IUFRO Thessaloniki 2017 - Early Bird Registration Deadline Reminder
by Dimitrios Av
Dear friends and colleagues,
there are only *four days left* in order to benefit from Early bird
registration of the upcoming joint meeting of IUFRO WP's 7.03.05 & 7.03.10
"Forest Insects and Pathogens in a changing Environment: Ecology,
Monitoring and Genetics" , that will be held in Thessaloniki from the 11th
to the 15th of September 2017. Here
<http://us14.campaign-archive1.com/?e=%5bUNIQID%5d&u=3042a30974535d5c9741b19…>
you can find some reasons not to miss this deadline, for one of the most
exciting scientific meetings of 2017. Should you have any questions, you
can visit our website (www.iufrogreece2017.com) or contact us directly.
We are looking forward to welcoming you here in Thessaloniki,
On behalf of the organizing committee,
Dimitrios N. Avtzis
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[image: www.iufrogreece2017.com] <http://www.iufrogreece2017.com>
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[image: www.iufrogreece2017.com] <http://www.iufrogreece2017.com>
6 years, 10 months
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FW: IUFRO 125th Anniversary Congress, information about activities of Division 7 (Forest Health) and important news about to excursions #11 and #38
by Eckehard Brockerhoff
Dear friends and colleagues,
This is a follow-up message about the all-Division 7, Forest Health, segment of the IUFRO 125th Anniversary Congress with important information about the following:
(1) a social evening for participants contributing to, or interested in, Div. 7, Forest Health, on Monday, 18 Sept. 2017,
(2) a post-congress field trip organised by Div. 7 (an update),
(3) the business meeting of Div. 7, Forest Health, where everyone is welcome to learn about planned activities and opportunities to discuss and contribute.
(1) Social evening for all interested in Div. 7, Forest Health, on 18 Sept.
We are planning a social evening in a beer garden near the centre of Freiburg on Monday, 18 Sept. 2017, from about 8 pm / 20:00 hrs. This is mainly for all those who are interested in Forest Health, or contributing to Div. 7. sessions, or participating with working parties, etc.
Dr Horst Delb, a local forest entomologist, has kindly agreed to help organise this. This promises to be a very nice opportunity to socialise in the beer garden outdoors or in the hall inside (in case the weather is not so kind). There will be local beers and other drinks available, including non-alcoholic options, as well as dinner, for an affordable amount (about 10-15 Euros).
To secure the venue, we need to know that there will be enough participants. If you would like to join us, or if you have any questions about this, please email me (eckehard.brockerhoff(a)scionresearch.com<mailto:eckehard.brockerhoff@scionresearch.com>).
(2) Post-congress field trips organised by Div. 7 (update)
As mentioned previously, we are planning a Forest Health post-congress tour over two days in the Black Forest and the Vosges Mountains in France to see various forest health concerns (mainly insects and pathogens). We have about 20 participants so far but we can take a few more. For more information about this 'excursion 38', please visit http://iufro2017.com/two-day-excursions/#toggle-id-6
A detailed description of the full programme of Excursion 38 is attached. Briefly, excursion 38 (the 2-day post-congress tour) is entitled 'Ecology and management of emerging and invasive forest pests and diseases'. It includes an overnight stay in a hotel in France, two lunches and a dinner, wine tasting, etc., and the fee is 270 Euros.
If you would like to join excursion 38, please email Marc Dittes ( Marc.Dittes(a)intercongress.de<mailto:Marc.Dittes@intercongress.de> )
(3) The business meeting of Div. 7, Forest Health, on 19 Sept.
Although the name 'business meeting' may not be so enticing, these meetings are always very interesting to anyone who would like to know a little more about IUFRO, the Forest Health groups and their activities, upcoming conferences, opportunities to discuss relevant topics, become involved, etc. Attendance of this is not limited to office holders and, in fact, everyone is welcome to come along.
This is currently scheduled for Tuesday, 19 Sept. 2017, from 8 pm / 20:00 hrs. Please mark this in your diaries.
Please send me an email if you have any questions or suggestions (which we welcome).
Kind regards,
Ecki Brockerhoff
Eckehard Brockerhoff, PhD
Coordinator, IUFRO Division 7 (Forest Health)
Principal Scientist, Scion
Postal address: PO Box 29237, Riccarton, Christchurch 8440, New Zealand
Physical / courier address: Forestry Building, Forestry Road, Ilam, Christchurch 8041, New Zealand
DDI +64 3 364 2987 extension 7206 | Mobile +64 21 784 750 | Email eckehard.brockerhoff(a)scionresearch.com<mailto:eckehard.brockerhoff@scionresearch.com>
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This email and any attachments are intended solely for the addressees named above. It may contain information which is legally privileged, confidential or subject to copyright. Any unauthorised review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you receive this email in error, please delete it. As part of Scion's cyber security policy, Scion's IT systems are subject to ongoing monitoring, activity logging and auditing, and may include 3rd party monitoring on our behalf.
