Kathleen Knight

Research Ecologist
Genetics, Biological Control, and Management of Invasive Species
359 Main Road
Delaware, OH 43015
United States
Delaware, OH 43015
United States
Phone
740-368-0101
Current Research
My current research deals with the effects of emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis) on forest communities. Short-term effects, such as ash (Fraxinus) decline trajectories and responses of native and exotic species, are being monitored in a network of plots across Ohio and Michigan. An ash decline transition matrix will be created from this data and will allow managers to predict yearly ash decline and mortality in forest stands. Preliminary matrices show the potential for rapid mortality. Long-term responses of forests will be modeled using the Forest Vegetation Simulator (FVS), which I am modifying to include invasive shrub species. FVS will also be used to examine effects of management, such as invasive shrub removal and native tree planting, in forests where ash is the dominant species
Education
- University of Minnesota Ph.D., Ph.D., Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, 2006
- Hiram College, B.A., Biology and Music Performance, 2001
Professional Organizations
- Ecological Society of America, Current
- Ohio Invasive Plants Network, Current
Featured Publications
- Slavicek, James M.; Knight, Kathleen S.. 2012. Generation of American elm trees with tolerance to Dutch elm disease through controlled crosses and selection
- Knight, Kathleen S.; Slavicek, James M.; Kappler, Rachel; Pisarczyk, Elizabeth; Wiggin, Bernadette; Menard, Karen. 2012. Using Dutch elm disease-tolerant elm to restore floodplains impacted by emerald ash borer
- Koch, Jennifer L.; Carey, David W.; Knight, Kathleen S.; Poland, Therese; Herms, Daniel A.; Mason, Mary E.. 2012. Breeding strategies for the development of emerald ash borer - resistant North American ash
- Knight, Kathleen S.; Herms, Daniel; Plumb, Reid; Sawyer, Eileen; Spalink, Daniel; Pisarczyk, Elizabeth; Wiggin, Bernadette; Kappler, Rachel; Ziegler, Emily; Menard, Karen. 2012. Dynamics of surviving ash (Fraxinus spp.) populations in areas long infested by emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis)
- Flower, Charles E.; Knight, Kathleen S.; Gonzalez-Meler, Miquel. 2013. Impacts of the emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire) induced ash (Fraxinus spp.) mortality on forest carbon cycling and successional dynamics in the eastern United States
- Knight, Kathleen S.; Brown, John P.; Long, Robert P.. 2013. Factors affecting the survival of ash (Fraxinus spp.) trees infested by emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis)
- Royo, Alejandro A.; Knight, Kathleen S.. 2012. White ash (Fraxinus americana) decline and mortality: the role of site nutrition and stress history
- Knight, Kathleen S.. 2010. Ash seed collection: slingshot method
- Kula, Robert R.; Knight, Kathleen S.; Rebbeck, Joanne; Bauer, Leah S.; Cappaert, David L.; Gandhi, Kamal J.K.. 2010. Leluthia astigma (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Doryctinae) as a parasitoid of Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire (Coleoptera: Buprestidae: Agrilinae), with an assessment of host associations for nearctic species of Leluthia Cameron.
- Knight, Kathleen S.; Karrfalt, Robert P.; Mason, Mary E.. 2010. Methods for collecting ash (Fraxinus spp.) seeds
Other Publications
- Schrader, G. ; Baker, R. ; Baranchikov, Y. ; Dumouchel, L. ; Knight, K.S.; McCullough, D. G.; Orlova‐Bienkowskaja, M. J.; Pasquali, S. ; Gilioli, G.. 2021. How does the Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis) affect ecosystem services and biodiversity components in invaded areas
- Reed, Samuel P.; Royo, Alejandro A.; Fotis, Alexander T.; Knight, Kathleen S.; Flower, Charles E.; Curtis, Peter S.. 2021. The long term impacts of deer herbivory in determining temperate forest stand and canopy structural complexity
- Flower, Charles E.; Pinchot, Cornelia C.; Knight, Kathleen S.; Woeste, Keith ; Slavicek, James M.. 2020. Back from the Brink: Forest Service Efforts to Create Dutch Elm Disease Tolerant Trees for Use in Urban and Rural Restoration
- Knight, Kathleen ; Kappler, Rachel H.; Root, Karen V; Koch, Jennifer L.; Flower, Charles E.. 2020. Monitoring of Ash Mortality Patterns Informs Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) Resistance Breeding Efforts: Integrated Pest Management for EAB
- Koch, Jennifer L.; Carey, David W.; Mason, Mary E.; Romero-Severson, Jeanne ; Poland, Therese M.; Knight, Kathleen S.; Tubesing, Charles ; Gettig, Roger. 2020. Restoring Green Ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica): Breeding for Resistance to the Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis)
