Annual Report 2017-2018 · The Ecosystem Science Center (ESC) is designed to advance our understanding of how ecosystems function and how human activities influence ecosystem processes

Annual Report 2017-2018

1

Table of Contents

This document summarizes the activities of the Ecosystem Science Center for the period from July 1, 2017 ─ June 30, 2018

Introduction to ESC – A Message from the Director................................................................. 2 Mission Statement & Summary of Activities .............................................................................. 3 ESC Members & Focus Areas ...................................................................................................... 4 ESC Financial Summary .............................................................................................................. 9 Awards and Expenditures ........................................................................................................... 9 Progress toward Goals .............................................................................................................. 15 Use of IRAD Funds .................................................................................................................. 16 ESC Member Publications ......................................................................................................... 18 ESC Activities .............................................................................................................................. 25 Distinguished Ecologist Lecture Series – Fall 2017 ................................................................ 25 Student Travel Grants Summary .............................................................................................. 26 Student Research Grants Summary .......................................................................................... 27 14th Annual ESC Student Research Forum – April 2018 ......................................................... 28 REF and Equipment Purchases ................................................................................................ 29 Future Plans/Goals ...................................................................................................................... 30

Photo on Cover: TRACE: (Tropical Tropical Responses to Altered Climate Experiment) Project Principal Investigator, Tana Wood takes preliminary leaf temperature data from a canopy access

tower in Puerto Rico (Photo by Molly Cavaleri).

2

A Message from ESC Director, Andrew Burton The Ecosystem Science Center (ESC) has now completed its fourteenth successful year, and I am pleased to announce that on May 29, 2018, the ESC was renewed through December 31, 2022. During the past year, ESC members have been incredibly productive in terms of attracting extramural funds for research and outreach, mentoring graduate and undergraduate researchers, and publishing in high impact journals, as described in the Summary of Activities on the following page and the details provided throughout this report. Highlights from the past year include research awards that rank near the top of Michigan Tech’s centers and institutes, continued support for the Distinguished Ecologist Lecture Series, one of the largest ESC Student Research Forums in recent years, and, of course, many successful new awards. These include USFS funding to start a second generation of research at the PEATcosm facility, DOE funding to study effects of hurricane disturbance and climate change on carbon cycling and storage in tropical forests, US Forest service funds for continued research on the potential effects of emerald ash borer on black ash wetlands, and NSF funding to examine the effects of climate, wood quality and decomposer communities on wood decomposition. ESC members also have put tremendous effort into university and national service, outreach activities, and student training, including sending sixteen of our students to national and international scientific meetings and workshops. The success of the ESC during the past fourteen years is a direct result of the hard work of our members, and I look forward to continued interaction with this outstanding group of ecologists during the coming year. I hope you enjoy the report. Michigan Tech is a great place to conduct research, education and outreach in ecosystem science, and the ESC looks forward to creating new opportunities for all of these in the coming year. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about the report or the Center.

For more information: https://www.mtu.edu/forest/research/partnerships/esc/index.html

Andrew Burton Professor & Director, Ecosystem Science Center School of Forest Resources & Environmental Science Michigan Tech University 1400 Townsend Drive Houghton, MI 49931 USA [email protected] phone: 906-487-2566 fax: 906-487-2915

3

Mission Statement & Summary of Activities

Mission Statement: "To promote understanding of ecosystem function through education and research at Michigan Technological University."

The Ecosystem Science Center (ESC) is designed to advance our understanding of how ecosystems function and how human activities influence ecosystem processes. The Center’s two main objectives are to: (1) foster ecosystem research through the acquisition of extramural support; and (2) improve Michigan Tech’s ability to educate graduate and undergraduate students in the area of ecosystem science. These two objectives are met through collaboration among faculty, staff and students interested in ecosystem science. Summary of Activities: During the past year, the ESC welcomed three new members, increasing the total membership to 54. All ESC members have worked hard to develop and submit interdisciplinary research proposals involving multiple units across campus and collaborations with government and university partners both nationally and internationally. The success of their efforts played a key role in the ESC attaining reauthorization for the five-year period from January 1, 2018 through December 31, 2022. The ESC ranked first among the nineteen Centers and Institutes at Michigan Tech in terms of number of research awards (85) and number of projects (224) in FY17. The ESC also ranked fourth overall in research expenditures ($3,760,110) and fourth overall in new research funds awarded ($5,667,434) for FY17. The final totals for the just completed FY18 are pending, but ESC awards and expenditures are both anticipated to exceed $4,000,000. ESC award expenditures generated $501,325 in indirect cost returns for Michigan Tech in FY18. As part of our renewal proposal, the ESC is instituting new initiatives designed to further enhance our ability to obtain external research awards. These include: 1) a pre-submission proposal review program, to ensure members submit the highest quality proposals examining novel research themes; 2) staff to provide proposal development support needed in assembling large, collaborative proposals, allowing PIs to focus on writing quality science; and 3) funds as needed to support release time for the ESC members to work on selected large proposal development efforts. The ESC also supports research through equipment purchases. During the past year this entailed providing cost-share to SFRES for the purchase of an unmanned aerial system (UAS) for remote sensing of ecosystem attributes and providing cost-share with Biological Sciences to Michigan Tech's REF-IE program for the purchase of a low N water analyzer. The availability of this equipment will aid existing research projects and allow ESC members to propose new avenues of research. All ESC equipment is available to ESC members and to the entire campus community through either analytical use charges or shared use policies. External research funds obtained by ESC members currently help support the 59 graduate students at Michigan Tech. The combined efforts of our members and their students resulted in 76 peer-reviewed publications from July 2017 to June 2018. In addition, the ESC has directly enhanced graduate and undergraduate education and training by awarding: 1) $9,625 in ESC research grants to 10 students to either expand their existing research projects or allow for new additional research; and 2) $16,000 in ESC travel grants for 13 students to present research results at national and international scientific meetings, and for 3 students to attend short courses to receive training in cutting edge research methods and techniques that are not yet available at Michigan Tech. In addition, the ESC has supported the Distinguished Ecologist Lecture Series and the ESC Student Research Forum, which give our graduate and undergraduate students opportunities to discuss their research with both peers and internationally renowned experts.

4

During the 2017-2018 academic year, the ESC was comprised of 54 members from 4 academic units, including 29 T/TT faculty, 7 research professors, 13 research staff of various ranks, 3 US Forest Service scientists, and 2 academic unit administrators. Andrew J. Burton, Professor, SFRES, serves as Director of the ESC under a four-year term that commenced on January 1, 2017. Patricia Burton serves as the ESC staff assistant in charge of accounting. In addition to the members listed below, there were 59 graduate student members, who were advisees of ESC members. Three important former ESC members, Drs. Oliver Gailing, Joseph Bump and Amy Shrank, left Michigan Tech for positions at other institutions during the summer of 2017.

Name Rank/Academic Unit Areas of Expertise

Tara Bal Research Assistant Professor, SFRES

Forest Health Management and Monitoring, Earthworm Invasion Ecology, Wood Decay Testing, Insect, Fungi, and Environmental Education, Wild Foods

Andrew Burton Director, Ecosystem Science Center Professor, SFRES

Forest responses to global change factors, Belowground processes, Carbon and nutrient cycling, Physiological ecology of tree roots, Undergraduate involvement in research

Angie Carter Assistant Professor, Social Sciences

Environmental sociology, Rural sociology, Community-based and participatory research, Social movements and social change

Molly Cavaleri Associate Professor, SFRES

Forest canopy structure and function, Forest response to global change, Carbon and water cycling through forests, Tree ecophysiology, Stable isotope ecology, Invasive tree species

Rod Chimner Professor, SFRES Peatland and wetland restoration, Peatland and wetland carbon cycling, Mountain wetlands, Tropical peatlands, Ecosystem carbon cycling, Wetland ecohydrology

Yvette Dickinson Assistant Professor, SFRES

Applied forest ecology and silviculture, Stand- and landscape-scale forest structure, Forest restoration

Paul Doskey

Professor, SFRES Director, Microanalytical Facility (MAF)

Environmental Biogeochemistry, Biogeochemistry of Surface-Atmosphere Exchange, Atmospheric Organic Chemistry, Environmental Analytical Chemistry

Curtis Edson Assistant Professor, SFRES

Remote Sensing, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Surveying and Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), Aerial Photogrammetry, Cartography, Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR), Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS)

