Current Position

Assistant Professor of Tropical Forestry and Agroforestry
Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management
College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources
University of Hawaii-Manoa

Educational Background

B.S. Biology, Wake Forest University
M.S. Forest Soils, Purdue University
Ph.D. Forest Nutrient Cycling, Purdue University

Teaching

NREM 480: Tropical Forestry and Agroforestry
NREM 492: Internship
NREM 600: Evaluation of Natural Resource Management
NREM 680: Forest Ecosystem Analysis
NREM 491: Environmental Ethics

Research Interests

Nutrient cycling, fine root dynamics, productivity, management, and modeling of Acacia koa forests, dry forests, and agroforestry systems.

Grants and Contracts
 

Date	Topic (Principal Investigator)	Granting Agency	Amount
2002-2005	A Decision Aid for Nutrient Management for Forest Trees in Hawaii. (J.B. Friday)	USDA, McIntire-Stennis	$ 54,495
2003-2004	Environmental Controls on Site Productivity of Acacia koa in Hawaii (T.W. Idol)	USDA, Forest Service	17,940
2003-2005	Monitoring of Forest Health in Hawaii’s Dry Forest Ecosystems. (T.W. Idol)	USDA, Forest Service	68,000
2003-2006	Development of Shade Coffee Agroecosystems in Hawaii (T.W. Idol)	USDA, T-STAR	144,506
2003-2008	Koa Productivity and Nutrient Use Efficiency in Response to Fertilization (T.W. Idol)	USDA, McIntire-Stennis	82,904
2004-2008	Controlling Invasive Species Using Native Plant Agroforestry Systems (T.W. Idol)	USDA, T-STAR	117,791
2005-2008	Developing Effective Silvicultural Guidelines for Productive Koa Forest Management (T.W. Idol)	USDA, McIntire-Stennis	60,000
2007-2008	Treatment and Reuse of Urban Storm Water With a Customized Constructed Wetland (T.W. Idol)	EPA P3	9,968
2007-2009	New Innovations in Native Forest Restoration for High-Elevation Rangelands Infested with the Noxious Weed Kikuyu Grass (Pennisetum clandestinum)	NRCS CIG	46,040
2008-2009	Assessment of Acacia koa forest cover and productivity across environmental gradients in Hawaii using fine resolution remote sensing	Hawaii-DOFAW	20,000
2008-2011	An Integrated Strategy to Restore Degraded Dry Forests in Hawaii	USDA, McIntire-Stennis	60,000

Memberships

Soil Science Society of America, 1996-present
Society of American Foresters, 1999-present
Hawaii Forest Industry Association, 2003-present

University and Professional Service (last 5 years)

-Departmental Faculty Search Committee Member, 2 separate faculty positions
-Departmental Website Subcommittee Chair, 2003-2005
-Departmental Graduate Program Committee Member, 2002-2005
-Departmental Undergraduate Program Chair, 2005-present
-Coordinator, Sherman Courtyard Relandscaping Project, UH-Manoa Adopt-a-Landscape Program
-CTAHR Faculty Senate Member, Instructional Committee Member, Executive Committee Secretary, 2003-present
-Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology Program, Graduate Education Committee member, 2003-present
-UH Honor’s Program Council Member, 2003-2005
-UH Sustainability Council, curriculum committee member, 2006-present
-Graduate Committee member for 7 graduate students: 5 M.S., 2 Ph.D.
-Graduate Committee chair for 4 graduate students: 1 M.S., 3 Ph.D.
-Manuscript Reviewer for

Agroforestry Systems Forest Ecology and Management Forest Science Journal of Environmental Quality Journal of Tropical Ecology

Native Plants Journal Southern Journal of Applied Forestry Soil Science Society of America Journal Western Journal of Applied Forestry

-Editor, Hawaii Forest Journal, 2008-present
-Hawaii Forest Institute, Board Member and Vice-President, 2006-present
-Hawaii Forest Industry Association, Interim Board Member, 2006-present

Awards and Honors

Best paper in session award, 2004 Soil Science Society of America annual meeting.
2005 Betty Crocker Landscape Award Winner, Best Community Garden Award, Scenic Hawaii
2006 Government Landscape Award Winner, Hawaii Outdoor Circle

Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles

In Preparation

Nazario-Leary C and Idol TW. Adaptation of the photosynthetic capacity of a Hawaiian understory fern to overstory cover and light availability. American Fern Journal. in preparation.

