Faculty in the College of Natural Resources are advancing innovation through cutting-edge research that addresses critical environmental and natural resources challenges.

Each month, faculty secure funding from federal and state agencies as well as nongovernmental organizations, supporting initiatives in ecological restoration, biodiversity conservation and more.

This report highlights the grants awarded in February 2026, showcasing projects that advance scientific understanding and deliver real-world solutions.

Click on the projects listed below to learn more:

• Alternative Eradication Methods for the Asian Longhorned Beetle
• Phase-contrast Tomography of Elongate Hemlock Scale Infested Fir Needles
• Creating a Useful Degree Day Model to Target Vulnerable Stages of Armored Scales

Alternative Eradication Methods for the Asian Longhorned Beetle

• PI: Kelly Oten 
• Direct Sponsor Name: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
• Awarded Amount: $79,884 

Abstract: This project supports the USDA-APHIS Asian longhorned beetle (ALB) eradication program by evaluating a practical alternative to traditional tree removal methods, particularly in natural environments where standard practices are difficult to implement. Initial results were promising but limited by small sample sizes and inconsistent infestation levels. This phase of the project expands the scope, with 360 trees studied over two years at three sites, including early and late summer felling cycles. The goal is to determine whether this method can effectively reduce ALB survival in forested areas. If validated, it will provide the USDA-APHIS ALB program with a viable, flexible management tool for use in diverse environments where traditional methods are impractical.

Phase-contrast Tomography of Elongate Hemlock Scale (EHS) Infested Fir Needles

• PI: Justin Whitehill 
• Direct Sponsor Name: North Carolina Christmas Tree Association
• Awarded Amount: $5,000 

Abstract: To visualize the stylets of EHS using synchrotron µCT, we will collaborate with Jussi-Petteri Suuronen at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility in Grenoble, France. We will use the requested funds to image multiple EHS-infested needles collected from at least three different Abies spp including Fraser fir. In the µCT reconstructions, we expect to identify the entry points of the stylets via stomata, track the stylet through the 3D volume to determine the exact location of the tip within the needle, and identify the type of tissue the insect is feeding on. The results of this study will provide a full 3D anatomy of the needle and may allow comparison of feeding mechanisms in other Abies spp with differential resistance to EHS. To our knowledge, imaging a piercing-sucking insect in this way has not been done before and will provide unprecedented insight into mechanisms of resistance in firs to EHS.

Creating a Useful Degree Day Model to Target Vulnerable Stages of Armored Scales

• PI: Jamie Bookwalter
• Direct Sponsor Name: Real Christmas Tree Board
• Awarded Amount: $19,480

Abstract: Develop a robust predictive degree-day model for armored scale treatment by gathering two years of phenology data and creating life tables to forecast the seasonal timing of vulnerable stages of Fiorinia externa (Diaspididae). Comparing the results of three F. externa collection strategies will lay the groundwork for identifying a more useful biofix based on biology rather than a calendar date. This armored scale presents