Landscape Ecology

Jeffery B. Cannon

Now recruiting: PhD Research Assistantship in Forest and Fire Ecology

We are seeking motivated individuals to apply for a PhD research assistantship in Forest and Fire Ecology. The research will combine field intensive fuel, fire behavior, and regeneration data collection, mapping and processing, and capitalizing on existing and new data from the Ichauway Forest Dynamics Plot at the Jones Center. The student will be appointed as a Graduate Research Assistant (GRA) but will assist with teaching undergraduate courses in Forest Fire Management and Forest Ecology. Although a PhD student at Auburn University, the student’s work will be co-sponsored by the Jones Center at Ichauway. Applications reviewed February 28, 2025.

Lab’s mesophication work featured on Fire Ecology Chats Podcast (Ep. 37)

Episode 37: Overstory and fuel traits drive moisture dynamics of mesophytic and pyrophytic leaf litter and 10-h woody debris fuels in a mixed longleaf pine-hardwood woodland

In this episode of Fire Ecology Chats, Fire Ecology editor Bob Keane speaks with Heather Alexander and Jeffery Cannon about reintroducing fire into mixed longleaf pine-hardwood woodlands, and how that will be affected by the shade-tolerant, fire-sensitive species that have grown during periods of fire exclusion.

Now hiring: Landscape Ecology Geospatial Analyst

We are seeking motivated individuals to apply for a Geospatial Analyst position to contribute to research and development that will improve forest conservation efforts in the southeastern US. Both remote and in-person candidates will be considered. The successful applicant will integrate cutting edge technologies (UAV and lidar), field experiments, and data science techniques to contribute to collaborations with conservation agencies and research partners. The position will work in a team setting with staff of the Landscape Ecology lab at the Jones Center at Ichauway. Applications reviewed immediately.

Webinar: Future directions for hurricane disturbed forests

This webinar features a panel of experts in silviculture, forest economics, management, and disturbance to discuss challenges and opportunties for resarch and outreach related to hurricane disturbaed forests.

Featured speakers include Dr. Christine Cairns Fortuin, Dr. Jeffery Cannon, Dr. Robert Chastain, Dr. Michael Crosby, Dr. Jesse Henderson, Dr. Bruno Kanieski da Silva, Dr. Adam Polinko, and Dr. Shaun Tanger.

Longleaf Alliance: Lab Studies in Hurricane Ecology

Join the members of the Jones Center Landscape Ecology Lab as we present our latest research at the 15th Biennial Longleaf Conference, taking place from October 7 to 11, 2024, in Miramar Beach, Florida.
Presentations from our lab will focus on hurricane ecology in longleaf pine, considerations for management hurricane risk to longleaf pine ecosystems, and two lab members will debut work on hurricane ecology using dendrochronological and remote sensing techniques

Automatically Number Figures and Supplemental Material in Microsoft Word

I learned to use Word’s built-in cross-referencing functions to streamling captioning figures and tables and referencing them in the text. But I could never find a guide that showed me how to use it for figures both in the main text and the supplemental materials. This guide shows you a trick I learned to number main text figures and supplmental figures separately!

New study: Identifying defects in damaged trees to improve guidance for timber salvage

Longleaf pine tree damaged and splintered after 2018 Hurricane Michael

Trees damaged by severe winds experience twisting and snapping that damages useful parts of the tree bole. Visible damage is readily visible on lower portions of damaged trees, but unseen defects can extend further up the bole. Thus it can be difficult for loggers to determine wood quality and merchantability during post-storm timber salvage. We used acoustic measurements to find wood defects and found that traditional guidelines are too conservative. We provide guidance for loggers to help safely harvest substantially more of the bole after severe winds.

New study: Overstory and litter properties drive fuel dynamics

The composition of fire-dependent forests can shift after decades of fire exclusion. Forests can shift to trees with distinct overstory and leaf litter traits that can further suppress fire and make restoration difficult. We compared how leaf litter and overstory properties differed between fire-adapted pines and oaks, and the non-fire adapted species that often encroach after fire suppression. We found that trees produced distinct microclimates and that drying properties of leaf litter varied among species. This information is useful for understanding mesophytic encroachment and for accelerating successful restoration efforts

Landscape Ecology Lab welcomes Leah Andino

The Landscape Ecology lab is proud to welcome Leah Andino as Research Associate who completing her MS research at Yale School of the Environment. Andino will lead our crew of technicians in field research and support the lab’s growing drone and remote sensing research. Welcome, Leah!