Brian J. Palik
Title: Team Leader / Research Ecologist
Unit: Center for Research on Ecosystem Change
Address: Northern Research Station
1831 Hwy 169 East
Grand Rapids, MN 55744
Phone: 218-326-7116
E-mail: Contact Brian J. Palik
Jump to Publications
Education
- Ph.D., Department of Forestry, Michigan State University, 1992, Forest Ecology.
- M.S., Department of Botany, Michigan State University, 1988, Plant Ecology.
- B.S., Alma College, 1983, Biology.
- Additional Study: Organization for Tropical Studies, Costa Rica, 1987, Tropical Ecology
Civic & Professional Affiliations
- Member: Society of American Foresters, Forest Guild
- Riparian Science Technical Committee, Minnesota Forest Resources Council
- 2009-2011; Chair, Ecology and Range Working Group, Society of American Foresters
- Science Advisory Committee, Natural Resources Research Institute, University of Minnesota
- Adjunct Faculty: University of Minnesota, Iowa State University, Michigan Technological University, Lakehead University
- 2003-2009: NCRS representative to National Experimental Forest Working Group, USDA Forest Service.
- Peer Reviewer: Ecology, Canadian Journal of Forest Research, Journal of Ecology, American Midland Naturalist, Journal of Vegetation Science, Biotropica, Forest Ecology and Management, Journal of Forest Research, Plant Ecology, Forest Science, Conservation Ecology, Landscape Ecology, Forest, Snow, and Landscape Research, Journal of Forestry, Journal of Biogeography, Northwest Science, New Forests, USDA Competitive Grants, NSF Competitive Grants, British Columbia Forest Service Competitive Grants
Current Research
My research has two central themes:
- Ecological linkages between upland forests and small streams and wetlands
- Understanding spatial and temporal development of structural complexity and its consequences in forests
- Developing and evaluating ecological forestry approaches for silviculture based on understanding of natural disturbance and stand development
These themes are addressed primarily through use of operational-scale management experiments designed to be statistically robust, realistic, but also novel in terms of the treatments examined, and inclusive of a large number of response variables. They include both newer experiments, as well as long-term legacy experiments that were conceived with different objectives in mind. Much of this work is accomplished through close collaboration with university and agency researchers from across the region. My particular research foci include questions related to plant biodiversity and community composition, tree regeneration dynamics, and aboveground productivity. I am interested in tradeoffs between productivity (biomass, volume) and sustainability of other ecological characteristics (e.g., native species diversity and habitat). Ultimately, my interest is in developing and evaluating silvicultural and management approaches that sustain ecological complexity in forests managed for timber and biofuel production.
Why is This Important
Understanding forest ecosystem responses to disturbance is key to developing the knowledge and tools needed to sustain ecological and economic objectives in managed ecosystems and landscapes. Many ecologists believe that sustainability is achieved by using natural disturbance and stand development processes as guides for management approaches. The goal is not to mimic nature directly, or even to closely emulate it. Rather the goal is to develop management approaches that reduce disparities between natural and managed systems in structure, composition, and function. While many organizations are attempting to develop natural disturbance and stand development-based management prescriptions, they have little practical experience in doing so, nor are the research findings available to guide their attempts. My work, particularly through use of operational-scale experiments that involve managers, provides this experience and knowledge.
Future Research
- Development/refinement of stand-scale forest dynamics models that are robust at predicting growth and yield, structural development, composition, etc., in multi-cohort, mixed species stands.
- Collaboration with others from across the Northern Station in an effort to develop a comprehensive regional synthesis of results from our respective long-term silvicultural research.
- A cross-regional, multi-location experiment that tests fundamental ideas of silvicultural approaches for optimizing productivity of wood and restoration of stand-scale structural complexity.
- Quantification of response curves that relate amount of stand-scale structural features (e.g., snags, old trees, down logs, rare tree species abundance) to ecological indicators of native biological diversity (e.g., songbird abundance, species richness).
