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Jennifer Birdsall
Botanist
USFS Rocky Mountain Research Station
1648 S. 7th Ave.
Bozeman, MT 59717
Ph: 406/994-4853
FAX: 406/994-5916
Email: jbirdsall@fs.fed.us
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Professional information:
Jennifer Birdsall has been a Botanist with RM-4151
"Ecology and Management of Northern Rocky Mountain Forests"
since 1996. In her present position she assists with laboratory
and field research on biological control of weeds.
Research interests:
- Biological control of weeds using insects and plant pathogens
- Host-specificity testing of biocontrol agents
- Collection and propagation of native and introduced plant
species
- Effects of biocontrol agents on introduced and native plant
species
- Effects of fire on weed invasion and biocontrol agent survival
Education:
M.S. 1983. Range Science.
Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana.
B.A. 1978. Botany and
Zoology. University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin. Graduated
with Distinction.
Professional history:
Prior to working for RM-4151, Birdsall worked as a botanist
on biological control of weeds for the Agricultural Research
Service. She has also worked on biological control of grasshoppers
for the Agricultural Research Service, as a Naturalist for Ohio
State Parks, as a Horticulture Intern at the Cincinnati Zoo,
as a Field Assistant studying bowerbirds in Australia, and as
a lambing shepherdess in New Zealand. As a graduate student,
her research focused on whether image analysis could be used
as a plant measurement tool to quantify leafy spurge cover. She
accepted her present position in 1996.
Ongoing projects:
- Determining effects of tansy ragwort
biological control agents in Western Montana. Dr.
George Markin and I are working to understand the life history
and invasiveness of the poisonous European weed tansy ragwort
in Northwestern Montana. We are studying the dispersal, health,
and impact of three biological control agents released to control
tansy ragwort in Northwestern Montana. We are performing laboratory
studies to determine the potential impact of these agents on
native plant species and are monitoring native species in the
field to determine actual impact. We are working with an interagency
taskforce to develop management strategies and guidelines for
land managers to use to control this weed. Our interagency group
was awarded a 2001 Regional Forester's Honor Award for our emergency
response to the spread of tansy ragwort in Northwestern Montana
after fire.
- Developing host specificity test
lists and maintaining plant species for host specificity testing
of biological control agents of rush skeletonweed, kudzu, and
hawkweeds. Rush skeletonweed and hawkweeds are rapidly
invading the Northwest while kudzu invades the Southeast. Dr.
George Markin and I are working cooperatively with the ARS European
Biological Control Laboratory in France, the CAB International
Laboratory in Switzerland, and the Sino-American Biological Control
laboratory in China to identify more effective strains of approved
biological control agents and to identify and study new agents.
Before any new strains/agents can be approved for release, host
specificity studies must be conducted to estimate the potential
risk of attack on non-target plant species. I am developing the
lists of plants to be tested based on phylogenetic, biochemical,
morphological, economical, and environmental characteristics
and concerns. Once a list is approved, I work to collect, propagate,
and maintain greenhouse and herbarium specimens of the species
for host specificity tests.
- Determining the effects of fire
on weed invasion and establishment and survival of biological
control agents in Western Montana. Dr. George Markin,
Dr. Sharlene Sing, and Dr. Ward McCaughey are studying the effects
of fire on weed invasion and establishment and on the survival
of biological control agents. I have been assisting these programs
by sampling vegetation and helping to develop standardized recording
systems to detect trends in weed and biological control agent
populations before and after fires.
Publications:
See list
Awards, Honors, and Special
Accomplishments:
Birdsall has received Certificates of Merit from the Forest
Service and from the Agricultural Research Service for her contributions
to biological control of weeds programs. She has also received
a National Institute of Health Certificate for mentoring minority
research apprentice students.
Professional affiliations:
- Montana Native Plant Society
- Montana Weed Control Association
- Southwestern Montana Mycological Association
Last update: April 22, 2002
RM-4151
"Ecology and Management of Northern Rocky Mountain Forests"
