Carthaginians study evolution of forest land

Joy Mast, professor of geography and earth science, has been researching the ecology of forested areas in the southwest since she joined the faculty at Northern Arizona University in 1993. Prof. Mast came to Carthage in 2002, but she has continued to study forest changes in Arizona and New Mexico.

Amanda Eigner, '10; Brian Jeske, '09; and 2008 graduates Brad Breslow and Bethany Stoelting worked with geography professor Joy Mast to study beetle infestation in Arizona forests.

During summer 2008, Prof. Mast spent several weeks working on two research grants funded by the National Science Foundation.

One project involved studying beetle infestation killing pine trees at the Coconino and Kaibab National Forests in Arizona. The other project investigated the aftermath of crown fires during severe droughts at the Gila, Santa Fe and Lincoln National Forests in New Mexico.

New Mexico: A multi-year research project

Eight Carthage students and '08 graduates worked with Prof. Mast in New Mexico. Four lived in New Mexico for a month: Joel Brunner, ’09; Alexandra Matzinger, ’11; Rachel Messenger, ’09; and 2008 graduate Matt Oskielunas.

Prof. Mast's New Mexico project looked at whether previously forested land regenerates with new trees, or whether the land is overtaken by shrubs and/or grassland. It was the first year of a two-year project in New Mexico. The research took place in areas hit decades ago by forest fires, followed by severe droughts in the 1950s. The drought was the worst in the area since Europeans first came to the area more than 400 years ago.

Prof. Mast says the New Mexico study seeks to find how much, if any, of the land was reforested, and why some areas revegetated to grasslands or shrublands.

“We’re doing climate reconstruction with tree rings, sampling soils for habitat analysis, and studying topography to determine impacts on tree recovery,” she says.

Arizona: Guiding the Forest Service

Students also worked with Prof. Mast in Arizona. Participants who spent all summer in Arizona were: Amanda Eigner, ’10; Brian Jeske, ’09; and 2008 graduates Brad Breslow and Bethany Stoelting. They mapped tree locations, measured the height and width of trees, and determined their ages.

Bethany Stoelting, '08, cores a tree as part of a group research project in Arizona.

“It’s too late for these trees,” Prof. Mast says. “The question is how much they should allow logging, and how many of those dead trees should be left to provide wildlife habitat. We want to see wildlife use those trees. We’re providing guidance for the Forest Service.”

According to Prof. Mast, beetle infestation is a recurring problem in the Arizona forests. The current outbreak began in 2002, after another drought. “The beetles are always around, but the drought made it worse,” Prof. Mast explains.

When trees are healthy, she adds, their sap would “flush” the beetles. “But you need water for sap,” she points out. “The trees couldn’t defend themselves.”

Prof. Mast says the Arizona findings help the Forest Service decide which species of trees to log or to leave, and how to space them.

Back on campus, the five returning student participants have been studying tree cores and soil samples in the dendroecology laboratory in the David A. Straz Jr. Center for Natural and Social Sciences.

“It’s fun watching the students blossom,” Prof. Mast says of her aides, “and how fast they started to gel as a group, take on tasks, share responsibilities and work independently.”

— Bill Kurtz, Carthage College

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