Dale Brockway
Emeritus Scientist
Restoring Longleaf Pine Ecosystems
521 Devall Drive
Auburn, AL 36849-5418
United States
Auburn, AL 36849-5418
United States
Phone
334-826-8700 x128
Current Research
Forest ecosystem ecology, fire ecology, restoration ecology and silviculture. Quantify the dynamic interactions between ecological processes and natural disturbance regimes, specifically fire as a regulator of ecosystem function, structure, pattern and composition. Development of technologies useful in restoration of degraded ecosystems to a functional status compatible with achieving the multiple goals and objectives of natural resource managers. Analysis of the management impacts, resulting from application of silviculture alternatives, on ecosystem processes, biological diversity and sustainable productivity in longleaf pine forests.
Past Research
Restoring fire as an ecological process in shortgrass prairies; restoring grassland savannas from degraded pinyon-juniper woodlands; forest plant diversity at local and landscape scales in the Cascade Mountains; ecological classification and management of forest plant associations in the western Cascades; forest fertilization and nutrient cycling through land application of biosolids and wastewater.
Research Interest
Ecosystem restoration; ecosystem recovery from disturbance; uneven-aged forest management through selection silviculture.
Why This Research Is Important
During the earlier period of timber exploitation, longleaf pine occupancy throughout the South was reduced from 93 to less than 3 million acres. Since this time, longleaf pine forests have come to be recognized as being among the most species-rich plant communities outside the tropics and yet one of the most endangered of terrestrial ecosystems in North America. In recent times, broad-scale collaborative efforts have developed which are aimed at restoring longleaf pine on several million new acres and improving the condition of longleaf pine ecosystems on many existing acres. The research undertaken by RWU-SRS-4158 "Restoring and Managing Longleaf Pine Ecosystems" focuses on providing new and improved methods, techniques and tools that will facilitate the restoration of longleaf pine ecosystems and provide guidance for sustainably managing longleaf pine forests for a broad range of products and services.
Education
- Michigan State University, Ph.D., Forest Ecology and Forest Soils, 1979
- Michigan State University, M.S., Forest Ecology and Silviculture, 1975
- Michigan State University, B.S., Biology: Ecology and Physiology, 1973
- Delta College, A.S., Conservation Biology, 1971
Professional Experience
- Research Ecologist, Southern Research Station, USDA Forest Service, 1998 - Current
- Research Ecologist, Rocky Mountain Research Station, USDA Forest Service, 1994 - 1998
- Forest & Grassland Ecologist, Rocky Mountain Region, USDA Forest Service, 1992 - 1994
- Research Plant Ecologist, Southeastern Forest Experiment Station, USDA Forest Service, 1990 - 1992
- Forest Planning and Policy Development Section Leader, Forest Management Division, Michigan Dept. of Natural Resources, 1989 - 1990
- Forest Soil Scientist, Environmental Protection Bureau, Michigan Dept. of Natural Resources, 1983 - 1989
- Forest Ecologist, Pacific Northwest Region, USDA Forest Service, 1981 - 1983
- Forest Soil Scientist, Environmental Protection Bureau, Michigan Dept. of Natural Resources, 1979 - 1981
Professional Organizations
- Member, Society for Ecological Restoration, 2001 - Current
- Lifetime Member, Ecological Society of America, 1988 - Current
- Member, Society of American Foresters (SAF), 1975 - Current
Featured Publications
- Brockway, Dale G.; Outcalt, Kenneth W.. 2015. Influence of selection systems and shelterwood methods on understory plant communities of longleaf pine forests in flatwoods and uplands
- Brockway, Dale G.; Loewenstein, Edward F.; Outcalt, Kenneth W.. 2014. Proportional basal area method for implementing selection silviculture systems in longleaf pine forests
- Outcalt, K.W.; Brockway, D.G.. 2010. Structure and composition changes following restoration treatments of longleaf pine forests on the Gulf Coastal Plain of Alabama
- Brockway, Dale G.; Outcalt, Kenneth W.; Boyer, William D.. 2006. Longleaf pine regeneration ecology and methods
