Thomas Schuler
Title: Project Leader / Research Forester
Unit: Ecological and Economic Sustainability of the Appalachian Forest in an Era of Globalization
Address: NRS
P.O. Box 404
Parsons, WV 26287
Phone: 304-478-2000 x110
E-mail: Contact Thomas Schuler
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Education
- Ph.D. 1998, Purdue University
- M.S. 1987, Colorado State University
- B.S.F. 1979, Purdue University
Civic & Professional Affiliations
Society of American Foresters, International Union of Forestry Research Organizations, Running Buffalo Clover Recovery Team, NRS Silviculture Working Group, National Cohesive Wildland Fire Strategy - NE Regional Committee, 2012 Central Hardwood Conference - Planning Committee, 2012 Environmental Effects of Natural Gas Development Conference - Planning Committee
Current Research
- Silviculture of Appalachian forests with an emphasis on long-term patterns in productivity, species composition, and diversity.
- Fire ecology of Appalachian forests, including the use of fire as a silvicultural tool to maintain and restore oak forests.
- Restoration and stand dynamics of central Appalachian montane spruce communities
- Disturbance ecology and management of running buffalo clover to protect and recover this federally endangered species.
Why is This Important
Species composition of exploited forests are increasingly dominated by less desirable species and lower quality throughout the region. Even unmanaged forests and forest reserves are following the same pattern of compositional change. This has negative economic and ecological consequences for the entire central Appalachian region. To counteract this trend, it is important to understand how these forests developed in the past so forest managers can maintain compositional integrity and need structural characteristics using modern tools such as prescribed fire, herbicides, and the timing and extent of harvest operations. Guidelines for using these tools are a fundamental output of this research.
Future Research
- Restoring, regenerating, and sustaining the mixed-oak forest type using a broad array of silvicultural practices appropriate to landowner capabilities, management objectives, and site characteristics.
- Developing stand- and landscape-scale restoration guidelines for high-elevation conifer forests in the central and southern Appalachians. Defining priorities on landscape and regional scales based on likelihood of success with minimal input of resources and enhancement of habitat for endemic wildlife species of concern.
- Recovering the federally endangered running buffalo clover through research and adaptive management to better understand RBC ecology and management needs.
- Developing landscape-scale models to predict where standard and innovative silvicultural practices are most likely to achieve a broad array of management objectives, including high value commodity production, oak restoration, and high elevation spruce restoration, and habitat improvement, etc.
Featured Publications
- Rentch, James S.; Schuler, Thomas M. 2010. Proceedings from the conference on the ecology and management of high-elevation forests in the central and southern Appalachian Mountains. 2009 May 14-15; Slatyfork, WV. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-P-64. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 242 p.
- Schuler, Thomas M.; McGill, David W. 2007. Long-term assessment of financial maturity, diameter-limit selection in the central Appalachians. Res. Pap. NRS-2. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 16 p.
- Schuler, Thomas M. 2004. Fifty years of partial harvesting in a mixed mesophytic forest: composition and productivity. Canadian Journal of Forest Research. 34: 985-997.
Additional
Online Publications
- Adams, Mary Beth; Edwards, Pamela J.; Ford, W. Mark; Schuler, Thomas M.; Thomas-Van Gundy, Melissa; Wood, Frederica. 2012. Fernow Experimental Forest: Research History and Opportunities. Experimental Forests and Ranges EFR-2. Washington, D.C: USDA Forest Service. 26 p.
- Drohan, Patrick J.; Finley, James C.; Roth, Paul; Schuler, Thomas M.; Stout, Susan L.; Brittingham, Margaret C.; Johnson, Nels C. 2012. Oil and gas impacts on forest ecosystems: findings gleaned from the 2012 Goddard Forum at Penn State University. Environmental Practice. doi:10.10170S1466046612000300.
- Adams, Mary Beth; Edwards, Pamela J.; Ford, W. Mark; Johnson, Joshua B.; Schuler, Thomas M.; Thomas-Van Gundy, Melissa; Wood, Frederica. 2011. Effects of development of a natural gas well and associated pipeline on the natural and scientific resources of the Fernow Experimental Forest. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-76. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 24 p.
