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An AUB-led team of scientists has succeeded in deciphering the
causes behind the outbreak of a cedar needle-eating sawfly,
Cephalcia tannourinensis, which had threatened to wipe out the
cedar forests of Lebanon. The sawfly first attacks cedar spring
buds and then chews on them, leaving them a burnt reddish-brown.
After several years of study, the AUB team determined the pest
outbreak was caused by changes in soil humidity and temperature.
"This was a direct result of climatic changes and global
warming," said AUB plant sciences professor Nabil Nemr,
the assistant director of the project. AUB scientists Nasri
S. Kawar and Nabil Nemr had been involved in studying Cephalcia
tannourinensis in collaboration with a technical expert from
Europe since it first appeared toward the end of 1997. |
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