Restoring and Managing Longleaf Pine Ecosystems

  People of  SRS-4158:  Restoring and Managing Longleaf Pine Ecosystems

Phone: 334-826-8700
Fax: 334-821-0037

Education:
B.S., Forestry, State University of New York, 1951
M.S., Wildlife Biology, State University of New York, 1954
Ph.D., Forest Ecology, Duke University, 1970

Current Research:
Long-term season of burn effects on understory development and overstory growth in naturally established longleaf pine, (winter-spring-summer burns) [2-3-5 year burning cycles]; natural regeneration of longleaf pine - long-term cone production, seedling establishments, survival, and growth; development of longleaf pine under even-aged,two-aged, and all-aged conditions, (all-aged - 50 years; two-aged - 40 years; and uneven-aged management tests 5 to 20 years.)
 
Collaborative Research:
Restoration and management of longleaf pine ecosystems

Phone: 334-826-8700
Fax: 334-821-0037

Education:
Southern Illinois University Forestry, B.S., 1974
VPI, Forest Biology, M.S., 1976
Utah State University, Forest Ecology, Ph.D., 1988

Current Research:

Ecological restoration of longleaf pine ecosystems and the practical potential of longleaf pine silvopasture. Studying seed banks of various longleaf pine stands – from the seriously degraded, through various stages of restoration ; effects of silvicultural treatments on soil seed banks in longleaf stands; examining seed banks in fire-treated longleaf pine stands; determining the regenerative potential of exotics/invasive plants in longleaf pine stands under various management strategies; reviewing longleaf pine seed storage protocols for optimal combinations of moisture content and temperature; and the effects of such storage conditions on seed biochemistry.

Phone: 334-826-8700 ext.. 28
Fax: 334-821-0037

Education:
A.S., Conservation Biology, Delta College, 1971
 B.S., Biology: Ecology and Physiology, Michigan State University, 1973
 M.S., Forest Ecology and Silviculture, Michigan State University, 1975
 Ph.D., Forest Ecology and Forest Soils, Michigan State University, 1979

Current Research:
Ecological restoration and sustainable management of longleaf pine ecosystems.  Developing effective methodologies for restoring degraded ecosystems to a functional status compatible with achieving the multiple goals and objectives of natural resource managers.  Quantifying the interactions between ecological processes and disturbance regimes, specifically fire as a regulator of ecosystem function, structure, pattern, and composition.  Evaluation of the influence of silvicultural systems on biological diversity, regeneration, and productivity in longleaf pine forests, including comparative analysis of alternative stand reproduction methods, recruitment of regeneration under even-aged and uneven-aged management techniques, and assessment of spatial patterns following timber harvest, hurricane salvage logging, and prescribed fire.  Developing easy-to-apply field procedures for uneven-aged forest management that encourage wider application of selection silviculture.

 Collaborative Research:
The role of fire in forest and grassland ecosystems.  Evaluation of mechanical, herbicide, and prescribed burning treatments as techniques for regulating fuel accumulation and mitigating wildfire danger, while concurrently contributing to ecological restoration objectives.  Gap-phase regeneration of forests.  The impact of forest management activities on biological diversity at multiple spatial and temporal scales and identifying alternatives that mitigate adverse ecological effects.  Developing methods for crossing ecological thresholds separating meta-stable states.  Sustaining biomass production for bioenergy, wood, and a variety of commercial products and ecological benefits, while mitigating the adverse effects of escalating rates of resource extraction.

Phone: 334-826-8700
Fax: 334-821-0037

Current Activities:
I am responsible for the data analyses and management for the former 4105 project where I managethe data for several active studies, one being the Region-Wide COMProject (Competition Omission Monitoring) Project located at 12 location across the southeast from Al to VA.  This study has measurements on over 10,000 loblolly pine trees and over 25,000 mixed hardwood species that are now 24 years old.  I am also working with invasive species in the southeast where I have done the layout and photo enhancement of over 1,000 images of invasive plant in the southeast for the publication "Nonnative Plants of the Southern Forest" of which over 100,000 copies have been distributed.

Phone: 318-793-5554
Fax: 318-473-7273

Phone: 334-826-8700
Fax: 334-821-0037

Phone: 318-473-7226
Fax: 318-473-7273

Education:
Ph.D., Forestry, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA

Current Research:
Longleaf pine regeneration and restoration as influenced by various means of vegetation control, fertilization, and fire.

Assessing the effects of container cavity size, use of copper treated containers, and other nutrient amendments on root system development and above ground growth of longleaf pine seedlings through stand establishment and canopy closure 

Comparing the growth and yield of loblolly, longleaf, and slash pine plantings

Assessing the effects of harvesting and regeneration practices on the long-term productivity of pine stands through several rotations

Collaborative Research Interests:
Health and restoration of longleaf pine plant communities through better planting and stand establishment practices and fire effects in longleaf pine stands.