Jennifer Eikenberry Assistant Research Scientist, SFRES Stable isotopes, Forest ecology, Mass spectrometry

Jill Fisher Research Associate, SFRES

Invasive plant species management and mitigation, Pre-settlement forests of the Lake States

ESC members 2017-2018 academic year

5


David Flaspohler Professor, SFRES Conservation biology, Avian ecology and reproduction, Cascading effects of deer overbrowse, Island ecology

John Forsman Assistant Research Scientist, SFRES Wood composites

Robert Froese

Associate Professor, SFRES Director, Ford Center and Forest

Forest inventory, mensuration, and biometrics; Silviculture, quantitative silviculture, and growth & yield; Empirical, process and hybrid forest modelling; Biomass and carbon inventory, management, and life cycle assessment

Kathleen Halvorsen Professor Social Sciences/SFRES

Woody bioenergy, Climate change, Natural resource policy, Biodiversity policy, Bioenergy policy

Erika Hersch-Green Assistant Professor, Biological Sciences

Plant evolutionary ecology, Ecological genetics, Eco-evolutionary dynamics

Casey Huckins Professor, Biological Sciences

Ecology of lakes, streams, and their riparian interface with terrestrial systems, Fish ecology, biology, functional morphology, Effects of land use on ecological systems, Biomonitoring for research and restoration, Effects of invasive species

Mike Hyslop

Principal Lecturer, SFRES Master of GIS Program Director

Geographic information systems, Cartography, Global positioning systems, Great Lakes Quaternary (glacial) geomorphology

Maria Janowiak

NIACS Deputy Director, USFS Northern Research Station

Translating science related to climate change and carbon into usable information, resources, and tools for forestry and conservation professionals

Chandrashekhar Joshi

Department Chair and Professor, Biological Sciences

Cellulose and lignin biosynthesis in trees, Wood formation, Tree growth and development, Engineering trees, Forest bioinformatics

Martin Jurgensen Research Professor, SFRES

Forest soil productivity, management and sustainability, Global climate change impact on soil biology, Organic matter decomposition and ecosystem nutrient cycling

Evan Kane Associate Professor, SFRES

Soil carbon, Plant/soil relationships, Decomposition, Dissolved organic carbon, Wildfire, Black carbon

Matthew Kelly Assistant Professor, SFRES

Forest operations, Forest and natural resource management, Human dimensions of natural resources, Watershed management, Natural resources policy

Peter Laks Research Professor, SFRES

Fungal and insect resistance of wood-based composites, Preservative systems for solid and composite wood building products, Nanoparticle wood preservative systems, Field-testing of wood products for biodegradation resistance

Nancy Langston Professor, Social Sciences

Toxics, forested watersheds, and northern lakes, Environmental history, Watershed change and water quality, Mining history

Glenn Larkin Senior Research Scientist I, SFRES Wood protection and composites, Forest natural products

6


Patricia Leopold

Research Scientist I, SFRES Climate Change Outreach Specialist, NIACS

Ecosystem response to climate change, Climate change adaptation and management strategies, Outreach and technical transfer of climate change tools and resources

Erik Lilleskov

Research Ecologist And Director's Representative, USFS Northern Research Station Adjunct Professor, SFRES

Forest ecology, Ecosystems ecology, Physiological ecology, Community ecology, Fungal ecology, Mycorrhizal fungi, Molecular ecology, Soil ecology, Global environmental change impacts on forest ecosystems, Invasive species impacts, Biogeography of invasive soil organisms

Fengjing Liu Associate Professor, SFRES

Ecohydrology in forests, Watershed hydrology in montane and lake-dominated catchments, Biogeochemistry in snow-dominated, agricultural and forested catchments, Numerical modeling in watershed hydrology, Forensic hydrology with natural geochemical and isotopic tracers

Ann Maclean Professor, SFRES Remote sensing, Digital image processing, Geographic information systems, Spatial modeling

Carol Maclennan Research Professor, Social Sciences

Environmental anthropology/political ecology, Anthropology of industry (mining, sugar), Hawai`i and the Pacific, Anthropology of public policy

Amy Marcarelli Associate Professor, Biological Sciences

Limnology, Ecosystem ecology of streams and rivers, Biogeochemistry

Alex Mayer

Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering/ Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences

Numerical and experimental investigations of contaminant transport in groundwater vadose zones, Mathematical optimization of groundwater remediation systems, Surfactant-enhanced dissolution of nonaqueous phase liquids in subsurface systems

Audrey Mayer Associate Professor, Social Sciences/SFRES

Landscape ecology, Conservation biology, Environmental and natural resources policy, Sustainability science

Todd Ontl USDA Northern Forests Climate Hub Fellow, NIACS

Understanding the motivations for and implementation of climate adaptation actions on forests across the Midwest and Northeast region

Judith Perlinger Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering

Air and water quality, Atmosphere-biosphere exchange of chemicals, Micrometeorology, Environmental analytical chemistry, Sustainability

Rolf Peterson Research Professor, SFRES

Mammalian ecology, Predator-prey relationships, Ecology and behavior of gray wolves

Sigrid Resh

Research Assistant Professor, SFRES Coordinator, Keweenaw Invasive Species Management Area

Forest carbon dynamics, Soil sustainability, Invasive species education/outreach, control, and research

7


Dana Richter Research Scientist II, SFRES

Forest mycology, pathology, fungal ecology; Tree and forest disease diagnosis and assessment; Wood decay: mold/stain testing; Fungal isolation & identification

Mark Rudnicki Professor of Practice, SFRES

Forest Biomaterials, Tree biomechanics, Wind and trees, Dendrochronology, Extension and Outreach

Kristen Schmitt

Research Scientist I, Climate Change Outreach Specialist, NIACS

Ecosystem response to climate change, Climate change adaptation in natural resource management, Science synthesis and communication

Terry Sharik Dean, SFRES Academic leadership in natural resources, Educational reform in natural resources, Trends in natural resource enrollments, Regeneration ecology of forests

Andrew Storer Professor, SFRES Associate Dean, SFRES

Forest insect ecology, Insect/fungus/plant interactions in forest ecosystems, Impacts of exotic species on forest ecosystems, Interactions among fire, insects and disease in forests, Urban forest health

Christopher Swanston

Research Ecologist USFS and Director, Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science (NIACS) Adjunct Professor, SFRES

Soil organic carbon stabilization and cycling, Radiocarbon analysis and interpretation, Forest response and adaptation to climate change, Landscape scale conservation

Stephen Techtmann Assistant Professor, Biological Sciences

Environmental microbiology, Next-generation sequencing technology and bioinformatics, Microbial physiology and biochemistry, Microbes as sensors for the environmental impacts of oil and gas production, Microbial-mediated remediation of crude oil contamination

Ramesh Thakur Research Scientist II, SFRES

Forest tree improvement and genetic resources, Plant biotechnology and tissue culturing, Air pollution and climate change

Noel Urban Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering

Environmental cycles of major and trace elements, Sediment diagenesis and stratigraphy, Chemistry of natural organic matter, Wetland biogeochemistry, Environmental impact and fate of pollutants, Influence of organisms on the chemical environment, Role of chemical environment in controlling populations

Ken Vrana

Professor of Practice, SFRES Director, Isle Royale Institute Associate Director and Operations Manager, Ford Center

Wildland experiential outreach

8


John Vucetich Professor, SFRES Demographic and genetic elements of population biology, Ecology of wolves and moose, Environmental ethics

Leah Vucetich Research Assistant Professor, SFRES Isle Royale wolf genetics, Field research methods

Christopher Webster Professor, SFRES

Gap dynamics and disturbance ecology, Invasion biology of exotic species, Landscape ecology, Plant community response to herbivory, Restoration silviculture, Wildlife habitat relationships

Hairong Wei Professor, SFRES

Identification of genes regulating complex traits via systems biology approaches, Gene expression data analysis, Gene network construction and decomposition, Developing software for mining large-scale biological data, Genomics of wood formation

Richelle Winkler Associate Professor, Social Sciences

Rural sociology, Population and environment, Environmental sociology, Community engaged scholarship, Internal migration, GIS and spatial analysis

Xinfeng Xie Assistant Professor, SFRES

Carbon materials derived from wood, lignin, and cellulose; Integrated thermochemical conversion and fractionation of lignocellulosic biomass; Carbon-polymer composites and hybrid materials; Wood protection and preservation; Wood properties, quality, and modification

Paula Zermeño

Research Scientist, SFRES Manager, Carbon, Water and Soils Research Lab, USFS

Preparing environmental samples for radiocarbon analysis, as a component of the Radiocarbon Collaborative

9

ESC Financial Summary

Awards and Expenditures. In FY17, the ESC had a very successful year in terms of research awards, and this appears to have continued in FY18 (Table 1). For FY17, the ESC amount of $5,667,434 ranked fourth among Michigan Tech’s nineteen centers and institutes, trailing only KRC, MTRI and ASISC. ESC expenditures of $3,760,110 (Table 1) also ranked fourth, trailing KRC, MTRI, and MTTI. At the end of FY18, the ESC had approximately 160 active awards, with a total award value of more than $12 million. These awards came from a variety of sources (Table 2).

