Article: Stink Beetles and Science Reporting

Haddon, Heather. 2012. "Out of Odor: Offensive-Smelling Bugs Put U.S. Farmers on the Defensive." The Wall Street Journal. January 9.


The Wall Street Journal often runs amusing or unusual stories at the bottom of the front page. This story is unusual in the olfactory sense. It describes an invasive species to the US, the stink bug. 


The articles describes how these bugs have been eating crops out East, devouring different crops and causing ... a big stink.  The Halyomorpha halys came to the states via cargo ships, as did the Emerald Ash Borer. But this bug has been here for about 15 years. 


Haddon cites some facts. The damage to 2010's apple crops cost $37 million. The potential risk to all crops is $21 billion (however, this isn't stated as annually or just for 2012). The USDA marked $5.7 million to researchers developing the bug's pheromones. But other entrepreneurs are in on the action, making and marketing their own traps, which people eagerly want, because the bugs sneak into houses during the winter. 


The article provided a quick summary of the problem and why it is important to agriculture businesses. It provides a humorous take, mentioning the farmer who trained his dog to eat them. She says that "thousands" of the bug scurry across his floor—an exaggeration? 


Haddon informs the reader of the solutions being worked on, the pheromones and the introduction of native prey in the Eastern states. The USDA is working on similar solutions for the Emerald Ash Borer as well.


This article might be a little off topic, but it interested me as research. The writing was a bit more entertaining, but it still illustrates the problem, lists potential solutions, and ends with a question of what will happen next. This outline could be followed for a similar article on EAB. But also, this shows a second case where the USDA is favoring natural biological solutions over chemical solutions. I'm sure this is a common type of solution in the 21st Century, a marked difference from Rachel Carson's 1960s.

Article: A New Exotic Pest

Hacket, Robert A.,  Eduard Jendek, Houping Liu, Kenneth R. Marchant, Toby R. Petrice, Therese M. Poland, and Hui Ye. 2002. "The emerald ash borer: a new exotic forest pest in North America." Newsletter. Michigan Entomology Society: (47) 3&4. September.


This newsletter brought some bad news to the United States. The authors, collaborators from America, Canada, Slovakia, and China, worked together to identify a new insect found in Michigan in June of 2002. When researchers observed some ash trees were declining, they noticed the "D"-shaped holes in the bark and the cambium-killing larvae tunnels. 


Quickly identifying the beetle was not possible. There are more than 2,000 species in the Agrilus family, so it wasn't until July 9th, when the specimens where shipped to Eduard Jendek, a specialist in Asian Agrilus, that the bug was positively identified at Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire (2). Shortly after, the Michigan Department of Agriculture started enforcing quarantines in infested counties. Meanwhile, Canadian authorities had found a similar beetle, it wasn't until August 7th that it too was confirmed as the same insect (2). At this point, researchers estimated the insect had been established for five years (4)!!!


This article provided great insight on the process of determining a new species in an environment. When an animal breaks through to a new boundary or region, it can easily be identified. Not so with small insects who come from wide families and get carried on shipping containers. 


When the insect was identified, the researches took votes on what to call it. They wanted to make sure the media didn't name the insect (1). Oregon Department of Agriculture's Richard Wescott and Natalia Vandenburg of the USDA suggested the name Emerald Ash Borer (EAB). Votes were tallied and a new acronym was born (1). 


The taxonomy section mentioned that the beetle goes by other names as well.  

Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire (1888; type China) has several synonyms, including A. marcopoli Obenberger (1930; type China), A. marcopoli ulmi Kurosawa (1956; type Japan), and A. feretrius Obenberger (1936; type Taiwan) (Jendek 1994).  EAB is referred to as A. marcopoli in much of the Chinese literature and as A. marcopoli ulmi in Japan.  Based on the morphology of the scutellum, deep pronotal medial sulcus, and robust body, A. planipennis appears most closely related to the Asian species A. auristermum Obenberger, A. cyaneoniger Saunders, and A. lubopetri Jendek (2).

I didn't know this was allowed in the world of entomology—it certainly makes things confusing. But I can understand why it would be very difficult to streamline names across cultures, especially when one culture has completely adapted a name. I wonder then, do other countries refer to EAB by these other names still? Or has the new concern in the West changed the way people refer to it? I looked at Eduard Jendek's website later and found nearly 100 varieties of insects named after him.


EAB, though new, is not alone as an foreign Agrilus. The authors list six other exotic members of the Agrilus family established in the United States (4).