- Brockway, Dale G.; Outcalt, Kenneth W.; Tomczak, Donald J.; Johnson, Everett E.. 2005. Restoration of Longleaf Pine Ecosystems
- Brockway, Dale G.; Outcalt, Kenneth W.. 2000. Restoring Longleaf Pine Wiregrass Ecosystems: Hexazinone Application Enhances Effects of Prescribed Fire
Other Publications
- Sharma, Shubhi ; Andrus, Robert ; Bergeron, Yves ; Bogdziewicz, Michal ; Bragg, Don C.; Brockway, Dale ; Cleavitt, Natalie L.; Courbaud, Benoit ; Das, Adrian J.; Dietze, Michael ; Fahey, Timothy J.; Franklin, Jerry F.; Gilbert, Gregory S.; Greenberg, Cathryn H.; Guo, Qinfeng ; Hille Ris Lambers, Janneke ; Ibanez, Ines ; Johnstone, Jill F.; Kilner, Christopher L.; Knops, Johannes M. H.; Koenig, Walter D.; Kunstler, Georges ; LaMontagne, Jalene M.; Macias, Diana ; Moran, Emily ; Myers, Jonathan A.; Parmenter, Robert ; Pearse, Ian S.; Poulton-Kamakura, Renata ; Redmond, Miranda D.; Reid, Chantal D.; Rodman, Kyle C.; Scher, C. Lane; Schlesinger, William H.; Steele, Michael A.; Stephenson, Nathan L.; Swenson, Jennifer J.; Swift, Margaret ; Veblen, Thomas T.; Whipple, Amy V; Whitham, Thomas G.; Wion, Andreas P.; Woodall, Christopher W.; Zlotin, Roman ; Clark, James S.. 2022. North American tree migration paced by climate in the West, lagging in the East
- Chen, Xiongwen ; Brockway, Dale G.; Guo, Qinfeng. 2021. Burstiness of seed production in longleaf pine and Chinese torreya
- Pellegrini, Adam F. A.; Refsland, Tyler ; Averill, Colin ; Terrer, César ; Staver, A. Carla; Brockway, Dale G.; Caprio, Anthony ; Clatterbuck, Wayne ; Coetsee, Corli ; Haywood, James D.; Hobbie, Sarah E.; Hoffmann, William A.; Kush, John ; Lewis, Tom ; Moser, W. Keith; Overby, Steven T.; Patterson, William A.; Peay, Kabir G.; Reich, Peter B.; Ryan, Casey ; Sayer, Mary Anne S.; Scharenbroch, Bryant C.; Schoennagel, Tania ; Smith, Gabriel Reuben; Stephan, Kirsten ; Swanston, Chris ; Turner, Monica G.; Varner, J. Morgan; Jackson, Robert B.. 2021. Decadal changes in fire frequencies shift tree communities and functional traits
- Chen, Xiongwen ; Brockway, Dale G.; Guo, Qinfeng. 2020. Temporal patterns of pollen shedding for longleaf pine (<em>Pinus palustris</em>) at the Escambia Experimental Forest in Alabama, USA
- Chen, Xiongwen ; Brockway, Dale G.; Guo, Qinfeng. 2018. Characterizing the dynamics of cone production for longleaf pine forests in the southeastern United States
- Guo, Qinfeng ; Brockway, Dale G.; Larson, Diane L.; Wang, Deli ; Ren, Hai. 2018. Improving ecological restoration to curb biotic invasion—a practical guide
- Brockway, Dale G.; Outcalt, Kenneth W.. 2017. Influence of reproduction cutting methods on structure, growth and regeneration of longleaf pine forests in flatwoods and uplands
- Kara, Ferhat; Loewenstein, Edward F.; Brockway, Dale G.. 2017. Effects of basal area on survival and growth of longleaf pine when practicing selection silviculture
- Chen, Xiongwen; Brockway, Dale G.. 2017. Height-diameter relationships in longleaf pine and four swamp tree species
- Chen, Xiongwen; Guo, Qinfeng; Brockway, Dale G.. 2017. Power laws in cone production of longleaf pine across its native range in the United States
- Guo, Qinfeng; Brockway, Dale G.; Chen, Xiongwen. 2017. Temperature-related sex allocation shifts in a recovering keystone species, <em>Pinus palustris</em>
- Chen, Xiongwen; Brockway, Dale G.; Guo, Qinfeng. 2016. Entropy dynamics in cone production of longleaf pine forests in the southeastern United States
- Guo, Qinfeng; Zarnoch, Stanley J.; Chen, Xiongwen; Brockway, Dale G.. 2016. Life cycle and masting of a recovering keystone indicator species under climate fluctuation
- Leduc, Daniel J.; Sung, Shi-Jean Susana; Brockway, Dale G.; Sword Sayer, Mary Anne. 2016. Weather effects on the success of longleaf pine cone crops
- Chen, Xiongwen; Guo, Qinfeng; Brockway, Dale G.. 2016. Analyzing the complexity of cone production in longleaf pine by multiscale entropy
- Bohn, Kimberly; Chancy, Christel; Brockway, Dale. 2015. Structure and regrowth of longleaf pine forests following uneven-aged silviculture and hurricane disturbance at the Escambia Experimental Forest
- Dyson, David S.; Brockway, Dale G.. 2015. Intensive longleaf pine management for hurricane recovery: fourth-year results
- Brockway, Dale G.; Loewenstein, Edward F.; Outcalt, Kenneth W.. 2015. Pro-B selection method for uneven-aged management of longleaf pine forests
