Landscape Ecology

Jeffery B. Cannon

Landscape Ecology

Jeffery B. Cannon

People

People

Jeffery B. Cannon, Ph.D.

Associate Scientist, Landscape Ecology
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Dr. Jeffery Cannon is a Landscape Ecologist at the Jones Center at Ichauway. His lab focuses on landscape ecology of forest disturbance and restoration in pine systems of the U.S. and emphasizes technology application in forestry and natural resources. Current projects include (1) quantifying hurricane risk to forest resources through multi-scale studies of wind risk, (2) understanding overstory drivers of forest dynamics in longleaf and related systems, and (3) research to improve restoration outcomes in ponderosa pine and longleaf pine forests. Jeff holds a B.S. in Biological Sciences from Mississippi State University (2009), an M.S. in Biology from the University of Mississippi (2011), and a Ph.D. in Plant Biology from the University of Georgia (2015).

Nicole Zampieri, Ph.D.

Postdoctoral Research Associate
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Dr. Nicole Zampieri is a joint Post-doctoral Research Associate at the Jones Center at Ichauway and Tall Timbers Research Station in Tallahassee, FL. Her research explores patterns in function, structure, and diversity of endangered longleaf pine ecosystems using field surveys, dendroecological methods, and statistics. Broadly she is interested in biogeographic theory, dendrochronology, disturbance ecology, and conservation of biodiversity.  Currently, projects include evaluating how climate and fire interact to affect growth of longleaf pines and exploring how patterns in physiognomy relate to fire-induced tree injury and mortality. Additionally, Nicole is a co-leader of the Longleaf Pine Tree-Ring Network and facilitator of the first African Dendrochronological Fieldschool. She holds an M.S. and Ph.D. in Geography from Florida State University. 

Leah Andino, M.S.

Research Associate I

Leah Andino joined the Landscape Ecology Lab in 2024 as a Research Associate. Leah earned her B.A. in Geography/Environmental Studies from UCLA and her master’s degree in Forest Science from the Yale School of the Environment. At Yale, she focused her studies on forest dynamics and plant ecophysiology, and her thesis looked at changes in vegetation across the topography of a moist limestone forest in northwestern Puerto Rico. She also gained some forestry experience during her master’s program studying silviculture and creating a management plan for a protected area in northeastern Connecticut. She is especially excited to gain more experience in using lidar and drone imagery and exploring their applications in conservation and restoration.

Khanh Ton, M.S.

Geospatial Analyst

Khanh Ton joined the Landscape Ecology Lab as a Geospatial Analyst in 2025 after graduating from the University of New Hampshire with an M.S. in Natural Resources and the Environment and a Graduate Certificate in Geospatial Science. At UNH, her work examined how prescribed fire can help regenerate Northern red oak in its climate change-induced northward expansion in the northeastern US. Her broader research interests encompass forest ecology, terrestrial biogeochemistry, and remote sensing, which were kindled during her undergraduate studies in Environmental Sciences at Rhodes College. 

Tanner Warren

Research Technician II

Tanner Warren is a Research Technician II for the Jones Center at Ichauway Landscape Ecology lab. Tanner has worked at the Jones Center since 2014 with the Plant Ecology, Conservation Ecology, and Forest Ecology labs. His main research interests include forest productivity, effects of disturbance events on forest structure, and remote sensing with terrestrial lidar. He attended both Berry College and the University of West Georgia, earning a B.S. in Biology from UWG in May 2015.

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Amber Johnson

Research Technician I

Amber Johnson joined the Landscape Ecology Lab as a seasonal technician in 2023 after graduating from Florida State University with a B.S. in Environmental Science and Policy. After gaining some experience through seasonal work, Amber intends to pursue a master’s degree in ecology. Her research interests include ecological disturbance dynamics, forested wetlands, and ecosystem restoration.

Carly Ramacher

Seasonal Technician II

Carly Ramacher joined the Landscape Ecology as a seasonal technician in August 2025. They earned their B.A. in Environmental Biology from Washington University in St. Louis in 2025. During the summers preceding and following their senior year, Carly worked as first an undergraduate fellow and then a field technician at Tyson Research Center. Their work primarily involved forest ecology research, including the effects of fire disturbance on oak-hickory woodlands. They are excited to continue researching forest disturbance in a new ecosystem and expand their skills by working with lidar technology. Though they have not yet started actively pursuing it, Carly is interested in getting a PhD in forestry.