In Review

Idol TW. Are ecocentric ethics compatible with wilderness preservation? Environmental Ethics. in review.

Idol TW and Dutt S. Tigers vs tribals in India: why wilderness preservation is helping neither. Environmental Values. in review.

Martinez Morales R, Idol T, and Chen Q. Remote sensing of Acacia koa forest growth, health and productivity across elevation and rainfall gradients in Hawaii. Remote Sensing of Environment. in review.

Scowcroft PG, Friday JB, Haraguchi J, Idol TW, and Dudley NS. Is poor stem form a potential obstacle to private investment in plantation koa forestry in Hawaii? Small-Scale Forestry. in review.

Steiman S, Idol TW, Bittenbender HC, and Gautz L. Shade coffee in Hawaii: quality, growth, yield, and nutrition. Agroforestry Systems. in review.

Steiman S, Jackson MC, Bittenbender HC, and Idol TW. Coffee (Coffea arabica L.) brew volatiles predict group membership but not organoleptic quality. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. in review.

Youkhana A and Idol TW. Tree pruning residues increase soil carbon and nitrogen in shade and full-sun coffee agroecosystems in Hawaii. Soil Biology and Biochemistry. in review.

Accepted, In Press, and Published

Meason DF, Idol TW, Friday JB, and Scowcroft PG. Persistence of elevated phosphorus availability after fertilisation in the volcanic soil of a managed tropical forest. Forest Ecology and Management. accepted.

Meason D and Idol TW. 2008. Comparison of ion exchange resin membranes (PRS-probes) with resin bags in the field: effects of incubation time, soil depth, and P fertilization. Soil Science Society of America Journal. 72:1806-1814.

Youkhana A and Idol TW. 2008. First-year biomass production and soil improvement in young Leucaena and Robinia stands under different pollarding systems. International Journal of Tropical Forest Science 20:181-187.

Morales RM, Miura T, and Idol TW. 2008. An assessment of Hawaiian dry forest condition and restoration potential with fine resolution remote sensing. Forest Ecology and Management 255:2524-2532.

Steiman SR, Idol TW, and Bittenbender HC. 2007. Analysis of kaolin particle film usage and its application on coffee. HortScience 42:1605-1608.

Idol TW, Baker PJ, and Meason D. 2007. Indicators of forest ecosystem productivity and nutrient status across precipitation and temperature gradients in Hawaii. Journal of Tropical Ecology 23:693-704.

Scowcroft PG, Friday JB, Idol TW, Dudley N, Haraguchi J, and Meason D. 2007. Growth response of Acacia koa trees to thinning, grass control, and phosphorus fertilization in a secondary stand in Hawaii. For. Ecol. Manage. 239:69-80.

Idol TW, Pope PE, and Ponder Jr F. 2003. N mineralization, nitrification, and N uptake across a 100-year chronosequence of upland hardwood forests. For. Ecol. Manage. 176:509-518.

Idol TW, Pope PE, and Ponder Jr F. 2002. Changes in microbial nitrogen across a 100-year chronosequence of upland hardwood forests. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 66:1662-1668.

Idol TW, Holzbaur KA, Pope PE, and Ponder Jr F. 2002. Control-bag correction for forest floor litterbag contamination. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 66:620-623.

Idol TW, Figler RA, Pope PE, and Ponder Jr F. 2001. Characterization of coarse woody debris across a 100 year chronosequence of upland oak-hickory forests. For. Ecol. Manage. 149:153-161.

Idol TW, Pope PE, and Ponder Jr. F. 2000. Fine root dynamics across a chronosequence of upland temperate deciduous forests. Forest Ecology and Management 127:153-167.

Conference Proceedings Papers

Idol TW, Steiman S, Bittenbender HC, Gautz L, and Jackson, M. 2007. Not all shade is created equal: reflections on shade management based on preliminary studies from Hawaii. Second International Symposium on Multi-Strata Agroforestry Systems with Perennial Crops. Sept. 17-22, 2007. CATIE, Turrialba, Costa Rica.

Steiman S, Bittenbender HC, Idol TW, Gautz LD, Jackson MC. 2007. Shade coffee in Hawaii -- the impact of light on coffee quality. 21st International Conference on Coffee Science, Montpellier, France, 11-15 September, 2006. Paris: Association Scientifique Internationale du Cafe (ASIC), p.1214-1216.

