Current Research

My personal research program has three major emphases: (1) determination of short and long-term implications to forest health of prescribed fire and/or mechanical fuel treatments (silvicultural thinning) used in the large-scale restoration of fire-adapted forest ecosystems, (2) development of chemical, silvicultural and semiochemical-based monitoring and management tactics for Dendroctonus and Ips bark beetles, and (3) determination of the role of semiochemicals in the behavior of bark beetle species of economic importance.

Research Interests

In the future, I plan to continue developing knowledge and tools that allow managers to better care for forest resources.

Education

• The University of Georgia, Ph.D. Forest Entomology 1999
• Virginia Tech University, M.S. Forest Entomology 1996
• Virginia Tech University, B.S. Forest Management 1993

Professional Organizations

• Association for Fire Ecology, Member
• California Forest Pest Council, Member
• Entomological Society of America, Member

Publications

• Larvie, Kelly ; Moody, Tadashi ; Axelson, Jodi ; Fettig, Christopher ; Cafferata, Peter . 2019. Synthesis of research into the long-term outlook for Sierra Nevada forests following the current bark beetle epidemic.
• Axelson, Jodi ; Battles, John ; Bulaon, Beverly ; Cluck, Danny ; Cousins, Stella ; Cox, Lauren ; Estes, Becky ; Fettig, Chris ; Hefty, Andrea ; Hishinuma, Stacy ; Hood, Sharon ; Kocher, Susie ; Mortenson, Leif ; Koltunov, Alexander ; Kuskulis, Elliot ; Poloni, Adrian ; Ramirez, Carlos ; Restaino, Christina ; Slaton, Michele ; Smith, Sheri ; Tubbesing, Carmen . 2019. The California Tree Mortality Data Collection Network - Enhanced communication and collaboration among scientists and stakeholders.
• Fettig, Christopher J.; Mortenson, Leif A.; Bulaon, Beverly M.; Foulk, Patra B. 2019. Tree mortality following drought in the central and southern Sierra Nevada, California, U.S..
• Morris, Jesse L; Cottrell, Stuart; Fettig, Christopher J; DeRose, R. Justin; Mattor, Katherine M; Carter, Vachel A; Clear, Jennifer; Clement, Jessica; Hansen, Winslow D; Hicke, Jeffrey A; Higuera, Philip E; Seddon, Alistair WR; Seppä, Heikki; Sherriff, Rosemary L; Stednick, John D; Seybold, Steven J. 2018. Bark beetles as agents of change in social-ecological systems.
• Ott, Daniel S.; Fettig, Christopher J.; Ross, Darrell W.; Munson, A. Steven. 2018. Chapter 14 - Effects of spruce beetle (Dendroctonus rufipennis) outbreaks on fuels, carbon, and stand structure and composition in Utah and Western Wyoming (Project INT-EM-F-13-02).
• Stephens, Scott L; Collins, Brandon M; Fettig, Christopher J; Finney, Mark A; Hoffman, Chad M; Knapp, Eric E; North, Malcolm P; Safford, Hugh; Wayman, Rebecca B. 2018. Drought, tree mortality, and wildfire in forests adapted to frequent fire.
• Fettig, Christopher ; Lowrey, Laura ; Blackford, Darren ; McMillin, Joel ; Munson, A Steven; Mortenson, Leif A. 2018. Efficacy of spring and fall treatments of carbaryl for protecting ponderosa pine from mortality attributed to mountain pine beetle (Coleoptera: Curculionidae).
• Vose, J.M. ; Peterson, D.L. ; Domke, G.M. ; Fettig, C.J. ; Joyce, L.A. ; Keane, R.E. ; Luce, C.H. ; Prestemon, J.P ; Band, L.E. ; Clark, J.S. ; Cooley, N.E. ; D’Amato, A. ; Halofsky, J.E. . 2018. Forests.
• Seybold, Steven J.; Bentz, Barbara J.; Fettig, Christopher J.; Lundquist, John E.; Progar, Robert A.; Gillette, Nancy E. 2018. Management of western North American bark beetles with semiochemicals.
• Fettig, Christopher J. 2018. Socioecological Impacts of the Western Pine Beetle Outbreak in Southern California: Lessons for The Future.
