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Quantitative Forest Ecology Lab

Advances in quantitative methods and computing capabilities combined with varied data sources at different spatial and temporal scales present new and exciting opportunities for understanding, quantifying and modeling forest ecosystems and their response to the environment.

We use quantitative methods and varied data sources to understand forest ecosystems by quantifying, modeling and mapping ecosystem attributes and processes. We are especially interested in modeling forest ecosystem responses to changes in climate and to human-driven effects, and in quantifying and mapping forest ecosystem attributes that are essential for monitoring ecosystem changes at different scales.

Students interested in working in the Quantitative Forest Ecology Lab should contact Laura Leites

Leites Lab News

Check our new publication on adaptation to climate in broadleaf decidous species
March 20, 2019
Leites, L; G. Rehfeldt, K. Steiner. 2019. Adaptation to climate in five eastern North America broadleaf deciduous species: Growth clines and evidence of the growth-cold tolerance trade-off. Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics. 37:64-72.
Undergraduate research assistants Abbigail Jamison and Garret Evans receive research grants from the College of Agricultural Sciences
December 18, 2018
Abby and Garret will advance our studies of forest tree species adaptation to climate focusing on black walnut and red maple respectively.
Xin Chen receives a competitive research grant from the College of Agricultural Sciences
December 6, 2018
Xin will digitize the location of charcoal hearths in the south of Pennsylvania to subsequently test the legacy effects of charcoal making on the presence and abundance of important tree species.
From left to right, Dr. John Carlson, Director of the Schatz Center For Tree Molecular Genetics, Abbigail Jamison, Dr. Laura Leites.
Abbigail Jamison receives Undergraduate Research Award from the Schatz Center For Tree Molecular Genetics
October 30, 2018
Abby will be studying the interactions between adaptation to climate and competition in the Black Walnut Provenance Study located on campus
We are using UAS to measure differences in phenology of black walnut provenances
September 25, 2018
In collaboration with Drs. M. McDill and D. Miller, we are using UAS and multispectral images to measure phenology differences among black walnut provenances growing in a provenance trial.
We are starting research in a long-term black walnut provenance study
August 3, 2018
Laura Leites is taking over responsibilities for a range-wide black walnut provenance study and our lab is starting new research projects this Fall.