Forest Disturbance and resilience lab
Welcome!
The Forest Disturbance and Resilience Lab at Auburn University focuses on forest disturbances, their impacts on forest structure and composition, and how plant species persist in disturbance-prone environments. Understanding the mechanisms behind plant responses is essential to understand forest resilience, especially under future climate scenarios. We also study how forest management can be used to increase the resilience of forests. Learn more about our work by checking out our current projects and past publications.
Our Research
Although a lot of our research takes place in the southeast United States, we also study multiple ecosystems across the country.
Post-fire Tree Mortality
Wind disturbances are common in the southeast and could increase in intensity and frequency in in future climates. Understanding the effects of these disturbances on our forests is essential.
Hurricane Disturbance
Biological disturbances such as novel diseases and insect outbreaks typically are introduced accidentally through human activity. Their effects can cause major changes in forest structure and composition.
Laurel Wilt Disease
Fire induces many plants to flower. Some species, like wiregrass, never flower unless a disturbance like fire occurs!
Pyrogenic Flowering
