Our Mission
Researchers in this unit provide knowledge and methods for protecting and sustaining healthy forests affected by invasive species and disturbances. Their research focus is concentrated in two major areas: 1) enhancing understanding and managing invasions and invasive species, and 2) sustaining forests through the regeneration and management of oak-dominated forests. These researchers combine silvicultural and forest management approaches with biological invasion management.Â
Our Research Areas
These researchers study a wide range of invasive species at all stages of invasion including arrival, establishment, spread, and impact leading to development of integrated pest management systems. Invasive species include plants, animals, fish, insects, diseases, invertebrates, and others, that are not native to the ecosystem under consideration and whose introduction causes or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm.Â
- Tools for Understanding Biological Invasions
- Preventing Introduction of Invasive Species
- Invasive Insects, Plants, and Diseases
This invasive species research also integrates with our work on oak management to provide research that will produce tools for sustaining forests. Oak-dominated forests provide a unique suite of woodland benefits, but oak regeneration is currently inadequate to sustain species composition. Science-based solutions to regeneration problems and biological invasions are critical to sustaining oak forests.Â
- Silviculture for Invasive Species
- Oak Regeneration
- Forest Management and Sustainability
- Economics and Engineering
Recent Publications
- Nahrung, Helen F.; Liebhold, Andrew M.; Brockerhoff, Eckehard G.; Rassati, Davide 2023. Forest Insect Biosecurity: Processes, Patterns, Predictions, Pitfalls. Annual Review of Entomology
- Uden, Daniel R.; Mech, Angela M.; Havill, Nathan; Schulz, Ashley N.; Ayres, Matthew P.; Herms, Daniel A.; Hoover, Angela M.; Gandhi, Kamal J. K.; Hufbauer, Ruth A.; Liebhold, Andrew; Marsico, Travis D.; Raffa, Kenneth F.; Thomas, Kathryn A.; Tobin, Patrick C.; Allen, Craig R. 2022. Phylogenetic risk assessment is robust for forecasting the impact of European insects on North American conifers. Ecological Applications
- Haack, Robert A.; Hardin, Jesse A.; Caton, Barney P.; Petrice, Toby R. 2022. Wood borer detection rates on wood packaging materials entering the United States during different phases of ISPM 15 implementation and regulatory changes. Frontiers in Forests and Global Change
- Celis, Sabrina ; Dietschler, Nicholas ; Bittner, Tonya ; Havill, Nathan ; Gates, Michael ; Buffington, Matthew ; Whitmore, Mark C. 2022. Hymenopteran Parasitoids of Leucotaraxis argenticollis (Diptera: Chamaemyiidae) and Leucotaraxis piniperda : Implications for Biological Control of Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (Hemiptera: Adelgidae). Environmental Entomology
- Fenn-Moltu, Gyda ; Ollier, Sébastien ; Caton, Barney ; Liebhold, Andrew; Nahrung, Helen ; Pureswaran, Deepa S.; Turner, Rebecca M.; Yamanaka, Takehiko ; Bertelsmeier, Cleo 2022. Alien insect dispersal mediated by the global movement of commodities. Ecological Applications