Callie Schweitzer |
| Name: |
Callie Schweitzer |
| Title: |
Research Forester |
| Unit: |
Upland Hardwood Ecology and Management (4157)
Huntsville |
| Phone: |
256-603-0969 |
| Fax: |
|
| E-Mail: |
cschweitzer@fs.fed.us |
Location Information |
Mailing
Address: |
USDA-Forest Service
Alabama A&M University
P.O. Box 1568
Normal, AL 35762 |
Shipping
Address: |
None
, |
Location
Phone: |
|
Research Information |
Education: |
- Doctorate of Philosophy, The Pennsylvania State University, May 1995, Forest Resources, Dissertation title
|
Current Research: |
- Determining how stand-level silvicultural prescriptions affect forest composition and structure in the Cumberland Plateau and related highlands
- Ecological approaches to forest management practices that characterize vegetation structure and composition, wildlife habitat changes, and effects on bird, small mammal and herpetofaunal communities
- Quantifying timber harvesting practices and prescribed burning impact on residual stand quality, regeneration status, fuel loadings and physical site conditions
- Characterizing understory light conditions conducive to regenerating oak and other desired species following harvest, herbicide and prescribed burning
- Estimating carbon storage pools for upland hardwood systems and modeling these across management regimes and spatially differing landscapes
- Geospatial assessment of non-native vegetation on highly disturbed sites
- Examining efficacy of active forest management on forest health and long-term sustainability to mitigate potential impacts from invasive species and climate change
Civic & Professional Affiliations
- Member, Society of American Foresters since 1989
- Mountain Lakes Chapter, AL: Chair (2003, 2004, 2006); Vice-chair (2002); Education outreach
coordinator (2002-2007)
- Pisgah Chapter, NC: Secretary/Treasurer (1998-2000
- Broadleaf Chapter, MS: Secretary/Treasurer (1996-1998); MS Annual Meeting Chair (1996)
- Member, AL Forestry Consortium (2000-present)
- Member, Land Trust of North Alabama, Board of Trustees (2008-present)
- Member, Huntsville, AL Tree Commission Board (2001-present)
- Adjunct Assistant Professor, The University of Tennessee, Department of Forestry, Wildlife, and
- Fisheries (2006-present); Alabama A&M University (2001-present); Delta State University, MS (1995-1998); University of Alabama (2010-present)
Why is This Important
Forest manager desire to not only shape the structure and composition of their future forests, but they also want to promote the diversity of goods and services produced. They do this on a stand level, at a minimum, which is why large-scale applied forest management research is relevant to them. Not all treatments can be "scaled–up", and managers need to have predictions based on their management unit, a stand, which include spatial and temporal variation. Large-scale stand manipulation studies allow for these predictions, but as an added benefit, they also allow for the coupling of collaborative research on wildlife. Many of my studies are paired with wildlife research, modeling habitat changes and subsequent impacts on birds, small mammals and herpetofaunal populations and communities. The comprehensive and ecological approach is appealing to a wide range of managers. The nature of these studies is also conducive to assisting with testing of emerging issues, such as climate change and carbon sequestration/biomass, as well as natural disturbance.
Future Research
- Model forest fuels under thinning and three fire return interval regimes, and assess the impacts on the residual stands and the regeneration status
- Assess regeneration potential on a regional basis across the Cumberland Plateau landscape, incorporating geophysical characteristics and management systems
Featured Publications
- Schweitzer, C.J.; Dey, D.C. 2011. Forest structure, composition, and tree diversity response to a gradient of regeneration harvests in the mid-Cumberland Plateau escarpment region, USA. Forest Ecology and Management 262:1729-1741. http://treesearch.fs.fed.us/pubs/39002
- Schweitzer, C.J.; Janzen, G. 2012. The application of single-tree selection compared to diameter-limit cutting in an upland oak-hickory forest on the Cumberland Plateau in Jackson County, Alabama. In Butnor, J.R., ed. 2012. Proceedings, 16th Biennial Southern Silvicultural Conference; 2011; e-Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS-156. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station: 290-299. http://treesearch.fs.fed.us/pubs/40572
- Carpenter, J.; Wang, Y.; Schweitzer, C. 2011. Avian community associations and microhabitat associations of Cerulean Warblers (Dendroica cerulea) in Alabama: Wilson Journal of Ornithology 123(2): 206-217. http://treesearch.fs.fed.us/pubs/38875
- Clark, S.L.; Schweitzer, C.J.; Schlarbaum, S.E.; Dimov, L.D.; Hebard, F.V. 2009. Nursery quality and first-year response of American chestnut (Castanea dentata) seedlings planted in the southeastern United States. Tree Planters" Notes 53(2): 13-21. http://www.treesearch.fs.fed.us/pubs/35851
- Schweitzer, C.J.; Gottschalk, K.; Stringer, J.; Clark, S.; Loftis, D. 2011. Using Silviculture to Sustain Upland Oak Forests Under Stress on the Daniel Boone National Forest, Kentucky. In: Fei, S. and others, eds. 2011. Proceedings, 17th Central Hardwood Forest Conference; 2010. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-P-78. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station: 467-489. http://treesearch.fs.fed.us/pubs/38085
- Dey, D.C.; Gardiner, E.S.; Schweitzer, C.J.; Kabrick, J.M.; Jacobs, D.F. 2012. Underplanting to sustain future stocking of oak (Quercus) in temperate deciduous forests. New Forests. Published on-line April 22, 2012. DOI 10.1007/s11056-012-9330-z.
|
Collaborative Research: |
| I am increasingly interested in identifying and improving techniques that will address maintaining sustainable forests, and in particular, in maintaining or increasing the oak component in these forests. There exists a need to collaborate on landscape levels on questions dealing with the fundamental spatial and temporal dynamics of hardwood ecosystems, and in applying tools that include fire, herbicides, and thinning. |
|
|
|