The native habitat is described as Northeastern China, Far Eastern Russia, and Taiwan. The authors say only two Asian research articles were found on the bug, one from 1986, one from 1992 (2). Hacket, et al. provide a synopsis of these studies and describe other upcoming studies from Michigan (2). Significant early timetables provide a step-by-step retelling of the early infestation and where the beetles in the same family had been found at points of entry, although it was implied the ships were from China and Japan, the authors show it needed more study (4).


To conclude, the authors warn readers with a level-headed use of emotional language. Resources are said to be "at risk," because the wherever the insect moved, it "successfully attacked." The result could be "considerable economic and environmental damage." Therefore, "A vigorous research and management program along with harmonized quarantine actions are urgently needed to contain this new exotic tree pest" (5). 

Article: Insect Invasions and Management

Brockerhoff, Eckehard G., Andrew M. Liebhold, and Herve Jactel. 2006. "The ecology of forest insect invasions and advances in their management." Canadian Journal of Forestry Research. Vol. 36. 2006. 263-268.


The authors wrote this paper to "enhance the sharing of information" between scientists studying invasive species management (Brockerhoff 2006, 263). It was originally presented at the International Union of Forest Research Organizations Conference on Forest Diversity and Resistance to Native and Exotic Pest Insects in New Zealand. 


I found this paper to be a good culmination of four specific areas of research. The theme of management relates to my research because management demonstrates the need for agencies to present consistent information internally and to the public. Management cannot progress on this issue without consistent information.


The authors, from New Zealand, Morgantown, WV, and France, respectively, share information about four subjects relevant to invasive species management

1. The role of global trade; 
2. biogeographical effects; 
3. biodiversity; 
4. and advances in "detection, monitoring, and management of invasive species and native pests" (264).

Although this report mentions several different insects, the authors describe the emerald ash borer along with the Asian long horned beetle, Anoplophora glabripennis, the great spruce bark beetle, Dendroctonus micans, and the red turpentine beetle, Dendroctonus valens, as cases receiving "much attention because they represent a significant threat to the health of forests and urban trees" (264). They cite an early study done by Haack et al. in 2002, which I will read soon. The rest of the report maintains a macro-view to all the problems of invasive species.


The research done on the role of global trade in invasive species movement shows a need for government action. Studies prove a relationship between "interception frequency and probability of establishment" (264). It also shows a need for more research from the agencies responsible for inspecting shipping containers (264).


Biogeography is the study of plant distribution, such as how forests move over time, and where nurseries develop new plant stocks. Phylogeny deals with the development and diversification of different animals or insects. These two areas of study interweave when researching pests in forests. Research has found that invasive bugs spread for these three reasons:

1. The plants lack a natural defense;
2. few or no natural enemies exist;
3. few or no natural competitors exist (265).

However, the factors leading to the phylogenic introduction of the invasive species can be complex and closely related to the movement of plant species by human benefactors. The authors note, "a reliance on exotic trees in forestry increases the need to exclude pest introductions" (265). 

I imagine this can be a revolving problem. Invasive species prey on native trees and kill them, so new species are introduced, but with them come other invasive species. I'll bet large nurseries have to tackle this problem every year.

Although I have always heard that diversified forests (and urban forests) are less susceptible to invasive species, the authors show that only some research finds this to be true. In other research (from Jactel et al. 2005), some "mixed forests have greater levels of attack than forests with less tree species richness" (265). However, they don't offer too many citations for this information. They agree that many cases exist showing the opposite. In the end, they call for more research (266).

DNA testing and pheromone traps provide two new methods for detecting invasive species. The DNA testing showed 100 percent accuracy in tests (Ball and Armstrong 2006)! Inspectors can sample any part of insect or larvae to find a match and identify a pest. However, a full database needs establishing first. This could be a "standardized tool for biosecurity managers around the world" (266). Pheromone traps prove successful, but studies have shown need for caution when interpreting the data because the number caught does not always relate to the population quantity in the area (Bentz 2006). Other control studies include the simple introduction of a native predator or fungus and confusing the pests by spraying sex pheromones (266).

The authors do note that an "eradication campaign" was "successful" in com patting two pests in New Zealand. The campaign incorporated trapping, spraying a fungus, and releasing sterilized males (267). I wonder what they mean by successful though. Is it a manageable amount of pests or did they eradicate them?

The authors conclude by noting these three things:

1. Invasions will only increase with increased trade;
2. Increased communication will be needed between agencies and scientists; 
3. While some programs to decrease established pests can work, the "primary goal" should be a reduction of the pests becoming established in non-native environments (267). In other words, stop them on the ships!

