Research

Forests are ever-changing, dynamic ecosystems, influenced by both internal and external factors. Internally, changes to forest structure follow the principles of stand dynamics. These ecological processes can tell us what a forest may look like in twenty, fifty, one hundred years. Disturbances – such as forest management activities (e.g., thinning or prescribed fire), windthrow, or climate change – are external factors. The timing, duration, frequency, and order of events influences how a stand develops. Knowledge of stand dynamics and disturbance regimes informs our actions as researchers and managers to maintain and manage healthy, resilient forests for multiple values (for example, forest products, including timber, recreation, wildlife habitat, and carbon sequestration).

My research lies at the intersection of stand dynamics and disturbances and their implications for management. Specifically, I am interested in (1) the effects of disturbances at the tree and stand level, (2) the landscape-level patterns that result from tree and stand level effects, and (3) how these patterns affect and are affected by forest management activities.