- Adams, Mary Beth; Ford, W. Mark; Schuler, Thomas M.; Thomas-Van Gundy, Melissa. 2011. Effects of natural gas development on forest ecosystems. In: Fei, Songlin; Lhotka, John M.; Stringer, Jeffrey W.; Gottschalk, Kurt W.; Miller, Gary W., eds. Proceedings, 17th central hardwood forest conference; 2010 April 5-7; Lexington, KY; Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-P-78. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station: 219-226.
- Hessl, Amy E.; Saladyga, Tom; Schuler, Thomas; Clark, Peter; Wixom, Joshua. 2011. Fire history from three species on a central Appalachian ridgetop. Canadian Journal of Forest Research. 41: 2031-2039.
- Rentch, James S.; Schuler, Thomas M.; Nowacki, Gregory J.; Beane, Nathan R.; Ford, W. Mark. 2010. Canopy gap dynamics of second-growth red spruce-northern hardwood stands in West Virginia. Forest Ecology and Management. 260: 1921-1929.
- Schuler, Thomas M.; Thomas Van-Gundy, Melissa; Adams, Mary B.; Ford, W. Mark. 2010. Seed bank response to prescribed fire in the central Appalachians.. Res. Pap. NRS-9. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 9 p.
- Beane, Nathan R.; Heitzman, Eric; Schuler, Thomas M. 2010. Stand dynamics of an old-growth eastern hemlock-hardwood forest in West Virginia. Natural Areas Journal. 30: 64-72.
- Collins, Beverly; Schuler, Thomas M.; Ford, W. Mark; Hawkins, Danielle. 2010. Stand dynamics of relict red spruce in the Alarka Creek headwaters, North Carolina. In: Rentch, James S.; Schuler, Thomas M., eds. 2010. Proceedings from the conference on the ecology and management of high-elevation forests in the central and southern Appalachian Mountains; 2009 May 14-15; Slatyfork, WV. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-P-64. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station: 22-27.
- Ford, W. Mark; Rodrigue, Jane L.; Rowan, Ella L.; Castleberry, Steven B.; Schuler, Thomas M. 2010. Woodland salamander response to two prescribed fires in the central Appalachians. Forest Ecology and Management. 260: 1003-1009.
- Nowacki, Gregory; Ablutz, Michael; Yaussy, Dan; Schuler, Thomas; Dey, Dan. 2009. Restoring oak ecosystems on national forest system lands in the eastern region: an adaptive management approach. In: Hutchinson, Todd F., ed. Proceedings of the 3rd fire in eastern oak forests conference; 2008 May 20-22; Carbondale, IL. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-P-46. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station: 133-139.
- Thomas-Van Gundy, Melissa; Schuler, Thomas M. 2008. Deferred rotation harvests in central Appalachia: 20- and 25-year results. In: Jacobs, Douglass F.; Michler, Charles H., eds. 2008. Proceedings, 16th Central Hardwood Forest Conference; 2008 April 8-9; West Lafayette, IN. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-P-24. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station: 423-435.
- Yaussy, Daniel A.; Nowacki, Gregory J.; Schuler, Thomas M.; Dey, Daniel C.; DeGayner, Eugene J. 2008. Developing a unified monitoring and reporting system: a key to successful restoration of mixed-oak forests throughout the central hardwood region. In: Deal, R.L., tech. ed. Integrated restoration of forested ecosystems to achieve multiresource benefits: proceedings of the 2007 national silviculture workshop; 2007 May 7-10; Ketchikan, AK. Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-733. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station: 281-285.
- Pomp, Jonathan A.; McGill, David W.; Schuler, Thomas M. 2008. Investigating the relationship between bole scorch height and fire intensity variables in the ridge and valley physiographic province, West Virginia. In: Jacobs, Douglass F.; Michler, Charles H., eds. 2008. Proceedings, 16th Central Hardwood Forest Conference; 2008 April 8-9; West Lafayette, IN. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-P-24. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station: 506-515.
- Moseley, Kurtis R.; Ford, W. Mark; Schuler, Thomas M. 2008. Long-term partial cutting impacts on Desmognathus salamander abundance in West Virginia headwater streams. Forest Ecology and Management. 254: 300-307.
