ForestSAT2026: Special Session: Applying New Technologies to Forest Hurricane Research
The Jones Center Landscape Ecology Lab is hosting two sessions on hurricane-resilient forests at ForestSAT2026 (May 4-8, Gainesville, FL). Eight presentations showcase terrestrial lidar, UAV, and satellite remote sensing innovations for understanding forest resilience to intensifying tropical cyclones. Researchers from across the southeastern United States will present cutting-edge work on hurricane-adaptive canopy traits, wind disturbance impacts, damage assessment using deep learning, and ecological recovery.
New Study: 48 Wildlife species use uprooted longleaf pine root mounds
We partnered with the Herpetology lab in a new study which showed that uprooted longleaf pine tip-ups—created when trees fall—provide a brief but critical wildlife habitat. Using >1 million camera-trap photos, we documented 48 vertebrate species using the mounds to forage, perch, bask, or shelter. The study highlights how even short-lived storm features support biodiversity and should factor into post-disturbance management decisions.