Table 1. ESC awards, projects and expenditures from FY12 through FY17.

Number of Awards

Amount Awarded

Number of Projects Expenditures

FY12 98 $3,938,609 166 $5,992,989 FY13 72 $2,756,990 171 $4,713,846 FY14 88 $3,095,545 189 $3,543,913 FY15 104 $3,740,245 193 $3,072,743 FY16 89 $3,279,250 187 $3,274,666 FY17 85 $5,667,434 224 $3,760,110 FY18* $4,038,811

*FY18 values are not yet available in the VPR’s centers and institutes report. The amount awarded value for FY18 was estimated based on email award notifications received by the ESC director from SPO. The actual total is likely to be slightly higher.

Table 2. Sponsors of ESC awards that were active during FY18

Sponsor Award Value ($) USDA (includes Forest Service) $5,774,707

Industry (primarily wood protection group) $2,433,881 National Science Foundation $1,552,292

US Department of Energy $953,749 National Park Service $609,549

Subawards from other universities $420,624 Foundations/Trusts $201,533

US Fish and Wildlife Service $164,046 Michigan and Wisconsin DNRs $25,202

Total $12,135,583

10

Forty-one ESC members served as either a PI or a co-PI on an award. However only 22 were generating IRAD income for the ESC. This is due to seven members who were PIs on awards that did not have any overhead and twelve members who were co-PIs, but not PIs on ESC grants (note that seven of these were PIs on grants with other centers and institutes). In the future, we would like to increase the number of members generating IRAD for ESC as a PI. ESC members have been able to develop a number of research thrusts that involve multiple collaborators within and outside Michigan Tech (Table 3). These research areas have typically been developed by mid-career investigators, and have been able to regularly obtain medium to large grants that have helped create steady to increasing research funding for the ESC, with each generating $1 million or more in awards during the past five years, and all receiving additional funds in FY17 and/or FY18. None of these research thrusts have been funded by the single very large interdisciplinary grants of the type envisioned in our evaluation criteria (one to several million dollar grants).

Table 3. Examples of recent large and/or collaborative research thrust led by ESC members. As the ESC members have developed their research areas, they have been able to obtain multiple supporting grants, including funds from agencies (NSF, NASA, DOE) with high F&A rates (26 to 56%). Other agencies and institutions collaborating with the Michigan Tech investigators are indicated, but funding shown is only that awarded to Michigan Tech.

Research Thrust and Principal Investigator(s)

Sponsor Amount Duration Title

Black Ash Wetlands

F. Liu, A. Storer, and J. Wagenbrenner

(w/ USFS collaborators)

USFS

USFS

USFS

$463,439

$432,987

$141,322

9/14- 9/19

9/17-9/20

3/11-9/15

Future of Black Ash Wetlands

Black Ash Wetland Ecosystem Processes

Future of Black Ash Wetlands in the Northern Great Lakes Region (only Yr 4 increment from 2013 is shown)

Planting candidate replacement species in a black ash wetland to assess options for dealing with emerald ash borer invasion.

11

Table 3. (continued)

Research Thrust and Principal Investigator(s)


TRACE (Puerto Rico warming project)

M. Cavaleri

(w/ USFS, USGS and DOE collaborators)

USFS

USGS

DOE

DOE

$110,359

$28,895

$776,935

$314,394

8/13-8/17

1/14-4/15

7/14-6/18

9/18-8/21

Temperature Sensitivity of Photosynthesis in a Puerto Rican Wet Tropical Forest; Investigating variation with Tree Age and within-crown Environmental Gradients

Integrating Modeling and Empirical Approaches to Improve Predictions of Tropical Forest Responses to Global Warming

Effects of warming on tropical forest carbon cycling: investigating temperature regulation of key tropical tree and soil processes

Effects of hurricane disturbance and increased temperature on carbon cycling and storage of a Puerto Rican forest: a mechanistic investigation of above- and belowground processes

The Tropical Responses to Altered Climate Experiment (TRACE) is the first-ever warming experiment to be conducted in a tropical forest ecosystem. A better understanding of how

tropical rainforests will behave in a warmer future will help improve conservation strategies for these irreplaceable ecosystems and all the biodiversity and natural resources they sustain.

12

Table 3. (continued) Research Thrust and Principal Investigator(s)


FACE Wood Decomposition Studies

A. Burton, M. Jurgensen, S. Resh, A. Storer

(w/ USFS, U Minnesota, and U Georgia collaborators)

USFS-DOE pass through

USFS

DOE

NSF

$219,896

$87,877

$149,397

$677,451

8/16-6/19

9/13-12/17

9/11-8/14

1/19-12/21

Wood Decomposition: Understanding Processes Regulating Carbon Transfer to Soil Carbon Pools Using FACE Wood at Multiple Scales

Assessment of the Microbiome During Early Stages of Wood Decomposition

Interactive effects of climate change and decomposer communities on the stabilization of wood-derived carbon in soils: Catalyst for a new study

Collaborative Research: Impact of microbial and termite communities on transfer of decaying wood C to stable and protected mineral soil C pools

The FACE-Wood Decomposition Experiment (FWDE) is a continental-scale study using isotopically labeled wood, harvested from FACE experiments, to determine the processes

governing the movement of carbon from decaying wood into soil carbon pools.

13



PEATcosm

E. Kane, R. Chimner, E. Lilleskov

(w/ USFS and U Indiana collaborators)

NSF

USFS

NSF

USFS

$541,330

$598,291

$283,119

$238,770

5/12-8/16

8/12-7/16

8/14-7/19

6/17-5/22

Collaborative Research: PEATcosm: Understanding the Interactions of Climate, Plant Functional Groups and Carbon Cycling in Peatland Ecosystems

Response of Forest and Peatland Ecosystems to Environmental Change

Collaborative Research: Long-term Changes in Peatland C Fluxes and the Interactive Roles of Soil Climate, Vegetation, and Redox Supply in Governing Anaerobic Microbial Activity

Response of forest and peatland ecosystems to environmental change: a continuation

In 2018, a second-generation peatcosm experiment, “TreePeat”, began manipulating intact peat

monoliths with trees to examine potential impacts of community composition and climate-induced water table changes on peatland carbon cycling and greenhouse gas emissions.

14



S. American Peatlands

R. Chimner, S. Resh, E. Lilleskov

(w/ USFS, Colorada State and South American University collaborators)

USFS

USFS

Colorado State (NSF pass thru)

$758,299

$151,799

$65,921

7/13-7/18

1/17-8/21

8/16-7/21

Collaboration for Research and Capacity Building in Wetland Carbon Cycling in Tropical Ecosystems

Collaboration for Research and Capacity Building in Wetland Carbon Cycling in Tropical Ecosystems

CNH-RCN: Andes Bofedales and Cattle: The Impacts of Changing Hydrology and Glacial Retreat on Community Livelihoods in Peru's Cordillera Blanca

Forest Climate Change Assessment, Adaptation and Outreach

P. Leopold, K. Schmitt

(w/ USFS NIACS collaborators including ESC members C. Swanston & M. Janowiak

USFS

USFS

USFS

USFS

USFS

USFS

USFS

USFS

USFS

$88,186

$250,800

$400,000

$45,000

$448,660

$110,000

$214,750

$138,152

$261,682

5/15-4/20

6/15-5/20

6/17-4/22

6/17-9/18

5/15-4/20

6/16-6/21

6/16-6/22

6/17-5/22

3/18-9/19

Climate change science assessment, synthesis, and science delivery

Forest Adaptation to Climate Change: Science, Planning, and Implementation

Climate Change, Forests, and Water: Adaptation Resources, Tools, and Demonstrations