- Rentch, James S.; Schuler, Thomas M.; Ford, W. Mark; Nowacki, Gergory J. 2007. Red spruce stand dynamics, simulations, and restoration opportunities in the central Appalachians. Restoration Ecology. 15(3): 440-452.
- Thomas-Van Gundy, Melissa A.; Nowacki, Gregory J.; Schuler, Thomas M. 2007. Rule-based mapping of fire-adapted vegetation and fire regimes for the Monongahela National Forest. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-12. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 24 p.
- Schuler, Thomas M. 2006. Crop tree release improves competitiveness of northern red oak growing in association with black cherry. Nourthern Journal of Applied Forestry 23(2):77-82
- McGill, David W.; Magill, Daniel J.; Kochenderfer, James; Ford, W. Mark; Schuler, Tom. 2006. Information transfer during the timber transaction period in West Virginia. USA. In: Proceedings 7th extension working party symposium, communication strategies for multiple partner involvement in foresry extension, IUFRO working party 6.06.03 extension, Orvieto, Italy, September 2004.
- Schuler, Thomas M.; Ford, W. Mark; Adams, Mary Beth; Kochenderfer, James N.; Edwards, Pamela J. 2006. Large area comparisons of forest management practices in West Virginia (1951-present). In: Irland, Lloyd C.; Camp, Ann E.; Brissette, John C.; and Donohew, Zachary R., eds. Long-term Silvicultural & Ecological Studies: Results for Science and Management. New Haven, CT: Yale University: 94-103
- Brose, Patrick H.; Schuler, Thomas M.; Ward, Jeffrey S. 2006. Responses of oak and other hardwood regeneration to prescribed fire: what we know as of 2005. In: Dickinson, Matthew B., ed. 2006. Fire in eastern oak forests: delivering science to land managers, proceedings of a conference; 2005 November 15-17; Columbus, OH. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-P-1. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station: 123-135.
- McCann, David P.; McGill, David W.; Schuler, Thomas M.; Ford, W. Mark. 2006. Short-term effects of springtime prescribed fires on adult populations of soil-emerging weevils in Central Appalachian hardwood stands. In: Connor, Krtistina F., ed. Proceedings of the 13th biennial southern silvicultural research conference. Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS-92. Asheville, NC: Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station. 490-495
- Schuler, Thomas M.; Adams, Mary Beth; Ford, W. Mark; Kochenderfer, James N.; Edwards, Pamela J. 2005. Large Area Comparisons of Forest Management Practices (1951 - Present). In: Kenefic, Laura S.; Twery, Mark J., eds. Changing Forests - Challenging Times: Proceedings of the New England Society of American Foresters 85th Winter Meeting; 2005 March 16-18; Gen. Tech. Rep. NE-325. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Research Station: 72
- Schuler, Thomas M.; Brose, Patrick; White, Robert L. 2005. Residual overstory density affects survival and growth of sheltered oak seedlings on the Allegheny Plateau. Res. Pap. NE-728. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Research Station. 9 p.
- Rowan, E.L.; Ford, W.M.; Castleberry, S.B.; Rodrigue, J.L.; Schuler, T.M. 2005. Response of eastern chipmunks to single application spring prescribed fires on the Fernow Experimental Forest. Res. Pap. NE-727. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Research Station. 10 p.
- Marsh, Michael A.; Fajvan, Mary Ann; Huebner, Cynthia D.; Schuler, Thomas M. 2005. The Effects of Timber Harvesting and Prescribed Fire on Invasive Plant Dynamics in the Central Appalachians. In: Gottschalk, Kurt W., ed. Proceedings, 16th U.S. Department of Agriculture interagency research forum on gypsy moth and other invasive species 2005; 2005 January 18-21; Annapolis, MD. Gen. Tech. Rep. NE-337. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Research Station: 64.
- Chojnacky, David C.; Schuler, Thomas M. 2004. Amounts of Down Woody Materials for Mixed-Oak Forests in Kentucky, Virginia, Tennessee, and North Carolina. Southern Journal of Applied Forestry. 28(2): 113-117.