Steiman S, Idol TW, Bittenbender HC, Gautz LD, Jackson MC. 2007. Physiological response of coffee to different shading regimes. 21st International Conference on Coffee Science, Montpellier, France, 11-15 September, 2006. Paris: Association Scientifique Internationale du Cafe (ASIC), p.1212-1213.

Jackson MC, Steiman SR, Gautz LD, Bittenbender HC, Idol TW. 2007. Quality determination and group discrimination of shade grown coffee using solid phase microextraction as a means of coffee discrimination. 21st International Conference on Coffee Science, Montpellier, France, 11-15 September, 2006. Paris: Association Scientifique Internationale du Cafe (ASIC), p. 306-309.

Idol TW, Pope PE, and Ponder Jr F. 2002. The effects of harvesting on long-term soil productivity in southern Indiana oak-hickory forests. pp. 233-238 In Outcalt, K.W. (Ed.) Proc. 11th Bienn. South. Silvic. Res. Conf., Mar. 20-22, 2001, Knoxville, TN. Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS-48. U.S. Dept. Agric., For. Serv., South. Res. Stn, Asheville, N.C.

Idol TW, Pope PE, Tucker J, and Ponder Jr F. 1998. The role of fine root dynamics in the N and P cycles of regenerating upland oak-hickory forests. pp. 136-140 In Waldrop, T.A. (Ed.) Proc. 9th Bienn. South. Silv. Res. Conf., Feb. 25-27, 1997, Clemson, SC. Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS-20, US Dept. Agric., Forest Service, Southern Research Station, Asheville, NC.

Trade Journals

Friday JB, Leary J, Idol T, and Vickers K. 2008. New CTAHR projects help restore koa forests. Na Leo O Ka Aina (Voices of the Land) 3 (2):5.

Idol TW, Scowcroft PG, Dudley N, Dancil K, and Simmons P. 2007. The value of managing Acacia koa forests. Hawaii Forest Journal. 2:8-11.

Vickers K, Friday JB, and Idol T. 2006. Helping the koa regain ground. Agriculture Hawaii April-June: 10.

Book Reviews

Idol TW. Rev. of Tropical homegardens: a time-tested example of sustainable agroforestry. Edited by B.M. Kumar and P.K.R. Nair. Forest Science 53:710.

Idol TW. 2005. Rev. of Profiles in the history of the U.S. soil survey. Edited by D. Helms, A.B.W. Effland, and P.J. Durana. Journal of Southern History 71:971-972.

Selected Professional Presentations (last 5 years)

Martinez-Morales R, Idol T, Friday JB, and Chen Q. Remote Sensing of Acacia koa Forest Growth, Productivity, and Health Across Elevation and Climate Gradients. Hawaii Conservation Conference. July 28-30, 2008. Hawaii Conservation Alliance, Honolulu, HI.

Nazario-Leary C, Idol T, and Ticktin T. Survival, Growth, and Photosynthetic Light Response of a Native Fern, Microlepia strigosa (Thumb.) K. Presl, to Varying Understory Light Conditions. Hawaii Conservation Conference. July 28-30, 2008. Hawaii Conservation Alliance, Honolulu, HI.

Youkhana A and Idol T. Tree Pruning Residues Increase Soil Carbon and Nitrogen in Shade and Full-Sun Coffee Agroecosystems in Hawaii. Hawaii Conservation Conference. July 28-30, 2008. Hawaii Conservation Alliance, Honolulu, HI.

Martinez-Morales R, Miura T, and Idol T. An assessment of Hawaiian Dry Forest Condition with Fine Resolution Remote Sensing. February 11-15, 2008. Forest Health Monitoring Working Group Meeting, San Antonio, TX.

Idol, T. Protocols for improved seedlings for degraded soils. Forestry Short Course, Restoration of Degraded Lands. August 13-17, 2007. US Dept of Agriculture, Forest Service, Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry, Hilo HI.

Meason, D., Idol, T., Friday, J.B., and Scowcroft, P.G. Potential mechanisms that limit koa growth and what it could mean for koa forest management-a case study. Hawaii Conservation Conference. July 25-27, 2007. Hawaii Conservation Alliance, Honolulu, HI.

