December Newsletter: Tropical Islands|Megafires|Citizen Science|More

file:///C/...%20to%20PDF/html-to-pdf/html-to-pdf/201712%20December-Newsletter--Tropical-Islands-Megafires-Citizen-Science-More.htm[4/29/2019 1:21:56 PM]

U.S. Forest Service R&D Newsletter - December 2017

Home Publications Tools Locations Blog About Us

News from the Washington Office and Research Stations

Subscribe

December Newsletter: Tropical Islands|Megafires|Citizen Science|More

file:///C/...%20to%20PDF/html-to-pdf/html-to-pdf/201712%20December-Newsletter--Tropical-Islands-Megafires-Citizen-Science-More.htm[4/29/2019 1:21:56 PM]

FEATURED NEWS

Tropical Island Sustainability

Are island tropical forests sustainable? This is a complex question with no easy "yes" or "no" answersand subject to varying interpretations. You can reach your own conclusions based on this new report.

WILDLIFE

Worldwide Amphibian Declines

Researchers compared different methods ofdisease detection to help slow the worldwidedeclines in amphibian populations. They alsoexamined potential pitfalls of using establishedlaboratory DNA-analysis techniques for diseasedetection.

WILDLIFE

Plant Flowering and Fruiting ChangesAffect Bird Abundance

Researchers found that three species of nativeHawaiian birds time their breeding season with theavailability of ‘ōhi’a lehua flowers. But changes inclimate conditions affect when the plants flower,and this effect can cascade up the food change. Adrier future climate could mean reductions innative bird populations.

URBAN FORESTRY

December Newsletter: Tropical Islands|Megafires|Citizen Science|More

file:///C/...%20to%20PDF/html-to-pdf/html-to-pdf/201712%20December-Newsletter--Tropical-Islands-Megafires-Citizen-Science-More.htm[4/29/2019 1:21:56 PM]

iTree Updates

iTree is a freely available suite of tools to assessthe benefits of trees. New updates include dataon: land surface temperatures, climate changeprojections, composition and sizes of forestspecies, air quality, wildland-urban interfaces,plant hardiness zones, insects and diseases, andfuture ozone concentrations.

FOREST PRODUCTS

Innovating with Nanocellulose

It might seem hard to believe that nanocellulosefrom wood can be used to make ballistic glass,synthetic armor, replacement tendons (yes, inpeople!), and coatings that keep food fresh longer.But it’s all within reach, thanks to nanocelluloseresearch. Learn all about it in this video .

CITIZEN SCIENCE

Get Involved with Citizen Science

We are pleased to announce that the CitizenScience Competitive Funding Program is nowaccepting proposals! All U.S. Forest Service unitsand partners are invited to apply for up to $25,000per project. The request for proposal package canbe found on the CitSci Fund webpage.

FOREST HEALTH

Reconstructing Beetle Outbreaks andTree Defenses

Researchers found that the Engelmann spruce'sability to produce traumatic resin ducts, a form ofdefense induced by environmental changes, couldbe the primary mechanism by which the sprucessurvived the spruce beetle outbreak over the pasttwo decades. This discovery represents a new lineof evidence based on tree-rings that can be usedto reconstruct other spruce beetle outbreaks.

December Newsletter: Tropical Islands|Megafires|Citizen Science|More

file:///C/...%20to%20PDF/html-to-pdf/html-to-pdf/201712%20December-Newsletter--Tropical-Islands-Megafires-Citizen-Science-More.htm[4/29/2019 1:21:56 PM]

WILDFIRE

The Rise of Western Megafires

In this TED Talk, Paul Hessburg of the Forest Service's Pacific Northwest Research Station uses compelling storytelling techniques and eye-catching graphics to explain the rise of megafires in the West and what can be done to mitigate risk.

Did You Know?

Before science emerged as a profession, mostscientific research was conducted by the citizenscientists who were keen amateurs. Early citizenscientists famously included Benjamin Franklinand Thomas Jefferson. Albert Einstein got theinspiration for his theory of relativity while riding abus home from his job as a patent clerk, before hebecame a professional scientist.

Recent Blogs

Heirs Property in the SouthChildren often inherit their parents’ homes andland. But what happens when there is no will ortitle?

Volunteers Count Every Street Tree in New YorkCityTo help enhance and restore urban forests, theNew York City Department of Parks andRecreation created TreesCount!, a massive effortto map every tree lining New York City streets.

December Newsletter: Tropical Islands|Megafires|Citizen Science|More

file:///C/...%20to%20PDF/html-to-pdf/html-to-pdf/201712%20December-Newsletter--Tropical-Islands-Megafires-Citizen-Science-More.htm[4/29/2019 1:21:56 PM]

For more information: U.S. Forest Forest Service Citizen Science

STAY CONNECTED

Confirm that you like this.

Click the "Like" button.