Northern Research Station
11 Campus Blvd., Suite 200
Newtown Square, PA 19073
(610) 557-4017
(610) 557-4132 TTY/TDD
Deahn Donner
Title: Project Leader / Research Ecologist
Unit: Institute for Applied Ecosystem Studies: Theory and Application of Scaling Science in Forestry
Address: NRS
5985 Highway K
Rhinelander, WI 54501-9128
Phone: 715-362-1146
E-mail: Contact Deahn Donner
Education
- Ph. D. University of Wisconsin - Madison, WI. Gaylord Nelson Institute of Environmental Studies. Landscape Ecology. 2007
- M. S. University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point, WI. Wildlife Ecology. 1997
- B. S. University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point, WI. Wildlife Ecology. 1988
Civic & Professional Affiliations
- International Association for Landscape Ecology, US Chapter
- The Wildlife Society
Current Research
Current research focuses on how the increasing demand for bioenergy will compete with other ecological services forests and lands provide. Specifically, I am investigating the impact of fine woody debris (FWD; <6 inches diameter) removal on nutrient availability and above and belowground community assemblages on rich soils under regenerating northern hardwood stands in Wisconsin. In addition, I am involved with a study that is merging knowledge of poplar biology with large-scale spatial analysis to predefine zones of potential plant adaptation that are ecologically sustainable and economically feasible across the landscape, and investigating how potential landuse conversion within these zones to hybrid poplars would influence other ecological services such as water quality, soil health, and conservation.
I am also continuing research on the federally endangered Kirtland's Warbler including the impact 26 years of forest management practices and natural disturbances (i.e., wildfires) has had on the population's distribution, abundance, and habitat selection through time and space.
Why is This Important
Information gained from the bioenergy studies will provide land managers and policy makers with scientific information they need to evaluate the trade-offs of harvesting woody biomass for energy use or converting lands to hybrid poplars against other ecological services. The Kirtland's Warbler research provides a better understanding of the temporal variability in species response to spatial structure that will aid conservation efforts of animal populations found within fragmented landscapes.
Future Research
Expand the hybrid poplar large-scale spatial analysis to the eastern region; expand the woody biomass study to include carbon pools between different fine woody debris harvesting levels; survivorship and dispersal movements of the Kirtland's Warbler research from return color band records.
Featured Publications
- Zalesny, Ronald S.; Donner, Deahn M.; Coyle, David R.; Headlee, William L. 2012. An approach for siting poplar energy production systems to increase productivity and associated ecosystem services. Forest Ecology and Management. 284: 45-58.
- Donner, Deahn M.; Ribic, Christine A.; St. Pierre, Matthew; Eklund, Daniel. 2011. Harvesting forest residues for bioenergy influences amphibian and herbaceous plant community assemblages in northern hardwood forests. In: 26th annual landscape ecology symposium. Sustainability in dynamic landscapes; 2011 April 3-7; Portland, Oregon. U.S. International Association for Landscape Ecology: 152. Abstract.
- Donner, Deahn M.; Ribic, Christine A.; St. Pierre, Matthew; Eklund, Dan. 2011. Impacts of harvesting forest residues for bioenergy on herptofauna and herbaceous plant community assemblages in northern hardwood forests. In: Challenges of managing for early successional forests and associated species. SE and SW chapters of The Wisconsin Society of American Foresters & The Wisconsin Chapter of the Wildlife Society; 2011 March 1-3; Wisconsin Dells, WI: 17. Poster abstract.
- Probst, John R.; Donner, Deahn M. 2011. Kirtland's Warbler (Setophaga kirtlankii). In: The Second Michigan Breeding Bird Atlas. Kalamazoo Nature Center, Kalamazoo, MI. 5 p. Available at: http://www.mibirdatlas.org/
- Padley, Eunice A.; Donner, Deahn M.; Fassnacht, Karin S.; Zalesny, Ronald S.; Birr, Bruce; Martin, Karl J. 2011. Managing carbon sequestration and storage in northern hardwood forests. In: Challenges of managing for early successional forests and associated species. SE and SW chapters of The Wisconsin Society of American Foresters & The Wisconsin Chapter of the Wildlife Society; 2011 March 1-3; Wisconsin Dells, WI: 37. Poster abstract.