- Connor, Kristina F.; Brockway, Dale G.; Boyer, William D.. 2014. Restoring a legacy: longleaf pine research at the Forest Service Escambia Experimental Forest
- Dyson, David S.; Loewenstein, Edward F.; Jack, Steven B.; Brockway, Dale G.. 2012. Influence of light and moisture on longleaf pine seedling growth in selection silviculture
- Oswalt, Christopher M.; Cooper, Jason A.; Brockway, Dale G.; Brooks, Horace W.; Walker, Joan L.; Connor, Kristina F.; Oswalt, Sonja N.; Conner, Roger C.. 2012. History and current condition of longleaf pine in the Southern United States
- Brockway, Dale G.; Outcalt, Kenneth W.; Becky L., Estes; Robert B., Rummer. 2009. Vegetation response to midstorey mulching and prescribed burning for wildfire hazard reduction and longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) ecosystem restoration
- Connor, Kristina F.; Brockway, Dale G.; Boyer, William D.; Tucker, Ronald K.. 2009. The Escambia Experimental Forest
- Lugo, Ariel D.; Swanson, Frederick J.; González, Olga Ramos; Adams, Mary Beth; Palik, Brian; Thill, Ronald E.; Brockway, Dale G.; Kern, Christel; Woodsmith, Richard; Musselman, Robert. 2006. Long-term research at the USDA Forest Service's experimental forests and ranges.
- Brockway, Dale G.; Outcalt, Kenneth W. 2005. Understory vegetation response in longleaf pine forests to fire and fire surrogate treatments for wildfire hazard reduction and ecological restoration
- Brockway, Dale G.; Outcalt, Kenneth W.; Tomczak, Donald J.; Johnson, Everett E.. 2005. Restoring longleaf pine forest ecosystems in the southern U.S
- Brockway, Dale G.; Outcalt, Kenneth W.; Guldin, James M.; Boyer, William D.; Walker, Joan L.; Rudolph, D. Craig; Rummer, Robert B.; Barnett, James P.; Jose, Shibu; Nowak, Jarek. 2005. Uneven-aged management of longleaf pine forests: a scientist and manager dialogue
- Brockway, Dale; Outcalt, Kenneth W.; Estes, Becky L.. 2003. Restoring Southern Pine Forests Ecosystems: Plant Community Response to Mechanical Midstory History Reduction and Prescribed Fire on Sandhills at Fort Benning Georgia
- Brockway, Dale G.; Lewis, Clifford E.. 2003. Influence of deer, cattle grazing and timber harvest on plant species diversity in a longleaf pine bluestem ecosystem
- Brockway, Dale G.; Gatewood, Richard G.; Paris, Randi B.. 2002. Restoring grassland savannas from degraded pinyon-juniper woodlands: effects of mechanical overstory reduction and slash treatment alternatives
- Brockway, Dale G.; Gatewood, Richard G.; Paris, Randi B.. 2002. Restoring fire as an ecological process in shortgrass prairie ecosystems: initial effects of prescribed burning during the dormant and growing seasons
- Brockway, Dale G.; Outcalt, Kenneth W.; Tomczak, Donald J.; Johnson, E. E.. 2002. Restoring longleaf pine forest ecosystems in the southern United States
- Rummer, B.; Outcalt, K.; Brockway, D.. 2002. Mechanical mid-story reduction treatments for forest fuel management
- Outcalt, K.W.; Brockway, D.G.. 2001. Response of a southern pine community to readjustment of stand structure
- Brockway, Dale G.; Wolters, Gale L.; Pearson, H.A.; Thill, Ronald E.; Baldwin, V. Clark, Jr..; Martin, A.. 1998. Understory plant response to site preparation and fertilization of loblolly and shortleaf pine forests
- Brockway, D.G.. 1998. Forest plant diversity at local and landscape scales in the Cascade Mountains of southwestern Washington
- Brockway, D.G.; Outcalt, K.W.. 1998. Gap-phase regeneration inlongleaf pine wiregrass ecosystems
- Brockway, Dale G.; Outcalt, Kenneth W.; Wilkins, R. Neal. 1998. Restoring longleaf pine wiregrass ecosystems: plant cover, diversity and biomass following low-rate hexazinone application on Florida sandhills
- Brockway, Dale G.; Lewis, Clifford E.. 1997. Long-term effects of dormant-season prescribed fire on plant community diversity, structure and productivity in a longleaf pine wiregrass ecosystem
- Brockway, D.G.. 1991. Sludge fertilization of State Forest land in northern Michigan
- Brockway, D.G.; [Editor],. 1989. Building a Forest Resource Constituency
- Brockway, Dale G.. 1988. Forest Thrives In Sludge Application Tests
- Hart, J.B.; Nguyen, P.V.; Urie, D.H.; Brockway, Dale G.. 1988. Silvicultural Use of Wastewater Sludge
- Brockway, D.G.. 1988. Forest land application of municipal sludge.