• Fettig, Christopher J.; Blackford, Darren C.; Grosman, Donald M.; Munson, A. Steven. 2017. Injections of Emamectin Benzoate protect Engelmann Spruce from mortality attributed to Spruce Beetle (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) for two years.
• Fettig, Christopher J.;  Delb, Horst E. 2017. Invasive forstliche schad-organismen in Nordamerika.
• Fettig, Chris; Steed, Brytten; Bulaon, Beverly; Mortenson, Leif; Progar, Robert; Bradley, Clifford; Munson, Steven; Mafra-Neto, Agenor. 2016. Efficacy of SPLAT Verb for protecting individual Pinus contorta, Pinus ponderosa, and Pinus lambertiana from mortality attributed to Dendroctonus ponderosae.
• Kolb, Thomas E.; Fettig, Christopher J.; Bentz, Barbara J.; Stewart, Jane E.; Weed, Aaron S.; Hicke, Jeffrey A.; Ayres, Matthew P. 2016. Forest insect and fungal pathogen responses to drought Chapter 6.
• Morris, Jesse L.; Cottrell, Stuart ; Fettig, Christopher J.; Hansen, Winslow D.; Sherriff, Rosemary L.; Carter, Vachel A.; Clear, Jennifer L.; Clement, Jessica ; DeRose, R. Justin; Hicke, Jeffrey A.; Higuera, Philip E.; Mattor, Katherine M.; Seddon, Alistair W. R.; Seppä, Heikki T.; Stednick, John D.; Seybold, Steven J. 2016. Managing bark beetle impacts on ecosystems and society: priority questions to motivate future research.
• Fettig, Christopher J. . 2016. Native bark beetles and wood borers in Mediterranean forests of California.
• Kolb, Thomas E.; Fettig, Chris; Ayres, Matthew P.; Bentz, Barbara J.; Hicke, Jeffrey A.; Mathiasen, Robert; Stewart, Jane E.; Weed, Aaron S. 2016. Observed and anticipated impacts of drought on forest insects and diseases in the United States.
• Fettig, Chris; Munson, A. S.; Reinke, M.; Mafra-Neto, A. 2015. A novel semiochemical tool for protecting Pinus contorta from mortality attributed to Dendroctonus ponderosae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae).
• Fettig, Christopher J.; Munson, A.Steve; Gibson, Kenneth E. 2015. Alternative timing of carbaryl treatments for protecting lodgepole pine from mortality attributed to mountain pine beetle.
• Fettig, Christopher;  Hilszczański, Jacek. 2015. Management strategies for bark beetles in conifer forests.
• Fettig, Christopher J.; Gibson, Kenneth E.; Munson, A. Steven; Negrón, Jose F. 2014. A comment on Management for mountain pine beetle outbreak suppression: Does relevant science support current policy ".
• Progar, Robert A.; Gillette, Nancy; Fettig, Christopher J.; Hrinkevich, Kathryn. 2014. Applied chemical ecology of the mountain pine beetle.
• Levinson, David H.; Fettig, Christopher J. 2014. Climate change: overview of data sources, observed and predicted temperature changes, and impacts on public and environmental health.
• Fettig, Christopher J.; Gibson, Kenneth E.; Munson, A. Steven; Negrón, Jose F. 2014. Cultural practices for prevention and control of mountain pine beetle infestations.
• Fettig, Christopher J.; Munson, A. Steven; Grosman, Donald M.; Bush, Parshall B. 2014. Evaluations of emamectin benzoate and propiconazole for protecting individual Pinus contorta from mortality attributed to colonization by Dendroctonus ponderosae and associated fungi.
• Jenkins, Michael J.; Runyon, Justin B.; Fettig, Christopher J.; Page, Wesley G.; Bentz, Barbara J. 2014. Interactions among the mountain pine beetle, fires, and fuels.
• Negron, Jose F.; Fettig, Christopher J. 2014. Mountain pine beetle, a major disturbance agent in US Western coniferous forests: A synthesis of the state of knowledge Research In Review.