6 years, 10 months
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Postdoc postition available: pathogen diversity and evolution in the beech bark disease system
by Garnas, Jeff
The Garnas lab (http://colsa.unh.edu/faculty/garnas) seeks a highly motivated postdoctoral scientist to study 1) patterns and consequences of microbial diversity in the beech bark disease (BBD) pathogen complex and associated bark communities; and 2) impacts of divergent life histories among the dominant BBD associates on pathogen gene flow and population structure across the range of the disease. Within this framework, the successful candidate will be encouraged to develop his/her own ideas to advance basic and applied knowledge around fungal evolution in the context of a complex, multi-player decline disease.
Brief background
Beech bark disease (BBD) is a widespread decline disease arising from complex interactions among a non-native scale insect and at least two putatively native pathogens that differ in key aspects of their biology and ecology. Recent work also suggests that associated microbes may play a role in disease development and/or attenuation. In addition to being highly relevant ecologically (e.g., to wildlife and to forest stand development), the BBD system represents fertile ground for scientific inquiry, with many key questions that are currently unexplored.
Details of the position and skills sought
The ideal candidate will have both experience and a proven publication record that demonstrates a keen interest and background in population genetics and/or bioinformatics as well as facility with the core concepts of eco-evolutionary dynamics. While the research will be primarily lab and bioinformatics-based, a non-trivial field component to help augment current collections across the range of the disease may be required, together with fungal isolation and culture curation. Experience working with fungi is preferred but not required.
Funding is for 2 years at with an annual salary of $48K plus benefits. Target start date is October 1, 2017<http://airmail.calendar/2017-10-01%2012:00:00%20EDT>.
The University of New Hampshire and the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment are home to a vibrant community of productive researchers with a strong commitment to student success (see: http://www.unh.edu/unhtoday/2017/03/excellence-ecology and https://www.unh.edu/unhtoday/2017/05/unh-top-10). Located in the town of Durham, UNH is a beautiful campus surrounded by forest and natural landscapes. Only 30 minutes from the sea and less than 2 hours from the White Mountains, outdoor and other recreational activities abound, including right on campus.
Interested applicants should please send the following as a single pdf file to jeff.garnas(a)unh.edu<mailto:jeff.garnas@unh.edu>:
- CV
- Statement of purpose that summarizes research goals/interests/trajectory and relevant experience
- 2-5 relevant publications, with an annotated list of the applicant’s role/contribution for each
- Contact information for three references
Position will be open until filled. Review of applications will begin on or around the first week of July. Apologies for cross-postings.
6 years, 10 months
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PhD Opportunity - spread of emerald ash borer in W. Canada and the UK
by MacQuarrie, Christian (NRCan/RNCan)
Predicting the development and spread of Emerald Ash Borer in Britain and Western Canada
Forest Entomology PhD Studentship
University of Toronto, Natural Resources Canada Canadian Forest Service, and Forest Research UK
A PhD studentship is available to work as part of an international research group investigating the risks of establishment by the invasive Emerald Ash Borer beetle into the UK, northern Europe, and western Canada. By exploring the beetle's relationship with temperature and host resistance, the project will determine how the cooler climates of these regions will influence the life cycle and rate of spread of EAB, model its potential impact upon different ash tree species, and ensure management strategies are the most appropriate for the climatic context.
Introduction
Emerald Ash Borer, Agrilus planipennis (EAB) is a buprestid beetle native to China, Korea and Japan where it is a secondary pest of stressed and moribund ash trees (Fraxinus mandshurica and F. chinensis) and has no economic impact. Since its accidental introduction into North America however, it has had a devastating impact on all native ash species, including green, white and black ash (F. pennsylvanica, F. americana and F. nigra), which are highly susceptible to attack. Trees are killed within 3-5 years, and where the beetle is well established up to 99% of ash trees have been lost. Infestations have been reported from large areas of southern Ontario and Quebec in Canada, and in 30 US states, and the beetle is still spreading. Hundreds of millions of ash trees have been killed in the USA and Canada to date.
EAB has also been accidentally introduced to Russia, where it has spread outwards from Moscow on American green ash planted along roadsides. The threat to ash in Europe is now severe as EAB spreads south-west in Russia into areas where European ash, Fraxinus excelsior is a natural component of the landscape. From here the pest is expected to be able to spread unhindered toward central and western Europe. There is still considerable uncertainty however, over how susceptible F. excelsior is to attack. Field trials in the USA suggest that it is highly susceptible to EAB, but observations in Moscow indicate that not all F. excelsior are attacked and this species may possess a degree of resistance.
