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Great Lakes Center, SAMC 319
SUNY Buffalo State
1300 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo, NY 14222

wnyprism@buffalostate.edu
(716) 878.4708

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Monitoring and Managing Ash

Emerald ash borer (EAB, Agrilus planipennis) is a beetle whose larvae feed on the bark tissue of native ash (Fraxinus sp.) trees. EAB has killed millions of ash trees in the United States. While it may seem that all hope is lost, there are several ways to help conserve native ash species and mitigate the effects of EAB!

The Ecological Research Institute (ERI) developed and directs Monitoring and Managing Ash (MaMA), a program focused on ash conservation and EAB mitigation. It provides science-based guidance for ash management and includes three projects aimed at finding “lingering ash” and providing a clearer picture of EAB spread and impacts. Lingering ash are naturally occurring, native ash trees that remain healthy even after nearby trees have succumbed to EAB. Twig samples taken from lingering ash can be used to selectively breed trees with increased EAB resistance. This offers hope for conserving native ash species and eventually restoring trees in forests and planted landscapes. All three MaMA projects are intended for community scientists and land managers alike. Click here to learn about each project and how to get involved!

Spotted Lanternfly & Tree-of-heaven Grid Square Surveys

Spotted lanternfly (SLF, Lycorma delicatula) is an invasive insect that feeds on over 70 different plants and poses a threat to New York State’s agriculture and forests. It is known to use tree-of-heaven (Ailanthus altissima), another invasive species, as its primary host. Multiple agencies and conservation partners are monitoring for SLF populations across the state, and contributions from community scientists help to enhance these efforts.

As part of iMapInvasives’ Grid Square Surveys, specific areas, referred to as grid squares, have been designated in locations where volunteer survey efforts would be most helpful – they may be near known infestations, along major pathways of spread and/or near important commodities that could be negatively impacted by SLF. Volunteers sign up for one or more grid squares using the iMapInvasives interactive map, head out and survey the area two to three times per year and report their observations to iMapInvasives. By participating in this program, community scientists contribute to statewide monitoring efforts to help prevent the spread of SLF.

Annual Invasive Species Mapping Challenge

Invasive species distribution data can influence conservation priorities and management efforts across the state, but data on certain species can be lacking. Community scientists have the opportunity to help fill these data gaps by participating in iMapInvasives’ Annual Invasive Species Mapping Challenge.

As part of the challenge, participants survey for select focal species and report both presence and non-detected records to iMapInvasives. The challenge kicks off with a webinar that covers all that you need to know, including how to identify each focal species. Participants have a month to head out and survey for the focal species that they’re the most interested in and report their findings. Observers with the most records for each species wins a prize!