Ann M. Lynch
Research Entomologist
1215 E Lowell St
Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research
Tucson
Arizona
United States
85721-0045
Phone: 520-626-9582
Contact Ann M. Lynch
Current Research
My principle research involves understanding insect disturbance ecology in Southwestern high elevation forests. My goals are to determine the effects of climate and human activities on historical and contemporary disturbance regimes and ecosystem stability, and to determine the causes of, and climate associated with, contemporary severe and anomalous insect outbreaks. Individual studies include dendrochronologically reconstructing fire, insect outbreak, logging, and climate effects on tree population dynamics at the mountain range scale; investigating the ecology and impact of emergent (native but previously innocuous) and range-expansive insect pests. I am also involved with investigating the ecology and impact of the exotic and invasive spruce aphid in western North American montane and maritime ecosystems, where it threatens ecosystem stability and biodiversity.
Research Interests
My research interests are focused on disturbance ecology of western forest insects, high elevation disturbance ecology, climate change effects, fire exclusion effects, insect impact assessment, modeling, decision support systems, and the Sky Island mountain ecosystems of the Southwest.
Past Research
Why This Research is Important
My research is important because it provides managers with information about the effects of legacy conditions, past disturbance events, climate and human activities on Southwestern historical and contemporary disturbance regimes and ecosystem stability. It develops tools for quantifying and assessing insect effects, and informs predictive models. Southwestern ecosystems are especially vulnerable to climate- and human-induced changes because of their southern latitude and vertical landscape connectivity, and because of their history of fire exclusion. Managers need this information in order to develop adaptive management strategies that promote forest health and resiliency, and to mitigate the negative effects of future disturbances and climate change. My research on spruce aphid is important because it provides information needed to mitigate negative effects and to develop control strategies.
Education
- University of Michigan, M.F. Forest Biometrics 1984
- University of Michigan, Ph.D. Natural Resources (Entomology/ Pest Management) 1984
- University of Michigan, M.S. Natural Resources (Entomology/ Pest Management ) 1981
- Pennsylvania State University, B.S. Forest Science 1977
Professional Experience
- Adjunct Associate Professor of Dendrochronology, The University of Arizona, Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research
2006 - Current
Tucson AZ - Research Entomologist, US Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station
1987 - Current
Currently in Tucson AZ, but previously in Flagstaff AZ and Fort Collins CO - Assistant Professor of Watershed Management (Forest Resources Management), The University of Arizona, School of Renewable Natural Resources
1985 - 1987
Tucson AZ - Research Assistant in Forest Entomology, The University of Michigan, School of Natural Resources
1980 - 1987
Iron River and Ann Arbor MI - Regional Plans and Operations Forester, Weyerhaeuser Company, Oklahoma Region
1978 - 1979
Wright City OK - Professional Intern I (Entomology), Weyerhaeuser Company, Southern Forestry Research Center
1978 - 1978
Hot Springs AR - Professional Intern I (Forest Regeneration), Weyerhaeuser Company, Western Forestry Research Center
1977 - 1978
Centralia WA - Field Research Assistant, The Pennsylvania State University, Entomology Department
1976 - 1976
University Park PA - Technical Assistant, The Pennsylvania State University, Entomology Department, Gypsy Moth Technical Information Project
1975 - 1976
University Park PA - Laboratory Technician in Microbiology, Behrend College, The Pennsylvania State University
