Southern Pine Ecology and Management (SRS-4159)

Unit scientists and staff are distributed among five locations: Hot Springs, Monticello, and Crossett, AR; Pineville, LA; and Nacogdoches, TX. 

Our research is concentrated in three problem areas:

Ecology and silviculture of southern pine-dominated forests

Our goal is to discover and develop new knowledge about the ecology of southern pine-dominated forest ecosystems and to refine the silvicultural principles and practices for these ecosystems, so that land managers can make better management decisions and take more effective action to achieve desired results on public and private forest lands in the South.

Regional, continental, and global effects on southern pine-dominated forests

We seek to discover and evaluate the influence of regional, continental, and global forcing factors on pine-dominated forest ecosystems in the South, and to provide landowners and managers with the tools to manage healthy, diverse, and productive southern pine ecosystems that are resilient in response to these changes. Our scientists have special expertise in forest soils and soil science, and our research unit includes leadership and participation in long-term site productivity.

Effects of forest management, insect pests, and climate change on wildlife in southern pine-dominated forests

The discovery, development, and integration of knowledge about the effects of forest management, insect pests, and climate change on wildlife and wildlife habitat in southern pine-dominated ecosystems will provide managers with better tools to restore and manage wildlife populations that are healthy, diverse, and sustainable.