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The Mission of the RWU SRS-4160 is to quantify above- and below-ground processes governing sustainability of forest function and productivity, predict forest functional dynamics, and model the interaction of soil processes, plant physiology, forest management, and the environment.

Southern Institute of Forest Ecosystems Biology Team

USDA Forest Service Southern Research Station

Research Work Unit SRS-4160

The Biological Foundations of Southern Forest Productivity and Sustainability project is broken into two research teams:

• Above-ground processes - Research Triangle Park, NC
• Soil processes - Research Triangle Park, NC

An analytical service lab is run out of RTP. Through these combined efforts we are studying multiple aspects of southern forest productivity, sustainability and biodiversity including forest establishment, growth and development. This includes studies on:

• seedling stock quality and outplanting performance,
• responses of older trees to silvicultural and environmental perturbation,
• the role of tree stands, and forestry, in sequestering atmospheric carbon,
• and the role of forest soils in long-term forest sustainability.

Research Studies Throughout the Nation

• Several large-scale field experiments have been established and are utilized including the Southeast Tree Research and Education Site (SETRES) in Scotland County, NC and a Long Term Soil productivity (LTSP) installation in the Croatan National Forest.
• We have a major collaborative effort with Region 8 of the National Forests to initiate and test artificial regeneration of oak species to increase biodiversity and improve wildlife habitat.
• Extensive sampling is being conducted across the South to elucidate the impact of forestry and forest productivity on total ecosystem carbon sequestration.
• In-depth studies are being conducted on restoration of longleaf pine ecosystems.
• A major collaborative effort on forest responses to elevated atmospheric CO₂ and its interaction with soil nutrition is taking place at Duke Forest.
• Research tools, including an automated system for measuring soil CO₂ efflux, and the use of ground penetrating radar to quantify root biomass, have been and are continued to be developed.

Working partnerships

We stress working closely and dove-tailing our skills with University and Industry partners. Knowledge gained is incorporated into models useful for regional global change assessments as well as forest management.

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