http://www.fs.fed.us/psw/news/ News releases from the Pacific Southwest Research Station, U.S. Forest Service en-us http://www.fs.fed.us/psw/news/2012/20120202_PhytophthorasWebsite.shtml http://www.fs.fed.us/psw/news/2012/20120202_PhytophthorasWebsite.shtml Albany, CA -- Sudden oak death, Port-Orford-cedar root disease and other deadly tree diseases caused by Phytophthora species (pronounced fy-TOF-ther-uh) are threatening forest ecosystems worldwide. These microorganisms, which are related to algae and diatoms, spend part of their life cycle in soil or water but once they infect trees, they can kill them. A new web site, developed jointly by the USDA Forest Service Pacific Southwest Research Station and Oregon State University, hopes to put knowledge and resources in the hands of scientists and land managers as they look for ways to fight these deadly diseases. [news release also available as pdf]]> ] Sherri Eng 2012-02-02T12:59:00-07:00 http://www.fs.fed.us/psw/news/2012/20120123_RemoteSensingGrant.shtml http://www.fs.fed.us/psw/news/2012/20120123_RemoteSensingGrant.shtml Hilo, HI -- A team of scientists from the USDA Forest Service's Pacific Southwest Research Station (PSW) and two universities will begin research using sophisticated topographic models to identify areas within dry forests that have the most potential for ecological restoration. [news release also available as pdf]]> ] Sherri Eng 2012-01-23T01:32:00-07:00 http://www.fs.fed.us/psw/news/2012/20120109_BatsAndWindEnergy.shtml http://www.fs.fed.us/psw/news/2012/20120109_BatsAndWindEnergy.shtml Albany, CA -- An interactive tool developed by researchers from the USDA Forest Service's Pacific Southwest Research Station (PSW) will help wind energy facility operators make informed decisions on efficient ways to reduce impacts on migratory bats. [news release also available as pdf]]> ] Sherri Eng 2012-01-09T12:25:00-07:00 http://www.fs.fed.us/psw/news/2011/111129_CA_holiday_tree.shtml http://www.fs.fed.us/psw/news/2011/111129_CA_holiday_tree.shtml Placerville, CA -- Past and present employees from the USDA Forest Service's Institute of Forest Genetics will reminisce about the tiny seedling they watched grow into a 60-foot tree when Gov. Edmund G. Brown Jr. lights the 80th Annual California State Capitol Christmas Tree on Dec. 7 in front of the State Capitol in Sacramento. Part of the Pacific Southwest Research Station (PSW) and located in Placerville, the Institute has donated a white fir to the state for the past 13 years. [news release also available as pdf]]> ] Sherri Eng 2011-11-29T12:25:00-07:00 http://www.fs.fed.us/psw/news/2011/111024_martens.shtml http://www.fs.fed.us/psw/news/2011/111024_martens.shtml Tahoe National Forest, CA -- The reclusive American marten is getting even harder to find in the Sierra Nevada, according to a study by a team of researchers from the U.S. Forest Service and Oregon State University. A new study at the Sagehen Experimental Forest found that marten detections have dropped 60 percent since the 1980s—a decrease that may be caused by a degradation of the wooded areas in which they live, researchers say. Their findings appeared in the current issue of the Journal of Wildlife Management. [news release also available as pdf]]> ] Sherri Eng 2011-10-24T11:18:00-07:00 http://www.fs.fed.us/psw/news/2011/110516_yellowleggedfrog.shtml http://www.fs.fed.us/psw/news/2011/110516_yellowleggedfrog.shtml Davis, CA -- River flow fluctuations downstream of dams are often out of sync with natural flow patterns and can have significant negative effects on aquatic species, such as native frogs, according to a team of researchers. The team examined how altered water flows caused by hydroelectric dams impact the life cycle of the foothill yellow-legged frog (Rana boylii). Visit our Rana boylii]]> ] topic pages to learn more about the research. [news release also available as pdf]]> ] Sherri Eng 2011-05-16T11:05:00-07:00 http://www.fs.fed.us/psw/news/2011/110408_mkiw_hi.shtml http://www.fs.fed.us/psw/news/2011/110408_mkiw_hi.shtml Hilo, HI --Students on the Island of Hawaii will get an opportunity to learn about native plants, ecological restoration and environmental sustainability, thanks to a new program funded through the USDA Forest Service’s More Kids in the Woods initiative. [also available as pdf]]> ] Michael Sullivan 2011-04-08T08:48:00-07:00 http://www.fs.fed.us/psw/news/2011/110403_mangroves.shtml http://www.fs.fed.us/psw/news/2011/110403_mangroves.shtml Hilo, HI --A research team from the U.S. Forest Service's Pacific Southwest and Northern research stations, University of Helsinki and the Center for International Forestry Research examined the carbon content of 25 mangrove forests across the Indo-Pacific region and found that per hectare mangrove forests store up to four times more carbon than most other tropical forests around the world. [also available as pdf]]> ] Sherri Eng 2011-04-03T12:00:00-07:00 http://www.fs.fed.us/psw/news/2011/110314_carbon_mapping.shtml http://www.fs.fed.us/psw/news/2011/110314_carbon_mapping.shtml HILO, HI--A team of scientists from the Carnegie Institution for Science's Department of Global Ecology and the USDA Forest Service's Pacific Southwest Research Station (PSW) has developed new, more accurate methods for mapping carbon in Hawaii's forests. Their research appears in an online issue of the journal Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. [also available as pdf]]> ] Sherri Eng 2011-03-14T10:09:00-07:00 http://www.fs.fed.us/psw/news/2011/110308_arborday.shtml http://www.fs.fed.us/psw/news/2011/110308_arborday.shtml ALBANY, CA--As California celebrates Arbor Day this week (March 7–14), let’s pause to ask ourselves: What is the true value of a tree? It may be priceless in the beauty it brings to a street, city park or backyard, but can an actual dollar amount be placed on its worth? The USDA Forest Service Pacific Southwest Research Station’s (PSW) scientists have found that for every $1 spent on planting and caring for a tree, the benefits that it provides are two to five times that investment. Benefits include cleaner air, lower energy costs, increased property values and improved water quality and storm water control. [also available as pdf]]> ] Sherri Eng 2011-03-08T12:00:00-07:00 http://www.fs.fed.us/psw/news/2011/110131_PSW_restructuring_complete.shtml http://www.fs.fed.us/psw/news/2011/110131_PSW_restructuring_complete.shtml ALBANY, California--The USDA Forest Service Pacific Southwest Research Station (PSW) has completed an organizational restructuring that will improve its ability to integrate science across disciplines and locations, more effectively address complex large-scale issues, and align operational processes and procedures with its delivery of science. PSW moved from 11 research work units to four science-based program areas and a streamlined business operations team providing support services to the eight labs and facilities in California and Hawaii. [also available as pdf]]> ] Sherri Eng 2011-01-31T13:42:00-07:00 http://www.fs.fed.us/psw/news/2010/101223_SOD_Report.shtml http://www.fs.fed.us/psw/news/2010/101213_PNAS_forest_drought_response.shtml ALBANY, California--Synthesizing more than 10 years of cooperative research on the exotic invasive, quarantine sudden oak death pathogen, the USDA Forest Service's Pacific Southwest Research Station (PSW) recently published "Sudden Oak Death and Phytophthora ramorum: A Summary of the Literature." This 181-page comprehensive report covers a wide range of topics, including a history of sudden oak death, identification and distribution of the disease, epidemiology and modeling, management and control, and economic and environmental impacts. [also available as pdf]]> ] Sherri Eng 2010-12-23T11:18:00-07:00