Todd Ristau

Title: Research Ecologist
Unit: Sustaining Forests in a Changing Environment
Previous Unit: Guidelines and indicators for sustaining forest ecosystems of Pennsylvania and the adjacent Allegheny Plateau Region
Address: Northern Research Station
PO Box 267
Irvine, PA 16329
Phone: 814-563-1040
E-mail: Contact Todd Ristau

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Education

• The State University of New York, College of Env. Sci. and For. -- PhD candidate.
• The Pennsylvania State University -- MS in Forest Science 1997.
• Houghton College -- BS in Biology 1991.

Civic & Professional Affiliations

Ecological Society of America, 1995 to present
Torrey Botanical Society, 1998 to present
Society of American Foresters 1995 to present

Current Research

• My research has focused on recovery of herbaceous vegetation following forest management. I have worked on developing methods for sampling herbaceous plants and am involved in two studies assessing the impact of herbicide application on recovery of herbs.
• I am investigating the role of buried seed as a mechanism in vegetation recovery. I am interested in recognizing silvicultural problems and opportunities during the early stem exclusion phase of stand development and have studied the role of pin cherry during that phase.
• I am currently analyzing data from a long-term cleaning/crop tree release study established in 1936 on the Kane Experimental Forest.

Why is This Important

Our mission is to enhance the basic understanding of Allegheny Plateau forest ecosystems and to develop resource management guidelines. Understanding how management activities alter the herbaceous plant community in stands under a variety of management strategies is critical to the practice of ecosystem management. Understanding the competitive ability of species like black birch, black cherry, and pin cherry are important. Understanding establishment requirements and creating conditions favorable for species like cucumber tree, yellow-poplar, white ash, red maple, and sugar maple to become established where possible is critical.

Future Research

• I will continue to monitor herbaceous plant communities following management activities to determine what changes might occur and whether these changes are permanent or temporary.
• I plan to work with others to recognize the conditions that result in monoculture following overstory removal and to apply existing silvicultural practices in ways to promote mixed species regeneration. Understanding the competitive ability of species like black birch, black cherry, and pin cherry are important. Understanding establishment requirements and creating conditions favorable for species like cucumber, yellow-poplar, white ash, red maple, and sugar maple to become established where possible is also critical.

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