Additional Online Publications
- Kashian, Daniel; Corace, Gregory; Shartell, Lindsey; Donner, Deahn M.; Huber, Philip. 2011. Variability and persistence of post-fire biological legacies in jack pine-dominated ecosystems of northern Lower Michigan. In: 26th annual landscape ecology symposium. Sustainability in dynamic landscapes; 2011 April 3-7; Portland, Oregon. U.S. International Association for Landscape Ecology: 137. Abstract.
- Zalesny, R.S. Jr.; Donner, D.M.; Coyle, D.R.; Headlee, W.L.; Hall, R.B. 2010. An approach for siting poplar energy production systems to increase productivity and associated ecosystem services. In: Fifth international poplar symposium: Poplars and willows: from research models to multipurpose trees for a biobased society; 2010 September 20-25; Orvieto, Italy. IUFRO: 110.
- Donner, Deahn M.; Ribic, Christine A.; Probst, John R. 2010. Patch dynamics and the timing of colonization-abandonment events by male Kirtland's Warblers in an early succession habitat. Biological Conservation. 143: 1159-1167.
- Donner, Deahn; Zalesny, Ron. 2010. Potential Land-use changes with Woody Energy Corp Production in Wisconsin and Minnesota. In: US-IALE 25th annual landscape ecology symposium. Is what humans do natural; 2010 April 5-9; Athens, GA.: 51. Abstract.
- Donner, Deahn M.; Probst, John R. 2009. A Kirtland's warbler management at regional, landscape, and local scales; 2009 August 25-26; Odanah, WI. In: Midwest jack pine symposium. 2 p.
- Donner, Deahn M.; Ribic, Christine A.; Probst, John R. 2009. Male Kirtland's Warblers' patch-level response to landscape structure during periods of varying population size and habitat amounts. Forest Ecology and Managment. 258: 1093-1101.
- Donner, Deanh M.; Probst, John R.; Ribic, Christine A. 2008. Influence of habitat amount, arrangement, and use on population trend estimates of male Kirtland's warblers. Landscape Ecology. 23: 467-480.
- Probst, John R.; Donner, Deahn M.; Bozek, Michael A. 2007. Continuous, age-related plumage variation in male Kirtland's Warblers. J. Field Ornithol. 78(1):100-108
- Wiese, A.H.; Zalesny, J.A.; Donner, D.M.; Zalesny, Ronald S., Jr. 2006. Bud removal affects shoot, root, and callus development of hardwood Populus cuttings. Silvae Genetica. 55: 141-148.
- Probst, John R.; Donner, Deahn M.; Worland, Mike; Weinrich, Jerry; Huber, Phillip; Ennis, Kenneth R. 2005. Comparing census methods for the endangered Kirtland's Warbler. J. Field Ornithol. 76(1):50?60, 2005
- Probst, John R.; DonnerWright, Deahn. 2003. Fire and shade effects on ground cover structure in Kirtland's warbler habitat. Am. Midl. Nat. 149:320?334
- Probst, John R.; Donner, Deahn; Bocetti, Carol I.; Sjogren, Steve. 2003. Population increase in Kirtland's warbler and summer range expansion to Wisconsin and Michigan's Upper Peninsula, USA. Oryx Vol 37 No 3 July 2003, 365-373
- Probst, John R.; Donner, Deahn M.; Bocetti, Carol I.; Sjogren, Steve. 2003. Population increase in Kirtland's warbler and summer range expansion to Wisconsin and Michigan's Upper Peninsula, USA. Oryx 37(3):365-373
- DonnerWright, Deahn; Bozek, Michael A.; Probst, John R.; Anderson, Eric M. 1999. Responses of turtle assemblage to environmental gradients in the St. Croix River in Minnesota and Wisconsin, U.S.A.. Canadian Journal of Zoology. 77: 989-1000. (1999)
Last Modified: 02/15/2012