Dr. Walter C. Shortle
USDA Forest Service
Northeastern Research Station
P.O. Box 640
(271 Mast Road)
Durham, NH 03824
Telephone: 603-868-7620 Fax: 603-868-7604
E-mail: wshortle@fs.fed.us
Education:
Ph.D. Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, 1974.
M.S. Botany, University of New Hampshire, Durham, N.H., 1970.
B.S. Botany, University of New Hampshire, Durham, N.H., 1968.
Professional Positions:
Senior Scientist/ Research Plant Pathologist, Northeastern Research
Station, Durham, NH 1996-present.
Project Leader/Research Plant Pathologist, Northeastern Research
Station, Durham, NH 1986-1995.
Research Plant Pathologist, Northeastern Research Station, Durham, NH
1974-1985.
Current Research:
I am currently working with teams of scientists to understand
dendrochemical patterns of essential base cations (K, Ca, Mg) in major
trees species (spruce, fir, pine, maple, birch, cherry, oak, southern beech)
in the northeastern USA, central Europe, northwestern Russia, and
southeastern Siberia in the northern hemisphere, and Tierra del Fuego in
the southern hemisphere. The goal of this work is to determine the
influence of internal biochemical processes on the observed patterns
relative to external geochemical processes affected by atmospheric
deposition so that the affect of environmental change on wood
production, wood quality, and tree survival can be evaluated. In related
work, the role of wood-decay fungi in cycling base cations back into root
zones depleted of these elements is being studies. We are attempting to
link mineralization of wood in dead trees to biological weathering of
mineral sources of base cations followed by their transport into the upper
root and storage in biologically available forms. We are also studying the
impact of major wounding events such as the January 1998 Ice Storm on
tree survival, wood production, and wood quality. In addition to
providing practical information for managers of forest land affected by a
major wounding event, we are able to expand of knowledge of
fundamental biological processes that limit the spread of infections
following wounding.
Most of the current research involves work in multidisciplinary teams.
The following are collaborators with whom I have worked in recent
years – K.T. Smith, R. Minocha, C. Eagar, and S.W. Bailey (USFS),
G.B. Lawrence (USGS), A.G. Lapenis (SUNY, Albany), K.A. Vogt and
D.J. Vogt (U. Washington, Seattle), G.E. Likens (IES, Millbrook, NY),
J. Jellison and W.D. Ostrofsky (U.Maine, Orono), J.H. Connolly
(Husson College, Bangor, ME), R.O. Blanchard (UNH, Durham), R.
Wimmer (BOKU, Vienna, Austria), D. Dujesiefken (Institut fuer
Baumpflege, Hamburg, Germany), and K. Cufar (U, Ljubljana,
Slovenia).
Subject Area Index: Tree Biology, Wood Quality, Forest Pathology,
Acidic Deposition, Nutrient Cycling.
Selected Publications:
1.
Lawrence, GB; Lapenis, AG; Berggren, D; Aparin, BF; Smith, KT;
Shortle, WC; Bailey, SW; Varlyguin, D; Babakov, B. 2005. Climate
dependency of tree growth suppressed by acid deposition effects on soils in
northwest Russia. Environmental Science and Technology. 39(7): 20042010
2.
Shortle, W.C.; Smith, K.T.; Dudzik, K.R. 2003. Tree survival and growth
following ice storm injury. USDA For. Serv. Res. Pap. NE-723. 4 p.
3.
Smith, K.T.; Shortle, W.C. 2003. Radial growth of hardwoods following
the 1998 ice storm in New Hamshire and Maine. Can. J. For. Res. 33:325329.
4.
McLaughlin, S.B.; Shortle, W.C.; Smith, K.T. 2002. Dendroecological
applications in air pollution and environmental chemistry: research needs.
Dendrochronologia 20:133-157.
5.
Smith, K.T.; Shortle, W.C. 2001. Conservation of element concentration in
xylem sap of red spruce. Trees: Structure and Function 15:148-153.
6.
Shortle, W.C.; Smith, K.T.; Minocha, R.; Minocha, S.; Wargo, P.M.; Vogt,
K.A. 2000. Tree health and physiology in a changing environment. In:
Mickler, R.A.; Birdsey, R.A.; Hom, J. eds. Responses of northern U.S.
forests to environmental change, Ecological studies, Vol. 139. New York:
Springer-Verlag: 229-274.
7.
Shortle, W.C.; Smith, K.T.; Minocha, R.; Lawrence, G.B., David, M.B.
1997. Acidic deposition, cation mobilization, and biochemical indicators of
stress in healthy red spruce. J. Environ. Qual. 26:871-876.
8.
Minocha, R.; Shortle, W.C.; Lawrence, G.B.; David, M.B.; Minocha, S.C.
1997. Relationships among foliar chemistry, foliar polyamines, and soil
chemistry in red spruce trees growing across the northeatsern United
States. Plant Soil 191:109-122.
9.
Lawrence, G.B.; David, M.B.; Shortle, W.C. 1995. A new mechanism for
calcium loss in forest-floor soils. Nature 378:162-165.
10. Shortle, W.C.; Bondietti, E.A. 1992. Timing, magnitude, and impact of
acidic deposition on sensitive forest sites. Water, Air, Soil Pollut. 61:253267.
11. Shortle, W.C.; Smith, K.T. 1988. Aluminum-induced calcium deficiency
syndrome in declining red spruce. Science 240:1017-1018.