Research
Paula Shrewsbury, Ph.D.
Professor
Research Interests:
As a researcher and Extension Specialist, my research and educational activities blend seamlessly together to provide a Research and Extension Program that meets the needs of my stakeholder groups, citizens, and graduate and undergraduate students, thereby contributing to the land grant mission of the University of Maryland. Knowledge generated by my research and on-farm demonstration programs (research conducted by me with stakeholders on their farms) provides pest management information useful in training and informing members of my stakeholder groups that include the nursery, landscape, and turf management industries, foresters, extension educators and adult volunteers such as Master Gardeners and Master Naturalists, members of government agencies, and citizens. I also use this information in STEM outreach activities for youth, and graduate and undergraduate education. Program activities include: applied ecological studies of plant – herbivore – natural enemy interactions to elucidate innovative pest management options for invasive and native insects; development of sustainable pest management practices that reduce reliance on chemical pesticides and integrate biological control and the conservation of natural enemies and pollinators; implementation of on-farm demonstration programs to further the adoption of IPM; training professionals in stakeholder groups; development of educational materials to facilitate training; development of resources to help stakeholders implement IPM programs, and providing service to stakeholder groups. The overall goals of my program are to develop sustainable ornamental and turfgrass systems that prevent or diminish pest outbreaks and mitigate impacts on the environment, and are economical for stakeholders; to increase the adoption of IPM practices by providing exceptional educational outreach programs; and to provide unique opportunities for undergraduate and graduate education in the discipline of IPM and landscape community ecology.
Projects:
Research projects include: 1) Examining aspects of the biology and behavior of the invasive brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) to elucidate measures to manage BMSB. Research on BMSB specifically examines host plant use and damage; and biological control from indigenous natural enemies and fungal pathogens (funded by UMD MAES, NIFA SCRI); 2) Evaluating the impact of exotic parasitoids (classical biological control) and indigenous natural enemies on the biological control of the invasive emerald ash borer (EAB). Results from these studies should lead to suppression of EAB and damage to ash trees in urban and natural ecosystems (funded through a cooperative agreement with USDA ARS and APHIS); 3) Examining the arthropod communities associated with native compared to alien woody ornamental landscapes. These studies examine current theory on the evolutionary relationships between plants and herbivorous and natural enemy arthropods, and arthropod biodiversity. Results will provide practical information on the use of native and alien plants in urban settings as it relates to conservation biological control and pest management (funded by USDA NRI); and 4) Habitat manipulations to create favorable environments for natural enemies and to elucidate the functional processes relating to plant - herbivore - natural enemy dynamics. This study evaluates the influence of integrating cover crops in field production nurseries on natural enemy abundance and biological control services; in addition changes in soil quality and plant health were evaluated. Results of these studies provide fundamental knowledge of tri-trophic interactions and more practical information on designing managed ornamental ecosystems with reduced pest outbreaks that are relatively sustainable (funded by USDA NE SARE).
Professor
Research Interests:
As a researcher and Extension Specialist, my research and educational activities blend seamlessly together to provide a Research and Extension Program that meets the needs of my stakeholder groups, citizens, and graduate and undergraduate students, thereby contributing to the land grant mission of the University of Maryland. Knowledge generated by my research and on-farm demonstration programs (research conducted by me with stakeholders on their farms) provides pest management information useful in training and informing members of my stakeholder groups that include the nursery, landscape, and turf management industries, foresters, extension educators and adult volunteers such as Master Gardeners and Master Naturalists, members of government agencies, and citizens. I also use this information in STEM outreach activities for youth, and graduate and undergraduate education. Program activities include: applied ecological studies of plant – herbivore – natural enemy interactions to elucidate innovative pest management options for invasive and native insects; development of sustainable pest management practices that reduce reliance on chemical pesticides and integrate biological control and the conservation of natural enemies and pollinators; implementation of on-farm demonstration programs to further the adoption of IPM; training professionals in stakeholder groups; development of educational materials to facilitate training; development of resources to help stakeholders implement IPM programs, and providing service to stakeholder groups. The overall goals of my program are to develop sustainable ornamental and turfgrass systems that prevent or diminish pest outbreaks and mitigate impacts on the environment, and are economical for stakeholders; to increase the adoption of IPM practices by providing exceptional educational outreach programs; and to provide unique opportunities for undergraduate and graduate education in the discipline of IPM and landscape community ecology.
Projects:
Research projects include: 1) Examining aspects of the biology and behavior of the invasive brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) to elucidate measures to manage BMSB. Research on BMSB specifically examines host plant use and damage; and biological control from indigenous natural enemies and fungal pathogens (funded by UMD MAES, NIFA SCRI); 2) Evaluating the impact of exotic parasitoids (classical biological control) and indigenous natural enemies on the biological control of the invasive emerald ash borer (EAB). Results from these studies should lead to suppression of EAB and damage to ash trees in urban and natural ecosystems (funded through a cooperative agreement with USDA ARS and APHIS); 3) Examining the arthropod communities associated with native compared to alien woody ornamental landscapes. These studies examine current theory on the evolutionary relationships between plants and herbivorous and natural enemy arthropods, and arthropod biodiversity. Results will provide practical information on the use of native and alien plants in urban settings as it relates to conservation biological control and pest management (funded by USDA NRI); and 4) Habitat manipulations to create favorable environments for natural enemies and to elucidate the functional processes relating to plant - herbivore - natural enemy dynamics. This study evaluates the influence of integrating cover crops in field production nurseries on natural enemy abundance and biological control services; in addition changes in soil quality and plant health were evaluated. Results of these studies provide fundamental knowledge of tri-trophic interactions and more practical information on designing managed ornamental ecosystems with reduced pest outbreaks that are relatively sustainable (funded by USDA NE SARE).