• Negron, Jose F.; Fettig, Christopher J. 2014. Mountain pine beetle, a major disturbance agent in US western coniferous forests: A synthesis of the state of knowledge.
• Fettig, Christopher J; McKelvey, Stephen R. 2014. Resiliency of an interior ponderosa pine forest to bark beetle infestations following fuel-reduction and forest-restoration treatments.
• Stine, Peter; Hessburg, Paul; Spies, Thomas; Kramer, Marc; Fettig, Christopher J.; Hansen, Andrew; Lehmkuhl, John; O'Hara, Kevin; Polivka, Karl; Singleton, Peter; Charnley, Susan; Merschel, Andrew; White, Rachel. 2014. The ecology and management of moist mixed-conifer forests in eastern Oregon and Washington: a synthesis of the relevant biophysical science and implications for future land management.
• Mafra-Neto, Agenor; Fettig, Christopher J.; Munson, A. Steven; Stelinski, Lukasz L. 2014. Use of repellents formulated in Specialized Pheromone and Lure Application Technology (SPLAT ) for effective insect pest management.
• Fettig, Christopher J.; Grosman, Donald M.; Munson, A. Steven. 2013. Advances in insecticide tools and tactics for protecting conifers from bark beetle attack in the western United States.
• Fettig, Christopher J.; Reid, Mary L.; Bentz, Barbara J.; Sevanto, Sanna; Spittlehouse, David L.; Wang, T. 2013. Changing climates, changing forests: A western North American perspective.
• Fettig, Christopher J. 2013. Chemical ecology and management of bark beetles in western coniferous forests.
• Fettig, Christopher J.; Grosman, Donald M.; Munson, A. Steven. 2013. Efficacy of abamectin and tebuconazole injections to protect of lodgepole pine from mortality attributed to mountain pine beetle attack and progression of blue stain fungi.
• Fettig, Christopher J.; Burnside, Roger E.; Hayes, Chistopher J.; Kruse, James J.; Lisuzzo, Nicholas J.; McKelvey, Stephen R.; Mori, Sylvia R.; Nickel, Stephen K.; Schultz, Mark E. 2013. Factors influencing northern spruce engraver colonization of white spruce slash in interior Alaska.
• Fettig, Christopher J.; Burnside, Roger E.; Schultz, Mark E. 2013. Injection of emamectin benzoate protects paper birch from birch leafminer (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae) for two field seasons.
• Mafra-Neto, Agenor; de Lame, Frédérique M.; Fettig, Christopher J.; Munson, A. Steven; Perring, Thomas M.; Stelinski, Lukasz L.; Stoltman, Lyndsie; Mafra, Leandro E.J.; Borges, Rafael; Vargas, Roger I. 2013. Manipulation of insect behavior with Specialized Pheromone & Lure Application Technology (SPLAT ).
• Miller, Dan; Dodds, Kevin J.; Eglitis, Andy; Fettig, Chris; Hofstetter, Richard W.; Langor, David W.; Mayfield, Albert (Bud), III.; Munson, A. Steven; Poland, Therese M.; Raffa, Kenneth F. 2013. Trap lure blend of pine volatiles and bark beetle pheromones for Monochamus spp. (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) in pine forests of Canada and the United States..
• Fettig, Christopher J.; McKelvey, Stephen R.; Dabney, Christopher P.; Huber, Dezene P.W. 2012. Dendroctonus brevicomis responses in behavioral assays: Implication to development of a semiochemical-based tool for tree protection.
• McIver, James D.; Stephens, Scott L.; Agee, James K.; Barbour, Jamie; Boerner, Ralph E. J.; Edminster, Carl B.; Erickson, Karen L.; Farris, Kerry L.; Fettig, Christopher J.; Fiedler, Carl E.; Haase, Sally; Hart, Stephen C.; Keeley, Jon E.; Knapp, Eric E.; Lehmkuhl, John F.; Moghaddas, Jason J.; Otrosina, William; Outcalt, Kenneth W.; Schwilk, Dylan W.; Skinner, Carl N.; Waldrop, Thomas A.; Weatherspoon, C. Phillip; Yaussy, Daniel A.; Youngblood, Andrew; Zack, Steve. 2012. Ecological effects of alternative fuel-reduction treatments: highlights of the National Fire and Fire Surrogate study (FFS).