Web Development for the USDA Climate Hubs

Science Delivery for Climate Change and Ecosystem Management

Support of the USDA Northern Forest Climate Hub

Web Development for Climate Change Science Delivery

Responding to Climate Change Risks: Services for the USDA Northern Forests Climate Hub

Adapting Forested Watersheds to Ecosystem and Climate Stressors

15

Progress toward Goals. The ESC had set five year goals to increase the value of annual research awards by 25% and IRAD generated by 35% by FY17 relative to average values from FY2011 to FY2012. Thus the targets were $5,550,000 for grants awarded and $130,400 in IRAD return ($652,000 in overhead generated) to the ESC by FY17. The ESC did achieve its goal for grants awarded in FY17, with $5,667,434 in awards, but the path toward that goal was not acceptable. The intent was to steadily increase awards, but instead there was a large decrease in FY13, followed by a fairly steady increase (Table 1). As a result, overhead generated during the 5 year period was far less than desired and failed to achieve the goal for the end of the period, with only $97,945 in IRAD return to ESC from FY17 expenditures (equivalent to $489,739 in overhead generated, Figure 1). Since reaching lows for award $ in FY13, expenditures in FY15 and overhead generated in FY15, values for all three measures have been increasing (Table 1, Figure 1). Expenditures and overhead generation are known to lag behind award $, thus we anticipate further increases in overhead generation in the years to come. FY18 overhead generation was $501,325, exceeding the FY17 value, and ASPIRE projections currently predict $549,234 in overhead generation for FY19 (Figure 2). This indicates we are making progress toward the FY22 goal of $685,000 in overhead generation set forth in our renewal request. We were successful in increasing the average overhead rate of our external awards from an average of 9.4% for FY08 through FY12 to 12.5% for the FY13 to FY17 period. In FY17, the overhead rate of ESC grants was 14.0%. We achieved this by increasing the proportion of grants from industry and by working with our USDA partners (primarily USFS) to include overhead, when possible, on their awards.

Figure 1. ESC indirect cost return (overhead generated) from FY13 through FY18.

$0

$100,000

$200,000

$300,000

$400,000

$500,000

$600,000

FY13 FY14 FY15 FY16 FY17 FY18

OH generated

16

Figure 2. Aspire projections for ESC overhead generation from existing awards, anticipated award increments and proposals currently in review for FY19 through FY25.

Use of IRAD funds. Institutional Research and Development (IRAD) funds generated by the ESC are distributed according to University guidelines, with 18% given to the ESC, 10% to each award’s PI, 9% each to the college and department of the lead PI (or 18% to the lead PI’s School), and 4% to support shared facilities. During FY18, the ESC IRAD expenditures were used as follows: 27% to support students through travel grants, research grants and the ESC Student Research Forum; 16% for staff support; 11% for equipment repair and maintenance; 7% for collaboration building activities, including ESC Friday coffee and funding speakers for the Distinguished Ecologist Lecture Series; 4% for supplies and fees; and 35% for requests from individual ESC members (Table 4). These requests included travel to conferences to present research and develop collaborations, certification of testing equipment used in multiple research grants by the wood protection group, upgrading and repairing field equipment, and costs for sample analyses needed to provide preliminary findings in support of proposals in development. Details of the student support activities are provided in the ESC Activities section. At present, the ESC is in sound financial condition. As of June 30, 2018, the ESC IRAD account (E35288) balance was $48,858 (Table 4). The ESC account balance was briefly negative at the end of FY13, as declining IRAD income combined with equipment purchases led to a brief deficit. Reduced expenditures on equipment and PI funding requests, combined with increasing IRAD income in the more recent years, have enabled the ESC to build a positive account balance. For the past five years, and average of 21% of ESC expenses were allocated to salary and wages for the Director’s part time assistant(s) (Table 4). As the Director’s assistant takes on new duties associated with proposal development support (described in the Future Plans/Goals section), we anticipate this value increasing toward 33% of ESC IRAD income. Since we also anticipate increases over time in IRAD generation, this should provide more than sufficient funding for this increase in effort.

2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025

Current $418,340 $263,415 $128,128 $66,515 $14,730 $3,395 $0Anticipated $32,274 $28,693 $16,426 $2,287 $0 $0 $0Proposals in Progress $98,620 $118,763 $92,873 $42,445 $23,986 $10,017 $0

$0

$100,000

$200,000

$300,000

$400,000

$500,000

$600,000

2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025

Current Anticipated Proposals in Progress

17

Table 4. ESC expenses, income and IRAD account (E35288) balances from FY12 to FY18.

FY12 FY13 FY14 FY15 FY16 FY17 FY18

Expenses S&W & Fringes $16,374 $19,863 $21,847 $20,932 $21,337 $12,565 $11,606

Supplies&Fees $1,893 $1,099 $977 $1,332 $331 $252 $3,262

Equipment $0 $20,050 $0 $2,000 $16,750 $13,400 $7,671

Student Support* $37,729 $26,695 $21,166 $16,151 $16,602 $27,716 $18,777

Collaboration Building** $7,688 $5,705 $6,466 $6,156 $5,763 $5,455 $4,703

PI requests $52,851 $50,609 $39,954 $29,335 $7,814 $41,810 $24,601

Total $116,535 $124,021 $90,410 $75,906 $68,597 $101,198 $70,619

Income Incentive Transfers $104,536 $92,763 $84,486 $73,173 $61,397 $92,157 $92,020

PI Transfers (SEP) $0 $1,202 $12,619 $16,435 $10,733 $10,935 $4,962

Total $104,536 $93,965 $97,104 $89,608 $72,131 $103,092 $96,982

Carry Forward $38,725 $26,726 -$3,329 $3,365 $17,067 $20,600 $22,495

Year End Balance1 $26,726 -$3,329 $3,365 $17,067 $20,600 $22,495 $48,858 1Excludes encumbrances at year end *student travel and research awards, Research Forum **DELS, ESC coffee, meetings

Through FY14, the ESC routinely returned half of the IRAD generated by each PI to that PI for use in growing their research program. Beginning in FY15, we have retained all ESC IRAD in the ESC index, and have allocated funds to PIs based on their requests and consideration of how their proposed expenses will support the ESC and University missions. This has led to a reduced and more strategic use of ESC funds for PI requests, with the ESC Director authorized to approve requests of up to $1,000 and a vote of ESC members required for larger requests. All requests are reviewed and assessed for the likelihood that they might lead to future awards to the ESC. Requests for funds to help generate preliminary data for proposals or to travel to develop collaborations will be especially encouraged. With funds utilized by individual PIs reduced from 50% of income to less than 20% going forward, the ESC will once again be able to provide significant support for multi-user equipment purchases and to help the Director (or other members) buy out the time needed from their academic units to develop very large, collaborative proposal.

18

ESC Member Publications for Calendar Year 2017 76 total refereed journal publications by ESC members (bold)

and their students and postdocs (bold italacs)

Acet M, Jurgensen MF, Kane E, Gailing O. 2017. Genet diversity genetic structure and trait expression of trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) after clear-cut harvesting and post-harvest soil treatments. BOTANY 95(8):785-798. DOI:10.1139/cjb-2016-0247

Ayele TB, Gailing O, Finkeldey R. 2017. Spatial distribution of genetic diversity in populations of Hagenia abyssinica (Bruce) JF Gmel from Ethiopia. ANNALS OF FOREST RESEARCH 60(1):47-62. DOI:10.15287/afr.2016.740

Banerjee A, Halvorsen KE, Eastmond-Spencer A, Sweitz SR. 2017. Sustainable development for whom and how? Exploring the gaps between popular discourses and ground reality using the Mexican Jatropha biodiesel case. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 59(6):912-923. DOI:10.1007/s00267-017-0848-x

Banskota A, Falkowski MJ, Smith AMS, Kane ES, Meingast KM, Bourgeau-Chavez LL, Miller ME, French NH. 2017. Continuous wavelet analysis for spectroscopic determination of subsurface moisture and water-table height in northern peatland ecosystems. IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON GEOSCIENCE AND REMOTE SENSING 55(3):1526-1536. DOI:10.1109/TGRS.2016.2626460

