Doctoral Dissertation Research: A Historical Biogeography of Dutch Elm Disease

本博士论文研究将发展荷兰榆树病（Ophiostoma ulmi）的空间明确环境历史，这是一种真菌感染，在美国摧毁了数百万棵榆树，并分析历史上实施的各种管理技术，以防止疾病的传播。这项研究将为荷兰榆树病传播的因果关系和时空关系以及森林病虫害在美国农村和城市环境中更广泛的传播提供新的见解。这些发现对于更好地理解入侵物种和入侵的生物地理学以及人类与森林和城市环境相互作用的影响尤其重要。这项研究对森林管理者和公共政策在采取主动和有效的机制来控制其他当前和未来的树木病虫害方面具有重要的广泛影响。博士生将与地方、州和国家各级的政府机构和非政府组织合作，传播研究结果。这项研究可以为保护植物群和防止重大经济影响的努力提供信息。作为博士论文研究改进奖，该奖项将为有前途的学生提供支持，使他们能够建立强大的独立研究事业。在荷兰榆树病传入美国之前，榆树（Ulmus americana）在全国各地的城市中随处可见。然而，榆树的普及受到了20世纪30年代初传入美国的荷兰榆树病的严重影响。在接下来的四十年里，这种疾病不断蔓延，直到榆树被有效地从城市环境中移除。获得该奖项的博士论文研究将集中在三个核心问题上：(1)荷兰榆树病传入美国后，其传播的时空范围是什么？(2)控制荷兰榆树病的主要管理方法是什么？随着时间的推移，这些方法是如何变化的？在哪里实施的？为什么它们在成功和失败方面有所不同？(3)荷兰榆树病如何影响美国的城市景观？研究人员将结合历史地理信息系统中的档案数据和绘图软件，对荷兰榆树病的传播进行可视化、制图和分析，特别是通过对纽约州锡拉丘兹市的案例研究，在国家和地方范围内控制它的政策。博士生还将对档案记录进行定性分析，将榆树的移除作为历史叙述和不断变化的城市景观的一部分。

This doctoral dissertation research will develop a spatially explicit environmental history of Dutch elm disease (Ophiostoma ulmi), a fungal infection that destroyed millions of elm trees in the United States, and analyze the various management techniques that have been historically implemented against the spread of the disease. The research will provide new insights into the causality and spatio-temporal relationships of Dutch elm disease spread as well as the broader dispersal of forest pests and diseases throughout America's countryside and urban environments. The findings will be particularly relevant for a better understanding of the biogeography of invasive species and invasions as well as the impacts of human interactions with forests and urban environments. The research has significant broader implications for forest managers and public policy with regard to adopting proactive and effective mechanisms for the control of other current and future tree diseases and pests. The doctoral student will work with government agencies and nongovernmental organizations at the local, state, and national levels to disseminate the findings. The research can inform efforts to save flora and to prevent significant economic impacts. As a Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement award, this award will provide support to enable a promising student to establish a strong independent research career.Prior to the introduction of Dutch elm disease in the United States, elm trees (Ulmus americana) were planted ubiquitously in cities across the country. The popularity of elm trees, however, was severely impacted by Dutch elm disease which was introduced in the United States during the early 1930s. Over the next four decades the disease spread until elms were effectively removed from urban environments. The doctoral student whose dissertation research will be supported by this award will focus on three core questions: (1) After its introduction to the United States, what were the spatio-temporal extents of Dutch elm disease spread? (2) What were the primary management methods used in an attempt to control Dutch elm disease, how did they change over time, where were they implemented, and why did they vary in success and failure? (3) How did Dutch elm disease affect urban landscapes in the United States? The researchers will combine archival data and mapping software in a Historic Geographic Information Systems to visualize, map and analyze the spread of Dutch elm disease particularly in relation to the policies used to control it at both a national scale and at the local scale via a case study of Syracuse, NY. The doctoral student will also perform a qualitative analysis on archival records to frame the removal of elm trees as part of a historical narrative and a changing urban landscape.