Featured Publications
- Palik, Brian J.; Ostry, Michael E.; Venette, Robert C.; Ward, Kathleen T. 2012. Assessment of Black Ash (Fraxinus nigra) Decline in Minnesota. Chapter 12. In: Potter, Kevin M.; Conkling, Barbara L. Forest health monitoring: 2008 national technical report. Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS-158. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station: 151-154.
- Hanson, Jacob J.; Lorimer, Craig G.; Halpin, Corey R.; Palik. 2012. Ecological forestry in an uneven-aged, late-successional forest: Simulated effects of contrasting treatments on structure and yield. Forest Ecology and Management. 270: 94-107.
- Bradford, John B.; Fraver, Shawn; Milo, Amy M.; D'Amato, Anthony W.; Palik, Brian J. 2012. Effects of multiple interacting disturbances and salvage logging on forest carbon stocks. Forest Ecology and Management. 267: 209-214.
- Ponder Jr., Felix; Fleming, Robert L.; Berch, Shannon; Busse, Matt D.; Elioff, John D.; Hazlett, Paul W.; Kabzems, Richard D.; Kranabetter, J. Marty; Morris, David M.; Page-Dumroese, Deborah; Palik, Brian J.; Powers, Robert F.; Sanchez, Felipe G.; Scott, D. Andrew; Stagg, Richard H.; Stone, Douglas M.; Young, David H.; Zhang, Jianwei; Ludovici, Kim H.; McKenney, Daniel W.; Mossa, Debbie S; Sanborn, Paul T.; Voldseth, Richard A. 2012. Effects of organic matter removal, soil compaction and vegetation control on 10th year biomass and foliar nutrition: LTSP continent-wide comparisons. Forest Ecology and Management. 278(15): 35-54.
- Hanberry, Brice B.; Kabrick, John M.; He, Hong S.; Palik, Brian J. 2012. Historical trajectories and restoration strategies for the Mississippi River alluvial valley. Forest Ecology and Management. 280: 103-111.
Additional
Online Publications
- Palik, Brian J.; Ostry, Michael E.; Venette, Robert C.; Abdela, Ebrahim. 2012. Tree regeneration in black ash (Fraxinus nigra) stands exhibiting crown dieback in Minnesota. Forest Ecology and Management. 269: 26-30.
- Palik, Brian J.; Ostry, Michael E.; Venette, Robert C.; Abdela, Ebrahim. 2011. Fraxinus nigra (black ash) dieback in Minnesota: Regional variation and potential contributing factors. Forest Ecology and Managemment. 261(1): 128-135.
- Zhang, Yangjian; He, Hong S.; Shifley, Stephen R.; Yang, Jian; Palik, Brian J. 2011. Evaluating the effects of alternative forest management plans under various physiographic settings using historical records as a reference. Journal of Environmental Management. 92: 1618-1627.
- D'Amato, Anthony W.; Bradford, John B.; Fraver, Shawn; Palik, Brian J. 2011. Forest management for mitigation and adaptation: insights from long-term silvicultural experiments. Forest Ecology and Management. 262: 803-816.
- Fraver, Shawn; Bradford, John B.; Palik, Brian J. 2011. Improving tree age estimates derived from increment cores: a case study of red pine. Forest Science. 57(2): 164-170.
- Janowiak, Maria K.; Swanston, Christopher W.; Nagel, Linda M.; Webster, Christopher R.; Palik, Brian J.; Twery, Mark J.; Bradford, John B.; Parker, Linda R.; Hille, Andrea T.; Johnson, Sheela M. 2011. Silvicultural decisionmaking in an uncertain climate future: a workshop-based exploration of considerations, strategies, and approaches. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-81. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 14 p.
- Hanberry, Brice B.; Fraver, Shawn; He, Hong S.; Yang, Jian; Dey, Dan C.; Palik, Brian J. 2011. Spatial pattern corrections and sample sizes for forest density estimates of historical tree surveys. Landscape Ecology. 26: 59-68.