Other Works Cited

Ball and Armstrong. 2006. "A universal DNA-based identification system for insect pests: a test case with the Lymantriidae (Lepidoptera). Canadian Journal of Forestry Research.

Bentz. 2006. "Mountain Pine Beetle population sampling: inferences from Lindgren pheromone traps and tree emergence cages." Canadian Journal of Forestry Research.

Other Work to Explore

Hacket et al. "The emerald ash borer: a new exotic forest pest in North America. Newsletter. Michigan Entomology Society (47)

Article: War

O'Brien, D., & Suszkiw, J. (2011). Waging war on a voracious pest: Efforts to contain the emerald ash borer.Agricultural Research, 59(4), 18-18-21. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.mnsu.edu/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/863358319?accountid=12259

Article: Property Owner's Relationships With Land

McNeil, Claire. "THIS LAND IS OUR PLACE: PROPERTY OWNERS’ RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE LAND IN THE GREATER PARK ECOSYSTEM OF ST. LAWRENCE ISLANDS NATIONAL PARK." Thesis. McGill University, 1997. Royal Roads University. Royalroads.edu 2009.

Article: Landowner Perceptions

Mackenzie, Bruce F., and Brendon M. H. Larson. 2010. "Participation Under Time Constraints: Landowner Perceptions of Rapid Response to the Emerald Ash Borer." Society & Natural Resources 23, no. 10: 1013-1022. EBSCO MegaFILE, EBSCOhost (accessed November 5, 2011).


This case study provides a look across the border, into Canada. The authors examine the trust in a community-agency relationship between an agency of the Canadian government (CFIA), and the community around a fresh infestations of EAB in Ontario, Canada. The agency provide a rapid response to the pest by cutting down all ash trees within a barrier zone 10km wide and 30km long (seen as the checkered pattern in Figure 1. below). Most of the removed trees resided on private property.

Image from "Particpation Under Time Constraints: Landowner Perceptions of Rapid Response to Emerald Ash Borer," published in Society & Natural Resources, page 1015.

In cases like these, three things prevent participation from communities: The speed at which the government needs to react to prevent the spread (the "rapid response"), the lack of knowledge about the particular bug, and the length of time it takes to plan and create community-oriented participation programming.


The authors write that the government should proceed with the participation of the public as much as possible. They state the following: "Generally speaking, citizens should be direct participants, as equals in face-to-face discussions with decision makers throughout the process and in advance of any actions" (1014). Some may disagree with this claim because they value the response of the agency over the participation of the group. They write the case study to "contribute insights that will reduce the social impact of future rapid response programs" (1014).


The study begins with a review of social articles on trust. This shows how a form of government might better gain the trust of the communities. They can do so by getting people 
to participate (1013). Then the background of EAB is given. 


The authors explain how many citizens thought the government acted too slowly. They formed a coalition and pleaded for the government to cut down trees immediately. But when the government started removing trees, private landowners got ticked (1016). Crews were held up, equipment was damaged, and there was a strong landowner vs. government struggle.


The study consists of interviews with people in the barrier zone. The authors took a snowball sampling of people they found interviewed in the newspapers. They conducted 17 face-to-face interviews lasting one hour each. The interviews were transcribed and recorded, then coded.


In this article the authors cite from government sources, such as the Canadian government website and the USDA; newspapers, such as the London Free Press and Guelph Mercury; science journals, such as Journal of Forestry and Journal of Agricultural Environmental Ethics. I'm glad they did, because I kept thinking I could never cite all technical writing journals for my research. But I kept wondering, would it make sense for me to cite all these different genres in my thesis?


The case study revealed many unhappy homeowners. Some cited a lack of institutional trust (1017), some cited doubts about the science behind the barrier zone (1017), and some citied concerns about the public consultation process (1018). To conclude, the authors provide some quick active response protocols for public engagement.


I'm very happy to have found this article. While it's short length prevents too much context for the problem, the idea of challenging the government's process agency-community communication was done in a scientific way, even though with the researchers providing results from qualitative research.


This is my breakthrough article. I can do something like this!

Article: Conservation Writing

Johnson-Sheehan, Richard and Lawrence Morgan. "Conservation Writing: An Emerging Field in Technical Communication." Technical Communication Quarterly. 18(1) 9-27. 2009.


This article argues for a new category of genre in technical communications. Because of the past writing and the future need, the authors argue that conservation writing should be taught in technical communications departments as a form of technical writing. 


As technology continues to become more advanced, studies on the environment continue to become more detailed and intertwined with other aspects of ecology and global urban life. I can see how the authors expect this form of writing to advance. Indeed, many of us need a concise, simple description of the advanced, detailed environmental problems, such as climate change, because they—or their study methods and implications—are too detailed for us to understand.


