.
Webster, C.R., C.J. Huckins, and J.M Shields. 2008. Spatial distribution of riparian zone coarse
woody debris in a managed northern temperate watershed. American Midland Naturalist
159: 225-237.
Webster, C.R., J.H. Rock, R.E. Froese, and M.A. Jenkins (2008). Drought-herbivory interaction
disrupts competitive displacement of native plants by Microstegium vimineum, 10 year
results. Oecologia
Webster, C.R. and M.A. Jenkins. (2008). Age structure and spatial patterning of Trillium
populations in old-growth forests. Plant Ecology (DOI: 10.1007/s11258-008-9410-5)
Zak, DR, W.E. Holmes, A.J. Burton, K.S. Pregitzer, and A.F. Talhelm. 2008. Simulated
atmospheric NO3- deposition increases soil organic matter by slowing decomposition.
Ecological Applications 18:2016-2027.
18
Distinguished Ecologist Lecture Series – Fall 2008
Below are the Distinguished Ecologists who visited the MTU campus in Fall of 2008 as part of a 1credit course to provide graduate and advanced undergraduate students with a unique opportunity
to meet with some of the world’s leading ecologists and to discuss their research. The course
includes readings and critical evaluations of primary literature, and pre- and post-visit meetings to
review the research of the distinguished ecologist and discuss how their work has impacted the field
of ecology. The instructors for this year were ESC members Chris Webster and Erik Lilleskov.
Sept. 25, 2008
Randall Schaetzl
Professor of Geography
Michigan State University
Seminar title:
Unraveling the relationships among soils, vegetation and climate on
the sandy uplands of Michigan's Northern Lower Peninsula.
October 16, 2008
Alison K. Brody
Professor: University of Vermont
Seminar title:
Understanding nature through species interactions: from Colorado to
Kenya.
October 23, 2008
Aaron M. Ellison
Senior Research Fellow: Harvard Forest
Harvard University
Seminar title:
Plants that build environments: a tale of two foundation species
19
ESC Sponsored Graduate Student Travel Grants
2008-2009
Applicant
Advisor
Meeting
Where
Ballantyne,
Drew
Chimner
Annual Soc. of Wetland Scientists
Conference
Miller, Chris
Froese
SAF 2009 National Convention
Airoldi,
Adam
Burton
Andrew,
Carrie
Lilleskov
United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change COP15
Botany and Mycology 2009
Madison, WI
June 21-26,
2009
Orlando, FL
Sept 30-Oct 4,
2009
Copenhagen,
Denmark
Fall 2009
Snowbird, Utah
July 25-29,
2009
San Fransico,
CA,
Dec 15-19, 2008
Miami, FL,
Nov 8-12, 2008
Bogata and San
Vincente de
Churcuri,
S.Amer. Oct. 21
Hriblan, John Chimner
American Geophysical Union
2008 Fall Meeting
Roth, Amber
15th Annual Wildife Society
Conference
Flaspohler 2nd Golden-winged Warbler
Summit and International Field
Course in Migratory Bird Ecology
Wang, Chao
Storer
Stehn, Sarah
Webster
Jensen, Nick
Webster
Status
attended
Granted
$500
Talk
$500
submitted
Talk
$500
submitted
Talk
$500
submitted
poster
accepted
$500
poster
accepted
talk
accepted
$500
attended
$500
attend
$500
$500
– 25 2008
15th Annual Wildlife Society
Conference
Amer. Bryological &
Lichenological Soc. With the
Botan. Soc. of Amer.Annual Mtg.