1973 - 1975
Erie PA
Awards & Recognition
- Performance Award, Rocky Mountain Research Station, 2013
For superior performance, 2012. - Certificate of Merit, Coronado N.F., 2012
For Resource Management: in recognition of outstanding work performed for the forest vegetation sections of the Draft Revised Forest Plan & DEIS, which has been recognized by the Regional Office as "the best that they have seen". - Certificate of Merit, Rocky Mountain Forest & Range Experiment Station, 1998
For outstanding technology transfer in the form of participation in scientific meetings and work conferences in the field of forest entomology. - Certificate of Merit, Rocky Mountain Forest & Range Experiment Station, 1988
For continuous dedication to excellence in forestry education. - Distinguished Alumni Award, Alumni Society of the University of Michigan, 1986
Alumni Society of the School of Natural Resources - Donald M. Matthews Award in Forest Management, University of Michigan, 1984
Faculty of the School of Natural Resources, University of Michigan - Samuel A. Graham Award for Outstanding Scholarship in Forest Biology and Superior Writing Capability, 1983
Faculty of the School of Natural Resources, University of Michigan - Traveling Scholar, CIC Michigan State University, 1982
Committee on Institutional Cooperation, Michigan State University. - Xi Sigma Pi, 1982
Eta Chapter 1976, Upsilon Chapter 1989. National forestry honor society. - National Honor Society, 1972
Recognition of outstanding student achievement in (high school)
Featured Publications & Products
- Negron, Jose F.; Bentz, Barbara J.; Fettig, Christopher J.; Gillette, Nancy; Hansen, E. Matthew; Hayes, Jane L.; Kelsey, Rick G.; Lundquist, John E.; Lynch, Ann M.; Progar, Robert A.; Seybold, Steven J. 2008. US Forest Service bark beetle research in the western United States: Looking toward the future.
- Lynch, Ann M. 2012. What tree-ring reconstruction tells us about conifer defoliator outbreaks.
- Lynch, Ann M. 2009. Spruce aphid, Elatobium abietinum (Walker): Life history and damage to Engelmann spruce in the Pinaleno Mountains, Arizona.
Publications
- Klesse, Stefan ; DeRose, Robert Justin; Babst, Flurin ; Black, Bryan A.; Anderegg, Leander D. L.; Axelson, Jodi ; Ettinger, Ailene ; Griesbauer, Hardy ; Guiterman, Christopher H.; Harley, Grant ; Harvey, Jill E.; Lo, Yueh-Hsin ; Lynch, Ann M.; O'Connor, Christopher ; Restaino, Christina ; Sauchyn, Dave ; Shaw, John D.; Smith, Dan J.; Wood, Lisa ; Villanueva-Díaz, Jose ; Evans, Margaret E. K. 2020. Continental-scale tree-ring-based projection of Douglas-fir growth: Testing the limits of space-for-time substitution.
- Lynch, Ann M. 2019. Socioecological impacts of multiple forest insect outbreaks in the Pinale o spruce-fir forest, Arizona.
- Lynch, Ann M.; Mukhamadiev, Nurjan S.; O’Connor, Christopher D.; Panyushkina, Irina P.; Ashikbaev, Nursagim A.; Sagitov, Abay O. 2019. Tree-ring reconstruction of bark beetle disturbances in the Picea schrenkiana Fisch. et Mey. Forests of Southeast Kazakhstan.
- Malesky, Danielle M.; Bentz, Barbara J.; Brown, Gary R.; Brunelle, Andrea R.; Buffington, John M.; Chappell, Linda M.; DeRose, R. Justin; Guyon, John C., II.; Jorgensen, Carl L.; Loehman, Rachel A.; Lowrey, Laura L.; Lynch, Ann M.; Matyjasik, Marek; McMillin, Joel D.; Mercado, Javier E.; Morris, Jesse L.; Negron, Jose F.; Padgett, Wayne G.; Progar, Robert A.; Randall, Carol B. 2018. Effects of climate change on ecological disturbances Chapter 8.
- Klesse, Stefan ; DeRose, R. Justin; Guiterman, Christopher H.; Lynch, Ann M.; O’Connor, Christopher D.; Shaw, John D.; Evans, Margaret E. K. 2018. Sampling bias overestimates climate change impacts on forest growth in the southwestern United States.
- O'Connor, Christopher D.; Falk, Donald A.; Lynch, Ann M.; Swetnam, Thomas W.; Wilcox, Craig P. 2017. Disturbance and productivity interactions mediate stability of forest composition and structure.
