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Satellites Spy on Tree Eating Bugs
More than 150 years after a small Eurasian tree named tamarisk or saltcedar started taking over riverbanks throughout the U.S. Southwest, saltcedar leaf beetles were unleashed to defoliate the exotic invader. Now, University of Utah scientists say their new study shows it is feasible to use satellite data to monitor the extent of the beetle's attack on tamarisk, and whether use of the beetles may backfire with unintended environmental consequences. Dennison, P.E., P.L. Nagler, K.R. Hultine, E.P. Glenn, and J.R. Ehleringer, 2009. Remote monitoring of tamarisk defoliation and evapotranspiration following saltcedar leaf beetle attack. Remote Sensing of Environment, in press. Related links:Full story
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