Miami, FL,
Nov 8-12, 2008
Snowbird, Utah
July 25-29,
2009
Total
$4500
20
ESC sponsored Graduate Student Research
Grants 2008-2009
Applicant
Airoldi,
Adam
Advisor
Burton
Study
Tree line fluctuations in response to land use
and climate change
Bal, Tara
Storer
Boisvert,
Elizabeth
Chimner
Quantifying Dieback of Sugar Maple in
Keweenaw and Houghton Counties, MI
Initiation and Development of Three Lake
Superior Coastal Peatlands
Flores,
Rosa
Perlinger,
Judith
Harless,
Meagan
Huckins
Haskell,
Daniel
Flaspohler
Hriblan,
John
Jensen,
Nicholas
Chimner
Metz,
Mathew
Miller,
Chris
Previant,
Wilfred
Vucetich
Von
Duyke,
Andy
Vucetich,
John
Webster
Froese
Nagel
Secondary Organic Aerosol Composition,
Formation and Fluxes through Biogenic
Emissions in Northern Michigan
Field assessment of road salt exposure in
vernal pools: relationship to amphibian
communities
Furbearer use of lake riparian buffers-comparing use as a function of land-use and
land cover in Northern Wisconsin
Influence of Climate Change on Peatland
Microbial Community Dynamics
Understory response of hemlock-hardwood
forests to seasonal habitat use by white-tailed
deer in the Upper Great Lakes region
Summer predation patterns of wolves in
Yellowstone National Park, WY
Impact of Grass Energy Crop Production on
Soil Fertility
Using hemispherical photography to assess
canopy structure following eight silvicultural
treatments at the Ford Forestry Center,
Alberta, MI
Pregnancy diagnosis of Isle Royale Moose
using fecal steroid analysis
Total research grant money
Items
LogTag analyzer software
and docking station, data
loggers
Travel, supplies, field
assistant.
Carbon and nitrogen
analysis of 150 peat
samples.
Consumables, chemicals,
lab ware
Lab supplies, personnel,
travel.
Granted
$1000
$500
$1000
$500
$1000
$1000
Field equip., travel,
personnel.
PFLA analysis, PVC pipe
Nutrient analysis of soil,
litter and leaf tissue.
Genetic analysis of
ungulate bone shards.
Soil chemistry analysis,
undergrad assistant
Hemispherical lens,
supplies, travel, field
assistant
Fecal steroid analysis for
75 samples
$1000
$1000
$1000
$1000
$500
$1000
$10,500
The ESC recently increased the amount of Graduate Research Minigrants from $750 to $1000 for
full funding. Fall applicants that were not funded could reapply spring term. Partial funding was
granted spring term based on quality of the application. The ESC members who participated on the
grant review panel this year were Rod Chimner, Robert Froese, Jill Fisher, Sigrid Resh, Dana
Richter, Andrew Storer, and Catherine Tarasoff.
21
5th Annual ESC/BRC
Graduate Research Forum – February 27, 2009
Feb 09 ESC awards:
Grand Prize ($500) – Elizabeth Boisvert for
"Initiation and Development of Three Lake
Superior Coastal Peatlands" (SFRES; Tom
Pypker, Advisor)
.
Thirty-three masters and Ph.D graduate
students from the following
departments submitted posters in this
year’s Graduate Research Forum:
Biological Sciences, BioMed
Engineering, Chemistry, Chem.
Engineering, Math Science, SFRES,
Social Science, USFS.
Judges this year included David
Flaspohler, Linda Nagel, post doc
Bharat Pokarel, Tom Pypker, Chris
Swanston and Hairong Wei.
The ESC judges employed a scoring
sheet based on several finer points of
the following three categories:
appearance, content, and the oral
presentation.
Merit Award ($100) – Lucas Spaete for
"Aspen Biomass Assessment for MI, WI, and
MN: A GIS and Regression Approach for
Quantifying Biomass" (SFRES; Ann McLain,
Advisor)
Merit Award ($100) – Sarah Stehn for
"Altitudinal Gradients of Bryophyte Diversity
and Community Assemblage in Southern
Appalachian Spruce-fir Forests" (SFRES;
Christopher Webster, Advisor)
Honorable Mention ($50) –Chris Miller for
"The Economic Feasibility of Aspen as a Coal
Co-Firing Component" (SFRES; Robert Froese,
Advisor)
Honorable Mention ($50) –Mathew Metz for
"Summer Predation Patterns of Yellowstone
Gray Wolves" (SFRES; John Vucetich,
Advisor)
Honorable Mention ($50) –Max Henschell
for "Do the Birds Care? Avian Community
Response to Floristic Quality" (SFRES; David
Flaspohler, Advisor)
22
Global Change Teacher Institute July 2008
Once again, many ESC members collaborated with Joan Chadde to host the Global Change
Teacher institute In June of 2008. Sixteen middle and high school teachers, from Michigan,
Wisconsin, Ohio, Mexico, and Washington DC participated in the intensive five-day Institute to
study real-world current effects of global change.