• Stephens, Scott L.; McIver, James D.; Boerner, Ralph E.J.; Fettig, Christopher J.; Fontaine, Joseph B.; Hartsough, Bruce R.; Kennedy, Patricia L.; Schwilk, Dylan W. 2012. Effects of forest fuel-reduction treatments in the United States.
• Fettig, Christopher J.; McKelvey, Stephen R.; Dabney, Christopher P.; Huber, Dezene P.W.; Lait, Cameron C.; Fowler, Donald L; Borden, John H. 2012. Efficacy of Verbenone Plus for protecting ponderosa pine trees and stands from Dendroctonus brevicomis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) attack in British Columbia and California.
• Fettig, Christopher J.; Burnside, Roger E.; Hayes, Christopher J.; Schultz, Mark E. 2012. Field evaluations of emamectin benzoate for control of birch leafminer (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae) in Interior Alaska.
• Fettig, C. J. 2012. Forest health and bark beetles.
• Fettig, Christopher J.; McKelvey, Stephen R.; Dabney, Christopher P.; Huber, Dezene P.W. 2012. Responses of Dendroctonus brevicomis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in behavioral assays: Implications to development of a semiochemical-based tool for tree protection.
• Fettig, Christopher J.; Hayes, Christopher J.; Jones, Karen J.; McKelvey, Stephen R.; Mori, Sylvia L.; Smith, Sheri L. 2012. Thinning Jeffrey pine stands to reduce susceptibility to bark beetle infestations in California, U.S.A..
• Fettig, Christopher J.; Bulaon, Beverly M.; Dabney, Christopher P.; Hayes, Christopher J.; McKelvey, Stepehen R. 2012. Verbenone Plus reduces levels of tree mortality attributed to mountain pine beetle infestations in whitebark pine, a tree species of concern.
• Fettig, C.J.; Hayes, C.J.; McKelvey, S.R.; Mori, S.R. 2011. Laboratory assays of select candidate insecticides for control of Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins Pesticide Management Science 67: 548 555.
• Burnside, Roger E.; Holsten, Edward H.; Fettig, Christopher J.; Kruse, James J.; Schultz, Mark E.; Hayes, Christopher J.; Graves, Andrew D.; Seybold, Steven J. 2011. The northern spruce engraver, Ips perturbatus.
• Fettig, C.J.; McKelvey, S.R. 2010. Bark beetles responses to stand structure and prescribed fire at Black Mountain Experimental Forest, California, USA: 5-year data.
• Bentz, Barbara J.; Regniere, Jacques; Fettig, Christopher J.; Hansen, E. Matthew; Hayes, Jane L.; Hicke, Jeffrey A.; Kelsey, Rick G.; Negron, Jose F.; Seybold, Steven J. 2010. Climate change and bark beetles of the western United States and Canada: Direct and indirect effects.
• McIver, J.D.; Fettig, C.J. 2010. Ecological consequences of alternative fuel reduction treatments in seasonally dry forests: the national fire and fire surrogate study.
• Grosman, D.M.; Fettig, C.J.; Jorgensen, C.L.; Munson, A.S. 2010. Effectiveness of two systemic insecticides for protecting western conifers from mortality due to bark beetle attack.
• Fettig, C.J.; Borys, R.R.; and Dabney, C.P. 2010. Effects of fire and fire surrogate treatments on bark beetle-caused tree mortality in the Southern Cascades, California.
• Fettig, Christopher; McKelvey, Stephen; Cluck, Daniel; Sheri, Smith; Otrosina, William. 2010. Effects of prescribed fire and season of burn on direct and indirect levels of tree mortality in Ponderosa and Jeffrey Pine Forests in California, USA..
• Fettig, C.J.; Munson, A.S.; Jorgenson, C.I.; and Grosman, D.M. 2010. Efficacy of fipronil for protecting individual pines from mortality attributed to attack by western pine beetle and mountain pine beetle (Coleoptera: Curculionidae, Scolytinae).