The authors lay out their argument through a literary study. They make a quick case in the introduction for how conservation writing shoots the hole surrounding emotional nature writing and ultra-logical science writing. Conservation writing does both, they argue, but never so much as to be extreme or leave out emotional impact. 


They seek to convince the audience through a dense literature review of past conservation writers and new genres which have emerged. The lists are not complete lists, but good examples from different eras.


However, they offer no theory to back their claim of new genres. In fact, I believe Caroline Miller dismissed one of their claimed genres (the environmental impact statement) on the claims that the content was just too diverse, I can't recall the specific article, but I think it was in the early 1990s. 


Also, should we in the technical communications field look to create curricula when the jobs aren't present to support the finished degree? What good is it to engage 200 students in a genre, have them graduate only to find they have to hold a degree in biology in order to get a job with the company (or government agency) that disseminates the genre? The authors make no attempt to discuss these questions, they only suggest we start teaching before technical communications misses the bus.


Here's a breakdown of the article.


Introduction 


The authors show why much of the public has a new, pro-conservation attitude about the environment. They state their three goals:

1. "Offer a history of conservation writing in order to define it as a field of technical communication."
2. "Describe the most common genres and conventions in this emerging field."
3. "Offer strategies for bringing conservation writing into the technical communication classroom and building new curricula around it" (10).

Context 

• History of Conservation Writing. "Conservation writing is an umbrella term for a range of writing about ecology, biology, the outdoors, and environmental policies and ethics" (10). Although conservation writing shares concern for ecology as nature writing does, and shares emphasis on evidence as science writing does, it differs from both in that it is pragmatic and calls the audience to action.
• The authors provide a quote from Luke Wallin's book, Conservation Writing, which mentions audience awareness. 
• History
• Early 1800s: Gilbert White, William Bartram, John James Audubon, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Henry David Thoreau. While not all the works by these authors can be considered conservation writing, several should be, such as Nature and Selected Essays by Emerson and Walking and Walden by Thoreau; because they argue for a change in the way we act toward the environment.
• Late 1800s: George Perkins Marsh, John Burroughs, and John Muir. These authors expressed "concerns about the environmental destruction caused by rapid expansion into the Western United States and the industrialization of the Eastern United States" (13).
• Early 1900s: Conservation Clubs, President Theodore Roosevelt, and the Antiquities Act. The clubs promoted conservation writing in their pages, President Roosevelt wrote a book promoting conservation, and the Antiquities Act created new conservation genres, "such as natural histories and technical descriptions" (14). Soon colleges created extension services and more conservation writing ensued.
• Mid 1900s: Aldo Leopold and Rachel Carson. These two writers made strong cases for ethical use of land and pest treatments. They both wrote with care for the ecology and a core of knowledge about the environment.
• Current: Federal Conservation Writing and Contemporary Conservation Writing. While the government demands many types of writing today, other authors such as Terry Tempest Williams and John McPhee have continued to open the genre Carson and Leopold made more popular. Even Albert Gore got in on the action.
• Genres of Conservation Writing
• Natural Histories
• Feature Articles and Essays
• Analytical Reports
• Technical Descriptions
• Environmental Impact Statements
• Grants
• Brochures, Handouts, Websites
• Newsletters
• Natural Resource Inventories
• Environmental Management Plans
• ISO 14000 Environmental Management Systems

Teaching Conservation Writing

• The authors outline what they can do to "prepare students for this emerging field" (21).
• Learn about biotechnology and conservation issues.
• Practice writing in the genres.
• Learn conservation laws.
• Create service-learning projects.
• Learn about other writers in conservation and politics.

Conclusion

The authors conclude by mentioning again that the field of conservation writing will only increase. They stress how important it will be for students to connect clear information with a variety of audiences.

Abstract: Canadian Policies on EAB

Marchant, Kenneth R. "Managing the Emerald Ash Borer in Canada."  Abstract. "Emerald Ash Borer Research and Development Meeting; October 23-24, 2007; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania." Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team. April 2008. 

Understanding the differences between Canada's handling of the invasive species and the United States position can be difficult. I can recall hearing grumblings from different arborists about the less intensive pest-management plans in Canada. I found an abstract by Kenneth Marchant, about Canada's policies regarding EAB. The abstract says "tree removal at and around infested outliers ... has been discontinued other than for research purposes" (2).

This contrasts strongly with Minnesota's management policy to cut down trees even before the bug is verified in certain areas of St. Paul. They probably mention this because of the advanced state of infestation in Ontario, but I can't imagine it works the same near Sault Ste. Marie.

