Landscape Ecology Lab welcomes Khanh Ton
The Landscape Ecology lab is excited to welcome Khanh Ton as our new Geospatial Analyst! Khanh recently earned her MS from the University of New Hampshire, where she studied how prescribed fire supports red oak regeneration. At the Jones Center, she will lead projects using drones, lidar, and satellite imagery to assess longleaf pine habitat quality. Her geospatial expertise will strengthen our lab’s efforts to apply cutting-edge technology in conservation.
Building hurricane-resilient longleaf pine forests
The Longleaf Leader recently featured our research published in Forest Ecology and Management, which guides how landowners can help longleaf pine forests withstand hurricanes. By managing stand density, encouraging tree taper, and maintaining landscape connectivity, planted longleaf stands can be made more wind-resistant, highlighting practical steps to ensure restoration efforts endure in a hurricane-prone future. Check it out on the Longleaf Alliance website
Scienmag highlights labs work on hurricane threats to Longleaf Pine ecosystems
A new study led by lab post-doc Nicole Zampieri was recently featured on Scienmag. The article highlights our work on quantifying the escalating hurricane risks threatening North America’s iconic longleaf pine ecosystems. This research reveals how intensified hurricane activity and compounded stressors imperil biodiversity-rich coastal savannas. Our work underscores the urgent need for adaptive management strategies to safeguard these vital ecosystems under climate change.
New paper: Optimizing forest restoration to boost streamflow in Georgia watersheds
Can restoring pine savannas improve water flow? Our lab’s new study, led by Chambers English and Seth Younger, shows how forest restoration can be strategically optimized to meet streamflow goals in Southwest Georgia. Using vegetation and hydrologic modeling, the team identifies the most cost-effective areas for pine savanna restoration to support ecological and economic goals.
How longleaf pine patches shape fire: New research and podcast interview on Fire Ecology Chats
George Jensen, an MS student in our lab, recently led a study published in the journal Fire Ecology exploring how dense patches of regenerating longleaf pine influence fuel structure and fire behavior. We joined Bob Keane on the Fire Ecology Chats podcast to discuss the paper, answer questions, and talk about what these feedbacks mean for forest restoration. Tune in to the episode to hear more about how fire, fuels, and vegetation interact in the longleaf pine ecosystem!
New video highlights lab’s research on water benefits from longleaf pine restoration
Research from the Landscape Ecology and Ecohydrology labs shows shows that restoring open longleaf pine woodlands can boost streamflow—especially during drought. Watersheds with more longleaf cover had up to 92% higher flows in dry years, making this iconic ecosystem a potential ally in the fight against water scarcity. Watch the short video to see how climate-smart forest management can help sustain both forests and freshwater.
New study: Advancing hurricane ecology in endangered systems
Longleaf pine savannas are iconic and endangered ecosystems along the Gulf and Atlantic coasts, but intensifying hurricanes pose a growing threat to their persistence. Our team reviewed storm impacts across the longleaf range and found that 85% of remaining habitat experiences tropical storm-force winds every six years. We identified key risk factors—like fire, insects, and salvage logging—that can compound management challenges and delay recovery. This study, published in the journal BioScience highlights the need for climate-informed management strategies that build resilience in the face of increasingly frequent storms.
Now hiring: Landscape Ecology Seasonal Technician
We are seeking motivated individuals to apply for a Seasonal Technician position to contribute to research on restoration and hurricane ecology of longleaf pine woodlands. The successful applicant will assist with field data collection on forest restoration research, and collection and processing of terretrial lidar data. The position will work in a team setting with staff of the Landscape Ecology lab at the Jones Center at Ichauway. Applications reviewed immediately.
Extracting Stand Attributes from Aerial LiDAR Data
I was tasked with using aerial LiDAR to monitor changes in forest structure in a 30-year-old longleaf pine stand after thinning. After completing our lab’s online tutorials for getting started with LiDAR, I was able to develop an R script for estimating tree- and stand-level attributes. Follow along on this tutorial to see how simple remote sensing can be!
New study: Patchy longleaf pine regeneration changes fuels and fire behavior
Longleaf pine ecosystems depend on frequent fire which changes competitive and growth dynamics of the ecosystem. However, fire behavior is complex and driven by complex feedbacks between fire effects, fuels, and vegetation. In an intensive field study, we investigated how dense patches of longleaf pine regeneration can change fuels and fire behavior compared to regenerating saplings occuring singly. We found that regeneration have altered fuels, and often reduced fire behavior in a manner that likely shapes spatial dynamics in the ecosystem