• McMillin, Joel D.; Fettig, Christopher J. 2009. Bark beetle responses to vegetation management practices.
• Fettig, C.J.; Munson, A.S.; McKelvey, S.R.; T.E., DeGomez. 2009. Deposition from ground-based sprays of carbaryl to protect individual trees from bark beetle attack in the western United States.
• Fettig, C.J.; McKelvey, S.R.; Borys, R.R.; Dabney, C.P; Hamud, S.M.; Nelson, L.J.; Seybold, S.J. 2009. Efficacy of verbenone for protecting ponderosa pine stands from western pine beetle (Coleoptera: Curculionidae, Scolytinae) attack in California.
• Hayes, C.J.; Fettig, C.J.; Merrill, L.D. 2009. Evaluation of multiple funnel traps and stand characteristics for estimating western pine beetle-caused tree mortality.
• Fettig, C.J.; McKelvey, S.R.; Dabney, C.P.; Borys, R.R.; Huber, D.P.W. 2009. Response of western pine beetle, Dendroctonus brevicomis LeConte (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), to different release rates of nonhost angiosperm volatiles and verbenone.
• Schwilk, Dylan W.; Keeley, Jon E.; Knapp, Eric E.; Mciver, James; Bailey, John D.; Fettig, Christopher J.; Fiedler, Carl E.; Harrod, Richy J.; Moghaddas, Jason J.; Outcalt, Kenneth W.; Skinner, Carl N.; Stephens, Scott L.; Waldrop, Thomas A.; Yaussy, Daniel A.; Youngblood, Andrew. 2009. The national Fire and Fire Surrogate study: effects of fuel reduction methods on forest vegetation structure and fuels.
• Shepherd, William; Huber, Dezene; Seybold, Steven; Fettig, Christopher. 2008. Antennal responses of the western pine beetle, Dendroctonus brevicomis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), to stem volatiles of its primary host, Pinus ponderosa, and nine sympatric nonhost angiosperms and conifers..
• Fettig, Christopher J.; Borys, Robert R.; McKelvey, Stephen R.; Dabney, Christopher P. 2008. Blacks Mountain Experimental Forest: bark beetle responses to differences in forest structure and the application of prescribed fire in interior ponderosa pine.
• DeGomez, T.; Fettig, C.J.; McMillin, J.D.; Anhold, J.A.; Hayes, C.J. . 2008. Managing slash to minimize colonization of residual leave trees by Ips and other bark beetle species following thinning in southwestern ponderosa pine.
• Fettig, Christopher J.; Dabney, Christopher P.; McKelvey, Stepehen R.; Huber, Dezene P.W. 2008. Nonhost angiosperm volatiles and verbenone protect individual ponderosa pines from attack by western pine beetle and red turpentine beetle (Coleoptera: Curculionidae, Scolytinae).
• Fettig, Christopher J.; McMillin, Joel D.; Anhold, John. A.; Hamud, Shakeeb M.; Seybold, Steven J.; Borys, Robert R. 2008. The effects of hazardous fuel reduction treatments in the wildland urban interface on the activity of bark beetles infesting ponderosa pine.
• 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.
• Youngblood, Andrew; Bigler-Cole, Heidi; Fettig, Christopher J.; Fiedler, Carl; Knapp, Eric E.; Lehmkuhl, John F.; Outcalt, Kenneth W.; Skinner, Carl N.; Stephens, Scott L.; Waldrop, Thomas A. 2007. Making fire and fire surrogate science available: a summary of regional workshops with clients.
• Fettig, Christopher J.; McMillin, Joel D.; Anhold, John A.; Hamud, Shakeeb M.; Borys, Robert R.; Seybold, Steven J. 2007. The effect of mechanical fuel reduction treatments in the wildland-urban interface on the amount and distribution of bark beetle-caused tree mortality.