- Kıbış, Eyyüb Y.; Büyüktahtakın, İ Esra; Haight, Robert G.; Akhundov, Najmaddin ; Knight, Kathleen ; Flower, Charles E.. 2021. A Multistage Stochastic Programming Approach to the Optimal Surveillance and Control of the Emerald Ash Borer in Cities
- Hoven, Brian M.; Knight, Kathleen S.; Peters, Valerie E.; Gorchov, David L.. 2020. Release and suppression: forest layer responses to emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis)-caused ash death
- Kappler, R.H. ; Knight, K.S. ; Root, K.V.. 2019. Evaluating the population viability of green ash trees (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) before and after the emerald ash borer beetle (Agrilus planipennis) invasion
- Steiner, Kim C.; Graboski, Lake E.; Knight, Kathleen S.; Koch, Jennifer L.; Mason, Mary E.. 2019. Genetic, spatial, and temporal aspects of decline and mortality in a Fraxinus provenance test following invasion by the emerald ash borer
- Jagodziński, Andrzej M.; Dyderski, Marcin K.; Horodecki, Paweł ; Knight, Kathleen S.; Rawlik, Katarzyna ; Szmyt, Janusz. 2019. Light and propagule pressure affect invasion intensity of Prunus serotina in a 14-tree species forest common garden experiment
- Knight, Kathleen S.; Flower, Charles E.; Nelson, Mark D.. 2019. A Forest Death in Three Acts: From Woodpeckers to Water, the Emerald Ash Borer's Effects are Widespread
- Flower, Charles E.; Lynch, Douglas J.; Knight, Kathleen S.; Gonzalez-Meler, Miquel A. . 2018. Biotic and Abiotic Drivers of Sap Flux in Mature Green Ash Trees (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) Experiencing Varying Levels of Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis) Infestation
- Flower, Charles; Fant, Jeremie; Hoban, Sean; Knight, Kathleen; Steger, Laura; Aubihl, Elijah; Gonzalez-Meler, Miquel; Forry, Stephen; Hille, Andrea; Royo, Alejandro. 2018. Optimizing conservation strategies for a threatened tree species: In situ conservation of white ash (Fraxinus americana L.) genetic diversity through insecticide treatment
- Ricketts, Michael P.; Flower, Charles E.; Knight, Kathleen S.; Gonzalez-Meler, Miquel A.. 2018. Evidence of Ash Tree (Fraxinus spp.) Specific Associations with Soil Bacterial Community Structure and Functional Capacity
- Hoven, Brian M.; Gorchov, David L.; Knight, Kathleen S.; Peters, Valerie E.. 2017. The effect of emerald ash borer-caused tree mortality on the invasive shrub Amur honeysuckle and their combined effects on tree and shrub seedlings
- Higham, Matt; Hoven, Brian M.; Gorchov, David L.; Knight, Kathleen S.. 2017. Patterns of Coarse Woody Debris in Hardwood Forests across a Chronosequence of Ash Mortality Due to the Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis)
- Flower, Charles E.; Aubihl, Elijah; Fant, Jeremie; Forry, Stephen; Hille, Andrea; Knight, Kathleen S.; Oldland, William K.; Royo, Alejandro A.; Turcotte, Richard M.. 2017. In-situ genetic conservation of white ash (Fraxinus americana) at the Allegheny national forest
- Pinchot, C.C.; Flower, C.E.; Knight, K.S.; Marks, C.; Minocha, R.; Lesser, D.; Woeste, K.; Schaberg, P.G.; Baldwin, B.; Delatte, D.M.; Fox, T.D.; Hayes-Plazolles, N.; Held, B.; Lehtoma, K.; Long, S.; Mattix, S.; Sipes, A.; Slavicek, J.M.. 2017. Development of new Dutch Elm disease-tolerant selections for restoration of the American Elm in urban and forested landscapes
- Knight, Kathleen S.; Haugen, Linda M.; Pinchot, Cornelia C.; Schaberg, Paul G.; Slavicek, James M.. 2017. American elm (Ulmus americana) in restoration plantings: a review
- Pinchot, Cornelia C.; Knight, Kathleen S.; Haugen, Linda M.; Flower, Charles E.; Slavicek, James M., eds... 2017. Proceedings of the American elm restoration workshop 2016
- Flower, Charles E.; Dalton, Jennifer E.; Knight, Kathleen S.; Brikha, Marie; Gonzalez-Meler, Miquel A.. 2015. To treat or not to treat: Diminishing effectiveness of emamectin benzoate tree injections in ash trees heavily infested by emerald ash borer
- Costilow, K.C.; Knight, Kathleen; Flower, Charles. 2017. Disturbance severity and canopy position control the radial growth response of maple trees (Acer spp.) in forests of northwest Ohio impacted by emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis)
- Iverson, Louis; Knight, Kathleen S.; Prasad, Anantha; Herms, Daniel A.; Matthews, Stephen; Peters, Matthew; Smith, Annemarie; Hartzler, Diane M.; Long, Robert; Almendinger, John. 2015. Potential species replacements for black ash (Fraxinus nigra) at the confluence of two threats: Emerald ash borer and a changing climate
