Article
Agronomy
Hao Rong, Yini Li, Enhua Hao, Xiaohui Yuan, Pengfei Lu, Haili Qiao
Summary: This study reveals the molecular mechanism of protein-ligand binding in Sirex noctilio and identifies key amino acid residues involved in binding with host plant volatiles. The results suggest that SnocOBP12 plays a crucial role in locating host plants, and several potential ligands have been discovered. These findings provide a favorable molecular basis for optimizing attractant formulations and developing more effective and environmentally friendly pest control methods.
Article
Entomology
Jeremy D. Allison, Bernard Slippers, Marc Bouwer, Brett P. Hurley
Summary: Male Sirex noctilio form leks in the upper canopy for mating, with an orange abdominal segment absent in females. Field trapping studies in South Africa found that traps baited with host volatiles captured more females than traps with dead males, indicating limited potential for improvement by using male decoys. Additionally, dead males provided no additive effect on trap catch when combined with the host volatile lure.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PEST MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Agronomy
Santiago Masague, Patricia C. Fernandez, Francisco Devescovi, Diego F. Segura, Gerardo J. De La Vega, Juan C. Corley, Jose M. Villacide, Andres S. Martinez
Summary: This study aims to understand the effects of fungal volatiles grown on artificial media and wood from two different host trees on the behavior and electroantennographic responses of female wasps. The results indicate that the combination of host tree species and fungus attracts the wasps and suggests a crucial role of the fungus in modulating wasp behavior.
PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Computer Science, Information Systems
Shubham Mahajan, Nitin Mittal, Amit Kant Pandit
Summary: Digital image segmentation is a growing open problem, with researchers focusing on thresholding approaches, particularly multi-level thresholding. A novel technique combining fuzzy entropy and Marine Predators Algorithm has been proposed for more effective threshold definition.
MULTIMEDIA TOOLS AND APPLICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Forestry
Denys Yemshanov, Robert G. Haight, Ning Liu, Marc-Andre Parisien, Quinn Barber, Frank H. Koch, Cole Burton, Nicolas Mansuy, Fabio Campioni, Salimur Choudhury
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF FOREST RESEARCH
(2020)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Denys Yemshanov, Robert G. Haight, Rob Rempel, Ning Liu, Frank H. Koch
Summary: This study examined the trade-off between caribou habitat protection and harvesting objectives in boreal forests through a linear programming model, finding that prioritizing habitat protection leads to increased timber supply cost but allows for expansion of protected habitat area. The implementation of Dynamic Caribou Harvest Schedules had only a minor impact on timber supply cost in the study area, illustrating the importance of incorporating long-term habitat connectivity into forest planning to mitigate negative impacts on caribou populations.
NATURAL RESOURCE MODELING
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Steven C. McKelvey, Frank H. Koch, William D. Smith, Kelly R. Hawley
Summary: A two-phase Bayesian model is introduced to update risk assessments for locations susceptible to infection by exotic pathogens, utilizing information embedded in patterns within transportation flow. Sensitivity analysis on the model's outputs to changes in inputs is explored, with a sample application to sudden oak death using fictitious infection data.
NATURAL RESOURCE MODELING
(2021)
Review
Entomology
Frank H. Koch
Summary: Species distribution models serve as crucial decision support tools in predicting the survival and thriving of species, especially forest insects. It is important to consider the relationships between insects and their hosts when developing and evaluating models, as well as honestly assessing limitations, sources of error, and uncertainty.
AGRICULTURAL AND FOREST ENTOMOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Operations Research & Management Science
Denys Yemshanov, Robert G. Haight, Ning Liu, Rob Rempel, Frank H. Koch, Art Rodgers
Summary: The research presents a linear programming model for protecting wildlife corridors in industrial forestry regions in northern Canada. The study identifies optimal corridor placements based on the perceived impact of roads on caribou populations and decision-making objectives, offering insights into cost-effective solutions to connect isolated caribou ranges.
