I received this from a colleague and wondered if anyone had an answer to
his question:
Dear Professor Schmitz,
I am writing at the suggestion of Mary Warner, associate dean of the
medical school. Mary and I have been working jointly on a diagnostic
medical case project.
For many years I have owned a farm on the east bank of the Hudson River
just south of the Rip Winkle Bridge. On the steep bank that descends
from the farm house to the New York Central railroad tracks, there is a
small forest of sumac trees, interspersed with other growth. The sumac
trees generally grow straight up, at a rate of 6 to 10 feet per year,
with one exception. The exception comes out of the ground and grows in
circles. See photo 001, attached. If you will look to the left of the
chain saw, you will see a twisted length of copper about three-quarter
inches wide. The copper is embedded in the root system of the crooked
tree, and cannot be removed by vigorous tugging.
When Mary and I looked at these photos last week in her office, we
speculated that the DNA of the crooked tree may have mutated and is
sending atypical signals to the trees cells. We talked briefly about
Wilson's disease in humans, which is due to an excess of copper in the
bloodstream. Needless to say, neither of us knows anything about
crooked sumac trees.
Our current schedule calls for me to return to New Haven at 11 a.m. on
Wednesday March 10th. If you expect to be on campus that day, I could
bring you a length of the crooked tree. I plan to stay over at the
Graduate Club that night, and will therefore be available on March 11th
as well. Alternatively, you might like to visit the farm, which is
about 2 1/2 hours from Harkness Tower. I would love to have your views
on what is causing the crooked tree to grow in circles. Please feel
free to discuss this subject with your students.
If you search Google Earth for 194 Greendale Road, Hudson, NY, 12534,
you will access an aerial view of the farm. The crooked tree is on the
bank to the east of the farmhouse/barn at the north end of the farm. To
the west of the farm house there is a pinot noir vineyard, while the
grapes to the South are largely Chardonnay.
I look forward to hearing from you. With best regards,
Peter Brengel, Class of 1953
--- On *Fri, 2/26/10, Peter Brengel /<peterbrengel(a)yahoo.com
<mailto:peterbrengel@yahoo.com>>/* wrote:
From: Peter Brengel <peterbrengel(a)yahoo.com
<mailto:peterbrengel@yahoo.com>>
Subject:
To: "Peter Brengel" <peterbrengel(a)yahoo.com
<mailto:peterbrengel@yahoo.com>>
Date: Friday, February 26, 2010, 6:16 PM
Here is the crooked tree.
Oswald Schmitz
Oastler Professor of Population and
Community Ecology,
Yale University School of Forestry and
Environmental Studies,
370 Prospect Street, New Haven, CT 06511
Ph (203) 432-5110; FAX (203) 432-3929
NSF/CAFS PhD Assistantship: Endophytes for improved growth and disease
resistance of forest trees.
There have now been many demonstrations of the effects of endophytes on
plants that range from positive (i.e., mutualism) to negative (i.e.,
parasitism). This project addresses research areas of site resource
utilization with select endophytes and growth, yield and quality of
forest plantations.
Of fundamental interest is the opportunity to research endophyte
community assembly rules under ecologically realistic conditions in a
range of host plants including species of Populus and Pinus.
Qualifications:
* MS degree in mycology, ecology, plant pathology, or related
field
Prior to formal application to the University of Idaho [Moscow, Idaho,
USA] please initially email a letter of interest with your curriculum
vitae to George Newcombe at georgen(a)uidaho.edu
<mailto:georgen@uidaho.edu> .
George Newcombe, Professor
University of Idaho Forest Pathology and Plant Symbiosis
Center for Research on Invasive Species and Small Populations
Moscow, ID 83844-1133.
georgen(a)uidaho.edu <mailto:georgen@uidaho.edu>
http://www.cnr.uidaho.edu/crissp/newcombe_g.htm
<http://www.cnr.uidaho.edu/crissp/newcombe_g.htm>
http://www.cnr.uidaho.edu/forres/people/faculty/newcombe.asp
<http://www.cnr.uidaho.edu/forres/people/faculty/newcombe.asp>
6th Western Hazard Tree Workshop: June 15-17, 2010
First Announcement
To: All parties interested in hazard tree management
From: Pete Angwin, Plant Pathologist, USDA Forest Service, Redding, CA (
pangwin(a)fs.fed.us, or by phone at 530-226-2436)
Plan now for the next Western Hazard Tree Workshop, to be held in Medford,
Oregon, during the week of June 14, 2010! The meeting site will be at the
USDA Forest Service's J. Herbert Stone Nursery in Central Point. Lodging
is available in a variety of hotels in Medford. As with the previous five
workshops, the intended audience includes pest specialists,
arboriculturists and other professionals who have responsibilities for
providing training and guidance in hazard tree management, particularly in
forested settings.
