Archives

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

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

PNAS: New study defines hurricane regimes for North American forests

Forest hurricane regimes defined for North America

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.

Fishes of the Flint River Basin

The Aquatic Sciences Lab at The Jones Center at Ichauway is excited to share a compilation highlighting the incredible fish diversity of the Flint River Basin. Using a wide range of sources, we identified 92 species of fish present in the Flint River Basin, including native, endemic, threatened, and non-native species. Species designations and ranges […]

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.

Ichauway: Rainfall Wrapped 2024

Happy New Year from the Aquatic Sciences Lab! The lab celebrates our first-year anniversary this month and we are looking both backwards at a busy 2024 and forwards to an exciting 2025. We will be making our way to you at conferences and welcoming new lab members and graduate students (more to come soon!). As […]

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.

Seed collection efforts expand

The Jones Center became an Institutional Partner of the Center for Plant Conservation (CPC) in 2024 and collaborated with CPC and the Florida Natural Areas Inventory to make our first-ever seed collections in Florida as part of the Florida Plant Rescue (FLPR) program. FLPR’s goal is “to secure and safeguard Florida’s rare plant species in […]

Side-Scan Sonar Training with USFWS

Last month we had the privilege of hosting Dr. Adam Kaeser and Jake Roush of the Panama City US Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office. Adam is currently the Gulf Sturgeon Recovery Lead for the Service but has roots here in the lower Flint River basin (LFRB) after starting his research career as a Fisheries Biologist […]

Wrapping a Busy Fall in the Aquatic Sciences Lab

The Aquatic Sciences Lab at the Jones Center is happily exhausted on this first proper cold day in SW GA! As we near the end of the lab’s first year, we have made lots of progress and collaborations to report on, many happening in the last few weeks.  We have our first exchange of personnel […]

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.