• Chris Looney, M.S. (2012). Cronartium ribicola effects on white pine growth, vigor and survival in Arizona and New Mexico.
• Zak Thomas, M.S. (2012). Economic and ecological effects of forest treatments at Vermejo Park Ranch, NM.
• Zach Bastow, M.F. (2012). Effects of forest treatments on tree carbon storage at Vermejo Park Ranch, NM.
• Anna Higgins, M.S. (2011). Mixed conifer regeneration following fires of mixed severities of the last eleven years in Grand Canyon National Park.
• Natalie Angell, M.S. (2011). Determinants of pygmy sugar pine in the Lake Tahoe Basin, U.S.A.
• Chris Erickson, M.S. (2011). Old ponderosa pine growth and mortality responses to restoration treatments at Mt. Trumbull, AZ.
• Katie Johnson, M.S. (2011). An analysis of fire monitoring handbook data from Zion National Park.
• John Cothrun, M.F. (2009). Single tree selection and sustained yield planning in Northern California private forestry.
• Melissa Fischer, M.S. (2009). Ponderosa pine characteristics associated with attack by the roundheaded pine beetle.

Southwestern white pine seedling

Investigators: Betsy Goodrich, Chris Looney, Kristen Waring, Mary Lou Fairweather (USDA Forest Service Forest Health Protection), Brian Geils (USDA Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station)

Description: White pine blister rust, a disease caused by a non-native invasive pathogen, threatens to de-stabilize populations of southwestern white pine, a little-studied species found in southwestern mixed conifer forests. Recently completed projects have investigated the distribution and severity of white pine blister rust in the Southwest (publication in prep) and the ecological role of southwestern white pine (Looney & Waring 2012). Ongoing projects are investigating the spatial distribution and abundance of southwestern white pine regeneration and the geographic distribution of adaptive traits, including tolerance to drought and the potential growth costs to seedlings from parent trees with some form of resistance or tolerance to white pine blister rust. Additionally, we have completed collection of seed from 12 sites across the Southwest, with more planned for future years, to be included in long-term cold storage to conserve the genetic base of this important species.

Betsy Goodrich practices deep breathing amidst
bristlecone pines, another five-needle pine at risk

Funding: NAU School of Forestry Mission Research Program (McIntire-Stennis funds), USDA Forest Health Monitoring Evaluation Monitoring Program, USDA Genetic Conservation, NAU Genes to Environment Program (fellowship award to B. Goodrich)

Matt Blanford (left) and Adam Polinko record measurements
on a heavily defoliated seedling in the dry mixed confer
forests of northern New Mexico

Investigators: Adam Polinko, Kristen Waring, Matt Blanford

Description: Populations of western spruce budworm, a native defoliator of western conifers, have been at elevated levels in northern New Mexico for up to 20 years in some locations, causing extensive dieback and mortality of susceptible tree species (primarily Douglas-fir and white fir). We are investigating how species composition and future stand structure and composition are being impacted by prolonged western spruce budworm defoliation.

Funding: NAU School of Forestry Mission Research Program (McIntire-Stennis funds), NAU Hooper Undergraduate Research Award (to M. Blanford)

Investigators: Kristen Waring, Eric Vane

Description: The Wallow fire burned over 500,000 acres in eastern Arizona during 2010, making it the largest fire in Arizona history. Using 16 permanent plots established between June 2010 and June 2011 and re-measured during summer 2012, we are investigating the initial implications of the fire in the mixed conifer forest. We are analyzing fire severity using composite burn index, along with analyzing changes in fuel load, overstory and understory tree density and mortality, percent canopy cover, and reporting initial tree regeneration response.

 
The Wallow fire in eastern AZ created a heterogeneous mosaic of both extreme
(left) and less extreme (right) changes in mixed conifer forest conditions.