View source for IPED:Pest detection protocol

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<div style="background:#ffffcc; font-size:85%">'''[[IPED:Manual| IPED Manual]] > Introduction'''</div>
'''<big>Photographic Field Manual of Signs and Symptoms</big>'''
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==Introduction==
The Inventory Pest Evaluation and Detection (IPED) protocol provides a portable, accessible, and standardized method of observing a tree for possible insect or disease problems. It is intended to be a standardized protocol for long-term urban pest detection and monitoring throughout the United States. 
This field guide will help you identify the signs and symptoms of tree stress, insect pests, and diseases, which will enable you to make informed, systematic decisions when collecting data using the IPED protocol. This guide is not intended to be used for diagnostic work, but rather as a resource guide for field use that corresponds with data entry fields for the IPED desktop and IPED PDA application found within the i-Tree Streets application at: http://www.itreetools.org/.  An expanded version of this guide can be found online at: http://wiki.bugwood.org/IPED.

==Background==
Urban areas are frequently the first site of introduction for exotic pests, where they remain undetected until populations are well established and have harmful impacts on the health of host trees. Many communities routinely complete and update tree inventories, but often overlook pest invasions because pest detection tools are not part of the inventory process. Prior to the development of IPED, there were no processes in place for aggregating pest inventory data into a standardized form, which would allow communities to analyze pest trends otherwise difficult to detect across geographic or political boundaries. 
Urban tree inventories are conducted by communities to better understand the structure, function, and management needs of their urban forests. Detecting tree pest problems during an inventory provides information that can lead to preventative actions that can save trees. 
IPED is a tool for integrating field data collection and desktop reporting within the i-Tree suite of tools. i-Tree was created to develop, disseminate, support, and refine urban forest analysis tools and is utilized as the platform for IPED within the i-Tree v3.0 Streets application. For more information, see the field data collection procedures and desktop operation guide within the i-Tree Streets application at www.i-treetools.org.

==Rationale==
Since most exotic pests are initially introduced into urban areas (Asian longhorned beetle, emerald ash borer, and gypsy moth, for example), incorporating exotic pest detection into street tree inventories expands detection capabilities and enables communities to become a front line in the detection of exotic pests. IPED provides a portable, standardized method of observing a tree for signs and symptoms of possible insect or disease problems. Awareness of signs and symptoms that indicate potential tree health issues offers early opportunities for preventative actions and improved urban tree management. The rationale behind the field guide builds on the pretense that diagnosis is based largely upon determining signs and symptoms to narrow the range of possible causes of tree health issues such as stress, pests, or disease.
The protocol of using signs and symptoms when observing the foliage, twigs, branches, and boles of trees provides a methodical, systematic approach to pest detection. For the purpose of this field guide, a symptom is defined as an injury by—or a plant’s response to—a pest agent. A sign is defined as the pest organism itself, its skeleton, or a product produced by the pest. A sign is helpful in identifying the cause of a symptom. <ref>Insects that feed on trees and shrubs, second edition revised.1991 Johnson and Lyon, Cornell University Press.</ref>

==Table of Contents==
#[[IPED:Tree stress|Tree stress]]
#[[IPED:Tree_stress#Environmental_Stress|Environmental Stress]]
#[[IPED:Tree_stress#Human-Caused_Stress|Human-Caused Stress]]
#[[IPED:Signs_and_symptoms_of_foliage_and_twigs|Signs and Symptoms of Foliage and Twigs]]
#[[IPED:Signs_and_symptoms_of_branches_and_bole|Signs and Symptoms of Branches and Bole]]
#[[IPED:Glossary|Glossary]]

=References=
<references/>

==Credits==
The IPED Guide Development Team includes professionals from several U.S. Department of Agriculture agencies: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service; Forest Service, Northern Research Station; Forest Service, Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry, Urban and Community Forestry Program (Donna Murphy); and Forest Service, Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry, Forest Health Protection Program (Daniel Twardus and Joseph O’Brien). Other team members represent the Society of Municipal Arborists, The Davey Institute, University of Georgia Bugwood Network (Joseph LaForest), Cornell University, National Plant Diagnostic Network, and Purdue University.