There will be one and a half days of indoor discussions and presentations
and one and a half days in the field. Indoor topics include: Roadside
Danger Tree Policies and Assessment; Biology and Taxonomy of Wood Decay
Fungi; Oak Defects, Decays and Failures; Options For Not Removing Hazard
Trees; Effects of Pruning on Douglas-fir; Illusions and Consequences in
Tree-Risk Assessment- When Law and Arboriculture Collide; Powerlines,
Wildfires and Tree Failures: School Fire Case Study; and Decay From
Phellinus pini: Case Studies and Lessons Learned. An evening poster
session/social/decay fungus identification workshop/hazard tree photo
contest will also be featured.
The field portion of the workshop will include visits to sites in the
southern Oregon Cascades on the Rogue River-Siskiyou and Winema National
Forests, with one stop in the Rogue Valley at the J. Herbert Stone
Nursery. We'll see and discuss a number of hazard tree situations and
topics including: decline and failure in native oaks, indicators used in
the USDA Forest Service Region 6 roadside danger tree program, the danger
of laminated root rot in a recreation site, concerns with decline in
specimen legacy trees, and hazard potential in heavily-used developed
sites in older true fir stands.
Please check the workshop website for details:
www.fs.fed.us/foresthealth/technology/htwc/index.htm Right now, the web
site contains the workshop agenda, lodging and other general information.
Registration information will be posted on the site by March 15, and at
that time you will be able to register either by VISA or check.
Registration will be $225 through April 30th, and will be $255 after that
date. Guest field trip tickets will be available at a nominal price.
Please note: Due to meeting room and field trip capacity limitations, the
workshop will be limited to the first 88 paid registrants.
Also- If you would like to bring a poster to present at the evening poster
session/social/decay fungus identification workshop, please contact
Kristen Chadwick at klchadwick(a)fs.fed.us, or by phone at (503) 668-1474.
I look forward to seeing you all in June!!!
********************************************
Pete Angwin
Plant Pathologist
N. CA Shared Service Area
(530) 226-2436, FAX (530) 226-2485
e-mail: pangwin(a)fs.fed.us
********************************************
Dear all,
I would like to inform members of a Postdoctoral Forest Pathology
Position that is available.
Please see: http://www.australasianplantpathologysociety.org.au/
Click on APPS Jobnet icon.
If you are interested please apply or know of anyone who might be
interested please pass on.
Kind regards
Giles Hardy
Professor Giles Hardy
Director
State Centre of Excellence on Climate Change, Woodland and Forest Health
School of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology
Murdoch University
Murdoch,
Western Australia, 6150
Work Phone: +61 8 9360 6272
Mobile: 0429207793
Fax: +61 9 9360 6303
email: g.hardy(a)murdoch.edu.au
http://www.treehealth.murdoch.edu.au/www.cpsm.murdoch.edu.au
Dear colleagues,
On behalf of two Ph.D. students I would like to ask you for assistance
of their Ph.D. projects!
For molecular / population studies on Mycosphaerella dearnessii
(anamorph Lecanosticta acicola), the causal agent of brown spot needle
blight of pine species (Pinus spp.), we would be interested to obtain
isolates / populations of isolates of this fungus and/or pine needles
infected by M. dearnessii (preferably with conidiomata and/or ascomata
pesent). In the latter case the isolations would be done by the Ph.D.
candidates themselves.
The work will be done as part of the Ph.D. theses of Marion Kessler
(marion.kessler(a)bfw.gv.at ) at the Institute of Forest Entomology,
Forest Pathology and Forest Protection (IFFF), University of Natural
Resources and Applied Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), Austria (advisors:
Erhard Halmschlager, Thomas Cech & Christian Stauffer) and Josef
Janousek (janousek.jose(a)gmail.com) at the Faculty of Forestry and Wood
Technology, Mendel University in Brno, Czech Republic (advisors: Libor
Jankovsky & Christian Stauffer).