- Voldseth, Richard; Palik, Brian J.; Elioff, John. 2011. Ten-year results from the long-term soil productivity study in aspen ecosystems of the northern Great Lakes region. Res. Pap. NRS-17. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 20 p.
- Schulte, Lisa A.; Mottl, Erik C.; Palik, Brian J. 2011. The association of two invasive shrubs, common buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) and Tartarian honeysuckle (Lonicera tatarica), with oak communities in the midwestern United States. Canadian Journal of Forest Research. 41: 1981-1992.
- Fraver, Shawn; Jain, Terrie; Bradford, John B.; D'amato, Anthony W.; Kastendick, Doug; Palik, Brian; Shinneman, Doug; Stanovick, John. 2011. The efficacy of salvage logging in reducing subsequent fire severity in conifer-dominated forests of Minnesota, USA. Ecological Applications. 21(6): 1895-1901.
- Powers, Matthew D.; Pregitzer, Kurt S.; Palik, Brian J.; Webster, Christopher R. 2011. The physiological basis for regeneration response to variable retention harvest treatments in three pine species.
- Bradford, John B.; D'Amato, Anthony W.; Palik, Brian J.; Fraver, Shawn. 2010. A new method for evaluating forest thinning: growth dominance in managed Pinus resinosa stands. Canadian Journal of Forest Research. 40: 843-849.
- Sharik, Terry L.; Adair, William; Baker, Fred A.; Battaglia, Michael; Comfort, Emily J.; D'Amato, Anthony W.; Delong, Craig; DeRose, R. Justin; Ducey, Mark J.; Harmon, Mark; Levy, Louise; Logan, Jesse A.; O'Brien, Joseph; Palik, Brian J.; Roberts, Scott D.; Rogers, Paul C.; Shinneman, Douglas J.; Spies, Thomas; Taylor, Sarah L.; Woodall, Christopher; Youngblood, Andrew. 2010. Emerging themes in the ecology and management of North American forests. International Journal of Forestry Research. 2010: Article ID 964360. 11 p. doi: 10.1155/2020/964260.
- D'Amato, Anthony W.; Palik, Brian J.; Kern, Christel C. 2010. Growth, yield, and structure of extended rotation Pinus resinosa stands in Minnesota, USA. Canadian Journal of Forest Research. 40: 1000-1010.
- Palik, Brian J.; Kastendick, Doug. 2010. Response of seasonal pond plant communities to upland forest harvest in northern Minnesota forests, USA. Forest Ecology and Management. 260: 628-637.
- Shinneman, Douglas J.; Cornett, Meredith W.; Palik, Brian J. 2010. Simulating restoration strategies for a southern boreal forest landscape with complex land ownership patterns. Forest Ecology and Management. 259: 446-458.
- Powers, Matthew D.; Palik, Brian J.; Bradford, John B.; Fraver, Shawn; Webster, Christopher R. 2010. Thinning method and intensity influence long-term mortality trends in a red pine forest. Forst Ecology and Management. 260: 1138-1148.
- Bradford, John B.; Palik, Brian J. 2009. A comparison of thinning methods in red pine: consequences for stand-level growth and tree diameter. Canadian Journal of Forest Research. 39: 489-496.
- Ward, Kathleen; Ostry, Michael; Venette, Robert; Palik, Brian; Hansen, Mark; Hatfield, Mark. 2009. Assessment of black ash (Fraxinus nigra) decline in Minnesota. In: McRoberts, Ronald E.; Reams, Gregory A.; Van Deusen, Paul C.; McWilliams, William H., eds. Proceedings of the eighth annual forest inventory and analysis symposium; 2006 October 16-19; Monterey, CA. Gen. Tech. Report WO-79. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. 115-120.
- Zhang, Yangjian; He, Hong S.; Dijak, William D.; Yang, Jian; Shifley, Stephen R.; Palik, Brian J. 2009. Integration of satellite imagery and forest inventory in mapping dominant and associated species at a regional scale. Environmental Management. 44: 312-323.
- Palik, Brian J.; Kastendick, Doug. 2009. Woody plant regeneration after blowdown, salvage logging, and prescribed fire in a northern Minnesota forest. Forest Ecology and Management. 258: 1323-1330.
