Brian J. Palik, PhD

My research has two central themes:

1. Adaptating forests to an uncertain climate future
2. Ecological silviculture based on natural models

Both of these themes are addressed primarily through use of operational-scale management experiments designed to be statistically robust, realistic, but also novel in terms of the treatments examined, and inclusive of a large number of response variables. Much of this work is accomplished through close collaboration with university and agency researchers from across the nation. My particular research foci include questions related to plant biodiversity and community composition, tree regeneration dynamics, and forest productivity. I am interested in tradeoffs between productivity (biomass, volume) and sustainability of other ecological characteristics (e.g., native species diversity and habitat). Ultimately, my interest is in developing and evaluating silvicultural and management approaches that sustain ecological function in managed forests.

Some of my past research efforts include:
1. Quantifying disturbances and regeneration processes in longleaf pine woodlands
2. Multi-scale interactions between seasonal wetlands and upland forests
3. Approaches for sustaining functional riparian forests
4. Quantifying natural disturbance regimes in red pine ecosystems

Specific research interests include:
1. Adaptation approaches for wetland black ash forests in the face of emerald ash borer and climate change
2. Adaptive silviculture for climate change (ASCC) in red pine ecosystems--as part of the national ASCC network
3. Assisted migration of future climate adapted tree species in operational forestry settings
4. Thinning/stocking strategies to mitigate impacts of growing season drought
5. Developing a mechanistic understanding of variable retention harvesting and variable density thinning in red pine ecosystems
6. Formalizing an ecological approach to silviculture

Youngquist, Melissa B.; Eggert, Sue L.; D'Amato, Anthony W.; Palik, Brian J.; Slesak, Robert A. 2017. Potential effects of foundation species loss on wetland communities: A case study of black ash wetlands threatened by emerald ash borer. Wetlands. 37(4): 787-799. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13157-017-0908-2. ​

Nagel, Linda M.; Palik, Brian J.; Battaglia, Michael A. ; D'Amato, Anthony W.; Guldin, James M.; Swanston, Christopher W.; Janowiak, Maria K.; Powers, Matthew P.; Joyce, Linda A.; Millar, Constance I.; Peterson, David L.; Ganio, Lisa M.; Kirschbaum, Chad; Roske, Molly R. 2017. Adaptive silviculture for climate change: a national experiment in manager-scientist partnerships to apply an adaptation framework. Journal of Forestry. 115. 12 p. http://dx.doi.org/10.5849/jof.16-039

Muller, Jacob J.; Nagel, Linda M.; Palik, Brian J. 2019. Forest adaptation strategies aimed at climate change: Assessing the performance of future climate-adapted tree species in a northern Minnesota pine ecosystem. Forest Ecology and Management. 451: 117539. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2019.117539.

Bottero, Alessandra; D'Amato, Anthony W.; Palik, Brian J.; Bradford, John B.; Fraver, Shawn; Battaglia, Mike A.; Asherin, Lance A.; Bugmann, Harald. 2017. Density-dependent vulnerability of forest ecosystems to drought. Journal of Applied Ecology. 106:605-614. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.12847.

Palik, Brian J., D’Amato, Anthony W. 2019. Variable retention harvesting in Great Lakes mixed-pine forests: emulating a natural model in managed ecosystems. Ecological Processes. 8(1): 16. https://doi.org/10.1186/S13717-019-0171-Y
 
Palik, Brian J.; D'Amato, Anthony W. 2017. Ecological forestry: Much more than retention harvesting. Journal of Forestry. 115(1): 51-53. https://doi.org/10.5849/jof.16-057

My research on black ash forest response to emerald ash borer and climate change is novel in the research community, as it uses whole-ecosystem manipulation based on natural forest dynamics, as well as stand-scale emulation of EAB mortality.  It is important because results contribute to guidelines and strategies aimed at pre-emptive management of this vast forest type in the face of these threats.

My work on climate adaptation approaches in red pine forests is novel in the research community globally, because it combines long-term silivcultural experiments with large-scale, whole-ecosystem manipulations to examine a wide range of response variables.  This research is important because results are used to help stakeholders develop expectations and approaches for climate change adaptation.

My work on assisted migration of tree species in operational management experiments is novel globally.  It is important because managers need real world information on species choice and expectations for performance.   

My work on natural forest disturbance and development in both longleaf pine and red pine ecosystems has advanced our fundamental understanding of how these forest work.  This research is important because it contributes to models for ecological silviculture aimed at sustaining ecosystem function in managed forests.

My formulation of an ecological approach to silviculture based on natural models is the first of its kind globally.  It is important because increasingly stakeholders are charged with managing forest for timber in ways that ensure sustainability of ecosystems broadly.