Roger Moore, BSc, PhD

 

Project Leader, Tree Health Division

Email: roger.moore@forestry.gsi.gov.uk

Tel: +44 (0)131 445 2176
Tel direct: +44 (0)131 445 6923
Fax: +44 (0)131 445 5124

Address:
Forest Research
Northern Research Station
Roslin
Midlothian EH25 9SY
UK

Roger joined Forest Research in 1993, where he has specialised in research on the large pine weevil, Hylobius abietis. This beetle is the most significant pest of restocking of young forest trees in Europe. Previously he studied and gained an Ecology degree at Lancaster University in 1984. He remained at Lancaster and obtained a DPhil in 1987, studying the effects of growing trees in pure stands and paired mixtures on levels and types of insect herbivory. He was then employed at Lancaster from 1988-90 and investigated the effects of atmospheric pollutants on the interaction between Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis) and the green spruce aphid (Elatobium abietinum). In 1990 he joined the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (then the Institute of Terrestrial Ecology) and studied fertiliser, liming and management effects on invertebrate community dynamics before joining Forest Research.

Current role

Project Leader, Tree Health Division

Current programmes

Integrated Forest Management of Hylobius
To manage and conduct research on the Integrated Forest Management (IFM) of large pine weevil (Hylobius abietis, L.), study populations, movement and the damage caused by this beetle to transplants on restock sites as well as ways to reduce and predict damage levels following changes in forest management practice and provide advice and plan and conduct research into other forest insect pests of forestry.

• Hylobius Management Support System
  Project Leader
  To manage and develop a prototype Hylobius abietis (large pine weevil) Management Support System (MSS). The MSS will provide forest managers with a range of options for more efficient insecticide use and improved management of Hylobius damage to transplants on restocked clearfells. Advice will be ‘site-specific’ and will thus allow managers to adopt best practices to suit local conditions.
   
• Large Pine Weevil (Hylobius abietis) population dynamics
  Project Leader
  To build models of the population dynamics of H.abietis on clearfells from colonisation through to 5 years post-colonisation. These models will form the basis of a Hylobius Management Support System for improved restocking of clearfell sites.
   
• Large Pine Weevil (Hylobius abietis) migration studies
  Project Leader
  To manage the work and build models of migration between clearfells to inform forest management decision-making regarding felling practices and plans in terms of how they affect Hylobius distribution and damage within Forests.
   
• The effect of Continuous Cover Forestry (CCF) on the adult large pine weevil (Hylobius abietis L.) and its associated damage
  Project Leader
  To manage the work and investigate the different levels of damage associated with the feeding of the large pine weevil in stands of Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis Carr.) managed to different thinning intensities and compare them to clearfell sites.

Affiliations and achievements

• Member of the British Ecological Society

Research areas

• Studying the population dynamics and migration of insects, especially the large pine weevil
• Modelling of temporal and spatial distributions of insects
• The effects of all types of land management practices on insect damage to plants
• The effects of pollution types on the interactions between insects and plants
• Integrated Forest Management (IFM) and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) of insects
• Forest insect pest outbreaks

Main recent publications

Evans, H.F., Moore, R., Heritage, S.G and Wainhouse, D. (2004). Developments in the integrated management of Hylobius abietis, a pest of restocking in conifer plantations.  Forest Research Annual Report and Accounts 2002-03.

Mason, W.L., Edwards, C., Hale, S.E., Ireland, D., Johnson, D., Kerr, G., Pommerening, A. and Moore, R. (2004).  Continuous Cover Forestry. Forest Research Annual Report and Accounts 2002-03.

Brixey, J.M., Moore, R., and Milner, A.D. (2004). Effect of entomopathogenic nematode (Steinernema carpocapsae Weiser) application technique on the efficacy and distribution of infection of immature stages of the large pine weevil (Hylobius abietis L.) in stumps of Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis Carr.) created at different times. (in advanced prep.).

Moore, R., Brixey, J.M., and Milner, A.D. (2004). Effect of time of year on the development of immature stages of the large pine weevil (Hylobius abietis L.) in stumps of Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis Carr.) and influence of felling date on their growth, density and distribution.  Journal of Applied Entomology, 128, 167-176.

Moore, R. (2004).  Managing the threat to restocking posed by the large pine weevil, Hylobius abietis: The importance of time of felling of spruce stands. Forestry Commission Information Note Information Note 61.

Brown, A., Willoughby, I, Clay, D.V., Moore, R. and Dixon, F. (2003).  The use of dye markers as a potential method of reducing pesticide use.  Forestry, 76, 371-384.

Moore, R. (2001). Emergence trap developed to capture adult large pine weevil Hylobius abietis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and its parasite Bracon hylobii (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). Bulletin of Entomological Research, 91, 109-115.

Wainhouse, D., Evans, H.F., Moore, R. Webber, J., Thorpe, K., and Staley, J. (2002). The Integrated Forest Management Programme. Forest Research Annual Report and Accounts 2000-01: 42-47.

Willoughby, I., Clay, D., Moore, R. (2001). The use of dye markers as a method of reducing herbicide use and potential environmental damage. Annals of Forest Science special issue (in press).

Heritage, S., and Moore, R. (2000). The assessment of site characteristics as part of a management strategy to reduce damage by Hylobius. Forestry Commission Information Note 38.

Moore, R., Heritage, S.G. and Brixey, J.M.(1998). Population dynamics, migration and control of the large pine weevil (Hylobius abietis). Forest Research Annual Report and Accounts 1997-98: 70-74.

Moore, R.(1997). Public and private enemy no.1. A new approach to dealing with the large pine weevil (Hylobius abietis). Forestry and British Timber, 26 (4), 12-15, 1997.

Skrzecz, I. and Moore, R.(1997). The attractiveness of pine branches infected with selected wood colonising fungi to the Large Pine Weevil (Hylobius abietis). USDA Forest Service General Technical Report NE-236: 146-152, 1997.

Moore,R., Anderson, R.A., Ray, D., Walker, C., Pyatt, D.G., Evans, H.F., Carter, C.I., Straw, N.A., Wainhouse, D. and Winter, T.G.(1996). Soil biodiversity: a literature review. Scottish Natural Heritage Review No. 17.

Heritage,S.G., Moore,R., Brixey,J.B. and Henry,C.J. (1995). Possibilities for the use of biological agents against Hylobius abietis. Report on Forest Research 1995: 5-8.

Moore,R., Clarke,R.T. and Creer,S.(1993). An insect sorting device to be used in conjunction with insect suction samplers such as the D-Vac. Bulletin of Entomological Research, 83, 113-120.

Moore,R., Warrington,S. and Whittaker,J.B. (1991). Herbivory by insects on oak trees in pure stands compared with paired mixtures. Journal of Applied Ecology, 28, 290-304.

Moore,R., and Francis,B.J.(1991). Factors influencing herbivory by insects on oak trees in pure stands and paired mixtures. Journal of Applied Ecology, 28, 305-317.

Whittaker,J.B., Kristiansen,L.W., Mikkelsen,T.N. and Moore,R. (1989). Responses to ozone of insects feeding on a crop and a weed species. Environmental Pollution, 62, 89-101.

Moore,R. (1988). An experimental investigation of the levels of insect herbivory associated with trees in pure stands and paired mixtures. PhD Thesis, Lancaster University. 230pp.

Whittaker,J.B., Warrington,S., and Moore,R.(1987). Patterns of typhlocybine feeding on sycamore and oak in relation to that of other herbivores, with comments on induced defences. Proceedings of the 6th Auchenorrhyncha Meeting, Turin, 1987.