Several long-term studies are being maintained at the FFC. A variety of new research projects are being initiated or have been installed on the Research Forest since 2000. Some of these are externally funded and funding for others is being actively pursued by School faculty and staff, and students.

Research Studies - Documentation of silvicultural treatments applied to the different study areas in the research forest. This link provides access to historical documents regarding establishment of the studies.

Section 18— Research and Demonstration

Northern hardwoods stocking level studies
Status: ongoing, manuscript is being prepared for publication
Description: study of diameter limit and selection system techniques for managing mixed northern hardwoods stands
Researchers: L. Nagel, C. Webster
Funding: Ford Center, other funding being sought for next cycle

Small group for regeneration and establishment of eastern hemlock
Status: implementation under way
Description: study of gap dynamics and hemlock regeneration in gaps of various sizes, with and without deer exclosures
Researchers: C. Webster
Funding: being sought from MI DNR, USDA-CREES NRI.

Cross-site experiment, Michigan Gradient Study
Status: ongoing
Description: investigation of the effects of different N forms (NaNO3 vs. NH4NO3) on ecosystem response
Researchers: K. Pregitzer, A. Burton, SFRES, MTU, M. Allen, Center for Conservation Biology, U. of CA., Riverside, R.W. Ruess, Institute of Arctic Biology, U. of Alaska Fairbanks, R.L. Hendrick, Daniel B. Warnell School of Forest Resources, U. of GA
Funding: NSF

Alternative northern hardwoods stand structures
Status: to be implemented in 2005
Description: investigation of different stand structures for sustainable management of mixed northern hardwoods
Researchers: L. Nagel, C. Webster, J. Schmierer
Funding: being sought from USDA, North Central Research Station, MI DNR

Carbon sequestration across a gradient of managed northern hardwoods
Status: in progress
Description: case study using data from stocking level studies to determine different levels of carbon sequestration in clearcut, selection system, and reserve stands
Researchers: C. Webster, C. Giardina, A. Friend
Funding: USFS

Genetic diversity in managed vs. unmanaged northern hardwoods
Status: ongoing
Description: use of state-of-the-art molecular techniques to determine changes in genetic diversity across a gradient of northern hardwoods management
Researchers: C. Joshi, D. Reed, J. Vucetich, graduate student S. Waengsothorn
Funding: NSF

Section 19—Research and Demonstration

Small woodlot studies in northern hardwoods
Status: ongoing, data is being summarized and prepared for publication
Description: investigation of three levels of basal area retention in northern hardwoods
Researchers: L. Nagel and graduate student J. Schwartz
Funding: Ford Center, other funding being sought

Predicting discolored heart development in sugar maple
Status: Final report is in preparation for publication
Description: evaluation of sugar maple sawlogs to determine factors causing heart formation
Researchers: Jim Pickens, Josh Amend, Scott Noble
Funding: USDA Northeastern Research Station Work Unit 4701

Restoration of eastern white pine in mixed northern hardwood forests
Status: to be implemented in 2004-2005
Description: investigation of artificial regeneration of disease-resistant white pine seedlings under an existing northern hardwood forest in areas where white pine once flourished
Researchers: J. Schmierer, L. Nagel, C. Webster, A. Storer.
Funding: being sought from several foundations.

Canyon Falls interpretive trail
Status: to be implemented in 2004-2005
Description: development of a recreational/educational trail in the Canyon Falls reserve area, as recommended by 2002 capstone group
Coordinator: J. Schmierer
Funding: being sought from MI DNR

Section 30—Demonstration and Research

Replication of 1956 Stocking Level Studies
See above description under Section 18

Acer saccharum interior defect implications and documentation
Status: field work completed, and results are being combined with other data sources for a national archive
Description: investigation of extent of internal defect log from external indicators
Researchers: J. Pickens, J. Forsman, S. Noble
Funding: McEntire-Stennis

Group selection with seed tree retention for regeneration of midtolerant hardwoods
Status: implemented in 2003-2004
Description: investigation restoration and regeneration of yellow birch and black cherry in canopy gaps of various sizes to increase diversity in northern hardwoods.
Researchers: C. Webster, L. Nagel, A. Storer, and graduate student Jon Neuendorff
Funding: being sought from MI DNR, USDA-CREES NRI

Eutypella fungal infection in northern hardwood stands
Status: complete; implemented in 2002
Description: survey of northern hardwood stands to determine extent of fungal infection with eutypella canker
Researchers: graduate student Isabel Martinez, under B. Orr and D. Richter
Funding: Ford Center

Section 2—Demonstration

White pine seed tree demonstration
Status: implemented in 2001
Description: demonstration area for natural regeneration of white pine using seed trees
Coordinator: J. Schmierer
Funding: Ford Center

Section 12—Demonstration and Research

Expanding gap and shelterwood treatments for natural regeneration of red pine
Status: to be implemented in 2004-2005
Description: investigation of natural regeneration of red pine using an expanding gap system
Researchers: C. Webster, L. Nagel, A. Storer, J. Schmierer
Funding: being sought from USDA-CREES NRI

Section 14—Research and Demonstration

Site preparation for natural regeneration of jack pine
Status: implemented in 2003
Description: to investigate effects of fire, mechanical, and fire + mechanical treatments on the natural regeneration of jack pine along with associated ecological impacts
Researchers: A. Storer, graduate student assistant is Ryan DeSantis
Funding: McEntire-Stennis

Eddy covariance tower
Status: ongoing
Description: monitoring eddy covariance (climate change monitoring) as a part of a nationwide network of cooperating sites; also part of DEB Ecological Circuitry Collaboratory, designed to train future quantitative ecologists
Researchers: J. Chen, graduate student Eugenie Euskirchen
Funding: NSF

