NCERA-148 North Central Regional Committee on Migration and Dispersal of Agriculturally-Important Biota go to NCERA-148's new home Vision Migration and dispersal of agriculturally-important biota (including plant viruses, fungi, bacteria, and arthropods) are key components in the development of effective agricultural production management systems for the 21st century. Some of these agents can dramatically affect plant and animal health and are known to be transported in atmospheric motion systems over large areas. Development of effective agricultural management systems requires a basic understanding of the principles influencing the migration, and dispersal of both pest and beneficial species. The capability to understand and predict movement and dispersal at various spatial scales is an essential component of agricultural production management systems of the future. History NCR-148 has met annually since 1985 and provided a forum for information exchange among scientists interested in aerobiology research. The exchange has vastly increased the visibility of this important area of research and fostered major interactions across commodity, discipline, and agency boundaries. The interaction has resulted in major cooperative efforts as evidenced by the international aerobiology workshop (October 1992), the formation of the Alliance for Aerobiology Research (October 1992-present), and the establishment of the ESCOP PMSS Movement and Dispersal (MAD) Working Group. The cooperative interaction and increased visibility of aerobiology research has and will continue to result in savings due to cooperative sharing of knowledge and technology. International trade and travel have increased the rate at which exotic organisms are introduced into North America. Thus the movement of pests and beneficials in the atmosphere may exacerbate pest problems at the regional scale. Membership Organized by the North Central Region of the United States, official representation to this committee includes the Eastern, Southern, and Western Regions. Affiliates span the North American continent. Active members are entomologists, plant pathologists, biometeorologists, radar specialists and palynologists (current official membership). Goals The principle objectives of NCR-148 are to provide a forum for scientists working in aerobiology to discuss their work, exchange information, enhance sharing of resources, and to stimulate and coordinate research to: Identify environmental and atmospheric factors and behavioral characteristics that contribute to the production and release of migrant and dispersant forms of agriculturally important biota and to their ascent, translation, and descent in the atmosphere. Distinguish genotypic and phenotypic forms of agriculturally important biota that move significant distances via atmospheric motion systems. Develop prognostic techniques to identify origins, destinations, and types of agriculturally important biota that move in the atmosphere. Determine the influence of migrant and dispersant biota on agricultural production. Develop management strategies for manipulating migration and dispersal of biota in ways beneficial to agriculture. Communicate with state IPM coordinators to make them aware of NCR-148 programs and objectives. An increased understanding of the genetics, the influence of the environment, ecological relationships, and the effects of landscape heterogeneity and atmospheric motion systems on agriculturally important biota that move in the atmosphere is essential for the development of more effective, environmentally compatible plant and animal protection and production systems. Highlights of Committee Activities Developed conceptual framework and central hypotheses for studying long-distance aerial movement of biota. This has significantly increased communication and coordination of research activities among committee members (and other scientists interested in migration) working on different commodities and taxonomic groups. Expanded membership in Committee beyond regional Agricultural Experiment Station (AES) scientists to include many individuals from the United States Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service (USDA ARS) and AES outside the North Central region. These extra-regional committee members have provided valuable scientific input and leadership. Founded Alliance for Aerobiology Research (AFAR). The AFAR workshop (October 1992) sponsored by NCR-148 brought together scientists and outreach specialists from diverse disciplines with a common interest in aerobiology to address principles of long-distance atmospheric transport of biota and formulate strategies to share technologies and information systems. Workshop was funded by grants from ARS, CSRS (now Cooperative States Research, Extension Service of the USDA), and the 4 AES Regional IPM grant programs. Reported the results of our research through numerous basic and applied science publications. Sponsored five aerobiology symposia between 1993 and 1996: "The take-off and ascent component of aerial movement of biota" at the 13th International Congress of Biometeorology (1993) "The translation component of aerial movement" at the American Meteorological Society's 11th Conference on Biometeorology and Aerobiology (March 1994), "Movement, dispersal and IPM" at the 2nd National IPM Symposium/Workshop (1994), "Predicting the aerial movement of biota: accuracy, precision, resolution and limitations" at the annual meeting of the Pan-American Aerobiology Association (1995), "Formulation and evaluation of hypotheses for the ascent, transport, and descent of airborne biota" at the American Meteorological Society's 12th Conference on Aerobiology and Biometeorology (1996). Petitioned ESCOP PMSS to elevate Movement and Dispersal (MAD) Ad-hoc Working Group to full status. Request granted (1994) and MAD Technical Committee met in 1994. During the last three years, an average of 24 people from 14 states, Mexico and Canada, and 3 US government agencies have attended our meetings. Currently, there is official representation from 16 states and ARS. Constructed NCR-148 home page on the World Wide Web.
Last updated 14 August, 2007 This page was constructed by Gail Kampmeier at gkamp[at]uiuc.edu Please direct questions of content and prospects of collaborative research to respective scientists. Research reports do not constitute publication and results may be preliminary. They are included here for informational purposes only. You should contact the authors for further information. Any references to commercial products do not constitute endorsement. [ NCR-148 \| Movement & Dispersal Index \| News Index ]