Isolates and samples from all parts of the world would be very welcome!
Of particular high interest are isolates from North, Central and South
America. This is because the fungus is suspected to be native there and
for comparisons of putative native versus introduced fungal populations
American isolates would be essential. Brown spot is a common and
important disease of Pinus palustris and other Pinus spp. in the
south-east and central USA, so we hope that US colleagues will be
willing to help in providing isolates/samples.
But isolates/samples from other parts of the world, especially also
from Asia, would be also very valuable. So far Marion and Josef have a
good collection of isolates from several parts of Europe, but additional
European material would also be good and can only strengthen the planned
work.
The EPPO diagnostic protocol for Mycosphaerella dearnessii contains a
lot of useful information on diagnosing the disease and it also includes
a number of excellent photographs of the symptoms:
http://www.eppo.org/QUARANTINE/fungi/Mycosphaerella_dearnessii/pm7-46%281%2…
In addition, Josef Janusek prepared a page with a few photos of
symptoms of brown spot needle blight:
http://picasaweb.google.cz/pepino96/BrownSpotNeedleBlightOfPines#
If you are able and willing to help, please contact me. Marion Kessler
and Josef Janusek will then provide you with further information
(details for sampling, sending, import permit, etc.). Please do not
hesitate to contact me in the case you have any further questions.
Thank you very much in advance for your help! Your assistance will be
invaluable and very much appreciated!
With best regards,
Thomas Kirisits
____________________________________________________________
Dr. Thomas Kirisits
Institut für Forstentomologie, Forstpathologie und Forstschutz
Department für Wald- und Bodenwissenschaften
Universität für Bodenkultur (BOKU)
Hasenauerstraße 38
A-1190 Wien
Österreich
Tel.: (++43) (1) 368-24-33
Fax: (++43) (1) 368-24-33 oder (++43) (1) 368-63-52-97
e-mail: thomas.kirisits(a)boku.ac.at
Homepage: http://ifff.boku.ac.at/
Institute of Forest Entomology, Forest Pathology and Forest Protection
Department for Forest and Soil Sciences
BOKU - University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences
Hasenauerstrasse 38
A-1190 Vienna
Austria
Tel.: (++43) (1) 368-24-33
Fax: (++43) (1) 368-24-33 or (++43) (1) 368-63-52-97
e-mail: thomas.kirisits(a)boku.ac.at
Homepage: http://ifff.boku.ac.at/
Please forward to interested parties...
USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station,
2010 Sudden Oak Death Research Request for Proposals
Approximately $500,000 will be available in summer 2010 to fund new
research projects to combat Sudden Oak Death/Phytophthora ramorum.
Deadline for submission is Wednesday, March 31, 2010. For further details
see the attached Request for Proposals or http://www.fs.fed.us/psw/
In 2009, the National Ornamental Research Site was established at
Dominican University of California. (For questions about NORS-DUC, contact
Sibdas Ghosh at sibdas.ghosh(a)dominican.edu or go to
www.dominican.edu/norsduc) Via this Request for Proposals, we
anticipate funding roughly seven projects, including one to be conducted
at this facility.
For more information on Sudden Oak Death see www.suddenoakdeath.org.
- Susan
Susan J. Frankel
Sudden Oak Death Research Program Manager
USDA-Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station
Mailing address:
PO Box 245
Berkeley, CA 94701
Street address:
800 Buchanan Street, West Annex Building,
Albany, CA 94710-0011
Phone: 510-559-6472 FAX :510-559-6440
sfrankel(a)fs.fed.us
Please find attached flyers for a PhD scholarship AND a Post Doctoral
Fellowship to work on various aspects of pest management in pine
plantations in Australia.
The project has three main components: (i) field survey and insect
rearing work to investigate the severity of ips bark beetle damage and
the extent to which it is adversely affecting the current program of
nematode-based biological control of sirex wood wasp (ii) laboratory
studies of the interactions between ips bark beetle, sirex wood wasp and
the fungi and nematodes associated with each (iii) laboratory and field
experiments on possible pest management strategies to reduce the impact
of ips bark beetle. The split of components between the PhD and
postdoctoral fellow will be negotiated according to the background of
the preferred applicants.
Both positions are open to overseas applicants.
If you are interested I can forward you the grant application that was
submitted to win the funds for the project, or feel free to email me
with any queries.
I apologise if you receive this message multiple times due to the 3
mailing lists.