- Panyushkina, Irina P.; Mukhamadiev, Nurjan S.; Lynch, Ann M.; Ashikbaev, Nursagim A.; Arizpe, Alexis H.; O'Connor, Christopher D.; Abjanbaev, Danyar; Mengdbayeva, Gulnaz Z.; Sagitov, Abay O. 2017. Wild apple growth and climate change in southeast Kazakhstan.
- Swetnam, Tyson L.; O'Connor, Christopher D.; Lynch, Ann M. 2016. Tree morphologic plasticity explains deviation from metabolic scaling theory in semi-arid conifer forests, southwestern USA.
- Swetnam, T. L.; Lynch, A. M.; Falk, D. A.; Yool, S. R.; Guertin, D. P. 2015. Discriminating disturbance from natural variation with LiDAR in semi-arid forests in the southwestern USA.
- Anhold, John; Mitchell, Brent; Wilcox, Craig; Mellin, Tom; Merrick, Melissa; Lynch, Ann; Walterman, Mike; Falk, Donald; Koprowski, John; Laes, Denise; Evans, Don; Fisk, Haans. 2015. Using LiDAR to evaluate forest landscapes and health factors and their relationship to habitat of the endangered Mount Graham red squirrel on the Coronado National Forest, Pinaleno Mountains, Arizona Chap. 12.
- Negron, Jose F.; Lynch, Ann M.; Schaupp, Willis C., Jr..; Bocharnikov, Vladimir. 2014. Douglas-fir tussock moth- and Douglas-fir beetle-caused mortality in a ponderosa pine/Douglas-fir forest in the Colorado Front Range, USA.
- Swetnam, Tyson L.; Falk, Donald A.; Lynch, Ann M.; Yool, Stephen R. 2014. Estimating individual tree mid- and understory rank-size distributions from airborne laser scanning in semi-arid forests.
- O'Connor, Christopher D.; Falk, Donald A.; Lynch, Ann M.; Swetnam, Thomas W. 2014. Fire severity, size, and climate associations diverge from historical precedent along an ecological gradient in the Pinaleno Mountains, Arizona, USA.
- O’Connor, Christopher D.; Koprowski, John L.; Lynch, Ann M.; Falk, Donald A. 2014. Mt. Graham red squirrel use of forest habitat: Historical, present, and future perspectives.
- O'Connor, Christopher D.; Lynch, Ann M.; Falk, Donald A.; Swetnam, Thomas W. 2014. Post-fire forest dynamics and climate variability affect spatial and temporal properties of spruce beetle outbreaks on a Sky Island mountain range.
- Lynch, Ann M. 2014. Spruce aphid (Elatobium abietinum Walker) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) Chapter XXIV.
- Mukhamadiev, N.; Lynch, A.; O'Connor, C.; Sagitov, A.; Ashikbaev, N.; Panyushkina, I. 2014. The historical role of Ips hauseri (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in the spruce forest of Ile-Alatausky and Medeo National Parks.
- Austin, Terry; Begay, Yolynda; Biedenbender, Sharon; Biggs, Rachael; Boyle, Erin; Curiel, Eli; Davis, Sarah; Dechter, Sara; Emmett, Tami; Farrell, Mary; Gerhart, Richard; Gillespie, William; Haessig, Polly; Holloway, Ed; Jenkins, Melissa; Jones, Larry; Kriegel, Debby; Lefevre, Robert; Stamer, Mark; Lehew, Mindi; Lynch, Ann; McKay, George; Peery, Linda; Peralta, Albert; Ruyle, Jennifer; Sautter, Jeremy; Schoenle, Kenna; Shafiqullah, Salek; Stetson, Christopher; Vogel, Mindi Sue; White, Laura; Wilcox, Craig; York, Judy. 2013. Coronado National Forest Draft Land and Resource Management Plan: Cochise, Graham, Pima, Pinal, and Santa Cruz Counties, Arizona, and Hidalgo County, New Mexico.