Scowcroft, PG, Friday, JB, Idol, T, Dudley, N, Meason, D, and Hariguchi, J. Plantation koa: another inconvenient truth? Hawaii Conservation Conference. July 25-27, 2007. Hawaii Conservation Alliance, Honolulu, HI.

Youkhana A, Idol T. Allometric models for estimating biomass and predicting carbon sequestration of Leucaena leucocephala plantations in Hawaii. 2007 CTAHR Student Research Symposium. Best NREM PhD poster award.

Meason D, Nazario-Leary C, Idol T, Friday JB, Scowcroft PG. The strengths and weaknesses of Decagon Devices ECH2O soil moisture probes in two different forest environments in Hawaii. Oral presentation. 2007 Soil Moisture Sensing Technology Conference: current and future research directions in soil moisture sensing.

Idol, T. Where have we been? An overview of current knowledge about the relationship between vegetation and hydrology in Hawaii. Invited speaker. 2006 Hawaii Association of Watershed Partnerships Symposium.

Gautz L, Steiman S, Idol T, Bittenbender HC. Preliminary Economic Impact of Creating Shade for Culture of Coffee. poster presentation. 2006 ASIC International Coffee Conference.

Steiman S, Idol T, Bittenbender HC. The impacts of shade on coffee quality in Hawaii. poster presentation. 2006 ASIC International Coffee Conference.

Steiman S, Idol T, Bittenbender HC. Physiological response of coffee to different shading regimes. 2006 ASIC International Coffee Conference.

Steiman S, Jackson M, Idol T, Bittenbender HC. Quality determination and group discrimination of shade grown coffee using solid phase microextraction as a means of coffee discrimination. poster presentation. 2006 ASIC International Coffee Conference.

Scowcroft, P.G. Friday, J.B., Idol, T., Dudley, N., Haraguchi, J., and Meason, D. Targeted silviculture improves koa (Acacia koa) tree growth. Oral presentation. 2006 Hawaii Conservation Conference.

Martinez, R., Miura, T., Idol, T., and Cordell, S. Large-scale assessment of Hawaiian dry forest decline and restoration potential with remote sensing and GIS. Oral presentation. 2006 Hawaii Conservation Conference.

Nazario-Leary, C., Idol, T., and Ticktin, T. Development of a Hawaiian agroforestry system to control invasive species and encourage restoration of native biodiversity. Poster presentation. 2006 Hawaii Conservation Conference.

Wong, T. and Idol, T. Morinda citrifolia L. (Rubiaceae) growth and light environment in the understory of differing tree species in an agroforestry system, O'ahu, Hawai'i. Poster presentation. 2006 Society for Economic Botany Annual Meeting.

Idol, T.W. and Baker, P.J. Canopy and soil N and P in a tropical forest across temperature and precipitation gradients. Poster presentation. 2006 International Meetings of the ASA-CSSA-SSSA.

Meason, D., Idol, T., Friday, JB, and Scowcroft, P. Sustained increases in soil P availability after fertilization in a tropical Hapludand forest soil. 2006 International Meetings of the ASA-CSSA-SSSA.

Idol, T.W. and Baker, P.J. Environmental Controls Over Acacia koa Productivity in Hawaii. Poster presentation. 2004 Soil Science Society of America meeting. Best poster in session award.

Melhorn, A., Miura, T., Idol, T., and Ongalibang, O. An assessment of dry forest decline in Hawaii using time-series aerial photography. Poster presentation. 2005 Forest Health Monitoring Working Group Meeting.

Anderson, C., Idol, T., Cordell, S., and Miura, T. Monitoring Dry Forest Decline and Restoration in Hawai‘i. Oral presentation. 2005 CTAHR Student Research Symposium. Best master's presentation in NREM award.

Meason, D., Fares, A., and Idol, T. A column study assessing the phosphorus dynamics of young Andisols in a 26-year old koa forest. Oral presentation. 2005 CTAHR Student Research Symposium.

Meason, D. Idol, T., and Friday, J.B. Infinite sink or dynamic equilibrium? The sorption dynamics of ion exchange resin membrane (PRSTM probes) in a tropical Andisol. Poster presentation. 2005 Soil Science Society of America Meeting.

Meason, D. Idol, T., Friday, J.B., and Scowcroft, P. Phosphorus dynamics in a 25 year old koa forest and the response to management options. Oral presentation. 2005 Soil Science Society of America Meeting.