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Climate and disturbance factors affecting shifts between grassland and forest biomes over the past century within the upper Midwest

Project Leader:
Project Fellows:
Project Investigators:
Dr. Brian Palik, USFS Northern Research Station
Dr. Shawn Fraver, University of Maine
Dr. John Almendinger, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Dr. Kurt Kipfmueller, University of Minnesota
Dr. Michael Falkowski, University of Minnesota
States:
New York
Pennsylvania
Ohio
Michigan
Indiana
Wisconsin
Illinois
Minnesota
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Status:
Completed

Overview

This project aimed to quantify the range in variability in forest dynamics and climate responses for range-margin populations of Pinus banksiana and Picea mariana so as to generate management guidelines for conserving these forests on the landscape in an uncertain climatic future.  These species are the cornerstone for several upland and lowland habitat types on the western edge of the Northeast CSC and are particularly vulnerable to future changes in climate and disturbance regimes.  This project took advantage of extensive dendrochronological and forest community data to determine the drivers and future dynamics of key demographic processes for these tree species.

Presentations

Gill, K.G., A.W. D’Amato, and S. Fraver. 2016. Jack pine stand recruitment and development in Central Minnesota. Presentation and discussion panel  for Sustainable Forests Educational Cooperative Fire in Minnesota’s Forests workshop, Grand Rapids, MN. December 1, 2016
Gill, K.G., A.W. D'Amato, S.Fraver, J. Almendinger, N. Aaseng.  2015. Structure and dynamics of range margin Pinus banksiana populations in Minnestoa, USA. North American Forest Ecology Workshop, Veracruz, Mexico. June 15, 2015.
D'Amato, A.W., S. Fraver, J.B. Bradford, and B.J. Palik. 2015. Salvage logging within the context of interacting disturbances in sub-boreal pine systems. Symposium on the Ecological and Sivilcultural Consequences of Disturbance and Salvage Logging on the Sustainability and Biodiversity of Forest Ecosystems. Powdermill Nature Reserve, Rector, PA. May 31, 2015
Gill, K.G., A.W. D'Amato, and S. Fraver. 2015. Structure and dynamics of jack pine forests in central Minnesota. Sustainable Forests Education Cooperative Wildlife and Forest Research Review. Cloquet, MN. February 24, 2015.
D'Amato, A.W.  2014.  Long-term structural and compositional development of fire-origin red pine forests in north-central Minnesota.  Lake States Fire Consortium Webinar Series. November 20, 2014.
D'Amato, A.W. 2014. Developing forest adaptation strategies for northern forests in an uncertain future.  Northeast Climate Science Center Fall Webinar Series.  October 1, 2014.
Gill, K.G., A.W. D'Amato, and S. Fraver, 2013. Quantifying the range in variation in climate response and stand dynamics within range-margin jack pine (Pinus banksiana) populations in north-central Minnesota, USA. Graduate Climate Conference, Wood's Hole, MA. November 2, 2013.
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