To Treat, or Not To Treat, That is the Question

Bernd Blossey, Ph.D.

Professor, Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, Cornell University

Bernd was born and raised in northern Germany. In 1992, he moved to Cornell University, where he is a professor directing the Ecology and Management of Invasive Plants Program in the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment. Bernd develops and implements biological weed control programs; among his target plants are purple loosestrife, garlic mustard, water chestnut, Japanese knotweeds and invasive Phragmites. An ever-increasing focus of his team are investigations into impacts of multiple “stressors” including invasive and native plants, earthworms, slugs and deer on a wide range of native organisms.  He is intimately involved in different approaches to deer management at Cornell and in the surrounding municipalities, he has developed a network or deer exclosures to study impact of deer on many species and processes and is developing bioindicators to assess effects of different stressors, including deer.  He also began a large study in northern Wisconsin to assess the effects of wolves on deer and forest plants (a trophic cascade). The ultimate aim of this work is to increase the conservation values of all lands by developing best management practices.