Melissa Fierke
Assistant Professor, Forest Entomology

146 Illick Hall
SUNY-ESF
1 Forestry Drive
Syracuse, NY 13210

mkfierke@esf.edu

(315) 470-6809 - office
(315) 470-6934 - fax

Education

• B.S. Environmental Chemistry, B.S. Environmental Biology, Arkansas Tech University, Russellville, Arkansas.

• M.S. Fisheries Science, M.S. Environmental Science (Water Resources), Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon.
• Ph.D. Entomology (Minor: Biology), University of Arkansas, 2006.
  
  

Area of Research Specialization: Forest Entomology and Forest Ecology

My lab is involved in research on two recently introduced forest insects in New York, the invasive European wood wasp, Sirex noctilio, and emerald ash borer, a wood-boring beetle. We are investigating parasitism of the wood wasp by native parasitoids, other wasps that lay their eggs in the eggs/larvae of the wood wasp, as well as within-tree, stand and regional population dynamics of the wood wasp. We are also identifying and investigating entomopathogens that have the potential to be biocontrol agents for the wood wasp. Emerald ash borer has killed millions of ash trees in Michigan, Ohio and Canada and likely means the demise of Fraxinus, all ash species in North America. We have documented the importance of ash along five rivers in New York State and are now investigating ash-specialists in riparian areas, focusing on Lepidoptera, moths and butterflies. We are also involved in a biomonitoring project using a native digger wasp that uses wood-boring beetles to provision its nests to monitor for emerald ash borer as well as surveying the biodiversity of this group of beetles.

Current Graduate Students

• Peter Rockermann
• Patrick Eager
• Warren Hellman
  
  

Graduate Opportunities

Potential projects in my lab are:

• Deploying and monitoring sentinel logs for parasitism of Sirex noctilio larvae in stands with low vs high densities of Sirex noctilio
• Evaluating native tree resistance to Sirex noctilio and its symbiotic fungus
• Establishment and spread of Sirex noctilio using dendroentomological methods
• Identification of Sirex noctilio entomopathogens and biocontrol potential

The first project has a funded grant associated with it, while grants have been submitted on the other projects or are being bootlegged via other funding sources.

Courses Taught

• Principles of Zoology EFB 285 - Spring
• Organismal Biology and Ecology EFB 101 - Fall
  

Publications

M.K. Fierke, J.B. Murphy, F.M. Stephen. Variation in phenolic composition of oaks attached by red oak borer, Enaphalodes rufulus (Haldeman) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) a native wood-boring beetle. J. Chem. Ecol. In revision.

M.K. Fierke, F.M. Stephen. Historic Populations of Red Oak Borer (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) in the Boston Mountains of Arkansas. Can.J.For.Res. In review.

M.B. Kelley, M.K. Fierke, F.M. Stephen. 2009. Identification and distribution of Armillaria species associated with an oak decline event in the Arkansas Ozarks. doi: 10.1111/j.1439-0329.2009.00600.x

L. Haavik, F. Stephen, M. Fierke, V. Salisbury, S. Leavitt, S. Billings. 2008. Dendrochronological parameters of northern red oak (Quercus rubra L. (Fagaceae)) infested with red oak borer (Enaphalodes rufulus (Haldeman) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)). For. Ecol. Manag. 255:1501-1509.

M.K. Fierke, F.M. Stephen. 2008. Callus formation and bark moisture as potential physical defenses of northern red oak, Quercus rubra, against red oak borer, Enaphalodes rufulus (Haldeman) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae). Can. Entomol. 140:149-157.

M.K. Fierke, M.B. Kelley, F.M. Stephen. 2007. Site and Stand Variables Influencing Red Oak Borer, Enaphalodes rufulus, (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), Population Densities and Tree Mortality. Forest Ecol. Manag. 247: 227-236.

M.K. Fierke, F.M. Stephen. 2007. Red Oak Borer (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) Flight Trapping in the Ozark National Forest, Arkansas. Florida Entomol. 90:488-494.

D.J. Crook, M.K. Fierke, D.L. Kinney, V.B. Salisbury, F.M. Stephen. 2007. Optimization of Sampling Methods for Within-tree Populations of Red Oak Borer, Enaphalodes rufulus (Haldeman) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae). Envir. Entomol. 36:589-594.

M.K. Fierke, J.B. Kauffman. 2006. Invasive species influence riparian plant diversity along a black cottonwood successional gradient, Willamette River, Oregon. Natural Areas J. 26:376-382.

M.K. Fierke, J.B. Kauffman. 2006. Riverscape patterns in riparian plant diversity along a black cottonwood successional gradient, Willamette River, Oregon. Plant Ecol. 185:85-95.

M.K. Fierke, Kinney, D.L., Salisbury, V.B., Crook, D.J., and Stephen, F.M. 2005. A rapid estimation procedure for within-tree populations of red oak borer (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae). Forest Ecology and Management 215:163–168.

M.K. Fierke; D. L. Kinney; V. B. Salisbury; D. J. Crook; F. M. Stephen. 2005. Development and Comparison of Intensive and Extensive Sampling Methods and Preliminary Within-Tree Population Estimates of Red Oak Borer (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas. Environmental Entomology. 34:184-192.

M.K. Fierke, J.B. Kauffman. 2005. Structural development and biomass of black cottonwood-dominated gallery forests along a successional gradient, Willamette River, Oregon. Forest Ecol. Manag. 215:149-162.

Professional Memberships

• Entomological Society of America
• Ecological Society of America
• Natural Areas Association
• Entomological Society of Canada
  
  

Professional Service

Reviewer for Forest Ecology & Management, Journal of Insect Behavior, Environmental Entomology, Economic Entomology, Journal of Arboriculture, Canadian Entomologist.

Awards

• 2007 Roger F. Anderson Southern Forest Insect Work Conference Outstanding Graduate Student.
• 2005 University of Arkansas Department of Entomology Isely Outstanding Ph.D student award.
  
  

Selected Presentations

M.K. Fierke. 2008. Emerald Ash Borer: Status, Biology, Impacts and Current Research. Invasive Non-Native Forest Pest Conference, Ithaca NY.

M.K. Fierke, C. Landis, M. O’Brien, J. Riddle, N. Werner, R. Germain. 2008. Economic and ecological impacts of emerald ash borer and Sirex noctilio. Annual Meeting of the Ecological Society of America, Milwaukee, WI.

F. M. Stephen, M.K. Fierke, J. M Guldin, L.J. Haavik, J. J. Riggins and J. A. Tullis. 2008. Red oak borer as an agent of change in Arkansas forests: an historical perspective. International Congress of Entomology, Durban, South Africa.

M.K. Fierke, F.M. Stephen. 2008. Red oak borer research in upland oak-hickory forests. Eastern Branch meeting, Entomological Society of America, Syracuse NY, March 2008.

M.K. Fierke, F.M. Stephen, J. Tullis. 2006. Red oak borer in the Ozark forests: tracking the rise and fall of a native tree-killing Cerambycid. Annual Meeting of the Entomological Society of America, Indianapolis, IN.

M.K. Fierke, J.B. Murphy, F.M. Stephen. 2006. Oak defenses against red oak borer. North American Forest Insect Work Conference, Asheville, NC. Poster.

Fierke, M.K. and F.M. Stephen. 2005. Oak defenses against a wood-boring insect. Annual Meeting of the Entomological Society of America, Fort Lauderdale, FL.

Fierke, M.K. and F.M. Stephen. 2005. Oak chemical defenses against a wood-boring insect. 49th Southern Forest Insect Work Conference, Austin, TX.