- Herms, D.A.; Cipollini, D.; Knight, K.S.; Koch, J.L.; Poland, T.M.; Rigsby, C.M.; Whitehill, J.G.A.; Bonello, P.. 2015. The quest for ash resistance to emerald ash borer: Towards a mechanistic understanding
- Koch, J.L. ; Carey, D.W. ; Mason, M.E. ; Poland, T.M. ; Knight, K.S.. 2015. Intraspecific variation in Fraxinus pennsylvanica responses to emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis)
- Knight, Kathleen S.; Royo, Alejandro A.. 2014. Chapter 13 - Searching high and low: Patterns of White Ash health across topographic gradients in the Allegheny region (Project NE-EM-09-02)
- Flower, Charles E.; Long, Lawrence C.; Knight, Kathleen S.; Rebbeck, Joanne; Brown, Joel S.; Gonzalez-Meler, Miquel A.; Whelan, Christopher J.. 2014. Native bark-foraging birds preferentially forage in infected ash (Fraxinus spp.) and prove effective predators of the invasive emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire)
- Knight, Kathleen S.; Flash, Britton P.; Kappler, Rachel H.; Throckmorton, Joel A.; Grafton, Bernadette; Flower, Charles E.. 2014. Monitoring ash (Fraxinus spp.) decline and emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis) symptoms in infested areas
- Knight, Kathleen S.. 2014. Outlook for ash in your forest: results of emerald ash borer research and implications for management
- Flower, Charles E.; Knight, Kathleen S.; Rebbeck, Joanne; Gonzalez-Meler, Miquel A.. 2013. The relationship between the emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis) and ash (Fraxinus spp.) tree decline: Using visual canopy condition assessments and leaf isotope measurements to assess pest damage
- Flower, Charles E.; Lynch, Douglas J.; Knight, Kathleen S.; Gonzales-Meler, Miquel A.. 2011. EAB induced tree mortality impacts ecosystem respiration and tree water use in an experimental forest
- Iverson, Louis; Prasad, Anantha; Knight, Kathleen S.; Herms, Daniel A.; Matthews, Stephen; Peters, Matthew; Smith, Annemarie; Long, Robert. 2011. Potential replacements for northwoods black ash in a changing climate: the confluence of two challenges
- Koch, Jennifer L.; Knight, Kathleen; Poland, Therese; Carey, David W.; Herms, Daniel A.; Mason, Mary E.. 2011. Strategies for selecting and breeding EAB-resistant ash
- Royo, Alejandro A.; Knight, Kathleen S.; Himes, Jamie M.; Will, Ashley N.. 2012. White ash (Fraxinus americana) health in the Allegheny plateau region, Pennsylvania: Evaluating the relationship between FIA phase 3 crown variables and a categorical rating system
- Mason, Mary E.; Herms, Daniel A.; Carey, David W.; Knight, Kathleen S.; Faridi, Nurul I.; Koch, Jennifer. 2011. Update on exotic ash collection for hybrid breeding and survey for EAB-resistance in native North American species
- Knight, Kathleen S.; Herms, Daniel A.; Cardina, John; Long, Robert; Gandhi, Kamal J.K.; Herms, Catharine P.. 2011. Emerald ash borer aftermath forests: the future of ash ecosystems
- Koch, Jennifer L.; Mason, Mary E.; Carey, David W.; Knight, Kathleen; Poland, Therese; Herms, Daniel A.. 2010. Survey for tolerance to emerald ash borer within North American ash species
- Knight, Kathleen S.; Herms, Daniel A.; Cardina, John; Long, Robert; Rebbeck, Joanne; Gandhi, Kamal J.K.; Smith, Annemarie; Klooster, Wendy S.; Herms, Catherine P.; Royo, Alejandro A.. 2010. Emerald ash borer aftermath forests: The dynamics of ash mortality and the responses of other plant species
- Knight, Kathleen S.; Long, Robert P.; Rebbeck, Joanne; Herms, Daniel A.; Cardina, John; Herms, Catherine P.; Gandhi, Kamal J.K.; Smith, Annemarie; Costilow, Kyle C.; Long, Lawrence C.; Cappaert, David L.. 2010. Effects of emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis) on forest ecosystems
- Herms, Daniel A.; Gandhi, Kamal J.K.; Smith, Annemarie; Cardina, John; Knight, Kathleen S.; Herms, Catherine P.; Long, Robert P.; McCullough, Deborah G.. 2009. Ecological impacts of emerald ash borer in forests of southeast Michigan
- Knight, Kathleen S.; Oleksyn, Jacek; Jagodzinski, Andrzej M.; Reich, Peter B.; Kasprowicz, Marek. 2008. Overstorey tree species regulate colonization by native and exotic plants: a source of positive relationships between understorey diversity and invasibility
- Knight, Kathleen S.; Long, Robert P.; Rebbeck, Joanne. 2007. Predicting emerald ash borer-induced changes in forest tree species composition
- Knight, Kathleen S.; Long, Robert P.; Rebbeck, Joanne; Smith, Annemarie; Gandhi, Kamal; Herms, Daniel A.. 2008. How fast will trees die A transition matrix model of ash decline in forest stands infested by emerald ash borer
Research Highlights

