Silviculture and Forest Ecology

We ask questions that bridge ecology and management, incorporating both biophysical and human elements. The common thread linking our areas of study is silviculture, the applied ecology of forest systems. Members of the lab work around the world, in tropical, temperate and boreal biomes. Through fieldwork, laboratory analysis and theoretical approaches, we seek to advance understanding of the relationships between vegetation, biophysical processes and human value systems.

Information for prospective graduate students

School Forests

ELTI

Lab news:

Feb 2012: ELTI presents a new educational tool about reforestation with native tree species in tropical Asia and the Neotropics: the Tropical Reforestation Information Clearinghouse

Jan 2012: Mark Ashton has a new book out, in collaboration with Mary Tyrrell, Deborah Spalding and Brad Gentry: Managing Forest Carbon in a Changing Climate

Oct 2011: Sarah Federman published a paper in Conservation Genetics Resources: Isolation of 13 novel highly polymorphic microsatellite loci for the Amazonian Palm Mauritia flexuosa L.f. (Arecaceae)

Oct 2011: Kendra Mack presented a talk at the Student Conference in Conservation Science hosted by the American Museum of Natural History

Sept 2011: Meredith Martin published a paper in Forest Ecology and Management: Effect of habitat and grazing on the regeneration of wild Agave cupreata in Guerrero, Mexico

Aug 2011: Mark Ashton, Tom James and Kendra Mack received an interdiciplinary grant award from the Yale Climate and Energy Institute

Aug 2011: Tom James published a paper in Forest Ecology and Management: Temperature sensitivity and recruitment dynamics of Siberian larch (Larix sibirica) and Siberian spruce (Picea obovata) in northern Mongolia's boreal forest

Lab Partners

The Ashton Lab works in close collaboration with the rest of the Forestry department at Yale: Timothy Gregoire, Chad Oliver, Graeme Berlyn, Florencia Montagnini, and Ann Camp.