Investment from Skip Smith to launch construction of Pollinators' Garden

March 20, 2018

Investment from Penn State alumnus and leading philanthropist Charles H. “Skip” Smith will enable The Arboretum at Penn State to fulfill its longstanding vision for a garden that will attract and sustain native pollinator species of birds and insects.

Researchers to study ramps' market, flavor profile, vulnerability to pest

March 7, 2018

A good way to describe ramps, it has been said, is to note what they are not. Ramps are not leeks, nor are they scallions or shallots. Ramps look like scallions, but they're smaller and have one or two broad, flat leaves.

Nontraditional student learns valuable lessons on road to reaching dreams

March 1, 2018

Josh Hersl, a senior forest ecosystem management major in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences, has experienced a few roadblocks and detours on the road to reaching his dreams.

Penn State forestry student works for education and diversity

February 22, 2018

Sky Templeton, a junior majoring in forest ecosystems management with a minor in biology, is passionate about forestry, education and minority representation, and is exploring all three interests as a student in the College of Agricultural Sciences.

The Secret Life of Bluebirds

February 12, 2018

A video developed by Wildlife and Fisheries Science graduate student Danielle Williams offers a behind-the-scenes and “inside-the-box” view of the secret and busy life of a nesting bluebird.

How Pipelines are Changing the Dynamics of PA Forests

February 8, 2018

Lillie Langlois, researcher and instructor, studied aerial images to map natural gas development in Lycoming County over a number of years. Langlois and her colleagues found that linear infrastructure like pipelines and roads had a bigger impact on carving up forests — and affecting the wildlife habitat within them — than the drilling well pads themselves.

Researchers and roommates head to national conference

February 5, 2018

Lauren Onofrio is a Biology major with a minor in Forest Ecosystems. She has worked under Laura Leites in the quantitative forest ecology lab since fall 2015 and plans to pursue an M.S. in Ecology with Dr. Leites in fall 2018.

Agroforestry systems may play vital role in mitigating climate change

February 1, 2018

Agroforestry could play an important role in mitigating climate change because it sequesters more atmospheric carbon in plant parts and soil than conventional farming, according to Penn State researchers.

Pa. deer, like mammals worldwide, move less in human-modified landscapes

January 25, 2018

In the big woods of Pennsylvania's Northern Tier, the home range of the average white-tailed deer is more than twice as large as that of a deer in urban or agricultural areas of the state. Penn State researcher Duane Diefenbach documented that phenomenon early on in his work, but it did not occur to him it might be representative of many different mammal species around the globe.

Duncan joins Department of Ecosystem Science and Management

January 16, 2018

Jonathan Duncan recently joined Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences as an assistant professor of hydrology in the Department of Ecosystem Science and Management.

Land-use webinar to focus on planning to protect private water supplies

January 15, 2018

What local communities can do to assist the more than 3 million Pennsylvania residents served by private wells and springs to have potable drinking water for their homes and farms will be the topic of a web-based seminar offered by Penn State Extension on January 17.

Fishery scientists are probing ways that wild brook trout adapt to a changing world

January 4, 2018

Today, as hatchery fish become more expensive, and as interest in sustainable environments grows, fishery scientists are looking closer at wild trout populations to understand how these resilient fish survive in challenging settings.

Farmers in Kenya willing, able to ramp up croton nut output for biofuel

December 19, 2017

Small-holder farmers in Kenya have the capacity and desire to play a major role in the scale-up of biofuel production from agroforestry, according to a Penn State forest economist, who led a study in the East African country.

Uncertainty surrounds U.S. livestock methane emission estimates

November 30, 2017

A new study of methane emissions from livestock in the United States — led by a researcher in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences — has challenged previous top-down estimates.

Researchers expect new fish passage will help restore migratory fish populations

November 17, 2017

The addition of a nature-like fish passage to a Susquehanna River dam in Pennsylvania should allow migrating fish to more easily reach spawning grounds, according to Penn State researchers.

Oak trees play important role in hunting

November 15, 2017

Marc Abrams, Penn State professor of forest ecology and physiology, and Michael Scheibel of The Nature Conservancy charted mast years on New York’s Shelter Island between 2007 and 2011. They looked at white, red, black, scarlet and chestnut oaks and pignut hickory trees.