- Brashears, Mark Benjamin; Fajvan, Mary Ann; Schuler, Thomas M. 2004. An assessment of canopy stratification and tree species diversity following clearcutting in Central Appalachian hardwoods. Forest Science. 50(1): 54-64.
- Brose, Patrick; Schuler, Thomas; Ward, Jeffrey. 2004. Integrating Prescribed Fire into Management of Mixed-oak Forests of the Mid-Atlantic Region: Developing Basic Fire Behavior and Fuels Information for the SILVAH System. In: Yaussy, Daniel A.; Hix, David M.; Long, Robert P.; Goebel, P. Charles, eds. Proceedings, 14th Central Hardwood Forest Conference; 2004 March 16-19; Wooster, OH. Gen. Tech. Rep. NE-316. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Research Station: 501
- Schuler, Thomas M.; McClain, W. Russ. 2003. Fire History of a Ridge and Valley Oak Forest. Res. Pap. NE-724. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Research Station. 9 p.
- Adams, M. B.; Schuler, T. M.; Ford, W. M.; Kochenderfer, J. N. 2003. Large woody debris in a second-growth central Appalachian hardwood stand: volume, composition, and dynamics. In: Van Sambeek, J. W.; Dawson, Jeffery O.; Ponder Jr., Felix; Loewenstein, Edward F.; Fralish, James S., eds. Proceedings of the 13th Central Hardwood Forest Conference; Gen. Tech. Rep. NC-234. St. Paul, MN: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, North Central Research Station: 237-245
- McGill, David W.; Schuler, Thomas M. 2003. USDA Forest Service farm woodlands case study - 50 year results from West Virgina. General Technical Report NC-234. St. Paul, MN: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Forest Service, North Central Research Station
- McGill, David W.; Schuler, Thomas M. 2003. USDA Forest Service farm woodlands case study - 50 year results from West Virginia. In: Van Sambeek, J. W.; Dawson, Jeffery O.; Ponder Jr., Felix; Loewenstein, Edward F.; Fralish, James S., eds. Proceedings of the 13th Central Hardwood Forest Conference; Gen. Tech. Rep. NC-234. St. Paul, MN: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, North Central Research Station: 64-74
- Gribko, Linda S.; Schuler, Thomas M.; Ford, W. Mark. 2002. Biotic and abiotic mechanisms in the establishment of northern red oak seedlings: a review. Gen. Tech. Rep. NE-295. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Research Station. 18 p.
- Schuler, Thomas M.; Collins, Rachel J. 2002. Successional dynamics and restoration implications of a montane coniferous forest in the central Appalachians, USA. Natural Areas Journal 22(2):88-98
- Brose, Patrick; Schuler, Thomas; Van Lear, David; Berst, John. 2001. Bringing fire back. The changing regimes of the Appalachian mixed-oak forest. Journal of Forestry. 99(11): 30-35.
- Perkey, Arlyn W.; Miller, Gary W.; Schuler, Thomas M. 1999. Regeneration results using two-aged management. Forest Management Update Issue 19. Morgantown, WV: U.S, Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry: 1-9.
- Schuler, Thomas M.; Miller, Gary W. 1999. Releasing sheltered northern red oak during the early stem exclusion stage. In: Stringer, Jeffrey W.; Loftis, David L., eds. Proceedings: 12th central hardwood forest conference; 1999 February 28 - March 2; Lexington, KY: Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS-24. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station: 195-201.
- Schuler, Thomas M.; Fajvan, Mary Ann. 1999. Understory tree characteristics and disturbance history of a central Appalachian forest prior to old-growth harvesting. Res. Pap. NE-710. Radnor, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Research Station. 12 p.
- Nowak, Chris; Stout, Susan; Stout, Susan; Brissette, John; Brissette, John; Kenefic, Laura; Kenefic, Laura; Miller, Gary; Miller, Gary; Leak, Bill; Leak, Bill; Yaussy, Dan; Schuler, Tom; Gottschalk, Kurt; Gottschalk, Kurt. 1997. Defining the role of silvicultural research in the Northeastern Forest Experiment Station. In: Communicating the role of silviculture in managing the national forests: Proceedings of the National Silviculture Workshop. 1997 May 19-22; Warren, PA.: Gen. Tech. Rep. NE-238. Radnor, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station. 115-122.
