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US Forest Service Research & Development
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  • US Forest Service Research & Development
  • 1400 Independence Ave., SW
  • Washington, D.C. 20250-0003
  • 800-832-1355
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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

  • Developed tree-ring methodology and used that methodology to reconstruct multi-century chronologies of western spruce budworm outbreaks in Colorado & New Mexico, providing scientists with key methodology to investigate the long-term temporal variability of forest insect outbreaks, and providing managers with information on temporal and spatial variability in western spruce budworm, including information about outbreak frequency, duration, extent, and response to change in forest condition.
  • Developed hazard-rating systems for spruce budworm and pales weevil, allowing managers to assess the probability of resource damage.
  • Developed statistically sound sampling strategies for spruce budworm and western spruce budworm damage, allowing pest managers to accurately estimate populations and their damage.
  • Characterized spruce budworm outbreak severity associations with different ecological factors in northern Michigan, providing resource managers with information on hazard relationships that they could use to mitigate the effects of this insect.

    • 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

    Publications

    Research Highlights

    HighlightTitleYear

    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

    Last updated on : 07/12/2019