These are questions that intrigue me. My colleagues Dave Coates, Christian Messier and I suggest that viewing forests as complex adaptive systems may be helpful in this context. A closer look at complexity science provides opportunities to learn new ideas and approaches for managing forest ecosystems. But there is still much to be learned and I have initiated a research program that investigates these questions at various stand development stages from stand establishment to mature forests. Book available for order at Amazon. Reviews of the book.

During the first decades stands are very dynamic. I am interested whether gaps in plantations can provide for structural diversity and what the tradeoffs are in terms of timber production. The Young Plantation Study investigates these questions and monitors development of vegetation (Stephanie Hart)and wildlife use (John Hayes) in 5 to 20 year old Douglas-fir stands on Oregon Department of Forestry land.

Together with Paul Anderson (PNW Research Station) and the Bureau of Land Management I am investigating how different reforestation techniques in burned-over plantations (Timbered Rock Fire) effect microsite conditions, vegetation composition, establishment of natural regeneration, seedling growth, and fuel loads (Lori Kayes).

The Young Stand Thinning and Diversity Study (initiated by the Willamette National Forest) and the Density Management Study (initiated by the Bureau of Land Management) investigates impacts of various thinning regimes in 30 to 70-year old Douglas-fir stands. Aspects that I deal with directly include over-and understory vegetation (Liane Beggs, Shanti Berryman) and tree and crown architecture (John Punches). I am especially interested in stand structural development and plant diversity and composition. Specific interests include the spatial scale of interactions (Tony D'Amato) and gap influences (Robert Fahey). I am cooperating with other scientists to determine how changes in stand structure influence ecosystem function and processes, including microclimate (Paul Anderson), amphibian (Matt Kluber, Dede Olson) and songbird habitat (Joan Hagar), and other resources.

To quantify ecosystem responses to silvicultural manipulations requires a sophisticated modeling system. I see great potential in the opportunity to synthesize and integrate information from the various studies. Ongoing work includes modeling how site conditions, spatial variability, and diversity of stand structures influence development of tree and stand growth, tree regeneration, plant diversity, and wildlife habitat and populations (Lisa Ganio). Using a Bayesian Belief Network allows us to acknowledge and incorporate the variability, stochasticity, and dynamic complexity of forest ecosystems.

It is a privilege to be working on the "cutting edge", involved in a powerful set of experiments, and to work with fine colleagues and students. Together we strive to make contributions to forest science that will help forest managers and the public to make informed decisions about forest management.

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