In relation to communication with the public, Marchant's abstract describes a "slow-the-spread strategy for EAB" as described in a management plan. The strategy involves these two types of quarantines:

1. the federal labeling of a county as infested, or
2. a legal notice to property owners within a 5-km radius of a positive detection. 

It continues, "Both methods of quarantine may be in place in the same area concurrently where it is deemed desirable to slow intra-county spread" (8). I'm not certain just what the owners are required to do (if anything) after given a notice.

Article: Government's Plan

USDA–APHIS. 2008. New Pest Response Guidelines for the Emerald Ash Borer, Agrilus planipennis (Fairmaire) USDA–APHIS–PPQ–Emergency and Domestic Programs–Emergency Planning, Riverdale, Maryland. 

This government document is slightly old, but outlines an intrepid response for communities who have found EAB in their borders. This plan covers several areas of information, as many government documents tend to do. However, it maintains a basic English style, and communicates effectively.

It provides information on the following areas:

• Pest information
• Identification
• Response Procedures
• Survey Procedures
• Regulatory Procedures
• Management Procedures
• Environmental Compliance
• Public Outreach

Since I was interested in the communication aspect of it, I paid special attention to the section on public outreach. The document states that it "is never too early to begin the education and outreach process." Also, they show the chain of command, directing others to report to the EAB's Legislative and Public Affairs specialist for materials. It appears the USDA is attempting to have everyone on the same page by issuing public-related documents through the LPA. They also cover the following communications topics:

• General Outreach Objectives  (consistent message by creating a core communication group with people from several different areas of government)
• General Outreach Activities and Initiatives  (maintain websites, hotlines, media reps, civil reps)
• Outreach Material (available through the EAB Legislative and Public Affairs specialist)

Article: Previous Research on the Pest

Wang, Xiao-Yi, Zhong-Qi Yang, Juli R. Gould, Yi-Nan Zhang, Gui-Jun Liu, and EnShan Liu. “The Biology and Ecology of the Emerald Ash Borer, Agrilus planipennis, in China.” Journal of Insect Science 10.128 (2010): 1-23. Web. 10 Mar. 2011 

In the similar environment on the other side of the world, scientists in China recognized a potential problem in the 1960s. In Northeastern China, many non-native ash trees (from the United States) were planted. The trees were similar to other ashes in Asia, and were planted widely in residential areas. Soon after, however, outbreaks of EAB followed. Little was known about the insect because most of its life cycle was hidden under the tree’s bark. EAB remained “only sometimes an important pest in certain areas in China,” and didn’t pose a large-scale threat (Wang 2).

The hidden life cycle of the EAB was studied by Chinese entomologists Xiao-Yi Wang, Zhong-Qi Yang, Juli R. Gould, Yi-Nan Zhang, Gui-Jun Liu, and EnShan Liu in Journal of Insect Science article, “The Biology and Ecology of the Emerald Ash Borer, Agrilus planipennis, in China.” They conducted a study on the velvet ash in Guangang Forest Park, Dagang District, Tianjin Municipality, China, where “most forests are monoculture ash plantings” (2).

They found that the beginning of the problem was the most difficult to detect.

There were rarely any clear symptoms on the surface of the bark during the initial infestation … It was more difficult to detect an early stage of infestation for those trees with rough or thick bark (6).

But once EAB has entered a tree, the tree’s life span is cut short. To study these life cycles, Wang al. et. cut down infected trees and studied them in two environments, the laboratory (where each pair of EAB were caged with a log) and in the outdoor environment. They cut the logs and sealed the ends with wax (so the bugs had to enter through the bark). 

Wang al. et. report that EAB deposit eggs under the bark and upon hatching from the egg, the larvae burrow deeper into the bark and into the cambium, then into the xylem for hibernation around the beginning or middle of September. From June to April they are in larval stage, around 300 days. They become pupae stage and eat through the cambium for 20 days to emerge in May (in China). After a week, they mate, lay eggs and die (Wang 3-18).

Article: Information Distributing Software

Medjahed, Brahim, and William Grosky. "Sentinel: Intelligent Information Sharing for Controlling the Emerald Ash Borer Threat."


I found an article from Michigan researchers that deals with the distribution of information. These researchers answer questions relating to how information is shared between all the communities that need to know. They create two extensive charts illustrating the flow of information and the groups concerned with the information. The article is short, but valuable for me. I wonder if the government decided to incorporate this suggestion. The software the authors are promoting is called "Sentinel." It's weird to have authors promoting their software in a journal, but I guess there isn't anything else similar to it.