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Are ash trees mutating to fend off borer? By J. Patrick Eaken Press Staff Writer news@presspublications.com
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We hope that we can save the ash species.
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Henry County native Rachel Hefflinger, an Ohio State University Department of Horticulture and Crop Science research technician, loves trees. She loves trees so much that she is on a mission to do her part to try to bring back ash trees to the Northwest Ohio landscape. Ash trees have almost completely disappeared from the region’s landscape, thanks to the emerald ash borer, an invasive beetle from China. Hefflinger made the final presentation of this year’s March Sunday Lecture Series, which is hosted annually by Friends of Pearson at Macomber Lodge. She titled it “Emerald Ash Borer and How the Forest Has Responded” and what she had to say captivated guests because it brings hope that ash trees still have a chance to win their battle with the invasive beetle. Hefflinger was in the fourth grade when the beetle arrived, and guests commented that she spoke from the heart while talking about ongoing research to save the ash. The beetle’s larvae kill the ash by feeding off and disrupting the tree’s phloem, which provides nutrients to the tree. The ash tree blight has become the most economically devastating kill by an invasive species in our nation’s history, to this point. Once a female becomes an adult, it can lay 30,000 eggs. The larvae can kill a tree in five years. The EAB was first discovered arriving at Detroit’s port in 2002. The EAB spread southward to Northwest Ohio, where monitoring began in 2005. That year, places like Pearson Park became Ground Zero for the EAB infestation in Ohio. By 2011, almost all the ash trees were gone. In 2010, for example, there were 302 ash trees remaining at Swan Creek Metropark, but before the EAB hit there were about 11,000. Of the 302, only 111 had health canopies. Hefflinger says 95 percent mortality of ash trees was complete two years ago, while further south, in Columbus, the kill continues in full force with about 50 percent infestation. The kill has opened the door for other invasive species, too. Metroparks public re-
ference of 31.4 centimeters with a healthy canopy rating to be considered a lingering ash.
Metroparks Natural Resources Department staff examine ash trees damaged by emerald ash borer larvae. (Metroparks photo) lations director Scott Carpenter notes that as ash trees disappear, other invasive species take advantage by moving into open space left in the forest. At Pearson and other Toledo Area Metroparks, Hefflinger says the EAB population remains in smaller numbers because their primary food source is gone, but many continue to feed off seedlings. In addition, the white fringed tree, which is related to the ash, has become the EAB’s newest host, which Hefflinger calls “upsetting news.” However, the fact that some trees are surviving is good news. For example, a researcher walking in the wild found a tree
Jurassic Park Hefflinger is not a genetics expert, but she travels hundreds of miles every week to perform field work identifying and monitoring ash trees. She monitors trees in Michigan and Ohio, and this week travels to New York and Pennsylvania to plant various species of trees as part of recovery efforts. Much of the OSU research about ash trees has not been published in scientific journals yet, but much of it is based on one premise — that the ash trees can find a way on their own to fend off the beetle by mutating genetically, or maybe we can crossbreed to help them. Either way, Hefflinger says it would take decades before the ash trees are able to become completely resistant to the beetle, Continued on page 2
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that had trapped the emerald ash borer by encasing it in resin, killing it immediately. Hefflinger says that is similar to the method used by the more beetle-resistant Chinese ash trees. In addition, while the older, larger ash trees did not survive, many younger, smaller “lingering” trees appear healthy. This leads researchers to believe the species may be mutating its genetic code to fend off the borer. Hefflinger says it will take at least seven more years before researchers can be confident that some trees are becoming resistant to the beetle. The tree must have a circum-
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of The Week
The sign above his head stated “foreigners.” John Szozda See page 11
Oregon, Northwood
More train notification lights coming this year By Kelly J. Kaczala Press News Editor kkaczala@presspublications.com Oregon this year will be installing another railroad crossing notification system, and Northwood is eyeing a proposal for its first train warning lights. Oregon will install the flashing blue lights at an Otter Creek Road intersection that will inform motorists of when lights and gates are activated at the existing atgrade railroad crossing on Otter Creek Road, just south of York Street.
Council at a recent meeting approved an agreement with Norfolk Southern Railway Company for the installation and maintenance of the Otter Creek advanced railroad crossing notification system. Last August, Norfolk Southern Railway Company provided preliminary engineering services for the required interconnection with the existing railroad grade crossing warning device circuitry for $10,000. Oregon council recently approved a $20,406 payment to Norfolk Southern Railway Company to construct the system. Plans call for blue warning lights to be
installed on Otter Creek Road and Corduroy Road that will notify motorists that lights and gates are activated at the existing train tracks on Otter Creek Road. The system will provide Corduroy Road traffic the opportunity to select an alternate route before reaching the frequently blocked railroad crossing. Installation of the system, which requires an interconnection with the existing railroad grade crossing warning device circuitry, will be similar to the blue light system that was installed at the intersections of Pickle Road/Wheeling
Street and Pickle Road/Woodville Road in 2002 that notifies motorists of the blocked CSX crossing on Pickle Road. The estimated cost of the project is $50,000. The work will involve an interconnection between the railroad gates and a cable junction box, according to Public Service Director Paul Roman. “The city then would install radio equipment to receive that signal when the gates are down,” he said. Continued on page 2
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