• 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, Arkansas Tech University, Russellville, Arkansas.
• 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 research focus is on ecological and plant/insect interactions in forest systems. I intend to explore potential research on native, established, and recently introduced forest insects in New York, e.g., Sirex spp., emerald ash borer. My recent research focused on a native wood-boring beetle in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas whose populations increased to remarkable numbers and was associated with extensive tree mortality. I developed several avenues of research aimed at answering specific questions regarding basic insect biology, tree, stand and landscape-level impacts as well as insect population ecology and forest dynamics.

Current Graduate Students

• Peter Rockermann
• Patrick Eager

Graduate Opportunities

A masters level appointment is currently available to work on the following grant:

• Siricid parasitoids in the pine forests of north and south central New York state, with special emphasis on the exotic Sirex noctilio

Two other potential masters level projects are:

• Determining Sirex noctilio establishment and spread using dendroentomology
• Documenting Coleopteran diversity in riparian ash forests ahead of emerald ash borer

Grants have been submitted on these projects and the second is in collaboration with two other faculty members who will investigate plant and amphibian diversity.

Courses Taught

• Economic and Ecological Impacts of Invasive Forest Pests - EFB797/FOR797 - Fall
• Principles of Zoology EFB 285 - Spring

Publications

M.K. Fierke, J.B. Murphy, F.M. Stephen. Phenolic Composition of Oaks Associated with a Native Wood-boring Beetle. In review.

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

M.K. Fierke, F.M. Stephen. 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. In press.

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.

Crook, D.J., 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, 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.

Fierke, M.K., 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 (2005) 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. 2005, vol. 34, no. 1, pp. 184 - 192. PDF

Crook, D. J., F. M Stephen, M. K.Fierke, D. L. Kinney & V. B. Salisbury. (2004) Biology and sampling of red oak borer populations in the Ozark mountains of Arkansas. Spetich, M.A., ed. Upland Oak Ecology. A Symposium: history, current conditions, and sustainability. Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS-73. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station: 223-228. PDF

Professional Memberships

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

Professional Service

Reviewer for Forest Ecology & Management and Journal of Insect Behavior.

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, F.M. Stephen, J. Tullis. 2006. Red oak borer in the Ozark forests: tracking the rise and fall of a native tree-killing Cerambycid. In Formal Symposium: Semiochemicals mediating behavior of Cerambycid beetles. 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.