Regards
Angus
Dr Angus J Carnegie | Principal Research Scientist - Forest Health
Primary Industries, Biosecurity Research | Industry & Investment NSW |
Forest Science Centre
121-131 Oratava Ave West Pennant Hills NSW 2125 | PO Box 100 Beecroft
NSW 2119 | Australia
T: 02 9872 0131 | F: 02 9871 6941 | M: 0429 453859 | E:
angus.carnegie(a)industry.nsw.gov.au
W: www.industry.nsw.gov.au <http://www.industry.nsw.gov.au/> |
www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/research/forestry
<http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/research/forestry>
DISCLAIMER:
This Email message is for the sole use of the intended recipient and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorised review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply Email and destroy all copies as well as the original message. All views expressed in this Email are those of the sender, except where specifically stated otherwise, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Forests NSW.
Dear colleagues and friends,
Due to several last-minute requests we are pleased to announce that
the deadline for abstract submission to the The Fourth International
Rusts of Forest Trees Conference has been postponed to February 5th
2010. As a consequence also the deadline for early-registration
payment has been postponed to this date. In the days soon after the
above deadline you'll receive the 2nd circular with all details of the
meeting. Hoping to see you soon in Florence!
Yours sincerely,
Salvatore Moricca and Richard Hamelin
Dear colleagues,
Apologizing for possible multiple messages, I wanted to advertise an
open research associate (technician) position in my lab, available
immediately. The position description and all application
information can be found at http://jobs.osu.edu/. Click on "View OSU
Job Opportunities", then "SEARCH POSTINGS" using requisition number
348627. Application deadline: Jan. 17, 2010.
Please distribute as you see fit to any and all qualified applicants.
Thanks!
Enrico
--
Pierluigi (Enrico) Bonello, Assoc. Professor
Dept. of Plant Pathology
The Ohio State University
201 Kottman Hall
2021 Coffey Road
Columbus, OH 43210
Tel: (614) 688-5401
Lab: (614) 688-5409
Fax: (614) 292-4455
http://plantpath.osu.edu/people-and-programs/faculty-directory/bonello-pier…
Environmental Science Graduate Program (ESGP)
http://esgp.osu.edu/
Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Program (PMBB)
http://pmbb.osu.edu/
Research Entomologist (Biocontrol and Molecular Biology) Vacancy - USDA
Forest Service, Northern Research Station, NRS-03 Ecology and Management
of Invasive Species and Forest Ecosystems is looking for a Research
Entomologist, GS-11/12 for our laboratory in Hamden CT. The major duties
of the position are:
1. Conducts research and develops new approaches to biological control of
invasive insect pests of trees.
2. Uses modern molecular techniques and DNA-based tools to study the
ecological roles of biological control organisms in their native and
introduced ranges.
3. Conducts laboratory and field experiments to optimize the rearing,
establishment, spread, and impact of biological control agents for
regulating pest populations.
4. Conducts exploration for additional biological control agents of
introduced forest pests as needs arise.
5. Plans and conducts research to understand the multitrophic ecological
interactions that impact biological control efficacy.
6. Analyzes and interprets research results, prepares reports and
manuscripts for publication, and presents papers and talks to professional
and lay audiences.
Research will initially focus on predators of hemlock woolly adelgid, but
opportunities to work on biological control of other invasive insects,
such as Asian longhorned beetle, emerald ash borer, or Sirex woodwasp will
be available.
The Hamden CT area is located just north of New Haven CT and has a
cooperative relationship with Yale University with opportunities to work
with the University community. The position is open to both public (must
be a US citizen to apply) and government employees on USAJOBS. Questions
can be directed to me at the address, phone, or email listed below.
Cheers, Kurt
http://www.usajobs.opm.gov/
Government vacancy announcement - TA10-NRS-EMI-0442G
Public vacancy announcement - TA10-NRS-EMI-0442DP
******************************************************************
Dr. Kurt W. Gottschalk
Research Forester and Project Leader
Ecology & Management of Invasive Species and Forest Ecosystems
USDA Forest Service
Northern Research Station
180 Canfield St.
Morgantown, WV 26505-3180 USA
Phone: 304-285-1598 Fax: 304-285-1505 Cell Phone: 304-276-9750
Email: kgottschalk(a)fs.fed.us Web page:
http://www.nrs.fs.fed.us/units/invasivesecology/
******************************************************************
