1. Interactions between Below- / Above- Ground Processes

2. Working Hypothesis Root & Lower Stem Beetles; Vector fungi Fungi pass through root grafts Compromise defenses in main stem; Ips kill root-infested trees

3. Preliminary Evidence of Suppression of Red Pine Decline Epicenter Root graft severing 10 m outside edge of tree mortality 1994 Live Trees Nov 2001

4. Evaluate role of below-ground herbivory & infection in above-ground stem colonization Evaluate connectedness among stands, including movement of root insects, bark beetles, predators Conduct manipulative experiments to test relative importance of inciting agents, bark beetles, predators Evaluate effects of these processes on species composition of plants & insects NSF LTREB 2003 - 2009 NSF REU 2004, 2005, 2006

5. Roles of various collaborators Stand manipulations WI Dept. Nat. Res., J. Cummings-Carlson Spatio-temporal analysis of colonization by multiple species J. Zhu, M. Clayton, B. Aukema Predator dispersal & predator-prey interactions J. Reeve Insect community responses to altered vegetation D. Young Landscape-level connections among declining stands V. Radeloff

7. 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Site Selection Plot Establ. Treatment Spatial Mapping Insect Sampling Tree Evaluation Biodiversity Tree Chemistry Insect dispersal Status of Major Objectives

8. Stand mapping (Jan-March) R Murphy, S Lishawa, J Lennart Insect sampling (Apr-Sept) R Murphy, R Vershay Insect dispersal March set-upA Costa, J Reeve, R Murphy, S Lishawa May-Aug A Costa, A Kendrick, J Reeve Insect biodiversity (2006-07) S Eastwood, D Young, Grad Students Tree chemistry (2006-07) E Bonello, A Eyles, UW tech to be hired Tree Evaluation (Oct-Dec) R Murphy, S Lishawa Objectives & Personnel: 2006