Biology Professor Jonathan Titus presented a paper, “Forested Wetland Community Description and Analysis. A pre-Emerald ash borer Study In an Era of Global Change," at the Alblakes 3 International Conference on Sustainable Water Resources Management on Oct. 21 at Aleksander Xhuvani University in Elbasan, Albania.
The presentation was based on his permanent plot study in forested wetlands across Chautauqua County. The study has found a dramatic increase in tree death, especially among ash trees due to the Emerald ash borer, and an increase in light hitting the forest floor. Other tree species and the understory species have just begun to respond to the changes.