Section 15—Research and Demonstration

Comparison of ground flora, overstory density, and species diversity in Lake States jack pine forests
Status: ongoing
Description: quantitative evaluation of biodiversity in Lake State jack pine stands
Researchers: L. Nagel, graduate student Joe Musolf
Funding: Ford Center, SFRES, and the Seney National Wildlife Refuge

Remeasurement of jack pine direct seeding trials—twenty year results
Status: to be implemented in 2004-2005
Description: to evaluate growth and development of 6 separate direct seeding experiments that were installed in 1970-1975.
Researchers: L. Nagel, C. Webster, S. Noble, J. Schmierer, graduate student
Funding: being sought

Sections 22 and 23—Research and Demonstration

Mixed-species conifer plantation response to site preparation
Status: to be implemented in 2004 or 2005
Description: investigation productivity of mixed vs. single species conifer regeneration using a variety of site preparation techniques.
Researchers: C. Webster, J. Schmierer, L. Nagel, A. Storer, M. Jurgensen
Funding: being sought through USDA-CREES NRI

General Research (not site specific, or multiple sites on the Research Forest)

Geospatial data acquisition and dissemination system (GDADS)
Status: ongoing
Description: to acquire hardware and software and to develop protocols for data collection, analysis and dissemination using GIS and web-based platform; includes incorporation of historical inventory and descriptive data into an electronic database, linked to the GIS, and disseminate this information to students, faculty, and staff via the World Wide Web.
Researchers: M. Gale, M. Hyslop, S. Noble, and J. Schmierer
Funding: start-up funds secured through MTU REF, with additional funding being sought

Faculty institutes for reforming science teaching (MSU FIRST-II)
Status: ongoing
Description: multi-institutional study based around regional biological stations to investigate inquiry-based learning and research and assessment techniques to quantify student learning in biological sciences
Researchers: L. Nagel, J. Schmierer, S. Bagley, C. Huckins (Biological Sciences), B. Baltensperger (Education)
Funding: NSF, MTU

Forest inventory methodology comparison
Status: to be implemented in 2005-2006
Description: evaluation of several methods of forest inventory, including variable radius plot sampling, fixed area plot sampling, big BAF, and two-phase sampling for statistical accuracy and time required
Researchers: S. Noble and J. Schmierer
Funding: Ford Center; additional support is being sought through foundations

Stand dynamics and silvicultural recommendations for uneven-aged northern hardwoods in the Great Lakes region
Status: ongoing
Description: characterization of uneven-aged management techniques and development of recommendations using structural data and canopy closure
Researchers: L.M.. Nagel, C. Webster, graduate student Joe Schwartz
Funding: Ford Center, SFRES, other funding being sought

Management of sugar maple borer in Lake States northern hardwood stands
Status: to be implemented 2003
Description: development of trapping technologies to reduce densities and monitor populations of sugar maple borer and to reduce damage at the stand level
Researchers: A.J. Storer, and a graduate student
Funding: being sought from MI DNR and industry

Eastern gray wolves in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan
Status: ongoing
Description: monitoring of wolf packs in UP
Researchers: R.O. Peterson, J.A. Vucetich, graduate students
Funding: various public agencies

Characterization of salamander populations in the Research Forest
Status: ongoing
Description: monitoring of salamander populations at several sites on School lands
Researchers: J.A. Vucetich, L.M. Vucetich
Funding: various public agencies

Bucker technology transfer and training tool development
Status: to be implemented in fall 2003
Description: development of on-the-ground and computer-based techniques for training hardwood log buckers in optimum value recovery
Funding: being sought from Wood Education and Resource Center USDA Forest Service Institute of Hardwood Technology Transfer and Applied Research

Utilization of red maple
Status: complete; implemented in 2001
Description: to determine strength properties and suitability for a variety of dimension products; red maple logs were harvested from the Research Forest
Researchers: J.W. Forsman, J. Erickson
Funding: USDA, USFS

Strength testing of silver vs. red maple
Status: implemented in 2002
Description: comparison of strength properties of these two species and to provide a separate strength rating for red maple with logs harvested from the Research Forest
Researchers: J.W. Forsman, J. Erickson
Funding: USDA, USFS

Heat sterilization (red maple) time study
Status: to be implemented in 2004
Description:
Researchers: J.W. Forsman, J. Erickson
Funding: USDA, USFS

Construction and evaluation of six timber bridges using local species in Northern Michigan
Status: to be implemented in 2003-2004
Description: evaluate red maple, bigtooth aspen, eastern hemlock, and red pine for use in timber bridges with raw material from the Research Forest; at least one bridge will be built there
Researchers: J.W. Forsman, J. Erickson, B. Ross
Funding: USDA, USFS, Wood In Transportation (WIT)

Quality determination of tongue and groove paneling made from live and dead jack pine
Status: to be implemented in 2004
Description: utilization of live and dead jack pine from the Research Forest to evaluate strength, appearance, and durability of tongue and groove paneling
Researchers: J.W. Forsman, J. Erickson
Funding: USDA, USFS

Western red cedar treated with Behr wood coatings in above ground field exposures
Status: ongoing on Ford Center grounds
Researchers: P. Laks, E. Keranen, and G. Larkin.
Funding: Heller, Ehrman, McCauliffe, and White, Inc.

Multiple site field test of Louisiana-Pacific Smart System siding
Status: ongoing
Description: field testing of proprietary product currently underway, with one location on Ford Center grounds and others in Eatonville, WA, Silsbee, TX, Gainesville, FL, Belle Glade, FL, and Mt. View, HI
Researchers: P. Laks, E. Keranen, and G. Larkin
Funding: Louisiana-Pacific corp.