- Lea, R.; Brockway, D.G.. 1986. Fertilization of Northern Hardwoods
- Urie, D.H.; Brockway, D.G.. 1986. Relating Research Results to Sludge Guidelines for Michigan's Forests
- Brockway, D.G.; Nguyen, P.V.. 1986. Municipal Sludge Application in Forests of Northern Michigan: a Case Study.
- Brockway, D.G.; Urie, D.H.; Nguyen, P.V.; Hart, J.B.. 1986. Wastewater and Sludge Nutrient Utilization in Forest Ecosystems
- Topik, Christopher; Halverson, Nancy M.; Brockway, Dale G.. 1986. Plant association and management guide for the western hemlock zone.
- Brockway, D.G.; Topik, C.. 1984. Ecological classification and management characteristics of montane forest land in southwestern Washington.
- Brockway, D.G.. 1983. Forest Floor, Soil, andVegetation Responses to Sludge Fertilization in Red and White Pine Plantations
- Brockway, D.G.; Urie, D.H.. 1983. Determining Sludge Fertilization Rates for Forests from Nitrate-N in Leachate and Groundwater
- Brockway, Dale G.; Topik, Christopher; Hemstrom, Miles A.; Emmingham, William H.. 1983. Plant association and management guide for the Pacific silver fir zone Gifford Pinchot National Forest.
- Brockway, D.G.. 1982. Tree seedling reponses to wastewater irrigation on a reforested old field in southern Michigan.
- Brockway, D.G.; Burton, T.M.; Cooley, J.H.; D'Itri, F.M.; Dowdy, R.H.; Ellis, B.G.; Epstein, L.; Erickson, A.E.; Hook, J.E.; Jacobs, L.W.; Kerr, S.N.; Knezek, B.D.; Myers, E.A.; Palazzo, A.J.; Poloncsik, S.; Safir, G.R.; Sopper, W.E.; Sutherland, J.C.; Tesar, M.B.; Thomas, R.E.; Urie, D.H.. 1981. The current status on the selection and management of vegetation for slow rate and overland flow application systems to treat municipal wastewater in the North Central region of the United States
- Brockway, D.G.; Schneider, G.; White, D.P.. 1979. Municipal wastewater renovation, growth and nutrient uptake in an immature conifer-hardwood plantation
- Brockway, Dale G.; Schneider, Gary; White, Donald P.. 1979. Dynamics of Municipal Wastewater Renovation in a Young Conifer-Hardwood Plantation in Michigan
Research Highlights
Selection silviculture can be well-suited to longleaf pine forests
Year: 2017
Uneven-aged silviculture continues to show promise as an effective way to regenerate longleaf pine stands. Uneven-aged silviculture also maintains continuous canopy cover that aids in the control of woody competitors and supports an array of resource values.
Dynamics of longleaf pine cone production in the southeastern U.S.
Year: 2017
Longleaf pine cone production is the result of complex interactions between trees and their environment. Multiscale entropy reflects the complex flow of information among these many ecosystem parts.
Is the relationship between tree height and diameter consistent across species and ranges?
Year: 2017
Scaling exponents reveal differences in longleaf pine height-diameter relationships across its range, possibly due to water availability. Tree species adapted to swampy conditions have developed growth forms that result in deviations from expected relationships.
Restoration Treatments for the Post-Hurricane Recovery of Longleaf Pine
Year: 2012
Scientists recommend herbicide use to control hardwoods in plantings of longleaf pine after hurricane damage
New Management Technique Offers Promise for Longleaf Pine Forests and Beyond
Year: 2010
SRS researchers and partners developed a new technique for managing longleaf pine forests called the Proportional-B (Pro-B) Method. Results show forest personnel can easily learn and apply Pro-B and achieve desired outcomes in the forest.
Comparing Reproduction Techniques for Longleaf Pine Forests
Year: 2014
Methods of even-aged management for longleaf pine are well known, but techniques for uneven-aged management have been poorly understood and largely untested. New approaches to uneven-aged management increase the number of options available to forest managers, so a broader range of resource values an...