• Fettig, Christopher J.; Klepzig, Kier D.; Billings, Ronald f.; Munson, A. Steven; Nebeker, T. Evan; Negron, Jose F.; Nowak, John T. 2007. The effectiveness of vegetation management practices for prevention and control of bark beetle infestations in coniferous forests of the western and southern United States.
• Fettig, Christopher J.; McKelvey, Stepehen R.; Dabney, Christopher P.; Borys, Robert R. 2007. The response of Dendroctonus valens (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) and Temnochila chlorodia (Coleoptera: Trogossitidae) to Ips paraconfusus (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) pheromone components and verbenone.
• Fettig, Christopher J.; Dabney, Christopher P.; McKelvey, Stepehen R.; Borys, Robert R. 2006. An assessment of re-randomization methods in bark beetle (Scolytidae) trapping bioassays.
• Fettig, Christopher J.; Allen, Kurt K.; Borys, Robert R.; Christopherson, John; Dabney, Christopher P.; Eager, Thomas J.; Gibson, Kenneth E.; Hebertson, Elizabeth G.; Long, Daniel F.; Munson, A. Steven; Shea, Patrick J.; Smith, Sheri L.; Haverty, Michael I. 2006. Effectiveness of bifenthrin (Onyx ) and carbaryl (Sevin SL) for protecting individual, high-value trees from bark beetle attack (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) in the western United States.
• Fettig, Christopher J.; DeGomez, Thomas E.; Gibson, Kenneth E.; Dabney, Christopher J.; Borys, Robert R. 2006. Effectiveness of permethrin plus-C (Masterline ) and carbaryl (Sevin SL ) for protecting individual, high-value pines from bark beetle attack.
• Fettig, Christopher J.; Dabney, Christopher P. 2006. Relative and seasonal abundance of Temnochila chlorodia (Mannerheim) (Coleoptera: Trogossitidae) collected in western pine beetle pheromone-baited traps in northern California.
• Fettig, Christopher J. 2005. Bugs in the system: development of tools to minimize ponderosa pine losses from western pine beetle infestations.
• Sullivan, Brian T.; Fettig, Christopher J.; Otrosina, William J.; Dalusky, Mark J.; Berisford, C. Wayne. 2003. Association between severity of prescribed burns and subsequent activity of conifer-infesting beetles in stands of longleaf pine.
• Asaro, Christopher; Fettig, Christopher J.; McCravy, Kenneth W.; Nowak, John T.; Berisford, C. Wayne. 2003. The Nantucket pine tip moth (Lepidoptera: Torticidae): a literature review with management implications..
• Fettig, Christopher J.; McCravy, Kenneth W.; Berisford, C. Wayne. 2000. Effects of Nantucket pine tip moth insecticide spray schedules on loblolly pine seedlings.
• Nowak, John T.; Fettig, Christopher J.; McCravy, Kenneth W.; Berisford, C. Wayne. 2000. Efficacy tests and determination of optimal spray timing values to control nantucket pine tip moth - (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) infestation.
• Fettig, Christopher J.; Dalusky, Mark J.; Berisford, C. Wayne. 2000. Nantucket pine tip moth phenology and timing of insecticide spray applications in seven Southeastern States.
• Coody, Anthony R.; Fettig, Christopher J.; Nowak, John T.; Berisford, C. Wayne. 2000. Previous tip moth infestation predispose trees to heavier attacks in subsequent generations.

Research Highlights

Highlight	Title	Year
PSW-2011-10	Levels of delayed tree mortality following early and late season burns in ponderosa and Jeffrey pine forests Historically, wildfires occurred most frequently in the late summer and early fall in ponderosa and Jeffrey pine forests. Accordingly, late sea ...	2011
PSW-2016-237	Observed and Anticipated Impacts of Drought on Forest Insects and Diseases Changes to Earth’s climate are projected to include increases in temperature and changes in precipitation patterns that will increase the freq ...	2016