OPTIMIZATION LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Forestry
Denys Yemshanov, Robert G. Haight, Ning Liu, Robert S. Rempel, Frank H. Koch, Art Rodgers
Summary: This study proposes a bi-level wildlife protection problem that takes into account the profit-maximizing behavior of forestry companies in implementing wildlife protection policies in Canadian forests. The relationship between the regulator and forestry companies is depicted as a leader-follower Stackelberg game, where the leader sets protected area targets and the followers adjust strategies to maximize payoffs while meeting the protection goals. The objective is to maximize habitat protection for woodland caribou in the Churchill range, Ontario, Canada, while considering the profit-maximizing behavior of forestry companies.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Denys Yemshanov, Ning Liu, Daniel K. Thompson, Marc-Andre Parisien, Quinn E. Barber, Frank H. Koch, Jonathan Reimer
Summary: A network optimization approach is proposed to plan wildfire fuel treatments to minimize fire spread risk; simulation modeling and modified CND model are used to find a pattern of fuel reduction treatments; a case study demonstrates the applicability of the method and provides new insights into cost-effective planning to mitigate wildfire risk in forest landscapes.
Article
Ecology
Denys Yemshanov, Mackenzie Simpson, Frank H. Koch, Marc-Andre Parisien, Quinn E. Barber, Fabio Campioni, Fin Macdermid, Salimur Choudhury
Summary: Non-renewable resource extraction has led to habitat degradation for wildlife in boreal landscapes, with restoration of disturbances such as seismic lines and abandoned well pads being crucial for woodland caribou recovery. A linear programming model is presented to optimize restoration efforts and improve access for caribou to undisturbed habitat in fragmented landscapes. The model is applicable for restoration planning in other resource extraction regions and for other species.
RESTORATION ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Emma J. Hudgins, Frank H. Koch, Mark J. Ambrose, Brian Leung
Summary: Urban trees are important for well-being and live-ability, but face high mortality risks from insect pests, with emerald ash borer being the main threat. Approximately 1.4 million street trees may be killed by invasive insects, resulting in significant economic costs.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Denys Yemshanov, Robert G. Haight, Chris J. K. MacQuarrie, Mackenzie Simpson, Frank H. Koch, Kathleen Ryan, Erin Bullas-Appleton
Summary: This study investigates a two-level hierarchical planning model for large-scale pest survey campaigns. By proposing a Stackelberg game model, the optimal levels of collaboration between central and regional governments are determined. The methodology is applied to the surveillance of a harmful pest in Ontario, Canada, providing insights for governance hierarchies in different regions.
ECOLOGICAL ECONOMICS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Christopher Asaro, Frank H. Koch, Kevin M. Potter
Summary: Forests in the United States are becoming denser, leading to increased competition for resources and vulnerability to disturbances. The total tree basal area (TBA) can serve as an indicator of forest health and be used to identify areas that require further analysis of forest conditions. Comparison of TBA with forest damage maps due to insects and pathogens showed significantly higher TBA in affected areas, indicating its potential as a regional-scale indicator.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Jennifer K. Costanza, Frank H. Koch, Matthew C. Reeves
Summary: As the climate becomes hotter and drier, forests are at a higher risk of facing frequent and severe droughts. This study analyzed the potential future exposure of forests to drought using climate models and scenarios. The results showed that the spatial extent of forests exposed to severe or extreme drought is projected to triple by mid-century, with the western and southwestern United States being the most vulnerable regions. Forest types such as pinyon/juniper, woodland hardwoods, and ponderosa pine are expected to be exposed to drought over 50% of the time on average.
Article
Entomology
Yu Takeuchi, Frank H. Koch, Stacy A. C. Nelson
Summary: The study explores the introduction of alien insect species into the United States, revealing that Asian-origin species predominate today and pose threats to the environment and agriculture. However, the rate of introductions of phytosanitary importance species has not increased in accordance with the increased diversity of species origins.
JOURNAL OF INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Frank H. Koch, Denys Yemshanov, Robert G. Haight, Chris J. K. MacQuarrie, Ning Liu, Robert Venette, Krista Ryall
EMERGING TOPICS IN LIFE SCIENCES
(2020)
Article
Ecology
Denys Yemshanov, Robert G. Haight, Chris J. K. MacQuarrie, Frank H. Koch, Ning Liu, Robert Venette, Krista Ryall
ECOLOGICAL SOLUTIONS AND EVIDENCE
(2020)