Understanding Long-Term Impacts of an Invasive, Tree-Killing Pest
Year: 2019
The emerald ash borer has been killing ash trees in the United States for more than two decades. What does that mean for ash populations and the forest ecosystems? Long-term monitoring plot data collected by USDA Forest Service scientists and partners is helping to elucidate the impacts of this inva...

Genetic Information on Ash Informs Treatments for Emerald Ash Borer
Year: 2018
Forest managers can use insecticide treatments to protect ash trees from emerald ash borer to conserve the genetic diversity of ash. But which trees should be protected? Research at the Allegheny National Forest is underway to develop new strategies to conserve ash tree diversity.

Understanding effects of emerald ash borer on forests
Year: 2017
As the invasive emerald ash borer swept across Ohio, Forest Service researchers tracked its aftermath as killed ash trees unleashed a cascade of effects in forest ecosystems. Understanding these effects will help managers plan for and mitigate problems in forests throughout the region.

Equipping Forest Managers to Respond to Two Threats to Ash
Year: 2016
Forest Service scientists used field data and models to assess both the threats to, and potential replacement species for, black ash, a species threatened by climate change and the emerald ash borer.

Elm Disease Resistance Research Gets a Boost
Year: 2016
Great news for disease-tolerant American elm! A grant from The Manton Foundation has provided the Forest Service’s Northern Research Station with an opportunity to accelerate American elm research in collaboration with Nature Conservancy.

Insecticide Effectiveness Against Emerald Ash Borer Studied
Year: 2015
Insecticides used to protect urban ash trees against emerald ash borer are not consistently protective: their effectiveness is diminished in heavily infested ash trees. A 3-year study by University of Illinois scientists in collaboration with Forest Service scientists determined how far gone a tree ...

Green Ash Trees That Survive Beetle Infestation Pass on Their Resistance Through Propagation and Planting
Year: 2015
Among the tens of millions of trees killed by the emerald ash borer (EAB), researchers have found a small number of trees that survived their assault. Tests show that these surviving ash trees are more resistant to EAB than their counterparts. Breeding these select trees may produce trees with an ev...

Woodpeckers Capitalize on an Invasive Forest Pest
Year: 2014
Emerald ash borer, an invasive beetle that kills ash trees, is eaten by bark-foraging birds like woodpeckers. Forest Service scientists and partners studied behavioral feeding preferences and effectiveness of woodpeckers foraging in beetle-infested forests.

Destructive Emerald Ash Borer Pest Provides Science Learning Opportunity for Kids
Year: 2013
This effort has led to the development of a week-long EAB curriculum that gives kids hands-on experience with the process of science while doing real research on an important current issue. It involves students in the entire scientific process by engaging them in research from developing and testin...