Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Great Basin CESU

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The USGS Southwest Biological Science Center (SBSC) is offering a funding opportunity for research investigating the effects of drought on regeneration of dryland forests across the U.S. Southwest. Ponderosa pine forests in the SW CASC region are declining and their future persistence is highly uncertain. However, increasing evidence suggests that past and current research has not identified the greatest risk to these ecosystems - they will fail to regenerate in a less favorable climate. To combat these declines and support forest resilience, land managers employ actions including tree stand and understory thinning. Because the factors influencing regeneration are not well-understood, it is unclear how management actions support regeneration and if they will be effective in the future. USGS is researching the multiple biotic and abiotic factors supporting regeneration of ponderosa pine, with particular focus on understanding population-level stress tolerance and enhancing predictive modeling capabilities. The research is designed to address several pressing research topics related to ponderosa pine regeneration that emerged in discussions with our land management cooperators at USFWS, USFS, and the Nature Conservancy.

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