Forest Landscape Ecology

Jeffery B. Cannon

Forest Landscape Ecology

The mission of the Landscape Ecology Lab is to advance the science and practice of landscape ecology to inform the conservation and management of ecosystems in the Southeastern US and beyond. We achieve this by (1) conducting innovative, interdisciplinary research addressing pressing conservation challenges, (2) designing practical, evidence-based solutions that integrate ecology, community, and policy, and (3) fostering the development of skilled experts and leaders who drive positive change in conservation. We focus our efforts on three major goals:

  • Understand how hurricanes and fire shape forest structure and function
  • Improve conservation and management outcomes in longleaf pine forests.
  • Accelerate training and adoption of new technologies for addressing conservation issues

Read more about our research efforts, and see below for recent news from the Lab

News from the Landscape Ecology Lab

longleaf pine and slash pine trees toppled by hurricane michael
Research Article

New study: Patterns of hurricane gaps in a longleaf pine landscape

Ecological approaches to forestry seek to emulate aspects of natural disturbances like hurricanes which are a common disturbance in longleaf pine forets. This study used airborne lidar to measure patterns of hurricane-created gaps to offer guidance for application of natural disturbance-based management in landscapes dominated by longleaf pine.

Read more »
Forest hurricane regimes defined for North America
Research Article

PNAS: New study defines hurricane regimes for North American forests

Hurricanes are a chronic disturbance to many forests. but currently no study defines hurricane regimes for North America. This study uses hurricane models and long-term data to define four distinct hurricane regimes for the region, and discusses how hurricanes may be a useful lens for understanding the distribution of tree species and their traits.

Read more »
News

Zampieri awarded SAF Mollie Beattie Scholarship

The Society of American Foresters named Dr. Nicole Zampieri among two 2023-2024 Mollie Beattie Visiting Scholars. Nicole is a post-doctoral researcher at Tall Timbers Research Station and the Jones Center at Ichauway Landscape Ecology Lab. Her current work investigates patterns of mortality in pine-oak savannas and uses dendrochronology techniques to understand patterns of disturbance. She also plays an important role in guiding and mentoring the research of fellow labmates and beyond. Congratulations, Nicole!

Read more »
Research Article

New study: Longleaf pine woodlands increase streamflow during droughts

Jones Center researcher Dr. Seth Younger found that longleaf pine woodlands increase water yeidl during droughts. The study looked at 21 rural watersheds with varying levels of longleaf pine cover and found that those with high longleaf pine cover had 17% higher stream flow than those with low cover. The increase was even higher during critical drought periods, highlighting how longleaf pine restoration can improve conservation outcomes on land and in streams.

Read more »
News

Sen. Ossoff visits Ichauway, launches bill to improve data collection

Sen. Jon Ossoff visited the Jones Center at Ichauway to announce a bill that would improve data collection efforts of the US Forest Service. The new bill would authorize USFS to collect data on above and below ground carbon and adopt new technologies such as lidar. The bill is expected to improve data collection within the USFS Forest Inventory and Analysis.

Read more »
Media

PBS features Landscape Ecology Lab’s tree winching research

Chuck visits the Jones Center at Ichauway and chats with Director Dr. Kier Klepzig about their work on the 30,000-acre property. They join Dr. Jeff Cannon in the field and help him with a bit of hands-on research into how much hurricane wind force it takes to fell a longleaf pine.

Read more »

News from the Landscape Ecology Lab

longleaf pine and slash pine trees toppled by hurricane michael
Research Article

New study: Patterns of hurricane gaps in a longleaf pine landscape

Ecological approaches to forestry seek to emulate aspects of natural disturbances like hurricanes which are a common disturbance in longleaf pine forets. This study used airborne lidar to measure patterns of hurricane-created gaps to offer guidance for application of natural disturbance-based management in landscapes dominated by longleaf pine.

Read More »
Forest hurricane regimes defined for North America
Research Article

PNAS: New study defines hurricane regimes for North American forests

Hurricanes are a chronic disturbance to many forests. but currently no study defines hurricane regimes for North America. This study uses hurricane models and long-term data to define four distinct hurricane regimes for the region, and discusses how hurricanes may be a useful lens for understanding the distribution of tree species and their traits.

Read More »
News

Zampieri awarded SAF Mollie Beattie Scholarship

The Society of American Foresters named Dr. Nicole Zampieri among two 2023-2024 Mollie Beattie Visiting Scholars. Nicole is a post-doctoral researcher at Tall Timbers Research Station and the Jones Center at Ichauway Landscape Ecology Lab. Her current work investigates patterns of mortality in pine-oak savannas and uses dendrochronology techniques to understand patterns of disturbance. She also plays an important role in guiding and mentoring the research of fellow labmates and beyond. Congratulations, Nicole!

Read More »
Research Article

New study: Longleaf pine woodlands increase streamflow during droughts

Jones Center researcher Dr. Seth Younger found that longleaf pine woodlands increase water yeidl during droughts. The study looked at 21 rural watersheds with varying levels of longleaf pine cover and found that those with high longleaf pine cover had 17% higher stream flow than those with low cover. The increase was even higher during critical drought periods, highlighting how longleaf pine restoration can improve conservation outcomes on land and in streams.

Read More »
News

Sen. Ossoff visits Ichauway, launches bill to improve data collection

Sen. Jon Ossoff visited the Jones Center at Ichauway to announce a bill that would improve data collection efforts of the US Forest Service. The new bill would authorize USFS to collect data on above and below ground carbon and adopt new technologies such as lidar. The bill is expected to improve data collection within the USFS Forest Inventory and Analysis.

Read More »
Media

PBS features Landscape Ecology Lab’s tree winching research

Chuck visits the Jones Center at Ichauway and chats with Director Dr. Kier Klepzig about their work on the 30,000-acre property. They join Dr. Jeff Cannon in the field and help him with a bit of hands-on research into how much hurricane wind force it takes to fell a longleaf pine.

Read More »