2008 Instructors:
The Institute was taught by ESC faculty members Dr. Andrew Burton and Dr.Erik Lilleskov
(USDA Forest Service, Adjunct), former ESC Graduate Student Alan Talhelm, Dr. Janet Vail,
Annis Water Resources Institute, Grand Valley State University, and Joan Chadde, K-12
Education & Outreach Program Coordinator, Western U.P Center for Science, Mathematics &
Environmental Education.
Participants in the field at the
Free Air Carbon dioxide
Enrichment (FACE) site in
Rhinelander.
Visiting the Michigan
Gradient sites to observe the
effects nitrogen saturation on
northern hardwood forests.
23
Teaching units created by the 16 students from the 2008 course. Links to the lessons
are at : http://wupcenter.mtu.edu/education/Global_Climate_Change/lesson_plans.htm
Global Change K-12 Teaching Units
These units were developed by teachers attending the Global Change Teacher Institute at Michigan
Tech University July 14-18th, 2008.
TITLE (TARGET GRADE) AUTHOR
Global Change Teaching Unit; Amy (Boerma) Finkenbinder
Global Change (High School); Lerner
Atmosphere and Air Pollution (Middle School); Denise Akom
Thinking as a Scientist- Acid Rain (Middle School); Naomi Ojala
Air Quality and Chemistry (High School); Rebecca Heckman
Atmospheric CO2 Concentration, Human Activity and Green House Effect (High School/ College); San
Acid Deposition Distribution in La Paz and Surroundings (High School/ College); Sandra Robles-Gil
Measuring Global Climate Change (Middle School); Linda Mussio
Global Warming and Invasive Species (High School); Wilson Pg 1 Pg 2 Pg 3
Air Quality Investigation (Middle School); Elaine Brye
Air, Atmosphere and Climate (High School); Carolyn Grapentine
Climate Change, Invasive Species, Atmospheric Changes/Greenhouse Gases, and Land Use (Middle Sc
Air Pollution and How it Impacts Human Life (Middle School); LaPointe
Times are a Changing (Middle School); Dan Carey
Effects of Air, Water and Soil Pollution on Human and Environmental Health/ Quality (High School) J
“What is In Our Air?” (High School); Erin Randall
Atmospheric Phenomena-Meteorology (Middle School); Mark W. Leatherman
Alternative Energy, CO2 in the Atmosphere, Invasive Species & Exploring our Atmospher; Marilyn B
24
Association of Ecosystem Research Centers
The Ecosystem Science Center remains a member alongside the 38 other reputable institutions in
membership to the Association of Ecosystem Research Centers . See their website at
ttp://www.ecosystemresearch.org/ .
Dave Karnosky represented the ESC and attended the annual meeting held in Washington, D.C. in
September of 2008. He agreed that the AERC is a strong organization and the ESC should remain a
member. The subject of last year’s symposium was “Responding to Climate Change: A Role for
Ecosystems”.
Society of Conservation Biologists
ESC members Chris Webster and David Flaspohler co-organized a symposium at the 2008 Society for
Conservation Biology annual meeting entitled: “Biofuels and biodiversity: an assessment of potential
effects on species and ecosystems.” Chattanooga, TN, July 15, 2008.
25
USFS NASP class – Spring 2009
Linda Nagel (director) and Christopher Webster (assistant director) ran the Ecological Systems Course
of the National Advanced Silviculture Program (NASP) for the US Forest Service to provide their
members with coursework towards the Minimum National Standards for Silvicultural Certification
(formerly the PASS program). The course was held at the SFRES building on the MTU campus from
May 14-25, 2009 with field trips to the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park, the Ford Forestry
Center, and the Hiawatha National Forest.
Ecosystem function and structure and linkages between topic areas were stressed throughout the
session. Topics were covered at a variety of spatial scales (site, stand, forest, landscape, etc.), and
examples were shown in the field when possible. Discussion of the impact of forest management on
components of the environment was encouraged throughout. The session was taught at the graduate
level with each topic beginning with a basic review to ensure all students understood fundamental
concepts that provided the basis for the level of instruction for this session.