- Peralta, Albert; Campbell, Andrea Wargo; Lynch, Ann; Bowen, Cheri; Stetson, Christopher; Wilcox, Craig; Zormeier, Daniela; Kriegel, Debby; Jaworski, Delilah; Walters, Dustin; Curiel, Eli; Boyle, Erin; McKay, George; Moser, Janet; Morrissey, Jennifer; Ruyle, Jennifer M.; Sautter, Jeremy; York, Judy; Schoenle, Kenna; Jones, Larry; White, Laura; Peery, Linda; Farrell, Mary; Lehew, Mindi; Vogel, Mindy Sue; Laluk, Nicholas; Biggs, Rachael; Lefevre, Robert; Gerhart, Richard; Shafiqullah, Salek; Dechter, Sara; Davis, Sarah; Biedenbender, Sharon; Emmett, Tami; Austin, Terry; Gillespie, William; Begay, Yolynda. 2013. Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for Revision of the Coronado National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan: Cochise, Graham, Pima, Pinal, and Santa Cruz Counties, Arizona; Hidalgo County, New Mexico.
- Lynch, Ann M.; O'Connor, Christopher D. 2013. Mountain pine beetle in southwestern white pine in the Pinaleno Mountains.
- Friggens, M.; Bagne, K.; Finch, D.; Falk, D.; Triepke, J.; Lynch, A. 2013. Review and recommendations for climate change vulnerability assessment approaches with examples from the Southwest.
- Mitchell, Brent; Walterman, Mike; Mellin, Tom; Wilcox, Craig; Lynch, Ann M.; Anhold, John; Falk, Donald A.; Koprowski, John; Laes, Denise; Evans, Don; Fisk, Haans. 2012. Mapping vegetation structure in the Pinaleno Mountains using lidar-phase 3: Forest inventory modeling.
- Amelon, Sybill; Brooks, Robert T.; Glaeser, Jessie; Friggens, Megan; Lindner, Daniel; Loeb, Susan C.; Lynch, Ann; Minnis, Drew; Perry, Roger; Rowland, Mary M.; Tomosy, Monica; Weller, Ted. 2012. U.S. Forest Service Research and Development (USFS R/D) national science strategy on White Nose Syndrome (WNS).
- O'Connor, Christopher; Falk, Donald A.; Lynch, Ann M.; Wilcox, Craig P.; Swetnam, Thomas W.; Swetnam, Tyson L. 2010. Growth and demography of Pinaleno high elevation forests.
- Anderson, R. Scott; Smith, Susan J.; Lynch, Ann M.; Geils, Brian W. 2010. The pollen record of a 20th century spruce beetle (Dendroctonus rufipennis) outbreak in a Colorado subalpine forest, USA.
- Betancourt, Julio L.; Goodrich, D. C.; Lynch, Ann M.; Nabhan, Gary. 2005. Connecting mountain islands and desert seas: Biodiversity and management of the Madrean Archipelago II: Plenary abstracts.
- Lynch, Ann M. 2003. Spruce aphid in high elevation habitats in the Southwest U.S..
- Witter, John A.; Lynch, Ann M.; Montgomery, Bruce A. 1983. Management Implications of Interactions between the Spruce Budworm and Spruce-Fir Stands.
Research Highlights
Highlight | Title | Year |
![]() RMRS-2018-66 | Forests transformed by fire exclusion help us understand climate resilience Fire exclusion can cause rapid changes to forest species composition and structure. These changes can make a forest more susceptible to drought, ... | 2018 |
![]() RMRS-2014-114 | Wildfires in Southern Arizona are More Severe but Not Bigger Scientists found that wildfires prior to 1880 burned about 70 percent of the landscape every 20 years. Since 1880 and the onset of fire exclusio ... | 2014 |