Name: McCarthy, Rachel (Researcher)

Institution: National Plant Diagnostic Network Training and Education

Description of Expertise:

My network provides educational and diagnostic resources to First Detectors and extension educators to raise awareness about the threat of significant invasive plant pests and diseases and the importance of early detection. Our resources include scripted presentations for educators as well as diagnostic look alike guides, field guides, videos and online e-learning modules.

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Name: McCay, Timothy (Researcher)

Institution: Colgate University

Description of Expertise:

I study the dynamics and biodiversity consequences of colonization by exotic earthworms in the Northeast. Regarding biodiversity consequences, I am most interested in the community of forest-floor invertebrates. I am additionally interested in the connection between buckthorn and earthworm expansion.

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Name: Molloy, Daniel (Researcher)

Institution: Molloy & Associates, LLC

Description of Expertise:

Primary research interests include: 1) biology, ecology, and control of AIS, in particular zebra and quagga mussels; and 2) evaluation of parasites and pathogens for their potential as biocontrol agents of AIS.

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Name: Morrison, Andrew (Manager)

Institution: Land Stewardship Inc

Description of invasive species management work:

I serve as the project manager for our company which focuses on native landscape restoration. We specialize in planning and implementing ecological restoration and land management projects including large scale invasive plant mapping, invasive plant management planning, invasive plant control and native plant seeding and planting. Our client base is broad and includes landowners, non-profit conservation organizations, land trusts, municipalities, and federal/state agencies on small and landscape scale projects alike.

As a company we have a strong interest in keeping our management techniques up to date and are constantly seeking new techniques which will provide greater invasive plant control or increase the restoration potential for a project by reducing the damage to native ecosystem components. We are also largely staffed by professionals with strong academic backgrounds in conservation science and are open to research collaborations for new treatment techniques or monitoring protocols.

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Name: Moses, Frank (Manager)

Institution: Skaneateles Lake Association

Description of invasive species management work:

As Executive Director of the Skaneateles Lake Association, I work with volunteer leadership and the greater community to promote the protection of the water quality of Skaneateles Lake and the sound regional mangement of its watershed. Current invasive species efforts include: 1) aiding in the prevention of new aquatic invasive species through boat launch steward programs; 2) management of Eurasian watermilfoil; 3) surveying of aquatic macrophytes; and 4) investment in watershed critical Eastern Hemlock forest protection through treatment of trees threatned by Hemlock Woolly Adelgid.

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Name: Murphy, Brian (Researcher)

Institution: Virginia Tech

Description of Expertise:

Fisheries ecology, including invasive species and fish introduced fish used for biological control and sport fisheries. Research has included combined chemical and biological control of invasive aquatic plants; ecological effects of invasive aquatic plants on fish and bird populations; modeling fish population dynamics for management of grass carp and snakehead; and human dimensions and user conflicts centering on introduced predator fish species.

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Name: Nagy, Christopher (Researcher)

Institution: Mianus River Gorge

Description of Expertise:

I and the other staff at MRG develop mapping, survey, and assessments on many invasive species on our 1,000 acre preserve. We also perform management-related experiments, eg, testing or refining removal techniques, or study the impacts or community interactions of particular invasive species.

MRG is particularly concerned with controlling/eliminating hemlock wooly adelgid. We have done multiple studies on Japanese stiltgrass as well.

MRG offers opportunities for high school researchers, summer internships for undergrads, and grants for graduate students interested in studying applied ecology, including invasive species ecology. We have funded several students that have looked at invasive species issues, including Japanese barberry, invasive earthworms, and Japanese stiltgrass. See here for more info: https://mianus.org/research-education/

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Name: Nelson, Eric (Researcher)

Institution: Cornell University

Description of Expertise:

My research focuses on the ecology of soil fungal and oomycete pathogens in natural ecosystems. I am specifically interested in their roles in plant-soil feedbacks and in invasion ecology. My work is especially centered around the biology and ecology of plant pathogenic oomycetes, especially species in the genus Pythium.

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Name: Ness, Josh (Researcher)

Institution: Skidmore College

Description of Expertise:

My research focuses on the incoporation of exotic species into mutualistic and antagonistic food webs. How do exotics aquire mutualists and natural enemies in their new environs, and to what consequence?

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Name: Newman, Raymond (Researcher)

Institution: University of Minnesota

Description of Expertise:

My research focuses on the ecology and management of aquatic invasive species. I have a particular emphasis on ecology and control of submersed aquatic macrophytes, including biological control of Eurasian watermilfoil and integrated control of it and curlyleaf pondweed. I am also particularly interested in approaches to enhance and restore native aquatic plants after invasive control.

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