- Schuler, Thomas M. 1997. Temporal variation in woody species composition from 1922 to 1996 in a second-growth Appalachian forest. In: Pallardy, Stephen G.; Cecich, Robert A.; Garrett, H. Gene; Johnson, Paul S., eds. Proceedings of the 11th Central Hardwood Forest Conference; Gen. Tech. Rep. NC-188. St. Paul, MN: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, North Central Forest Experiment Station: 352
- Miller, Gary W.; Schuler, Thomas M. 1995. A method for applying group selection in central Appalachian hardwoods. In: Gottschalk, Kurt W.; Fosbroke, Sandra L. C., ed. Proceedings, 10th Central Hardwood Forest Conference; 1995 March 5-8; Morgantown, WV.: Gen. Tech. Rep. NE-197. Radnor, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station. p.548
- Miller, Gary W.; Schuler, Thomas M. 1995. Development and quality of reproduction in two-age central Appalachian hardwoods - 10-year results. In: Gottschalk, Kurt W.; Fosbroke, Sandra L. C., ed. Proceedings, 10th Central Hardwood Forest Conference; 1995 March 5-8; Morgantown, WV.: Gen. Tech. Rep. NE-197. Radnor, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station. 364-374
- Miller, Gary W.; Schuler, Thomas M.; Smith, H. Clay. 1995. Method for applying group selection in central Appalachian hardwoods. Res. Pap. NE-696. Radnor, PA: US. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station. 11 p.
- Simpson, Brian T.; Kollasch, R. Peter; Twery, Mark J.; Schuler, Thomas M. 1995. NED/SIPS user's manual: Northeast decision model stand inventory processor and simulator (Version 1.00) (Computer program). Gen. Tech. Rep. NE-205. Radnor, PA: U. S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station. 103 p. [1 computer disk (3-1/2 in.); User's manual.]
- Schuler, Thomas M.; Miller, Gary W.; Smith, H. Clay. 1995. Preliminary guidelines for the use of tree shelters to regenerate northern red oak and other hardwood species on good to excellent growing sites. In: Gottschalk, Kurt W.; Fosbroke, Sandra L. C., ed. Proceedings, 10th Central Hardwood Forest Conference; 1995 March 5-8; Morgantown, WV.: Gen. Tech. Rep. NE-197. Radnor, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station: 573.
- Schuler, Thomas M.; Miller, Gary W. 1995. Shelterwood treatments fail to establish oak reproduction on mesic forest sites in West Virginia - 10-year results. In: Gottschalk, Kurt W.; Fosbroke, Sandra L. C., ed. Proceedings, 10th Central Hardwood Forest Conference; 1995 March 5-8; Morgantown, WV.: Gen. Tech. Rep. NE-197. Radnor, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station. 375-387
- Smith, H. Clay; Miller, Gary W.; Schuler, Thomas M. 1994. Closure of logging wounds after 10 years. Res. Pap. NE-692. Radnor, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station. 6 p.
- Schuler, Thomas M. 1993. Survival, growth, and target canker infection of black walnut families 15 years after establishment in West Virginia. Res. Pap. NE-674. Radnor, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station. 8 p.
- Schuler, Thomas M.; Marquis, David A.; Ernst, Richard L.; Simpson, Brian T. 1993. Test of four stand growth simulators for the northeastern United States. Res. Pap. NE-676. Radnor, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station. 14 p.
- Schuler, Thomas M.; Simpson, Brian T. 1991. User's guide for Northeast Stand Exam Program (NEST Version 2.1). . Gen. Tech. Rep. NE-149. Radnor, PA: U. S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station. 15 p.
- Schuler, Thomas M.; Smith, Frederick W. 1988. Effect of species mix on size/density and leaf-area relations in the southwest pinyon/juniper woodlands. Forest Ecology and Management. 25: 211-220.
- Smith, Frederick W.; Schuler, Thomas. 1988. Yields of southwestern pinyon-juniper woodlands. Western Journal of Applied Forestry. 3(3): 70-74.
Last Modified:
02/15/2012