Bdeir R, Muchero W, Yordanov Y, Tuskan GA, Busov V, Gailing O. 2017. Quantitative trait locus mapping of Populus bark features and stem diameter. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 17:224. DOI:10.1186/s12870-017-1166-4

Bothwell HM, Cushman SA, Woolbright SA, Hersch-Green EI, Evans LM, Whitham TG, Allan GJ. 2017. Conserving threatened riparian ecosystems in the American West: Precipitation gradients and river networks drive genetic connectivity and diversity in a foundation riparian tree (Populus angustifolia). MOLECULAR ECOLOGY 26(19):5114-5132. DOI:10.1111/mec.14281

Brandt LA, Butler PR, Handler SD, Janowiak MK, Shannon PD, Swanston CW. 2017. Integrating science and management to assess forest ecosystem vulnerability to climate change. JOURNAL OF FORESTRY 115(3):212-221. DOI:10.5849/jof.15-147

Brito TF, Phifer CC, Knowlton JL, Fiser CM, Becker NM, Barros FC, Contrera FAL, Maus MM, Juen L, Montag LFA, Webster CR, Flaspohler DJ, Santos MPD, Silva DP. 2017. Forest reserves and riparian corridors help maintain orchid bee (Hymenoptera: Euglossini) communities in oil palm plantations in Brazil. APIDOLOGIE 48(5)575-587. DOI:10.1007/s13592-017-0500-z

Bruskotter JT, Vucetich JA, Manfredo MJ, Karns GR, Wolf C, Ard K, Carter NH, Lopez-Bao JV, Chapron G, Gehrt SD, Ripple WJ. 2017. Modernization risk and conservation of the world's largest carnivores. BIOSCIENCE 67(7):646-655. DOI:10.1093/biosci/bix049

Bump JK, Bergman BG, Schrank AJ, Marcarelli AM, Kane ES, Risch AC, Schutz M. 2017. Nutrient release from moose bioturbation in aquatic ecosystems. OIKOS 126(3):389-397. DOI:10.1111/oik.03591

19

Carter A. 2017. Placeholders and changemakers: Women farmland owners navigating gendered expectations. RURAL SOCIOLOGY 82(3):499-523. DOI:10.1111/ruso.12131

Cavaleri MA, Coble AP, Ryan MG, Bauerle WL, Loescher HW, Oberbauer SF. 2017. Tropical rainforest carbon sink declines during EI Nino as a result of reduced photosynthesis and increased respiration rates. NEW PHYTOLOGIST 216(1):136-149. DOI:10.1111/nph.14724

Chang YP, Wang J, Qin DH, Ding YJ, Zhao QD, Liu FJ, Zhang SG. 2017. Methodological comparison of alpine meadow evapotranspiration on the Tibetan Plateau China. PLOS ONE 12(12) DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0189059

Chimner RA, Cooper DJ, Wurster FC, Rochefort L. 2017. An overview of peatland restoration in North America: where are we after 25 years? RESTORATION ECOLOGY 25(2)283-292. DOI:10.1111/rec.12434

Chimner RA, Pypker TG, Hribljan JA, Moore PA, Waddington JM. 2017. Multi-decadal changes in water table levels alter peatland carbon. ECOSYSTEMS 20(5):1042-1057. DOI:10.1007/s10021-016-0092-x

Coble AP, Cavaleri MA. 2017. Vertical leaf mass per area gradient of mature sugar maple reflects both height-driven increases in vascular tissue and light-driven increases in palisade layer thickness. TREE PHYSIOLOGY 37(10):1337-1351. DOI:10.1093/treephys/tpx016

Comas X, Terry N, Hribljan JA, Lilleskov EA, Suarez E, Chimner RA, Kolka RK. 2017. Estimating belowground carbon stocks in peatlands of the Ecuadorian paramo using ground penetrating radar (GPR). JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-BIOGEOSCIENCES 122(2):370-386. DOI:10.1002/2016JG003550

Danhoff BM, Huckins CJ, Auer NA, Goble CW, Ogren SA, Holtgren JM. 2017. Abiotic habitat assessment for arctic grayling in a portion of the Big Manistee River Michigan. TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN FISHERIES SOCIETY 146(4):645-662. DOI:10.1080/00028487.2017.1301995

Deng WP, Zhang K, Busov V, Wei HR. 2017. Recursive random forest algorithm for constructing multilayered hierarchical gene regulatory networks that govern biological pathways. PLOS ONE 12(2):e0171532. DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0171532

Dickinson YL, Cadry JD. 2017. An evaluation of tree marking methods for implementing spatially heterogeneous restoration. JOURNAL OF SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY 36(1)47-64. DOI:10.1080/10549811.2016.1251325

Du J, Wang YY, Xie XF, Xu M, Song YM. 2017. Styrene-aassisted maleic anhydride grafted poly(lactic acid) as an effective compatibilizer for wood flour/poly(lactic acid) bio-composites. POLYMERS 9(11):623. DOI:10.3390/polym9110623

Fischer DG, Wimp GM, Hersch-Green E, Bangert RK, Leroy CJ, Bailey JK, Schweitzer JA, Dirks C, Hart SC, Allan GJ, Whitham TG. 2017. Tree genetics strongly affect forest productivity but intraspecific diversity-productivity relationships do not. FUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY 31(2):520-529. DOI:10.1111/1365-2435.12733

Flaspohler DJ. 2017. American crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos) enter abandoned mine to hunt bats. WILSON JOURNAL OF ORNITHOLOGY 129(2):394-397. DOI:10.1676/16-056.1

20

Fournier AMV, Sullivan AR, Bump JK, Perkins M, Shieldcastle MC, King SL. 2017. Combining citizen science species distribution models and stable isotopes reveals migratory connectivity in the secretive Virginia rail. JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY 54(2)618-627. DOI:10.1111/1365-2664.12723

Gailing O, Nelson CD. 2017. Genetic variation patterns of American chestnut populations at EST-SSRs. BOTANY 95(8):799-807. DOI:10.1139/cjb-2016-0323

Gailing O, Staton ME, Lane T, Schlarbaum SE, Nipper R, Owusu SA, Carlson JE. 2017. Construction of a framework genetic linkage map in Gleditsia triacanthos L. PLANT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY REPORTER 35(2):177-187. DOI:10.1007/s11105-016-1012-0

Grady KC, Wood TE, Kolb TE, Hersch-Green E, Shuster SM, Gehring CA, Hart SC, Allan GJ, Whitham TG. 2017. Local biotic adaptation of trees and shrubs to plant neighbors. OIKOS 126(4):583-593. DOI:10.1111/oik.03240

Guo X, Wu YQ, Xie XF. 2017. Water vapor sorption properties of cellulose nanocrystals and nanofibers using dynamic vapor sorption apparatus. SCIENTIFIC REPORTS 7:14207. DOI:10.1038/s41598-017-14664-7

Haskell DE, Bales AL, Webster CR, Meyer MW, Flaspohler DJ. 2017. Restoring hardwood trees to lake riparian areas using three planting treatments. RESTORATION ECOLOGY 25(6):933-941. DOI:10.1111/rec.12520

Haskell DE, Webster CR, Bales AL, Meyer MW, Flaspholer DJ. 2017. Assessment of Wildlife Habitat Attributes at Restoration Projects on Northern Wisconsin Lakeshores. NORTHEASTERN NATURALIST 24(4):391-412.

Haynes KM, Kane ES, Potvin L, Lilleskov EA, Kolka RK, Mitchell CPJ. 2017. Gaseous mercury fluxes in peatlands and the potential influence of climate change. ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT 154:247-259. DOI:10.1016/j.atmosenv.2017.01.049

Haynes KM, Kane ES, Potvin L, Lilleskov EA, Kolka RK, Mitchell CPJ. 2017. Mobility and transport of mercury and methylmercury in peat as a function of changes in water table regime and plant functional groups. GLOBAL BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES 31(2)233-244. DOI:10.1002/2016GB005471

Hedrick PW, Kardos M, Peterson RO, Vucetich JA. 2017. Genomic variation of inbreeding and ancestry in the remaining two Isle Royale wolves. JOURNAL OF HEREDITY 108(2):120-126. DOI:10.1093/jhered/esw083

Hribljan JA, Kane ES, Chimner RA. 2017. Implications of altered hydrology for substrate quality and trace gas production in a poor fen peatland. SOIL SCIENCE SOCIETY OF AMERICA JOURNAL 81(3):633-646. DOI:10.2136/sssaj2016.10.0322.

