“Hemlocks and Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Research in West Michigan”
presented by
Dr Alexandra Locher, Grand Valley State University
at Opel Growers, Hudsonville, MI
Wednesday, December 11th
11:30 a.m.—2:30 p.m.
At Opel Growers
6275 Tyler St
Hudsonville, MI 49417
Please RSVP by December 6th
wmnla2013@gmail.com or 616-402-4885
Dr. Alexandra Locher, Forestry Dept., Grand Valley State University graduated with a PhD from Michigan State University Department of Fisheries and Wildlife in 2008, and then landed a faculty position in the School of Forest Resources at the University of Arkansas – Monticello. In 2011, Dr Locher came to Grand Valley State University where she focused her research on understanding how forest management practices impact wildlife species and communities. Dr Locher has expertise in wildlife biology and management, forest ecosystem management, and applications of geographic information systems to natural resources questions. Current projects are largely based on using remotely sensed data from satellites to model and predict characteristics of forests.
Dr Locher will be talking about some of her current projects focusing on mapping hemlock trees in west Michigan. She is actively working with the Ottawa Conservation District and West Michigan CISMA to combat the spread of hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) in Michigan. Hemlock woolly adelgid is an invasive insect that feeds on hemlock trees, which eventually kills them. As hemlocks provide many ecological functions and services including carbon sequestration, wildlife habitat, and dune stabilization, losing them would be devastating to Michigan. Dr Locher and her students are developing models using high resolution aerial imagery to predict locations of hemlocks and facilitate early detection of HWA and rapid treatment response to ultimately conserve hemlock forests in Michigan.
Lunch is provided by Opel Growers, tours of Opel Growers are available following the meeting. For more information about Opel Growers go to www.Opel Growers.com.