\u201cThis project brings together a lot of issues facing the white pine and other tree species today; climate change and nonnative disease,\u201d Waring said.<\/p>\n
The southwestern white pine, which grows in Arizona, New Mexico, southern Colorado and Mexico, is threatened by white pine blister rust, a European disease introduced in the 1900s in Vancouver, Canada and on the east coast. The disease is spread by wind and had decimated the western white pine, sugar pine and white bark pine. The nonnative disease has reached eastern Arizona but has yet to travel to Flagstaff.<\/p>\n Doctoral\u00a0candidate Betsy Goodrich, <\/strong>who will defend her dissertation this month, has been growing the white pines and studying the variation on the tree\u2019s adaptive traits. \u201cThis species does appear to have the adaptability to dry conditions, which is good in a changing climate and can help management of the species,\u201d Goodrich said.<\/p>\n The research includes growing southwestern white pines in common gardens, a project that will be ongoing after the five years of current NSF funding. If temperatures continue to rise as predicted, Waring\u2019s research will be important for land managers and agencies interested in preservation of wildlife, natural habitats and their ecosystems.<\/p>\n Jim Allen<\/strong>, executive director of the School of Forestry, said he wasn\u2019t surprised that out of 50 National Science Foundation proposals NAU\u2019s was the only project to receive funding. Allen said he is proud of the school\u2019s competitive scientific ability and the interdisciplinary nature of the research. \u201cIt is an innovative project, bringing in climate change, genetics and the white pine blister rust disease,\u201d Allen said.<\/p>\n While NAU receives the majority of funding, allotments will be shared with Oregon State, Virginia Commonwealth, and three subcontractors.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"![\"8100](\"http:\/\/stage.headlessnauedu-b6hgdzckfdgxgzhe.westus-01.azurewebsites.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/8100-seedlings.jpg\")
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