- Pederson, Neil; Varner, J. Morgan; Palik, Brian J. 2008. Canopy disturbance and tree recruitment over two centuries in a managed longleaf pine landscape. Forest Ecology and Management. 254(1): 85-95.
- Pecot, Stephen D.; Mitchell, Robert J.; Palik, Brian J.; Moser, Barry; Hiers, J. Kevin. 2007. Competitive responses of seedlings and understory plants in longleaf pine woodlands: separating canopy influences above and below ground. Canadian Journal of Forest Research. 37: 634-648.
- Morris, Arthur E.L.; Goebel, P. Charles; Palik, Brian J. 2007. Geomorphic and riparian forest influences on characteristics of large wood and large-wood jams in old-growth and second-growth forests in Northern Michigan, USA. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms. 32: 1131-1153.
- Palik, Brian; Streblow, Dwight; Egeland, Leanne; Buech, Richard. 2007. Landscape variation of seasonal pool plant communities in forests of northern Minnesota, USA. Wetlands. 27(1): 12-23.
- Golladay, Stephen W.; Battle, Juliann M.; Palik, Brian J. 2007. Large wood debris recruitment on differing riparian landforms along a Gulf Coastal Plain (USA) stream: a comparison of large floods and average flows. River Research and Applications. 23: 391-405.
- Franklin, Jerry F.; Mitchell, Robert J.; Palik, Brian J. 2007. Natural disturbance and stand development principles for ecological forestry. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-19. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 44 p.
- Batzer, Darold P.; Palik, Brian J. 2007. Variable response by aquatic invertebrates to experimental manipulations of leaf litter input into seasonal woodland ponds. Fundamental and Applied Limnology. 168: 155-162.
- Kramer, Daniel Boyd; Polasky, Stephen; Starfield, Anthony; Palik, Brian; Westphal, Lynn; Snyder, Stephanie; Jakes, Pamela; Hudson, Rachel; Gustafson, Eric. 2006. A Comparison of Alternative Strategies for Cost-Effective Water Quality Management in Lakes. Environmental Management Vol. 38, No. 3, pp. 411-425
- Gilmore, Daniel W.; Palik, Brian J. 2006. A revised managers handbook for red pine in the North Central Region. Gen. Tech. Rep. NC-264. St. Paul, MN: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, North Central Research Station. 55 p.
- Kern, Cristel C.; Palik, Brian J.; Strong, Terry F. 2006. Ground-layer plant community responses to even-age and uneven-age silvicultural treatments in Wisconsin northern hardwood forests. Forest Ecology and Management. 230: 162-170.
- Morris, Arthur E. L.; Goebel, P. Charles; Williams, Lance R.; Palik, Brian J. 2006. Influence of landscape geomorphology on large wood jams and salmonids in an old-growth river of Upper Michigan. Hydrobiologia 556:149-161
- Goebel, P. Charles; Pregitzer, Kurt S.; Palik, Brian J. 2006. Landscape hierarchies influence riparian ground-flora communities in Wisconsin, USA. Forest Ecology and Management. 230: 43-54.
- Lugo, Ariel D.; Swanson, Frederick J.; Gonzalez, Olga Ramos; Adams, Mary Beth; Palik, Brian; Thill, Ronald E.; Brockway, Dale G.; Kern, Christel; Woodsmith, Richard; Musselman, Robert. 2006. Long-term research at the USDA Forest Service's experimental forests and ranges.. BioScience. 56(1): 39-48
- Palik, Brian J.; Batzer, Darold P.; Kern, Christel. 2005. Upland Forest Linkages to Seasonal Wetlands: Litter Flux, Processing, and Food Quality. Ecosystems 8:1-11
- Palik, Brian J.; Kern, Christel C.; Mitchell, Robert; Pecot, Stephen. 2005. Using spatially variable overstory retention to restore structural and compositional complexity in pine ecosystems. In: Peterson, Charles E.; Maguire, Douglas A., eds. Balancing Ecosystem Values: Innovative Experiments for sustainable Forestry: Proceedings of a Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-635.Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 285-290
- Palik, Brian; Levy, Louise. 2004. A research agenda for silviculture in the Great Lakes Region. In: Palik, Brian; Levy, Louise, eds. Proceedings of the Great Lakes silviculture summit. Gen. Tech. Rep. NC-254. St. Paul, MN: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Forest Service, North Central Forest Experiment Station: 42-46.
