TB78: Sequential Surveys of the Pine Leaf Chermid, Pineus pinifoliae

Sequential survey procedures are described for classifying damage to white pine produced by the pine leaf chermid. Damage classes are based on degree of needle stunting, and field procedures for making measurements are given. Survey procedures are also presented for classifying infestation levels of two stages of the insect. These allow prediction of damage levels before damage occurs.https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/aes_techbulletin/1119/thumbnail.jp

Three persons, three genetic contributors, three parents: Mitochondrial donation, genetic parenting and the immutable grammar of the ‘three x x’

ESRC Future Research Leaders award (ref. ES/ K00901X/1

Debating CRISPR/cas9 and mitochondrial donation: Continuity and transition performances at scientific conferences

Conferences are important performative sites. Here we detail a UK science policy conference debating the novel biomedical techniques CRISPR/cas9 and mitochondrial donation. Both techniques have received significant attention from scientists and bioethicists about their clinical potential, social implications, and the prospects of genetic and germline modification. In many countries the policy debates on regulating both technologies is ongoing and operating in tandem. The UK, however, is operating in a distinct policy context in that mitochondrial donation was formally legalized under license in 2015, meaning the British CRISPR/cas9 debates occur in the light of a confirmed policy position on mitochondrial donation. Our analysis of the Progress Educational Trust 2015 annual conference ‘From Three-Person IVF to Genome Editing’ argues that this event conducted important staging work in articulating the relationship between these two technologies in the UK. These efforts constitute what we call a ‘transition performance’ that (i) enacted the successful resolution of the mitochondrial donation policy debate, (ii) performed the success of British biomedical politics, and (iii) opened the space for a public debate on CRISPR/cas9 in line with a specifically configured set of legitimacy practices. Subsequently the conference contrasts to many other conferences that fit what we term a ‘continuity performance’ that seek to assert consistency and progress through iteration. We close by articulating further applications and developments of these notions in Science and Technology Studies.The research reported in this article was funded by ESRC Future Research Leaders award (ref. ES/K00901X/1) held by Dr. Dimond

B658: Susceptibility and Vulnerability of Forests to the Pine Leaf Aphid Pineus Pinilolile (Fitch) (Adelgidae)

In the late 1950s, early 1960s, Maine and surrounding regions experienced an outbreak of the pine leaf aphid (or adelgid). The population progression began about 1955, as indicated by tree growth reductions (2), a peak was reached about 1961, after which populations gradually regressed through the late 1960s. As a result of the outbreak, there was considerable growth reduction of white pine in some regions and scattered tree mortality. Among the many observations on the insect made during the outbreak were (a) the aphid was abundant in only certain portions of Maine and remained uncommon in the remainder of the state, and (b) in those regions where the insect was abundant, some stands of pine suffered relatively severe damage while others were largely unaffected. This study sought to provide explanations for differences in the abundance of aphids throughout the state and the varying amount of damage between stands. Information gained in a study of this sort is useful in explaining the distribution and abundance of the insect and in suggesting silvicultural procedures designed to increase resistance of stands to insect damage.https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/aes_bulletin/1015/thumbnail.jp

B837: New Approaches to Chemical Control of White Pine Weevil Damage

There has been little recent research on control of damage by the white pine weevil, and available insecticides have been few and have become obsolete. Tests in Canada suggested that the insect growth-regulating chemical diflubenzeron was effective, and we have successfully repeated those tests in Maine using several formulations of Dimilin and several ground application systems. Aerial trials have not succeeded; the probable reasons for their failure are discussed. We present a general description of the weevil and its damage, approaches to control of damage, and specific recommendations for use of ground applications of Dimilin, which has recently become registered for this use.https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/aes_bulletin/1010/thumbnail.jp

B759: Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.) Phenology in Maine

Spring phenology of balsam fir in Maine was investigated during 1978. Multiple regression models based on climatic and geographic factors were developed for predicting fir phenology and accounted for a maximum of 52.6% of the observed phenological variation. Generalized maps depicting observed and expected phenology patterns are also presented.https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/aes_bulletin/1013/thumbnail.jp

TB130: Sequential Sampling in Surveys of Overwintering Larvae of Spruce Budworm, Choristoneuera fumiferana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

A sequential sampling system for classifying infestation levels of overwintering larvae of the spruce budworm, Choristoneura fumiferana, (Clemens), is described. Sequential tables for critical densities of larvae on balsam fir and red spruce are presented for 70%, 80%, and 90%, confidence intervals. The system is based on data collected in Maine and uses a maximum of 6 branches, 3 from fir and 3 from spruce. Simulations illustrating error rates and effort saved using the system are discussed.https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/aes_techbulletin/1066/thumbnail.jp

Patterns of Tree Mortality During an Uncontrolled Spruce Budworm Outbreak in Baxter State Park, 1983

A forest inventory of Baxter State Park, Maine, was done during the summer and fall of 1983 to study the patterns of mortality in balsam fir and in the red-black spruce complex during an uncontrolled spruce budworm outbreak. The volume of trees that died during the outbreak was estimated at 40% of the original quantity. Fir mortality was consistently greater than that of spruce. The percentage mortality of spruce was always greater in the higher elevation zone than in the lower elevation zone. Percentage mortality of fir and spruce showed inconsistent patterns in relation to the proportion of hardwood species basal area and to the proportion of fir basal area in a stand. However, those mortality patterns tended to be pronounced when the overall tree mortality was relatively high. Hypotheses on the mechanisms producing the tree mortality patterns during a budworm outbreak were summarized and observed tree mortality patterns were then interpreted according to those hypotheses. Most observed patterns could be explained by more than one hypothesis. It was suggested that complex processes were responsible for developing certain tree mortality patterns, and a deductive method based on the simple observations would not reveal the true mechanisms.https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/aes_techbulletin/1081/thumbnail.jp

Patterns of Tree Mortality During an Uncontrolled Spruce Budworm Outbreak in Baxter State Park, 1983

A forest inventory of Baxter State Park, Maine, was done during the summer and fall of 1983 to study the patterns of mortality in balsam fir and in the red-black spruce complex during an uncontrolled spruce budworm outbreak. The volume of trees that died during the outbreak was estimated at 40% of the original quantity. Fir mortality was consistently greater than that of spruce. The percentage mortality of spruce was always greater in the higher elevation zone than in the lower elevation zone. Percentage mortality of fir and spruce showed inconsistent patterns in relation to the proportion of hardwood species basal area and to the proportion of fir basal area in a stand. However, those mortality patterns tended to be pronounced when the overall tree mortality was relatively high. Hypotheses on the mechanisms producing the tree mortality patterns during a budworm outbreak were summarized and observed tree mortality patterns were then interpreted according to those hypotheses. Most observed patterns could be explained by more than one hypothesis. It was suggested that complex processes were responsible for developing certain tree mortality patterns, and a deductive method based on the simple observations would not reveal the true mechanisms.https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/aes_techbulletin/1081/thumbnail.jp