Blossey, Bernd
Associate Professor
Plant invasions threaten function and integrity of ecosystems and native species across the globe. Ecologically sound management of plant invasions requires significant improvements in our understanding of the ecological impacts of both plant invasions and their management. I approach this field through an integration of my research and extension responsibilities.
research
research and scholarship focus
My research addresses 3 key areas: (1) How do plant invasions and their management through biological control affect native ecosystems? (2) How can we achieve improvements in the success of biological weed control? and (3)What determines the increased competitive ability of invasive plants?
primary investigator of
- DEVELOPMENT OF ARTIFICIAL DIET TO MASS REAR CEUTORHYNCHUS SCROBICOLLIS, A POTENTIAL BIOLOGICAL CONTROL AGENT FOR GARLIC MUSTARD (ALLIARIA PETIOLATA) | Research Grant
- DEVELOPMENT OF ARTIFICIAL DIET TO MASS REAR CEUTORHYNCHUS SCROBICOLLIS POTENTIAL BIOCONTROL AGENT FOR GARLIC MUSTARD | Research Grant
- DEVELOPMENT OF BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF INVASIVE PHRAGMITES AUSTRALIS GENOTYPES | Research Grant
- IDENTIFICATION AND MANAGEMENT OF MULTIPLE THREATS TO RARE AND ENDANGERED PLANT SPECIES | Research Grant
- NEW YORK STATE INVASIVE SPECIES RESEARCH INSTITUTE | Research Grant
research areas
- adult and extension education | collaborative research area (CALS)
- aquatic science | collaborative research area (CALS)
- biocomplexity | collaborative research area (CALS)
- biodiversity | collaborative research area (CALS)
- biological control | collaborative research area (CALS)
- conservation biology | collaborative research area (CALS)
- ecology | collaborative research area (CALS)
- ecosystem biology | collaborative research area (CALS)
- entomology | collaborative research area (CALS)
- environmental sciences | collaborative research area (CALS)
- evolution | collaborative research area (CALS)
- forest management | collaborative research area (CALS)
- insects | collaborative research area (CALS)
- integrated pest management | collaborative research area (CALS)
- landscape ecology | collaborative research area (CALS)
- land use | collaborative research area (CALS)
- nanotechnology | collaborative research area (CALS)
- natural resources | collaborative research area (CALS)
- pest management | collaborative research area (CALS)
- plant biology | collaborative research area (CALS)
- weed science | collaborative research area (CALS)
submitted impact statement
- Impact and management of invasive plant species | 2007 Impact statement
- Impact and control of invasive plants | 2006 Impact statement
- Impact and control of invasive plants | 2005 Impact statement
- Impact of invasive plants and their biological control | 2004 Impact statement
affiliations
faculty appointment in
- Natural Resources (NTRES/DNR) | Cornell department
member of graduate field
- Natural Resources | graduate field
teaching
teaches
- BIOG 2990 - Introduction to Research Methods in Biology (TBA -) | fall 2009 class
- NTRES 4972 - Individual Study in Ecosystem Science and Biogeochemistry (TBA -) | fall 2009 class
- NTRES 7900 - Graduate-Level Thesis Research (TBA -) | fall 2009 class
- NTRES 8900 - Master's Thesis Research (TBA -) | fall 2009 class
- NTRES 9900 - Doctoral-Level Thesis Research (TBA -) | fall 2009 class
- BIOG 2990 - Introduction to Research Methods in Biology (TBA -) | spring 2009 class
- BIOG 4990 - Independent Undergraduate Research in Biology (TBA -) | spring 2009 class
- NTRES 4972 - Individual Study in Ecosystem Science and Biogeochemistry (TBA -) | spring 2009 class
- NTRES 7900 - Graduate-Level Thesis Research (TBA -) | spring 2009 class
- NTRES 8900 - Master's Thesis Research (TBA -) | spring 2009 class
- NTRES 9900 - Doctoral-Level Thesis Research (TBA -) | spring 2009 class
service
outreach focus
In my extension program I am guided by three main objectives: (1) Provide accessible information about the status of biological control and plant invasions; (2) improve access to the technology; and (3) develop protocols and procedures to allow citizen participation in research.
background
featured in
- With $1.1 million from Sea Grant, Cornell to study PCBs, lake invaders and more | Cornell Chronicle feature
publications
linked articles
- Assessing capture techniques for ground beetles | journal article
- Comparison of biology and host plant use of Archanara geminipuncta, Archanara dissoluta, Archanara neurica, and Arenostola phragmitidis (Lepidoptera : Noctuidae), potential biological control agents of Phragmites australis (Arundineae : Poaceae) | journal article
- Impact of Galerucella birmanica (Coleoptera : Chrysomelidae) on growth and seed production of Trapa natans | journal article
- Interactions of root and leaf herbivores on purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria). | journal article
- Root and leaf herbivory on Lythrum salicaria: Implications for plant performance and communities | journal article
- The secondary compounds of invasive plants are toxic to larval amphibians | journal article
- Understanding a haplotype invasion: Comparison between native and nonnative Phragmites australis growth, phenology and herbivory | journal article
speaker at Cornell event
Keywords: alliaria petiolata, below-ground herbivores, biological control, biological weed control, forestry sciences, herbivory, impact of invasive species, invasions, invasive species, japanese knotweed, lythrum salicaria, monitoring, phragmites, plant-insect interactions, water chestnut, wetlands