Hribljan JA, Suarez E, Bourgeau-Chavez L, Endres S, Lilleskov EA, Chimbolema S, Wayson C, Serocki E, Chimner RA. 2017. Multidate multisensor remote sensing reveals high density of carbon-rich mountain peatlands in the paramo of Ecuador. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 23(12):5412-5425. DOI:10.1111/gcb.13807

Hudson LN, Newbold T, Contu S, Hill SLL, Lysenko I, De Palma A, Phillips HRP, et al. (517 authors, including Flaspohler D). 2017. The database of the PREDICTS (Projecting

21

Responses of Ecological Diversity In Changing Terrestrial Systems) project. ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION 7(1):145-188. DOI:10.1002/ece3.2579

Ishii HR, Cavaleri MA. 2017. Canopy ecophysiology: exploring the terrestrial ecosystem frontier. TREE PHYSIOLOGY 37(10):1263-1268. DOI:10.1093/treephys/tpx112

Iverson LR, Thompson FR, Matthews S, Peters M, Prasad A, Dijak WD, Fraser J, Wang WJ, Hanberry B, He H, Janowiak M, Butler P, Brandt L, Swanston C. 2017. Multi-model comparison on the effects of climate change on tree species in the eastern US: results from an enhanced niche model and process-based ecosystem and landscape models. LANDSCAPE ECOLOGY 32(7):1327-1346. DOI:10.1007/s10980-016-0404-8

Ji XH, Chen S, Li JC, Deng WP, Wei ZG, Wei HR. 2017. SSGA and MSGA: two seed-growing algorithms for constructing collaborative subnetworks. SCIENTIFIC REPORTS 7:1446. DOI:10.1038/s41598-017-01556-z

Jurgensen MF, Page-Dumroese DS, Brown RE, Tirocke JM, Miller CA, Pickens JB, Wang M. 2017. Estimating carbon and nitrogen pools in a forest soil: Influence of soil bulk density methods and rock content. SOIL SCIENCE SOCIETY OF AMERICA JOURNAL 81(6):1689-1696. DOI:10.2136/sssaj2017.02.0069

Kelly MC, Germain RH, Bick S. 2017. Impacts of forestry best management practices on logging costs and productivity in the Northeastern USA. JOURNAL OF FORESTRY 115(6):503-512. DOI:10.5849/JOF.2016-031R1

Kern CC, Burton JI, Raymond P, D'Amato AW, Keeton WS, Royo AA, Walters MB, Webster CR, Willis JL. 2017. Challenges facing gap-based silviculture and possible solutions for mesic northern forests in North America. FORESTRY 90(1):4-17. DOI:10.1093/forestry/cpw024

Khan TR, Perlinger JA. 2017. Evaluation of five dry particle deposition parameterizations for incorporation into atmospheric transport models. GEOSCIENTIFIC MODEL DEVELOPMENT 10(10):3861-3888. DOI:10.5194/gmd-10-3861-2017

Khodwekar S, Gailing O. 2017. Evidence for environment-dependent introgression of adaptive genes between two red oak species with different drought adaptations. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY 104(7):1088-1098. DOI:10.3732/ajb.1700060

Konar A, Choudhury O, Bullis R, Fiedler L, Kruser JM, Stephens MT, Gailing O, Schlarbaum S, Coggeshall MV, Staton ME, Carlson JE, Emrich S, Romero-Severson J. 2017. High-quality genetic mapping with ddRADseq in the non-model tree Quercus rubra. BMC GENOMICS 18:417. DOI:10.1186/s12864-017-3765-8

Knowlton JL, Flaspohler DJ, Paxton EH, Fukami T, Giardina CP, Gruner DS, Rankin EEW. 2017. Movements of four native Hawaiian birds across a naturally fragmented landscape. JOURNAL OF AVIAN BIOLOGY 48(7):921-931. DOI:10.1111/jav.00924

Knowlton JL, Phifer CC, Cerqueira PV, Barro FD, Oliveira SL, Fiser CM, Becker NM, Cardoso MR, Flaspohler DJ, Santos MPD. 2017. Oil palm plantations affect movement behavior of a key member of mixed-species flocks of forest birds in Amazonia Brazil. TROPICAL CONSERVATION SCIENCE. 10:1-10. DOI:10.1177/1940082917692800

22

Lamit LJ, Romanowicz KJ, Potvin LR, Rivers AR, Singh K, Lennon JT, Tringe SG, Kane ES, Lilleskov EA. 2017. Patterns and drivers of fungal community depth stratification in Sphagnum peat. FEMS MICROBIOLOGY ECOLOGY 93(7):fix082.

Lind-Riehl JF, Gailing O. 2017. Adaptive variation and introgression of a CONSTANS-like gene in North American red oaks. FORESTS 8(1):3. DOI:10.3390/f8010003

Liu J, Techtmann SM, Woo HL, Ning DL, Fortney JL, Hazen TC. 2017. Rapid response of eastern Mediterranean deep sea microbial communities to oil. SCIENTIFIC REPORTS 7:5762. DOI:10.1038/s41598-017-05958-x

Liu WG, Zhang ZH, Xie XF, Yu Z, von Gadow K, Xu JM, Zhao SS, Yang YC. 2107. Analysis of the global warming potential of biogenic CO2 emission in life cycle assessments. SCIENTIFIC REPORTS 7:39857. DOI:10.1038/srep39857

Liu YY, Wei MJ, Hou C, Lu TT, Liu LL, Wei HR, Cheng YX, Wei ZG. 2017. Functional characterization of Populus PsnSHN2 in coordinated regulation of secondary wall components in tobacco. SCIENTIFIC REPORTS 7:42. DOI:10.1038/s41598-017-00093-z

Mayer AL. 2017. A scientist on any schedule. SCIENCE 355(6323):426. DOI:10.1126/science.355.6323.426

Mayer A, Vivoni ER, Kossak D, Halvorsen KE, Morua AR. 2017. Participatory modeling workshops in a water-stressed basin result in gains in modeling capacity but reveal disparity in water resources management priorities. WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT 31(15):4731-4744. DOI:10.1007/s11269-017-1775-6

Mitchell CL, Latuszek CE, Vogel KR, Greenlund IM, Hobmeier RE, Ingram OK, Dufek SR, Pecore JL, Nip FR, Johnson ZJ, Ji XH, Wei HR, Gailing O, Werner T. 2017. Alpha-amanitin resistance in Drosophila melanogaster: A genome-wide association approach. PLOS ONE 12(2):e0173162. DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0173162

Mosier SL, Kane ES, Richter DL, Lilleskov EA, Jurgensen MF, Burton AJ, Resh SC. 2017. Interactive effects of climate change and fungal communities on wood-derived carbon in forest soils. SOIL BIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY 115:297-309. DOI:10.1016/j.soilbio.2017.08.028

Mu B, Li HW, Mayer AL, He RZ, Tian GH. 2017. Dynamic changes of green-space connectivity based on remote sensing and graph theory: a case study in Zhengzhou, China. ACTA ECOLOGCA SINICA 37(14):13pp. [In Chinese]

Nuroniah HS, Gailing O, Finkeldey R. 2017. Development of a diagnostic DNA marker for the geographic origin of Shorea leprosula. HOLZFORSCHUNG 71(1):1-10. DOI:10.1515/hf-2016-0086

Olefeldt D, Euskirchen ES, Harden J, Kane ES, McGuire AD, Waldrop MP, Turetsky MR. 2017. A decade of boreal rich fen greenhouse gas fluxes in response to natural and experimental water table variability. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 23(6):2428-2440. DOI:10.1111/gcb.13612

Olson JC, Marcarelli AM, Timm AL, Eggert SL, Kolka RK. 2017. Evaluating the effects of culvert designs on ecosystem processes in northern Wisconsin streams. RIVER RESEARCH AND APPLICATIONS 33(5):777-787. DOI:10.1002/rra.3121

23

O'Neil ST, Bump JK, Beyer DE. 2017. Spatially varying density dependence drives a shifting mosaic of survival in a recovering apex predator (Canis lupus). ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION 7(22):9518-9530. DOI:10.1002/ece3.3463