Tristen Pasternak

Tristen Pasternak

National Science Foundation RaMP Fellow

Tristen Pasternak is a National Science Foundation RaMP Fellow through the Woods to Water Program. Tristen joined the Landscape Ecology lab in September and will complete a year-long research project focusing on relative hurricane vulnerability and phenology of tree species in longleaf pine ecosystems. In 2022, Tristen earned her B.S. in English and Writing from Barnard College of Columbia University.  Tristen is thrilled to join the landscape ecology team. She looks forward to sharpening her research skills and working with lidar remote sensing technology. 

Current graduate students

Nathan Moore

Graduate Student (Auburn University)

Nathan Moore is a Ph.D. student in Forestry at Auburn University, advised by Drs. Heather Alexander and Jeffery Cannon. Prior to starting his research on fire behavior and oak persistence at Ichauway, Nathan received both his M.S. and B.S. in Natural Resource Ecology and Management from Oklahoma State University. In addition to his graduate research focused on soil carbon storage, Nathan also worked on topics such as woody plant encroachment and pyric herbivory. Broadly, his research interests are focused on the influence of disturbance (such as fire) on ecosystem services.  

Morne Le Roux

Morné le Roux

Graduate Student (Auburn University)

Morné le Roux is a graduate student at Auburn University, where she is pursuing an MS in Natural Resources working with Dr. Tim Shearman and Dr. Jeffery Cannon. She received a BS in Earth System Science from the University of Alabama in Huntsville. Morné previously worked as a forest research technician at Alabama A&M University, where she helped assess the effects of Conservation Reserve Program tree plantings on climate change mitigation. Her research interests include disturbance interactions, forest ecology, and environmental sociology. In her down time, Morné enjoys hiking with her dog, Stella, and attending concerts.

Landscape Ecology Lab Alumni

Seth Younger, Ph.D.

Former Postdoctoral Research Associate

Dr. Seth Younger’s research bridged between the Landscape Ecology and Ecohydrology labs. At Ichauway, Seth studied the hydrological effects of forest management practices and linkages between evapotranspiration and hydrologic connectivity. His research focused on quantifying the hydrologic effects of longleaf pine restoration in the southeast Coastal Plain. He earned his M.S. in Geography and Ph.D. in Forestry and Natural Resources from the University of Georgia. In 2025, Seth joined Lynker as a Hydrologic Modeller to work toward improving the USGS Hydrology model.

Behnoosh Abbasnezhad, Ph.D.

Former Postdoctoral Research Associate

Dr. Behnoosh Abbasnezhad is an environmental conservation scientist with a background in environmental restoration and ecological research. She earned her Ph.D. at the University of Georgia. At the Jones Center, she is collaborated with the USDA-NRCS to identify critical conservation areas for the “Wetland Reserve Easements” conservation program and expanded her proficiency in geospatial and LiDAR analysis. In 2025, Behnoosh accepted a new position to conduct research with the Family Forest Research Center, a collaborative initiative between the University of Massachusetts Amherst and the USDA Forest Service Northern Research Station where she works with family forest owners to promote conservation and sustainable forestry. 

Arthur Lamounier Moura, Ph.D. (2025)

Graduate Student (Auburn University)

Dr. Arthur Lamounier Moura completed his Ph.D. at the School of Forestry and Wildlife Science at Auburn University (AL) in 2025 working with Dr. Jeffery Cannon and Dr. Heather Alexander, and others on forest and fuel dynamics. His research focused on three major questions: (1) how fuel and overstory composition and structure affect flammability and regeneration in pine-oak mixed forests; (2) how fire return intervals influence the functional traits of regenerating mesophytes and pyrophytes; and (3) how understory community composition and flammability influence fire behavior in pine and hardwood dominated forests.

Andrew W. Whelan, M.S.

Former Senior Research Associate I

From 2020 until 2024, Andy Whelan served as a Research Associate in the Landscape Ecology lab. Andy was a beloved figure at Ichauway where he worked as a Research Associate for 8 years. During his time in our lab, Andy studied silviculture and longleaf pine forest restoration by combining both field and remote sensing techniques. He earned his master’s degree with Drs. Robert J. Mitchell and Greg Starr at the University of Alabama where he used eddy covariance to study physiological ecology of longleaf pine forests. Andy left the lab in 2024 to join the Colorado State Forest Service where he is working to develop a new drone and remote sensing program. 

