Projects: Some of the currently funded projects in my lab
Geographical Variation in Physiology in Invasion Range Front Populations Along a Climate Gradient
This NSF funded project focuses on changes in physiology associated with variation in climate along the Lymantria dispar (fomerly 'gypsy moth') invasion front.
Along with co-PI Sal Agosta (VCU) and PI Kristine Grayson (University of Richmond), we have been looking at physiological variation in traits such as metabolic rate, relative growth rate, and development of L. dispar from populations at recently invaded range extremes and populations from old established areas. We are also looking at the phenological relationships between L. dispar egg hatch and bud break of preferred host trees across the same climatic gradient.
Biological Control of Invasive Swallow-worts
Funded by NYSDOT, this collaborative project (SUNY ESF, Cortland University, Wells College, Cornell, and USDA-ARS) is focused on the introduction of a moth from Ukraine, that feeds exclusively on these invasive vines. We are in the early stages of introducing these moths to field cages at select locations in central New York and will be monitoring their success. Ultimately, we hope these moths reduce population densities of these aggressive invading plants to levels where they are not negatively impacting native plants.
Declines in Giant Silk Moths
The giant silk moths are a group of charismatic and readily identifiable native moths familiar to many. Over the past 50 years, several species have declined or even become extirpated in the Northeast. Many explantions have been offered although none of the current hypotheses adequately explain the patterns of disappearance. We seek to understand why populations of so many of these magnificent and once common species have declined so significantly in this part of their ranges.
The Rebirth of a Long Dormant Invader, the Browntail Moth
Resurrection of American Chestnut
This US Forest Service funded project is focused on evaluating potential explanations for the sudden prominence of browntail moth in Maine after 80 years of stasis. Introduced in 1896, this insect spread throughout New England reaching its maximum range by 1914. Browntail moth are loathed for their highly allergenic urticating hairs and at high population densities, the extensive defoliation they cause. Beginning in 1915 their range contracted until the 1970's when they were found only on outer Cape Cod and a few islands and peninsulas in Casco Bay, Maine. In 2015, they began to increase dramatically, expanding inland and by 2018 were causing significant defoliation. We are looking at changes to their natural enemy complex (pathogens and parasitoids) and potential climatic factors as explanations.
Once the dominant hardwood tree across wide swaths of eastern North America. Towering American chestnuts numbering in the billions were reduced to small understory saplings by chestnut blight, an exotic fungal pathogen accidentally imported to the US in the early 1900's. Using biotechnology, researchers here at ESF have inserted a gene from wheat into American chestnuts. Expression of this gene elicits the production of a compound that prevents the spread of the pathogen in the tree. Genetically engineered American chestnut is currently undergoing regulatory approval for release in natural ecosystems. In my lab, we are examining the potential consequences of genetically modified chestnuts on non-target insect herbivores and their natural enemies.