- Palik, Brian J.; Tang, Swee May; Chavez , Quinn. 2004. Estimating riparian area extent and land use in the Midwest.. Gen. Tech. Rep. NC-248. St. Paul, MN: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, North Central Research Station. 28 p.
- Kirkman, L. Katherine; Goebel, P. Charles; Palik, Brian J.; West, Larry T. 2004. Predicting plant species diversity in a longleaf pine landscape. Ecoscience 11(1):80-93
- Palik, Brian; Levy, Louise (ed.). 2004. Proceedings of the Great Lakes silviculture summit. Gen. Tech. Rep. NC-254. St. Paul, MN: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, North Central Research Station. 49 p.
- Batzer, Darold P.; Palik, Brian J.; Buech, Richard. 2004. Relationships between environmental characteristics and macroinvertebrate communities in seasonal woodland ponds of Minnesota. Journal of the North American Benthological Society 23(1):50-68
- Palik, Brian; Levy, Louise; Crow, Thomas. 2004. The great lakes silviculture summit: an introduction and organizing framework. In: Palik, Brian; Levy, Louise, eds. Proceedings of the Great Lakes silviculture summit. Gen. Tech. Rep. NC-254. St. Paul, MN: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Forest Service, North Central Forest Experiment Station: 1-4.
- Palik, Brian; Zasada, John. 2003. An Ecological Context for Regenerating Mult-cohort, Mixed-species Red Pine Forests. Research Note NC-382. St. Paul, MN: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Forest Service, North Central Forest Experiment Station
- Palik, Brian; Cease, Kory; Egeland, Leanne; Blinn, Charles. 2003. Aspen Regeneration in Riparian ManagementZones in Northern Minnesota: Effects ofResidual Overstory and Harvest Method. Northern Journal of Applied Forestry 20(2):79-84
- Goebel, P. Charles; Pregitzer, Kurt S.; Palik, Brain J. 2003. Geomorphic Influences on Large Wood Dam Loadings, Particulate Organic Matter and Dissolved Organic Carbon in an 0ld-Growth Northern Hardwood Watershed. Journal of Freshwater Ecology 18(3):479-490
- Goebel, P. Charles; Palik, Brain J.; Pregitzer, Kurt S. 2003. Plant Diversity Contributions of Riparian Areas in Watersheds of the Northern Lake States, USA. Ecological Applications 13(6):1595-1609
- Palik, Brian; Mitchell, Robert J.; Pecot, Stephen; Battaglia, Mike; Pu, Mou. 2003. Spatial Distribution of Overstory Retention Influences Resources and Growth of Longleaf Pine Seedlings. Ecological Application 13(3):674-686
- Palik, Brian J.; Buech, Richard; Egeland, Leanne. 2003. Using an Ecological Land Hierarchy to Predict Seasonal-Wetland Abundance in Upland Forests. Ecological Applications 13(4):1153-1163
- Palik, Brian J.; Mitchell, Robert J.; Hiers, J. Kevin. 2002. Modeling silviculture after natural disturbance to sustain biodiversity in the longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) ecosystem : balancing complexity and implementation. Forest ecology and management. Vol. 155 (2002).:p. 347-356.