The two week intensive course included 35 students from all regions of the US, and were from the US
Forest Service, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the Bureau of Land Management.
Specific content covered in the NASP Course included (ESC member instructors bolded):
Topic
Forest Ecology
Contact
Hours
16
Geology, landforms, soils
Hydrology and watersheds
Tree physiology
16
8
12
Silvics of forest trees
Fires ecology, fire behavior
4
8
Course eval., tests, etc
Total hours
4
76
Instructor
Nagel, Webster,
Storer, Frelich
Hyslop, Burton
Pypker
Friend, Lilleskov,
Swanston, David
Nagel, Webster
Morris, Froese,
Dickmann
Nagel, Webster
26
Purchase of DOC/DON Analyzer
Research Excellence Funds Program
The ESC used an REF equipment grant ($12,000) to help purchase purchase a Shimadzu TOC-V
Combustion Analyzer with a TNM-1 Total Nitrogen Option and Standard Data Station. The ESC
contributed $16,000 towards the purchase and individual ESC members contributed an additional
$2,969. The instrument is used to simultaneously analyze dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and
dissolved organic N (DON) in liquid samples. It replaces two aging instruments that separately
analyzed DOC and DON. As a result, the analytical time and cost to users needing both analyses has
been reduced by 50%. To date 1,105 samples have been analyzed by researchers examining soil
solution chemistry in two long-term research projects (Aspen FACE and Michigan Gradient) and
stream samples from Isle Royale. The availability of the instrument helped ESC members in seeking
grants examining the effects of soil warming on peatlands and an NSF LTREB grant to continue longterm examinations of the effects of chronic NO3- additions on C and N cycling in northern hardwood
ecosystems (note both grants were ultimately funded). The instrument also will be used extensively to
analyze water samples produced during collaborative research between ESC members and the US
Forest Service’s Northern Research Station, using the mesocosm facility constructed by the US Forest
Service in Houghton.
27
Carbon in Northern Forests Meeting,
Traverse City, Michigan, June 10-11, 2009
Northern forests store substantial amounts of carbon in biomass and soils, and carbon is receiving
increased emphasis in forest management. Climate change intensifies the need not only for a better
scientific understanding of the interactive role of carbon in forested ecosystems, but also for
management strategies that increase carbon sequestration and fossil carbon substitution. This
meeting focusing on carbon in northern forests brought 81 participants from universities, industry and
government agencies from the US and Canada together to view and present 28 talks in the following
seven sessions: forest carbon cycle science, disturbance effects on forest carbon, climate change
effects on forest carbon, carbon quantification methods and techniques, bioenergy for carbon
mitigation, management interaction with forest carbon pools, part I and II. Thirty-three posters were
concurrently presented and a post-conference field tour of local carbon research and management
showcasing three sites: the Forest Accelerated Succession Experiment and Eddy Covariance Tower at
the UMBS property; the Michigan Gradient Study looking at climate change affecting forests along a
latitudinal and sulfur emission gradient; and management and carbon market participation at the
Christian Camp Property.
The ESC co-sponsored this meeting along with NIACS (the primary sponsor), The US Forest Service
Northern Research Station, Michigan Tech’s School of Forestry and Environmental Science, the
University of Michigan Biological Station, the National Council for Air and Stream Improvement, Inc.
and the National Association of University Forest Research Programs.
Among the 81 participants many were ESC members and students who presented talks or posters, led
sessions, and helped organize and run the meeting, they include: Andrew Burton, Rod Chimner,
Robert Froese, Jill Fisher, David Flaspohler, Maria Janowiak, Erik Lilleskov, Chris Miller, Jennifer
Mwangi, Sigrid Resh, Chris Swanston and Rachel Tarpey. The program agenda and abstracts are
available at http://forest.mtu.edu/cinf/CiNF_Abstract_Book_Web.pdf . A special issue of Forest
Science with selected papers from the meeting is being co-edited by ESC members Andrew Burton
and Chris Swanston.
28