Another major uncertainty over the likely impact of EAB in Europe is how far and how rapidly the beetle will spread, particularly in the cooler maritime climate of the north and west. The current distribution of EAB in the USA, Canada and Moscow, encompasses areas with a continental climate and relatively high summer temperatures. It is not known whether EAB will perform equally well under a cooler and wetter climate such as that in the UK, and whether this might limit its rate of spread, abundance, and impact on ash trees.
Life-cycle duration and dispersal opportunities in insects are largely governed by temperature. For example, Asian longhorn beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis) has also been introduced into both North America and Europe, is similarly adapted to benefit from high summertime temperatures. Analysis of a recent outbreak in the UK showed that the beetle required 3 years to complete its life-cycle, compared to only 1 year in continental regions with higher summertime temperatures. Limited opportunities for dispersal also meant that the population remained small and contained, in a way not seen in warmer climates. The cooler summer temperatures experienced in the UK and in western Canada may similarly influence the life cycle and flight dispersal opportunities for EAB once it establishes there. The limited data available on the thermal requirements for EAB suggests an optimum development temperature of 25-30°C. In comparison, mean summer temperatures in forest habitats in the UK and western Canada are often around 15-20°C. Thus in combination with a potentially more resistant host tree in F. excelsior in Europe, it is possible that EAB populations may increase and spread more slowly than has been observed to date. This may provide opportunities to manage it in a way not achievable in its current outbreak area.
Project aims
This project will determine the relationship between temperature and development rate for all life stages of EAB, so that we can predict how the beetle will perform in the cooler climate of the UK and western Canada. We will establish these relationships through a series of experiments in which the different stages of the beetles are reared across a range of temperatures (7-30°C), and on different Ash tree species suspected to vary in their resistance to EAB. The data obtained will then be used to construct phenological and population models to assess the likelihood of establishment in the UK, northern Europe, and western Canada, as well as its potential rate of increase and spread, and likely impact on forest health. These models in turn will provide a basis for assessing the future economic impacts of EAB and an indication of the resources likely to be required in the future to deal with an introduction and subsequent outbreak. Understanding the potential rate of increase and spread into these new areas would enable hypotheses to be tested comparing different management strategies.
Experimental research will be conducted by the PhD student at the Natural Resources Canada Canadian Forest Service's Great Lakes Forestry Centre (GLFC) in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada; other studentship requirements will be fulfilled at the Faculty of Forestry, University of Toronto. There will also be the opportunity to visit ongoing Forest Research programs in the UK. Supervision will be provided by Dr Chris MacQuarrie (GLFC), Dr Daegan Inward (Forest Research, UK), and Professor Sandy M. Smith (University of Toronto).
Applications will be accepted up until December 2017, but Interested students are strongly encouraged to contact project leaders as soon as possible to discuss an earlier start date. Contacts include: Prof. Sandy M Smith, Faculty of Forestry, University of Toronto (s. smith.a(a)utoronto.ca<mailto:s.smith.a@utoronto.ca>), Dr. Chris MacQuarrie, Canadian Forest Service, Sault Ste Marie (christian.macquarrie(a)canada.ca<mailto:christian.macquarrie@canada.ca>) or Dr. Daegan Inward, UK Forest Commission (Daegan.Inward(a)forestry.gsi.gov.uk<mailto:Daegan.Inward@forestry.gsi.gov.uk>).
Information on the formal application process and guaranteed stipend support for PhD programs at the Faculty of Forestry can be found at: http://forestry.utoronto.ca/phd-degree-requirements/ and http://forestry.utoronto.ca/phd-and-mscf-funding/. Additional information for the University of Toronto graduate school is available at: https://www.sgs.utoronto.ca/prospectivestudents/Pages/Frequently-Asked-Ques….
Please Note: Funding will be available for 4 years and is targeted to Canadian citizens, however exceptional international students (i.e. hold a competitive academic average of A or better equivalency; see School of Graduate Studies admissions site for information on equivalent international qualifications<http://portal.sgs.utoronto.ca/current/admission/intdegequiv.asp>, and meet all other academic requirements) may be considered if they are eligible for post-graduate scholarships through the University of Toronto.
Research Scientist, Canadian Forest Service
Natural Resources Canada / Government of Canada
Christian.MacQuarrie(a)canada.ca<mailto:Christian.MacQuarrie@canada.ca> / Tel: 705-541-5666
Chercheur scientifique, Service canadien des forêts
Ressources naturelles Canada / Gouvernement du Canada
Christian.MacQuarrie(a)canada.ca<mailto:Christian.MacQuarrie@canada.ca> / Tél. : 705-541-5666
Tandberg 77055415666
Twitter @cmacquar
6 years, 10 months
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