Science You Can Use

Tipping the balance: Promoting beneficial fungi to keep a forest pathogen in check

Armillaria solidipes, a naturally occurring fungus, is responsible for one of the most widespread root diseases in western North American forests. Armillaria root disease affects a broad range of tree species, and by the time visible symptoms appear, significant damage has often already occurred. Advances in a field of DNA sequencing known as metagenomics are now helping researchers develop strategies to manage this disease using information that has been beneath their feet all along. Music courtesy of Souvenir Thread. Read the Science You Can Use and access the related content on Treesearch [https://research.fs.usda.gov/treesearch/80509].

Restore ponderosa forests—and reduce fire risk? Study shows the path forward

Forest managers are increasingly looking to restore ponderosa pine forests to more ecologically diverse conditions—forests with clusters of trees, openings, and multiple age classes instead of the evenly spaced, uniform stands produced by traditional forest management. **Music courtesy of Souvenir Thread. Read the Science You Can Use and access the related content on Treesearch [https://research.fs.usda.gov/treesearch/80565]

A Labor of Love: Supporting ranchers and range managers with the South Dakota Drought Tool

For 25 years, ranchers in South Dakota have used the South Dakota Drought Tool to estimate forage productivity of grazing lands. This crucial information helps them gauge whether to increase or decrease their herd size the following year. Management agencies also use the South Dakota Drought Tool to determine forage productivity of the lands they manage to balance the needs of livestock and wildlife. Stan Boltz, a regional soil health specialist with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), developed the Drought Tool to fulfill an unmet need he observed when working with ranchers. **Music courtesy of Souvenir Thread. Read the Science You Can Use and access the related content on Treesearch. [https://research.fs.usda.gov/treesearch/80667]

How wildland fire incident catering can improve morale and nourish wildland firefighters

In early 2024, Michael Caggiano, a wildland firefighter and regional fire analyst with the Forest Service, approached David Flores, a research social scientist with the Forest Service's Rocky Mountain Research Station, with a proposal: what about conducting a research study on the perspectives of wildland firefighters around food catering? Music courtesy of Souvenir Thread. Read the Science You Can Use and access the related content on Treesearch [https://research.fs.usda.gov/treesearch/80117].

Hatch me if you can: New hatchR tool helps predict and protect fish development

Hidden like fish eggs in the streambed, the answer was buried in the mathematical models of Morgan Spark's graduate work. Biologists and land managers know early fish life is sensitive, and nature is difficult to predict. In the streambed, eggs and young fish can be at risk from unintentional habitat disruptions from activities such as grazing, prescribed fire, and road work. The question was how to know when wild fish are hatching and emerging to avoid those sensitive windows. A new tool, hatchR, is here to lend biologists a helping hand - or fin. Music courtesy of Souvenir Thread. Read the Science You Can Use and access the related content on Treesearch [https://research.fs.usda.gov/treesearch/80446]