Current projects
Understanding canopy structure-productivity-disturbance relationships |
Funding: National Science Foundation - Macrosystems and NEON Enabled Science
Collaborators: Chris Gough (Virginia Commonwealth University), Brady Hardiman (Purdue University), Elizabeth LaRue (Purdue University), Jeff Atkins (Virginia Commonwealth University), Jaclyn Matthes (Wellesley College), Jane Foster (UVM) Summary: Ecosystem structure-function relationships represent a long-standing research area of ecosystem science; yet, whether relationships between canopy structural complexity (CSC) and NPP, characterized at present for only small number of sites, are conserved across eco-climatic boundaries is unknown. Using NEON sites to advance understanding of how and why CSC affects forest NPP across a broad spatial dimension will transform mechanistic understanding of ecosystem structure-carbon cycling relationships, and greatly improve carbon cycling models and remote sensing applications, while providing a crucial linkage between the two. Publications: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/ele.13388, https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ecy.2864, https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.3156, https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/12/9/1407/htm, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0303243418304045, https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00442-018-4236-x, https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/2017JG004256, https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/2041-210X.13061 |
Evaluating effects of forest management on canopy structural complexity in hemlock-northern hardwood forests
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Funding: USDA McIntire-Stennis
Collaborators: USDA Forest Service Northern Research Station, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Summary: Management focused on developing “old-growth” conditions in younger or mature forests often includes promotion of stand complexity as a goal. Canopy structural complexity in particular can affect resource-use efficiency and distribution, and consequently also leaf and canopy physiology. However the effect of forest management on canopy complexity is not well known and strategies for promoting canopy structural complexity through forest management are not well established. |