Andrew Arko, M.S. (2023)

Graduate Student (Mississippi State University)

Andrew Arko joined the Jones Center in September 2019 where he has worked with the Forest Ecology and Landscape Ecology labs.  In 2021, Andrew began pursuing an MS degree at Mississippi State University with Dr. Austin Himes and Dr. Jeffery Cannon.  Andrew’s research examined spatial patterns of wind damage to inform ecological silviculture in longleaf pine woodlands. Andrew received a B.S. in Wildlife and Fisheries Resources and a GIS Certificate in Spatial Analysis from West Virginia University, and has worked for West Virginia University, Michigan State University and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Andrew is currently a Forester with the Washington State Department of Natural Resources.

Luiza Lazzaro, M.S. (2023)​

Graduate Student (Auburn University)

Luiza Lazzaro completed her M.S. at the School of Forestry and Wildlife Science at Auburn University (AL) working with Dr. Jeffery Cannon and Dr. Heather Alexander researching fire dynamics in longleaf pine ecosystems, focusing on fine-scale patterns of microclimate, regeneration, and legacy effects of longleaf pines and oaks. She received a B.S. in Environmental Science at Universidade Federal de São Paulo (Brazil) and worked for two years at the Instituto Florestal de São Paulo. Luiza has continued her graduate education, and is now pursuing a Ph.D. in the Kaye lab at Pennsylvania State University. 

Chambers English, M.S. (2023)

Graduate Student (University of Georgia)

Chambers English completed his M.S. at the University of Georgia in the Dwivedi Forest Sustainability Lab studying the economic and hydrologic tradeoffs of restoration scenarios in the Southeast. Chambers is passionate about natural resource policy, land management, and their impacts on human communities. This work helped managers understand how different conservation practices improved hydrologic and economic outcomes. Chambers is now a Nature Based Solutions Associate at Milliken Advisors, a forestry consultancy in Columbia, SC.

Suzie (Henderson) Blaydes, M.S. (2022)

Graduate Student (University of Georgia)

Suzie completed her M.S. at the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resource at the Unversity of Georgia where she is advised by Dr. Doug Aubrey and Dr. Jeffery Cannon. Suzie’s work will help managers better understand overstory pattern on fuel dynamics and regeneration success. Suzie aspires to raise greater awareness about the diversity and value of ecosystems like the longleaf pine forest through research and plant conservation as well as art. She holds a B.S. in Ecology from the University of Georgia (2018). Suzie recently became a new mother, and spends her time raising her newborn daugther, Joan.

George Jensen, M.S. (2022)

Graduate Student (University of Missouri)

George Jensen completed his M.S. with Dr. Benjamin Knapp at University of Missouri and Dr. Jeffery Cannon at the Jones Center at Ichauway. His research focused on the influence of varying silviculture treatments on fire behavior and effects in longleaf pine ecosystems. George previously worked as a Conservation Biologist, a burn crew member, and a wildland firefighter. George loves working with the public to better educate on matters of wildfire, natural disturbance regimes, and pollinator ecology. George is currently the Southwestern Georgia Prescribed Burn Association Coordinator at Tall Timbers Research Station and Land Conservancy.

Cody Pope, M.S. (2021)

Graduate Student (University of Florida)

Cody conducted his M.S. research in the School of Forest Resources and Conservation at the University of Florida under Dr. Ajay Sharma (UF) and Dr. Jeffery Cannon (The Jones Center). Cody’s work investigated longleaf pine community re-organization following Hurricane Michael. He joined the Jones Center at Ichauway in 2020 after graduating with a B.S. in Environmental Biology from the University of Southern Mississippi. He is interested in forest responses to increased disturbance and stress in a changing climate, as well as the conservation and restoration of the longleaf pine ecosystem. Cody currently serves as a Training Specialist with the Longleaf Alliance.