Parikh GL, Forbey JS, Robb B, Peterson RO, Vucetich LM, Vucetich JA. 2017. The influence of plant defensive chemicals diet composition and winter severity on the nutritional condition of a free-ranging generalist herbivore. OIKOS 126(2):196-203. DOI:10.1111/oik.03359

Phifer CC, Knowlton JL, Webster CR, Flaspohler DJ, Licata JA. 2017. Bird community responses to afforested eucalyptus plantations in the Argentine pampas. BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION 26(13):3073-3101. DOI:10.1007/s10531-016-1126-6

Pischke EC, Knowlton JL, Phifer CC, Lopez JG, Propato TS, Eastmond A, de Souza TM, Kuhlberg M, Risso VP, Veron SR, Garcia C, Chiappe M, Halvorsen KE. 2017. Barriers and Solutions to Conducting Large International Interdisciplinary Research Projects. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 60(6):1011-1021. DOI:10.1007/s00267-017-0939-8

Ripple WJ, Chapron G, Lopez-Bao JV, Durant SM, MacDonald DW, Lindsey PA, Bennett EL, Beschta RL, Bruskotter JT, Campos-Arceiz A, Corlett RT, Darimont CT, Dickman AJ, Dirzo R, Dublin HT, Estes JA, Everatt KT, Galetti M, Goswami VR, Hayward MW, Hedges S, Hoffmann M, Hunter LTB, Kerley GIH, Letnic M, Levi T, Maisels F, Morrison JC, Nelson MP, Newsome TM, Painter L, Pringle RM, Sandom CJ, Terborgh J, Treves A, Van Valkenburgh B, Vucetich JA, Wirsing AJ, Wallach AD, Wolf C, Woodroffe R, Young H, Zhang L. 2017. Conserving the world's megafauna and biodiversity: The fierce uUrgency of now. BIOSCIENCE 67(3):197-200.

Sanchez ME, Chimner RA, Hribljan JA, Lilleskov EA, Suarez E. 2017. Carbon dioxide and methane fluxes in grazed and undisturbed mountain peatlands in the Ecuadorian Andes. MIRES AND PEAT 19:20. DOI:10.19189/MaP.2017.OMB.277

Techtmann SM, Zhuang MB, Campo P, Holder E, Elk M, Hazen TC, Conmy R, Domingo JWS. 2017. Corexit 9500 enhances oil biodegradation and changes active bacterial community structure of oil-enriched microcosms. APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY 83(10):UNSP e03462-16. DOI:10.1128/AEM.03462-16

Uboni A, Smith DW, Stahler DR, Vucetich JA. 2017. Selecting habitat to what purpose? The advantage of exploring the habitat-fitness relationship. ECOSPHERE 8(4):e01705. DOI:10.1002/ecs2.1705

Vucetich JA, Bruskotter JT, Nelson MP, Peterson RO, Bump JK. 2017. Evaluating the principles of wildlife conservation: a case study of wolf (Canis lupus) hunting in Michigan United States. JOURNAL OF MAMMALOGY 98(1):53-64. DOI:10.1093/jmammal/gyw151

Webster CR, Rock JH, Jenkins MA. 2017. Response of spring flora to nearly two decades of deer exclusion and resurgent woody understories within exclosures. JOURNAL OF THE TORREY BOTANICAL SOCIETY 144(1):1-14. DOI:10.3159/TORREY-D-15-00066.1

Wiedermann MM, Kane ES, Potvin LR, Lilleskov EA. 2017. Interactive plant functional group and water table effects on decomposition and extracellular enzyme activity in

24

Sphagnum peatlands. SOIL BIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY 108:1-8. DOI:10.1016/j.soilbio.2017.01.008

Wiedermann MM, Kane ES, Veverica TJ, Lilleskov EA. 2017. Are colorimetric assays appropriate for measuring phenol oxidase activity in peat soils? SOIL BIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY 105:108-110. DOI:10.1016/j.soilbio.2016.11.019

Wu V, Zhang R, Staton M, Schlarbaum SE, Coggeshall MV, Severson J, Carlson JE, Zembower N, Liang H, Xu Y, Drautz-Moses DI, Schuster SC, Gailing O. 2017. Development of genic and genomic microsatellites in Gleditsia triacanthos L. (Fabaceae) using illumine sequencing. ANNALS OF FOREST RESEARCH 60(2):343-350. DOI:10.15287/afr.2017.819

Youngman JA, Flaspohler DJ, Knowlton JL, Dombroski LJ. 2017. Autumn waterbird migration over Lake Superior: Numbers species and timing. JOURNAL OF GREAT LAKES RESEARCH 43(6):1186-1190. DOI:10.1016/j.jglr.2017.08.012

Zhang B, Owen RC, Perlinger JA, Helmig D, Martin MV, Kramer L, Mazzoleni LR, Mazzoleni C. 2017. Ten-year chemical signatures associated with long-range transport observed in the free troposphere over the central North Atlantic. ELEMENTA-SCIENCE OF THE ANTHROPOCENE 5:1-20. DOI:10.1525/elementa.194

Cedar seedlings beginning their journey to the canopy on a nurse log. Photo by former wetlands

graduate masters student, Rose Schwartz.

25

ESC Activities

Distinguished Ecologist Lecture Series – Fall 2017

Each fall the Distinguished Ecologist Lecture Series (DELS) is co-sponsored by the ESC and the School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science and is a one credit graduate level course. Students read papers, meet the guest ecologists in pre- and post-lecture meetings to review their research and discuss its impact on the field of ecology. Students, faculty and staff from across campus who are interested in Ecosystem Science are invited to attend the seminars and socials.

Dr. Kurt D. Fausch

Professor Emeritus, Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, Colorado State University

Tuesday, September 12, “What is essential about rivers for fish and humans: lessons on connectivity and connections from four decades”

Dr. Kathleen C. Weathers

Ecosystem Ecologist, Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Millbrook, New York

Thursday, October 5, “Cloud, fog and the maintenance of ecosystems: mist connections”

Dr. Jiquan Chen

Professor, Landscape Ecology & Ecosystem Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI

Thursday, October 26, “Institution in Ecosystem Analysis: A Forgotten Driver”

26

Graduate Student Travel Grants 2017-2018 The ESC helped send 11 graduate students and 3 undergraduate students (* in table below) to national and international scientific meetings, where they presented their research. This allowed them to receive feedback on their research results and future research ideas and to begin developing a network of scientific colleagues and potential future collaborators. In addition, two graduate students received funding to attend short courses that provided training on techniques and instruments not available at Michigan Tech.

Student Advisor To Attend Location & Date Amount Purpose Colin Phifer David

Flaspohler IUFRO conference Freiburg, Germany 18-22 Sep 2017 $500 Poster

presentation

Erin Burkett Rod Chimner Midwest Fish & Wildlife Conference

January 28-31, 2018 $500 Oral

presentation Mayra Sanchez Morgan

Richelle Winkler

Rural Sociologial Society Annual Meeting

Portland 25-29 Jul 2018 $500 Oral

presentation

Yasar Selim Bostanci Xinfeng Xie

Short Course: Chemical imaging of plant cell walls

Copenhagen Denmark 4-8 Jun 2018

$500 Short Course

Stefan Hupperts

Yvette Dickinson ESA annual meeting New Orleans 5-10

Aug 2018 $500 Poster presentation

Ben Miller* Molly Cavaleri ESA annual meeting New Orleans 5-10


Kaylie Butts* Molly Cavaleri ESA annual meeting New Orleans 5-10


Kelsey Carter Molly Cavaleri ESA annual meeting New Orleans 5-10

Aug 2018 $500 Oral presentation

Elsa Schwartz*

Molly Cavaleri ESA annual meeting New Orleans 5-10


Parth Bhatt Ann Maclean HxKN LIVE 2018 Las Vegas 12-15 Jun 2018 $500 Oral

presentation Elizabeth Montgomery

Andrew Burton

Society for Freshwater Science annual meeting

Detroit 20-25 May 2018 $500 Oral

presentation Bethel Tarekegne

Roman Sidortsov

Duke Science Policy Summer Institute

Duke Univ May 29-Aug 3 2018 $500 Short Course

Luxi Wang Xinfeng Xie Amer Wood Protection Association annual meeting

Seattle 22-24 Apr 2018 $500 Oral

presentation

Bradley Wells Casey Huckins

Society for Freshwater Science annual meeting

Detroit 20-25 May 2018 $500 Poster

presentation

Roland Ofori Mark Rouleau

24th International Symp on Soc & Res Management

17-21 Jun 2018 $500 Oral presentation

Chris Adams Amy Marcarelli

Michigan Chap Amer Fisheries Society 13-14 Feb 2018 $500 Poster

presentation Total $8,000

27

Student Research Grants 2017-18

The ESC supported eleven graduate student research grants during the year. To obtain these grants, students submitted proposals for peer review by a panel of ESC members, and if requested, revised their proposal based on panel feedback. These efforts enhanced the students’ ability to write concise, well-designed, proposals with high scientific merit. The funds are for additional research beyond the scope of that funded by their advisor. The projects often result in preliminary data for new research thrusts, and can lead to the development of proposals to funding agencies such as NSF, DOE and USDA.