Phone: 864-656-6910
Fax:  864-656-1407

Phone: 318-473-7243
Fax: 318-473-7273

Education:
A.A.S., Unity College,  Forest and Park Resources. 1979
B.S., Unity College, Environmental Science, 1981
M.S., S.U.N.Y. College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Biometrics, 1983

Current Activities:
I support the local, non-IRM computer needs of the unit including computer programming (SAS and other languages), data analysis, computer graphics and data analysis.  I also Dr.Shi-Jean Susana Sung with help in field and light laboratory work.

Phone: 864-656-6910
Fax:  864-656-1407

Phone: 864-656-1290
Fax:  864-656-1407

Phone: 318-473-7065
Fax: 318-473-7273

Education:
B.S. Biology--Louisiana College--Pineville, LA--1990

Current Activities:
I perform field and laboratory duties in support of unit scientists conducting research projects in the disciplines of forest management, forest fire research, and the biology and physiology of longleaf pine. I am also responsible for growing seedlings in the greenhouse at the Alexandria Forestry Center. I supervise and/or assist maintenance activities on the Palustris Experimental Forest for the upkeep of research areas and roads, and address forest health issues. I maintain a prescribed burning certification, a pesticide applicators certification, and chainsaw certification. I also use aerial photographs and GIS data to find likely or existing research areas.

Phone: 318-473-7233
Fax: 318-473-7273

Education:
B.S., National Chung-Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan, Botany, 1975
M.S., Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, Plant Physiology and Weed Science, 1977
Ph.D., Auburn University, Auburn, AL, Agronomy and Soils, 1982

Current Research:
 The primary thrust of current research is to understand seedling and tree physiology with emphasis on photosynthesis, photoprotection, and carbohydrate metabolism. Several pine and hardwood species are being investigated using biochemical, physiological, and chemical techniques. Plants under various environmental stress, such as water, fertility, light, and temperature, are of special interest. Both belowground and aboveground parts of a seedling or a tree are being analyzed. Interaction between host pines and ectomycorrhizal fungi is being studied utilizing chemical assessment (ergosterol) of live fungal biomass.

Collaborative Research Interests:
Photosynthesis and carbon metabolism in wetland hardwoods, or trees grown with different cultural practices.

Phone: 318-473-7275
Fax: 318-473-7273

Education:
B.S., South Dakota State University, Biology, 1983;
M.S., University of Minnesota, Forestry, 1986;
Ph.D., University of Missouri, Forestry, 1991

Current Research:
Of primary interest is understanding ecophyiological relationships among above-ground (i.e., branch development and physiology, canopy environment) and root/soil attributes (i.e., soil temperature, fertility and water availability, root carbohydrate relations) that regulate southern pine root system processes after thinning and fertilization. Stand productivity in response to key linkages among above-ground, and root/soil processes is also being studied. Relationships among fine root and leaf area dynamics, and fine root carbohydrate relations are being investigated to understand the effect of season of prescribed burn on longleaf pine productivity.

Collaborative Research Interests:
In cooperation with LSU, fascicle physiological measurements are being expanded to the canopy-level using sapflow technology. Predictions of physiological processes by fascicle-based, and sapflow measurements are being compared. Soil water relations and root system growth and distribution relative to canopy-level environmental and physiological variables are being studied. Future collaborative interests include: (1) modeling plantation loblolly pine root growth, (2) evaluating possible improvements to root/soil components of process models, and (3) studying carbon allocation within the longleaf pine seedling root system.

Education:
Ph.D., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Biology, 1985 

Current Research:
I am studying the population dynamics, breeding system, habitat requirements of, and fire effects on rare plants in longleaf pine communities.Specifically, I am working on Macbridea alba, Harperocallis flava, Scutellaria floridana, and Echinacea laevigata (not longleaf systems).I am also working in the fall-line sandhills of South Carolina to develop strategies for restoring structure and composition in the ground layer vegetation of altered longleaf pine communities.Sandhills work includes evaluating the effects and interactions of mechanical treatments and prescribed fire on midstory reduction, and describing life histories and establishment requirements for common sandhills herbs.I am working with others to develop a monitoring strategy for Allium tricoccum (ramps) and to model population processes of this species in the Southern Appalachians. 

Collaborative Research Interests:
I am interested in collaborating on studies of the genetics and pollinationsystems of rare plant species.Also, I would like to collaborate in describing how below ground processes structure longleaf pine forests, and in modeling fire behavior and effects at landscape scales. Finally, I would like to collaborate in developing management strategies for harvested perennial herbs.

Phone: 318-473-7200
Fax:  318-473-7273