- Battaglia, Michael A.; Mou, Pu; Palik, Brian; Mitchell, Robert J. 2002. The effect of spatially variable overstory on the understory light environment of an open-canopied longleaf pine forest. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 32:1984-1991
- Goebel, P. Charles; Palik, Brian J.; Kirkman, L. Katherine; Drew, Mark B.; West, Larry; Pederson, Dee C. 2001. Forest ecosystems of a Lower Gulf Coastal Plainlandscape: multifactor classification and analysis. Journal of the Torrey Botanical Society 128(1):47-75
- Palik, Brian J.; Batzer, Darold P.; Buech, Richard; Nichols, Dale; Cease, Kory; Egeland, Leanne M.; Streblow, Dwight E. 2001. Seasonal Pond Characteristics Across A Chronosequence Of djacent Forest Ages In Northern Minnesota, USA. Wetlands Vol. 21 no. 4.:p. 532-542. (2001)
- Kirkman, Katherine L.; Goebel, Charles P.; West, Larry; Drew, Mark B.; Palik, Brian. 2000. Depressional wetland vegetation types: a question of plant commmunity development. Wetlands. Volume 20. Issue 2. 2000. pp. 373-385
- Palik, Brian J.; Goebel, Charles P.; Kirkman, Katherine L.; West, Larry. 2000. Using Landscape Hierarchies To Guide Restoration Of Disturbed Ecosystems. Ecological Appilcations. Vol. 10 no. 1.:p. 189-202. (2000)
- Hainds, Mark J.; Mitchell, Robert J.; Palik, Brian J.; Boring, Lindsay R.; Gjerstad, Dean H. 1999. Distribution of native Legumes (Leguminoseae) in frequently burned longleaf pine (Pinaceae)-Wiregrass (Poaceae) ecosystems. Journal of Botany. 86(11): 1606-1614. (1999)
- Palik, Brian J.; Robl, James. 1999. Structural legacies of catastrophic windstorm in a mature Great Lakes aspen forest.. Research Paper NC-337. St. Paul, MN: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Forest Service, North Central Research Station
- Palik, Brain J.; Michener, William K.; Mitchell, Robert J.; Jones, Joseph W. 1999. The effect of landform and plant size on mortallity and recovery of longleaf pine during a 100-year loog1. Ecoscience. Vol. 6 no. 2.:p. 255-263. (1999)
- Palik, Brian J.; Golladay, Stephen W.; Goebel, P. Charles; Taylor, Brad W. 1998. Geomorphic variation in riparian tree mortality and stream coarse woody debris recruitment from record flooding in a coastal plain stream. Ecoscience 5(4):551-5601
- Golladay, Stephen W.; Taylor, Brad W.; Palik, Brian J. 1997. Invertebrate Communities of Forested Limesink Wetlands in Southwest Georgia, USA: Habitat Use and Influence of Extended Inundation. Wetlands 17(3):383-393
- Palik, Brian J.; Pederson, Neil. 1996. Overstory mortality and canopy disturbances in longleaf pine ecosystems. Can. J. For. Res. Vol. 26 no. 1.:p. 2035-2047. (1996)
- Palik, Brain J.; Pregitzer, Kurt S. 1995. Variability in early height growth rate of forest trees: implications for retrospective studies of stand dynamics. Can. J. For. Res. Vol. 25 no. 1.:p. 767-776. (1995)
- Palik, Brain J.; Pregitzer, Kurt S. 1993. The repeatability of stem exclusion during even-aged development of bigtooth aspen dominated forests. CAN. J. FOR. RES. Vol. 23 p. 1156-1168. (1993)
- Pregitzer, Kurt S.; Palik, Brain J. 1993. The vertical development of early successional forests in northern Michigan, USA. Journal of Ecology. Vol. 81 no. 1.:p. 271-285. (1993)
Other Publications by Brian J. Palik *
- Shang, ZongBo; He, Hong S.; Xi, Weimin; Shifley, Stephen R.; Palik, Brian J. 2012. Integrating LANDIS model and a multi-criteria decision-making approach to evaluate cumulative effects of forest management in the Missouri Ozarks, USA. Ecological Modelling. 229: 50-63.
*Due to policy or copyright restrictions, we are unable to provide full-text versions of these publications. Please check with your local library or Contact Brian J. Palik to inquire about reprints.
Last Modified:
02/15/2012