Student Level Title of Research Advisor(s) Funded Amount

Lucy Hatfield Grad

The effects of the use of human urine fertilizer on growth, yield and nutrient content in maize grown in Tanzania, East Africa

Erika Hersch-Green $775

Megan Cleaver Grad

Elemental analysis of northern hardwood forest soils by earthworm invasion

Blair Orr and Erik Lilleskov $1000

Alexander Rice Grad

The effects of plot location within grazing rotation on riparian vegetation success

Robert Froese $1000

Chris Adams Grad Pilgrim River Brook Trout Movement and Survival Study Casey Huckins $850

Brian Danhoff Grad Abiotic habitat and fish in forested

streams of the upper Great Lakes region Casey Huckins $1000

Alex Helman Grad Social availability of biomass in three western UP counties Matt Kelly $1000

Laura Burmann Grad

Effectiveness of outdoor education programs in increasing diversity in natural resource fields

Matt Kelly $1000

Kelsey Carter Grad

Assessing photosynthetic thermotolerance acclimation in Puerto Rican understory shrub species exposed to post-hurricane high light environment

Molly Cavaleri $1000

Angela Walczyk Grad

Evaluating the Effects of Ploidy, Competition, and Soil Nutrient Availability on Native and Invasive Solidago gigantea (Asteraceae)

Erika Hersch-Green $1000

Rolond Ofori Grad Understanding the determinants of willingness-to-pay for invasive seaweed cleanup in Ghana

Mark Rouleau $1000

Total $9,625

28

14th Annual ESC Student Research Forum The ESC held the fourteenth Student Research Forum on April 6, 2018. A total of 21 masters and PhD graduate students submitted abstracts along with their posters. This year 7 undergraduates participated in their division. The Forum provided an opportunity for students to share their ideas and results with each other and faculty. Posters covered a wide variety of research topics in the areas of carbon and nutrient cycling and storage, molecular genetics, population and community ecology, wildlife ecology, wetland and stream ecology, insects and diseases, ecosystem productivity, and coupled human and natural systems. Each poster had 3 judges assigned. Criteria included, but were not limited to, scientific validity, overall appearance, information flow, and clarity of both the poster content and three minute oral presentation of findings.

ESC Graduate StudentAwards: Grand Prize ($300) – Kelsey Carter (advisor Molly Cavaleri [SFRES]), "Tropical Understory

Shrubs Show Limited Evidence of Physiological Thermal Acclimation in a Puerto Rican Tropical Rainforest."

Merit Award ($100) – Danielle Rupp (advisor Evan Kane [SFRES]), “Plant Functional Group Effects on Carbon Cycling in a Boreal Fen.”

Merit Award ($100) – Samuel Knapp (advisors Chris Webster [SFRES], Erik Lilleskov [US Forest Service]), "Mycorrhizal Communities and Tree Regeneration Failure in Forest Canopy Gaps."

Merit Award ($100) – Angela Walczyk (advisor Erika Hersch-Green [Bio Sci]), "Evaluating the Effects of Ploidy, Competition, and Nitrogen Availability on Chamerion angustifolium (Onagraceae)."

ESC Undergraduate Student Awards: Grand Prize ($150) – Kaylie Butts (advisors Molly Cavaleri, Kelsey Carter [SFRES]), "Effects

of Experimental Warming on Tropical Tree Maximum Quantum Yield, Within a Canopy Vertical Gradient."

Merit Award ($75) – Andrea Norton (advisors Amy Marcarelli, Kevin Nevorski [Bio Sci]), "Denitrification and Nitrogen Fixation – Do They Occur in Lake Superior Tributaries?."

Merit Award ($75) – Benjamin Miller (advisors Molly Cavaleri, Kelsey Carter [SFRES]), "Vertical Gradients of Leaf and Air Temperature in a Tropical Wet Forest Canopy."

29

REF and Equipment Purchases The ESC’s 2017 Research Excellence Funds infrastructure enhancement (REF-IE) proposal was not funded. Its goal was to purchase a Trimble UX5 unmanned aerial system with both red-green-blue (RGB) and near-infrared (NIR) cameras. This unmanned aerial system (UAS) would have doubled Curtis Edson’s ability to support student teams in the classroom while simultaneously enabling the use of UAS in many existing and planned research projects. The number of researchers from across campus interested in using UAS already exceeded what was feasible with only one aircraft. Since it was deemed essential to have this capability, the ESC provided $5,000 in funds for the purchase with the remainder ($20,550) provided by the Dean of SFRES. Having two systems ensures that at least one is always available for research for which UAS observations at specific times of the year is critical to project success. Both were used heavily in the summer of 2017, supporting the projects of Dr. Edson’s students and those of three other ESC members (Burton, Dickinson and Maclean).

Bat-winged UAS (drone) over pine woodland,

shortly after launch as it proceeds to observation height.

When requested, the ESC has also contributed cost share for other equipment purchases that have the potential to provide or enhance analytical capabilities utilized by ESC members. In 2018, this included $2,000 in cost share for Amy Marcarelli’s REF-IE proposal to purchase a low N water analyzer.

30

Future Plans/Goals The ESC was reauthorized in June of 2018 for a five-year period from January 2018 through December, 2022. During the renewal process, several opportunities to improve the ESC’s ability to achieve its goals and support both the ESC and Michigan Tech visions were identified. As a result, going forward the ESC Director will devote at least 20% of annual effort to the ESC. This will allow the Director to:

1. Fully develop and institute mentoring programs for early and mid-career members; 2. Lead efforts to identify very large, collaborative proposal topics and funding sources; 3. Serve as lead PI (or aid other member PIs) on large ESC proposal submissions, including

those that involve collaborations with other centers and institutes; 4. Institute a successful pre-submission proposal review program; and 5. Work with existing and potential new ESC staff as they develop the skills needed to provide

proposal development support to ESC members. As the ESC refocuses its efforts, we will also alter our spending priorities to help achieve our goals (Table 5). This will include:

1. Funding a portion of the Director’s annual salary to support efforts described above. 2. Increasing funds allocated to staff as new and/or retrained staff begin supporting proposal

development and post-award project management for large proposals. 3. Funding release time from teaching for ESC members who are developing and preparing

large ($1 to $10 million), collaborative proposals. 4. Limiting PI request funds to items likely to lead to successful proposals, such as preliminary

data generation, travel for collaborative proposal development, help in purchasing needed equipment and repair/refurbishment of existing essential research capabilities.

Table 5. Past and projected future allocation of ESC IRAD expenditures FY13-17 FY18-22 FY22 $ % $ % $ % S&W & Fringes1 $19,309 21.0 $32,000 29.5 $40,000 32.4 Supplies & Fees $798 0.9 $1,500 1.4 $1,500 1.2 Equipment $10,440 11.3 $15,000 13.8 $20,800 16.9 Student Support* $21,666 23.5 $26,000 24.0 $30,000 24.3 Collaboration Building** $5,909 6.4 $6,000 5.5 $6,000 4.9 PI requests2 $33,904 36.8 $20,000 18.4 $15,000 12.2 Release time $0 0.0 $8,000 7.4 $10,000 8.1 Total $92,026 100.0 $108,500 100.0 $123,300 100.0 1Increase over time will fund the Director and staff to support proposal development/project management.

2Funds from 2018 to 2022 will be used primarily for preliminary data generation and travel for collaborative proposal development

*Student travel and research awards, Research Forum, increase is based on increasing student numbers **DELS, ESC coffee, meetings

Documents

Annual Report 2017-2018 · The Ecosystem Science Center (ESC) is designed to advance our understanding of how ecosystems function and how human activities influence ecosystem processes