Use of glow sticks in traps greatly increases amphibian captures in study

November 8, 2017

With amphibian populations declining around the world and funds to find the causes scarce, a team of Penn State researchers has shown that an unorthodox tactic will make it easier and therefore less expensive to capture adult salamanders and frogs. Read more at: https://phys.org/news/2017-11-greatly-amphibian-captures.html#jCp

Use of glow sticks in traps greatly increases amphibian captures in study

November 7, 2017

With amphibian populations declining around the world and funds to find the causes scarce, a team of Penn State researchers has shown that an unorthodox tactic will make it easier and therefore less expensive to capture adult salamanders and frogs.

Elmendorf named Joseph E. Ibberson Chair in Urban and Community Forestry

October 31, 2017

William Elmendorf, professor and extension specialist in urban forestry in the College of Agricultural Sciences, has been named the first holder of the Joseph E. Ibberson Chair in Urban and Community Forestry. The endowed chair was made possible by a gift from the late Joseph E. Ibberson, a 1947 forestry graduate of Penn State who retired in 1977 from the Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry as chief of forest advisory services.

Harrisburg Patriot-News (via PennLive.com): The century-long quest to save the American chestnut may soon be over

October 25, 2017

This article, which quotes Professor of Forest Biology Kim Steiner, highlights Penn State's involvement in the effort to breed blight-resistant American chestnut trees. An embedded video features chestnut orchard manager Steve Hoy, research technologist in ecosystem science and management.

Cacao pioneers: Meet Penn State's Colombian Fulbright Scholars

October 19, 2017

Four new Fulbright Scholars, who arrived at the College of Agricultural Sciences in August, are looking to economics, sociology, and soil and plant science research for ways to put Colombia at the forefront of the world's cacao production. Under the guidance of faculty at Penn State, they will attempt to tackle some of the country's most pervasive issues, from education to production challenges and corruption.

For Penn State prof, joining TWS is his lesson for students

October 6, 2017

When a new semester arrives at Penn State, professor Cal DuBrock makes a round of the school’s natural resource classes with a pitch: Whether it’s forestry, fisheries or wildlife, he says, join the professional society in your field.

Penn State DuBois welcomes future leaders in wildlife conservation

September 29, 2017

Faculty and staff at Penn State DuBois welcomed members of the Wildlife Leadership Academy (WLA) on Sept. 18, providing a look at educational options available to those looking to start careers in wildlife conservation and research. In all, 15 students between the ages of 14 and 17 visited the campus to learn more about the Wildlife Technology Degree program at Penn State DuBois.

Forest experts: All signs point to a banner year for Pa.'s foliage display

September 14, 2017

The rainy summer in Pennsylvania has set the stage for what could be an awesome autumn foliage display, according to forest ecologists in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences.

Student uses summer internship at CDC to fight environmental contaminants

September 13, 2017

Senior environmental resource management student Aaron Blakney spent the summer of 2017 analyzing the impacts of hazardous materials during an internship with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

More research needed on effects of maternal stress in wild animals

August 31, 2017

If a human mother is stressed while pregnant, research shows her child is much more likely to have emotional, cognitive or even physiological problems, such as attention deficit, hyperactivity, anxiety, language delay, obesity, diabetes and hypertension. Conversely, the results of maternal stress on the offspring of other animals — particularly wildlife under threat from predators — is believed to be positive, and contributes to their survival.

College of Agricultural Sciences alumnus bass fishing on professional circuit

August 23, 2017

There are an estimated 600,000 living Penn State alumni in the world, and Grae Buck is doing something none of the rest are: He's competing at the very top level of professional bass fishing, on the FLW (Fishing League Worldwide) Tour.

Wood frogs research clarifies risks posed to animals by warming climate

August 19, 2017

As conditions warm, fish and wildlife living at the southern edge of their species' ranges are most at risk, according to Penn State researchers who led a major collaborative study of how wood frogs are being affected by climate change.

Pennsylvania snowshoe hares differ from those in Yukon

August 1, 2017

Snowshoe hares in Pennsylvania — at the southern end of the species' range — show adaptations in fur color and characteristics, behavior and metabolism, to enable them to survive in less wintry conditions than their far northern relatives, according to a team of researchers in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences.

Researchers working with sports venues to make them 'greener,' sustainable

July 11, 2017

Attaining the goal of sending no materials to landfills after sporting events -- instead composting some refuse left by crowds and recycling the rest -- is as much a challenge of changing the culture and behavior of the fans as it is developing new, biodegradable packaging and eating utensils, according to Judd Michael, professor in the departments of Ecosystem Science and Management and Agricultural and Biological Engineering.