Past Technicians

Savannah Rascon

Seasonal Technician

Savannah Rascon joined the Landscape Ecology Lab as a seasonal technician in 2024. Savannah earned her B.S. in Ecology, Evolution & Biodiversity and English at the University of Michigan in 2022. Since graduating, she has taken part in several research projects involving both forestry and terrestrial mammal ecology to further develop her field skills. As of fall 2025, she will be pursuing an M.S. in Forestry in a partnership between Auburn University and the Ecological Silviculture Lab at the Jones Center at Ichauway to study the effect of gap silvicultural treatment on longleaf pine regeneration success and reserve tree growth. Savannah’s research interests focus on using community structure and endangered species land use to develop land management plans.

Thiri Pyae (Jasmine) Sone

Seasonal Technician

Thiri Pyae Sone, or Jasmine, joined the lab in 2024 as a seasonal technician after graduating from Colorado College with a bachelor’s degree in environmental science. Beginning fall 2025, Jasmine will be pursuing an MS at University College London studying ecology and data science. Her research interests primarily focus on using remote sensing techniques to contribute to ecosystem conservation and restoration efforts.

John-Michael Boyd

Seasonal Technician

John-Michael Boyd joined the Landscape Ecology lab as a seasonal technician in 2023 after graduating from Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College with a B.S. in Natural Resource Management: Wildlife Resources. Prior to joining the Jones Center, John-Michael worked as a seasonal fire technician for Georgia Department of Natural Resources, he also worked for a tree service as a grounds crew member. He is looking to further his skill sets with future tech positions and seasonal opportunities. His research interests include habitat management and restoration, fire ecology, botany, herpetology, ornithology, & wildlife biology. 

Emma Gwyn

Seasonal Technican

Emma Gwyn joined the Landscape Ecology lab as a seasonal technician in January 2023. In the Spring of 2019, she earned her B.S. in Environmental Sciences from the University of Vermont with a focus in Conservation Biology and Biodiversity. Following her undergraduate degree, Emma served two years with ECO AmeriCorps in Vermont with both Vermont Forests, Parks & Recreation and the Forest Ecosystem Monitoring Cooperative. Emma comes to the Jones Center after a year of teaching outdoor, experiential, environmental education on Catalina Island in California. In the next few years, she plans on pursuing a master’s degree.

Zach McClure

Seasonal Technician

Zach McClure joined the Landscape Ecology lab as a seasonal technician in 2022, where he assisted with establishing a long-term mapped research plot using LiDAR to better understand forest dynamics and fire ecology. Prior to joining the Jones Center, Zach worked on a burn crew with the Nature Conservancy in North Carolina, served with the Montana Conservation Corps and the Student Conservation Association, and worked fro the Florida Conservation Corps as an AmeriCorps member focused on managing invasive plant species. Zach’s research interests include fire ecology & behavior, mycology, and land management. 

Brianna Mackey

Seasonal Technician

Brianna Mackey began as a Seasonal Technician in the Landscape Ecology lab in September 2022. Brianna is pursuing a B.S. in Natural Resource Conservation from the University of Florida. Brianna joins us from the lab of Dr. Ajay Sharma where she assisted graduate students and created and edited educational content. After completing her degree, Brianna intends to pursue an M.S. and eventually, a Ph.D. in wildlife ecology and conservation. She hopes to build a career that involves endangered species and restoration work, and contributing to development of ethical (no-kill) methods for entomology research. 

chaella

Chaella (Valkenaar) Ivey

Seasonal Technician

Chaella (Valkenaar) Ivey earned her B.S. in Biology from Georgia Southern in December 2020. Following a summer doing prairie plant surveys with the Missouri Department of Conservation, she joined the Jones Center as a seasonal research technician where she worked from 2021-2022. She led a project to understand variations in slash pine crown architecture. Chaella’s research interests include fire ecology, large-scale disturbance, and invasive species management. In her free time she enjoys hiking, rock climbing, and lifting weights. Chaella is currently pursuing a master’s degree at the University of Florida.

S. Hunter Scully

Seasonal Technician
Hunter worked with the Landscape Ecology Lab from 2020-2022 after graduating with a B.S. in Forest Resources & Conservation from the University of Florida. He has an interest in large-scale disturbances and their impacts on trees, forests, and the resources they provide companies and landowners alike. Hutner led a research projects on wind resistance in southern pine species with Dr. Chris Peterson (UGA) and Dr. Jeffery Cannon (The Jones Center). In his down time, Hunter enjoys traveling with his fiancée and watching his hometown LSU Tigers football team. Hunter is currently pursuing an MS in Forestry at the University of Georgia Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources.