College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science Blog

Category: Research

CFRES Faculty Featured in Science Magazine for Bird Decline Research

Published
By
Jared Wolfe smiles while peering out of the corner of his eye towards the camera as he travels via boat through the Amazon.
Jared Wolfe’s work with rainforest bird populations has caught the attention of Science magazine.

Jared Wolfe, associate professor for the College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science, made Michigan Tech News headlines on our Unscripted Research Blog last year with his eye-catching subjects and jaw-dropping discoveries. This year, his research into the cause of bird declines in the Neotropics is the focus of a recently published feature article in Science magazine, “Fading Melodies.”

“It’s an honor to have the scientific media outlet of record interested in your work,” said Wolfe. “The fact that they are making it a featured article is even more exciting. Honestly, tropical bird declines have not received the attention they should, and I am glad Science is dedicating the resources to cover this issue.”

Wolfe is no stranger to the spotlight — his research has previously been featured in Audubon magazine and The Guardian multiple times — but says publication in Science represents a “pinnacle of research exposure.” He spent a week in the Amazon with Science reporter Warren Cornwall to provide information for the story. The feature highlights his innovative irrigation experiment in the central Amazon, designed to identify the climatic drivers of pervasive, unexplained bird population declines across multiple sites across the Neotropics.

“We developed an irrigation experiment in the Amazon, watering pristine forest to measure the multifaceted responses of birds, mammals, and insects,” said Wolfe. “The experiment is bold, and the results are compelling.”

Wolfe’s research indicates the declines may reflect changes in climate, such as increasingly severe dry seasons. Read the full Science article for details on his experiment and findings.

Continue Reading →

Huskies Battle Glossy Buckthorn in the UP

Published
By
A close-up image of a clipboard, canvas bag with a pen, natural herbicide and applicators, and the legs and feet of a researcher in jeans and hiking shoes, who is kneeling in preparation to apply the herbicide. A travel mug of coffee sits next to the bag on the forest floor.
Fighting invasive species takes a lot of work, research and innovation, but Huskies are ready to step into the forest and get their hands dirty for a good cause.

Invasive buckthorn is running rampant in northern forests, including those right here in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Curbing the spread of the invasive forms of the species, which include glossy and common buckthorn, is a formidable challenge, but our Husky experts continue to explore and innovate solutions. Their methods encompass everything from natural treatments to herbicide applications.

Researching An Old Problem for Young Forests

Forest science PhD candidate Chris Hohnholt is among Tech researchers investigating countermeasures against the glossy buckthorn invasion. Hohnholt’s research tested the efficacy, ecology, and economics of three glossy buckthorn treatments: hand-pulling, treatment with a glyphosate herbicide, and treatment with a triclopyr herbicide.

Continue Reading →

Michigan Tech Faculty Build Connections with the Next Generation of Researchers in Suriname

Published
By
A close-up shot framing a person’s hands holding up two soil samples for comparison during a field excursion workshop in Suriname.
Michigan Tech faculty presented workshops on tropical forest management, conservation practices, and ethical research practices to students in Suriname this February—the second phase of a U.S. Embassy-funded grant project in the region. (All photos courtesy of the “Enhancing Academic Linkages and Research Capacity in Suriname” project)

This February, Michigan Tech faculty traveled to Suriname to build connections and help train the next generation of scientists and researchers. Their trip was phase two of the U.S. Embassy-funded grant project focused on fostering sustainable development and promoting ethical research practices in the country. Suriname is also the home country for Wayne Gersie, Michigan Tech’s vice president for community engagement and professor of practice in the Department of Psychology and Human Factors in the College of Sciences and Arts. 

Continue Reading →

Winging it: Summer Job Leads to Senior Thesis

Published
By
When she’s not doing research, Maggie Guinther enjoys exploring the Keweenaw Peninsula. Here she is on Mount Houghton. (Image credit: Connor Davis, all photos courtesy Maggie Guinther)

Wildlife ecology and conservation major and bird bander Maggie Guinther can vividly describe what it feels like to hold a bird. Warblers are very soft. Robins are known for pooping all over everything. Her first bird banded was a dark-eyed Junco. But it’s not just about species characteristics. Birds, like people, are highly individual. They might feel some type of way about being handled or be super chill. No matter how they’re reacting, Guinther approaches her task at hand with joy, compassion, and a sense of purpose. In Guinther’s own words, she shares how she began her work last summer and where it led the graduating senior.

Continue Reading →

CFRES Faculty Tara Bal Elected Society of American Foresters Vice President

Published
By
Tara Bal kneels and inspects the forest floor outdoors on a sunny day.
Tara Bal inspects the forest floor as part of her research on the impact of non-native earthworms on northern hardwood forests. Bal was recently elected Society of American Foresters vice president.

Tara Bal, assistant professor of forest health in the College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science, was elected vice president of the Society of American Foresters (SAF). The organization represents foresters and natural resources professionals, helping them promote thriving forests by bringing the best science, the best practices, and the best people together. Bal said the organization represents a community that ultimately supports sustainable forests and sustainable forest management, and one she has been a part of since she was a student.

Continue Reading →

New Funding – Roth

Published

Amber Roth has received $25,000 of funding from the Western Great Lakes Bird and Bat Observatory to coordinate the Midwest Landbird Migration Monitoring Network. For this award, Roth will write and edit the Midwest Landbird Migration Monitoring Network Strategic Plan in collaboration with the US Fish & Wildlife Service and the Western Great Lakes Bird and Bat Observatory. Along with the grant, comes Roth’s new title of Midwest Landbird Migration Monitoring Network Coordinator . The strategic plan will lay out a road map for coordinating bird monitoring and research efforts toward objectives of the Midwest Coordinated Bird Monitoring Partnership (http://midwestbirdmonitoring.ning.com/). The goal of the plan is to provide guidance for improving usage of data generated by the network of partners across the Midwest to better address priority migration information needs at the regional scale.

Continue Reading →