NCERA-148

North Central Regional Committee on
Migration and Dispersal of Agriculturally-Important Biota

Vision

Migration and dispersal of agriculturally-important biota (including plant viruses, fungi, bacteria, and arthropods) are key components in the development of effective agricultural production management systems for the 21st century. Some of these agents can dramatically affect plant and animal health and are known to be transported in atmospheric motion systems over large areas. Development of effective agricultural management systems requires a basic understanding of the principles influencing the migration, and dispersal of both pest and beneficial species. The capability to understand and predict movement and dispersal at various spatial scales is an essential component of agricultural production management systems of the future.

History

NCR-148 has met annually since 1985 and provided a forum for information exchange among scientists interested in aerobiology research. The exchange has vastly increased the visibility of this important area of research and fostered major interactions across commodity, discipline, and agency boundaries. The interaction has resulted in major cooperative efforts as evidenced by the international aerobiology workshop (October 1992), the formation of the Alliance for Aerobiology Research (October 1992-present), and the establishment of the ESCOP PMSS Movement and Dispersal (MAD) Working Group.

The cooperative interaction and increased visibility of aerobiology research has and will continue to result in savings due to cooperative sharing of knowledge and technology. International trade and travel have increased the rate at which exotic organisms are introduced into North America. Thus the movement of pests and beneficials in the atmosphere may exacerbate pest problems at the regional scale.

Membership

Organized by the North Central Region of the United States, official representation to this committee includes the Eastern, Southern, and Western Regions. Affiliates span the North American continent. Active members are entomologists, plant pathologists, biometeorologists, radar specialists and palynologists (current official membership).

Goals

The principle objectives of NCR-148 are to provide a forum for scientists working in aerobiology to discuss their work, exchange information, enhance sharing of resources, and to stimulate and coordinate research to:

Identify environmental and atmospheric factors and behavioral characteristics that contribute to the production and release of migrant and dispersant forms of agriculturally important biota and to their ascent, translation, and descent in the atmosphere.

Distinguish genotypic and phenotypic forms of agriculturally important biota that move significant distances via atmospheric motion systems.

Develop prognostic techniques to identify origins, destinations, and types of agriculturally important biota that move in the atmosphere.

Determine the influence of migrant and dispersant biota on agricultural production.

Develop management strategies for manipulating migration and dispersal of biota in ways beneficial to agriculture.

Communicate with state IPM coordinators to make them aware of NCR-148 programs and objectives.

An increased understanding of the genetics, the influence of the environment, ecological relationships, and the effects of landscape heterogeneity and atmospheric motion systems on agriculturally important biota that move in the atmosphere is essential for the development of more effective, environmentally compatible plant and animal protection and production systems.

Highlights of Committee Activities

Developed conceptual framework and central hypotheses for studying long-distance aerial movement of biota. This has significantly increased communication and coordination of research activities among committee members (and other scientists interested in migration) working on different commodities and taxonomic groups.

Expanded membership in Committee beyond regional Agricultural Experiment Station (AES) scientists to include many individuals from the United States Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service (USDA ARS) and AES outside the North Central region. These extra-regional committee members have provided valuable scientific input and leadership.

Founded Alliance for Aerobiology Research (AFAR). The AFAR workshop (October 1992) sponsored by NCR-148 brought together scientists and outreach specialists from diverse disciplines with a common interest in aerobiology to address principles of long-distance atmospheric transport of biota and formulate strategies to share technologies and information systems. Workshop was funded by grants from ARS, CSRS (now Cooperative States Research, Extension Service of the USDA), and the 4 AES Regional IPM grant programs.

Reported the results of our research through numerous basic and applied science publications.

Sponsored five aerobiology symposia between 1993 and 1996:

"The take-off and ascent component of aerial movement of biota" at the 13th International Congress of Biometeorology (1993)
"The translation component of aerial movement" at the American Meteorological Society's 11th Conference on Biometeorology and Aerobiology (March 1994),
"Movement, dispersal and IPM" at the 2nd National IPM Symposium/Workshop (1994),
"Predicting the aerial movement of biota: accuracy, precision, resolution and limitations" at the annual meeting of the Pan-American Aerobiology Association (1995),
"Formulation and evaluation of hypotheses for the ascent, transport, and descent of airborne biota" at the American Meteorological Society's 12th Conference on Aerobiology and Biometeorology (1996).

Petitioned ESCOP PMSS to elevate Movement and Dispersal (MAD) Ad-hoc Working Group to full status. Request granted (1994) and MAD Technical Committee met in 1994.

During the last three years, an average of 24 people from 14 states, Mexico and Canada, and 3 US government agencies have attended our meetings. Currently, there is official representation from 16 states and ARS.

Constructed NCR-148 home page on the World Wide Web.