| For 2020 and newer grants, please go to https://grants.ipmcenters.org/ |
|---|
|
|
| Home Current RFAs PD User Guide Projects Login |
|
Funded Project |
|
Funding Program:
IPM Enhancement Grants |
|
Project Title:
Impervious Surface Tree Planting Thresholds for the Southeast |
Project Directors (PDs):
|
|
Lead State: NC Lead Organization: North Carolina State UNiversity |
| Undesignated Funding: $29,996 |
|
Start Date: Mar-01-2016 End Date: Feb-28-2017 |
|
Pests Involved: Scale insects |
|
Site/Commodity: Urban landscapes |
|
Area of Emphasis: IPM for landscape trees |
|
Summary:
Urban trees are generally less healthy and have more pests than trees in rural areas. Thus urban trees require expensive and hazardous interventions such as pesticide applications or become hazards as they age and die. For five years we have studied why urban trees get more scale insects than forest trees and the consequences for IPM and tree health. We found that heat and drought caused by impervious surface cover increase scale insect abundance by up to 300 fold by increasing scale insect survival and reproduction. Scale insects and environmental stress associated with impervious surfaces reduce tree functions (e.g. photosynthesis), growth, and condition (rating of poor, fair, good, or excellent used by urban foresters). In fact, percent impervious surface cover around a tree explains up to 48% of variation in scale insect abundance and predicts tree condition so accurately that we developed impervious surface thresholds to identify suitable planting sites. As a capstone to this work our objectives are to 1) determine the applicability of our thresholds in other Southeastern states with different climates; 2) create extension resources to explain how impervious surfaces affect trees, how to measure impervious surface cover, and how to select planting sites using impervious surface thresholds; 3) identify other tree species for which impervious surface thresholds could be useful. With expertise in entomology, urban forest extension, and landscape design and cooperators in 5 states our team will deliver extension resources to diverse clientele across the Southeast.
Objectives: 1) determine the applicability of our thresholds in other Southeastern states with different climates; 2) create extension resources to explain how impervious surfaces affect trees, how to measure impervious surface cover, and how to select planting sites using impervious surface thresholds; 3) identify other tree species for which impervious surface thresholds could be useful. |
|
Final Report: |
|
Outputs Just, MG, Dale, AG, Frank, SD. Aug. 2017. Does the effect of impervious surface cover on tree pests and condition vary with background climate? Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting. Portland, OR. Frank, S.D., Dale, A.G. 2016. Impervious surface thresholds to reduce scale infestations and improve tree health. Entomological Society of America Southeastern Branch, Raleigh, NC. Frank, S.D. 2016. Urban Trees: Managing the Urban Forest as an Experiential Ecosystem. Growing In Place Symposium, Natural Learning Initiative, Raleigh, NC Dale, A. G. 2016. Mitigating the effects of warming, drought, and pests on urban trees. National Workshop on Ornamental Plant Insects & Disease. Keynote Speaker. Hendersonville, NC. Oral presentation. Dale, A. G., Frank, S. D. 2016. The effects of urbanization on herbivores and their street tree hosts. International Congress of Entomology. Orlando, FL. Oral presentation. Dale, A. G. 2016. Effects of Urbanization on Insect Pests and their Street Tree Hosts. USGS Wetland and Aquatic Research Center monthly seminar series. Gainesville, FL. Oral presentation. – 40 people Dale, A. G., Youngsteadt, E., and Frank, S. D. 2016. Forecasting the effects of heat and pests on urban trees. Urban Landscape Summit. University of Florida Center for Landscape Ecology and Conservation. Gainesville, FL. Oral presentation. – 200 people Extension presentations: Just, MG, Frank, SD. Sept. 2017. Assessment and predictions of tree risk to urban conditions and scale insect infestations. North Carolina Urban Forestry Council Annual Meeting. Raleigh, NC. Frank, SD. March 16, 2017. Assessing and managing tree risk of scale infestations. Pittsboro Landscape Conference, Pittsboro, NC. Frank, SD. March 8, 2016. Assessing and managing tree risk of scale infestations. Lenoir, NC. Frank, SD. February 24, 2016. Assessing and managing tree risk of scale infestations. Brunswick Co. ProDay, Castle Hayne, NC. Frank, SD. February 23, 2016. Assessing and managing tree risk of scale infestations. Eastern North Carolina Landscape Conference, Rocky Mount, NC. February 2, 2016. Assessing and managing tree risk of scale infestations. Chatham Landscape Conference, Pittsboro, NC. Dale, A. G. May 2016. Conventional and cultural tactics for managing scale insect pests on urban trees. Florida Pest Management Association Region 15. Port Richey, FL – 50 people Dale, A. G. September 2016. Integrated Pest Management of Insects in the landscape. Orange County Master Gardener ‘Lunch-n-Learn’. Orlando, FL. – 40 people Dale, A. G. November 2016. Managing insect pests in the landscape: Protecting your turf and your trees. Florida A&M University 40th Annual Field Day and Workshop. Tallahassee, FL. – 60 people Dale, A.G. February 2017. From installation to maintenance: How landscape pest management comes full circle. 2017 Tree and Landscape Short Course. Plant City, FL – 225 people |
|
Outcomes It is too early to measure change in knowledge or practice. However, since we invented these thresholds we know the baseline is that no one was using them a year ago. Future assessments could measure any increase that has occurred. |
| Report Appendices |
| Close Window |
|
Southern IPM Center North Carolina State University 1730 Varsity Drive, Suite 110 Raleigh, NC 27606 p. 919.513.1432 f. 919.513.1114 |
 |
Developed by the Center for IPM © Copyright CIPM 2004-2025 |
|