Stand dynamics and modelling of effects of natural disturbance on mixedwood development patterns

了解森林动态，演替和栖息地的关系，在不同层次的造林是森林经营规划的基础。北卡罗来纳森林是北方混交林和云冷杉与美国东北部硬木的交汇地带。演替动态受到自然干扰以及长期的收获和保护历史的强烈影响。我建议研究自然干扰（云杉芽虫爆发），生态位，和林分结构之间的关系，特别是在混合香脂冷杉-硬木和红云杉-硬木的立场。研究结果将有助于确定混交林的林分发展模式和适当的造林方式，混交林是一种在生态上还不太了解的林分类型，该区域的森林管理正在迅速减少这种林分。这项研究是新颖的林分发展建模与自然干扰对林分发展的影响的实地评估相结合。

Understanding forest dynamics, succession, and habitat relationships under differing levels of silviculture is the underpinning of forest management planning. The Acadian forest is a zone where boreal mixedwoods and spruce-fir meet hardwoods of the northeastern US. Successional dynamics are strongly influenced by natural disturbances, and by a long history of harvest and protection. I propose to study relationships between natural disturbance (spruce budworm outbreaks), ecosite, and stand structure, specifically in mixed balsam fir - hardwood and red spruce - hardwood stands. Results will help to define stand development patterns and appropriate silviculture for mixedwood, a stand type that is not well understood ecologically and that is being rapidly reduced by forest management in the region. The research is novel in combining stand development modeling with field evaluations of natural disturbance effects on stand development.