Ecological Restoration of Longleaf Pine is a timely synthesis of the current understanding of the natural dynamics and processes in longleaf pine ecosystems. This book beautifully illustrates how incorporation of basic ecosystem knowledge and an understanding of socioeconomic realities shed new light on established paradigms and their application for restoration and management. Unique for its holistic ecological focus, rather than a more traditional silvicultural approach, Ecological Restoration of Longleaf Pine highlights the importance of multi-faceted actions that robustly integrate forest and wildlife conservation at landscape scales, and merge ecological with socioeconomic objectives for effective conservation of the longleaf pine ecosystem.
Foreword
The Context for Restoration
- Historical Biogeography of the Southeastern Coastal Plain: Environmental and Human Influences
- Longleaf Pine: The Fire Forest of the Past and Present
- The Emerging Role of Ecological and Market Economics
- Ecological Forestry: A Paradigm Shift
The Ecological Basis for Restoration
- Foundations of Longleaf Pine Biology: Competition and Natural Regeneration Dynamics
- Mechanistic Controls on Plant Diversity
- Understanding Linkages to Fuels and Fire Behavior
- Ecosystem Processes and Restoration of Longleaf Pine Woodlands
- Ecological Underpinnings of a Complex Food Web
- Embedded Wetlands -Upland-Wetland Connectivity
Longleaf Ecosystem Restoration: Linking Ecological Understanding and Management
- Restoration Objectives and Ecological Forestry
- Restoring and Managing a Diverse Firemaintained Ground Cover
- Using Wildlife Habitat Models to Evaluate Management and Restoration Endpoints
Restoration and Practical Issues
- Smoke Management in an Urbanizing Landscape
- Challenges and Opportunities for Restoration of Rare, Threatened, and Endangered Species
- Longleaf Pine Ecosystem Monitoring and Adaptive Management
Synthesis and a Forward Look
- Longleaf Pine Ecosystems: Comparisons Among Frequent Fire Conifer Ecosystems
- America's Longleaf Initiative-A Regional Approach to Conservation
- The Role of Longleaf Pine Restoration in Improving Ecological Integrity of Southeastern Forests: Planning for an Uncertain Future
L. Katherine Kirkman is a Scientist at the J. W. Jones Ecological Research Center, where she has worked as a Plant Ecologist since1992. She received her Ph.D. from the University of Georgia in Botany. She holds adjunct faculty appointments at the University of Georgia, University of Florida, and Auburn University. Her research focus is on conservation of biodiversity of the longleaf pine ecosystem with particular interest in recovery of native ground cover, ecology of rare species, and ecological linkages of uplands and wetlands.
Steven B. Jack has been at the J. W. Jones Ecological Research Center since 1997 where he is the Conservation Ecologist and Applied Forest Scientist. In this role, he conducts applied research to develop a better understanding of the ecological basis for multi-aged silvicultural practices, provides technical support and forest management expertise within the resource management program of the Center, and is involved in many terrestrially-oriented outreach activities. He received his Ph.D. from Utah State University in forest ecology and silviculture, and previously was on the faculty at Texas A&M University.