The hump-shaped relationship that predicts highest species richness (species/unit area) at intermediate levels of productivity was examined for woody plants across the Pacific and Inland Northwest of the U.S. Many studies have examined this relationship at regional scales, but commonly use species range maps and surrogate measures of productivity (e.g....
Three studies on Douglas-fir beetle (DFB), Dendroctonuspseudotsuae, were conducted to investigate its basic and applied biology. Studies included investigations into the spatial relationship of DFB infestations over multiple years and multiple landscapes, relationships between DFB brood adult lipid levels and position of development along the length of tree boles, and...
Biometric and gas exchange techniques were used to measure soil respiration (soil surface CO₂ efflux) and NEP (Net Ecosystem Production) across three climatically-distinct forest chronosequences in Oregon. Results indicate significant forest type, age, and forest type x age interaction effects on annual soil respiration. A regional age class distribution skewed...
When biogeochemical models are applied to large regions, the values of key model parameters are often unknowable. Through field and modeling studies, I examined the potential impact of such uncertainty on estimates of carbon cycling in western Oregon. I found that variation in key leaf traits could be interpreted ecologically,...
Dissolved organic matter (DOM) plays an important role in transport of C and essential nutrients such as N, P and S. DOM is also critical for the formation of soil organic matter (SOM), which is the largest terrestrial C pool. Nonetheless, we lack a basic understanding of what controls immobilization...
Dead wood patterns and dynamics vary with biophysical factors, disturbance history, ownership, and management practices. Through field and modeling studies, I examined the current and potential future amounts of dead wood in two landscapes and region-wide in the Coastal Province of Oregon. The objectives of the first study were to...
Gene flow is a major evolutionary force and an important factor in the breeding and conservation of forest trees. I studied the applicability of SSR markers for measuring pollen-mediated gene flow (i.e., pollen flow) in Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii [Mirb.] Franco). I developed SSR markers, tested alternative approaches for measuring pollen...
Forest growth models in the Pacific Northwest are predominantly empirical. Predictions of yield under alternative silvicultural regimes cannot rely completely on field trials; yet empirical growth models are often inadequate for extrapolating untested regimes and genotypes. The limitations of current models include (1) long time-steps (e.g. 5-10 years); (2) insufficient...
I evaluated fire occurrence, growth and recruitment and determined the fire history of 21 old and 20 young 8ha stands in Cascade, Siskiyou and mid-Coast mixed conifer and evergreen forests in southwestern Oregon. The rates and patterns of growth were measured and analyzed on 1,079 old-growth and 2,111
young stand...
Historical aerial photos were used to examine the early phase of forest succession after stand replacement disturbance, covering the Coast Ranges Province (CRP) and the western Cascades Province (WCP) of western Oregon. The study consisted of two components: characterizing the pattern of forest succession in western Oregon; analyzing the influence...
