News | FISC

01.06.2026

FISC Talks: Bark beetles, fungi and stressed trees: from research to forest practice

FISC Talks

Lecture

Climate change promotes bark beetle outbreaks in conifer forests. Watch the lecture by Dr. Sigrid Netherer to explore interactions between bark beetles, associated fungi and host trees, and how field experiments and modelling approaches inform risk assessment and forest practice.

26.05.2026

International researchers meet at FISC to study non-native tree growth

Network

Researchers are gathering in Prague this week for the FISC Working Group “Global patterns of growth of native and non-native trees.” Led by Martín Núñez, the group explores why some tree species grow substantially faster in their non-native ranges than in the regions where they originated.

11.05.2026

FISC launches a new quarterly newsletter

FISC has launched a new quarterly newsletter for the international research community. The newsletter features research highlights, Working Group updates, upcoming events, and opportunities to get involved in collaborative synthesis projects focused on biological invasions in forests.

04.05.2026

Trees delay spring leaf-out to escape insect damage, new study shows

Forestry

Trees can delay leaf-out to escape insect damage. A new study co-authored by A. Liebhold (FISC) shows that past herbivory shifts budburst timing, reducing future damage by up to 55% and helping explain why climate-driven changes in tree phenology are slower than expected.

22.04.2026

The genetic paradox of invasions: how do small, low-diversity populations succeed?

Meet Us

Meet Michaela Medzihorská, researcher at FISC. In this video profile and accompanying interview, she explores the genetic paradox of biological invasions — from plant–herbivore interactions to the hidden challenges of scientific research. She reflects on balancing academia with parenthood while also questioning a system where researchers do the work and publishers profit.

07.04.2026

Douglas-fir plantations face limited pest risk: New study by Aditya Ganesh in Forest Ecology and Management

Forestry

Aditya Ganesh from the Forest Invasion Synthesis Centre, Prague (FISC) has published a new study in Forest Ecology and Management, examining the risk of pest damage to non-native Douglas-fir plantations worldwide. The study shows that although suitable conditions for pest establishment exist, the risk of large-scale damage remains low under current climates.

06.04.2026

Globalization is reshaping forests worldwide – and spreading their pests

Lecture

In his presentation at the Northwest Science Association Annual Meeting, Andrew Liebhold explored how globalization and plantation forestry are breaking down long-standing biogeographic barriers between regions. As non-native trees spread globally, they are increasingly accompanied by herbivores, pathogens and other organisms that reshape forest ecosystems.

30.03.2026

Aditya Ganesh: Douglas-fir as a Global Experiment in Invasion Ecology

Meet Us

Meet Aditya Ganesh, researcher at FISC. In this video profile and accompanying interview, he explores Douglas-fir as a global model for invasion ecology, from insect herbivores across regions to hidden insect infestation inside cones.

27.03.2026

Workshop on invasive species in Iceland highlights need for stronger biosecurity and coordination

The workshop “Alien Species in Iceland”, organised by Laura A. Meyerson (FISC core team), brought together over 80 participants to address invasive species challenges. Discussions highlighted pathways, impacts, and the need for stronger biosecurity, research, and coordination.