Current Research

I conduct research to support the Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) program. FIA is responsible for the inventory of United States forest land across all ownership categories. Within the Northern Research Station, FIA conducts inventories for 24 states of the Northeast, Midwest, and Upper Great Plains. I develop and assess geospatial approaches for making FIA estimates more spatially explicit and relevant to a wider range of natural resources. My current research involves the use of forest inventory data, geospatial data, and satellite imagery for assessing and mapping forest land cover, land use, canopy disturbance, type, biomass, and wildlife habitat. I serve as the lead analyst for Iowa's FIA reports.

Research Interests

Why This Research is Important

People increasingly are asking not only what forest resources are present, but where are they located and how are they arranged within the forest landscape. By integrating field inventory data with satellite remote sensing imagery and other geospatial datasets, we can improve our understanding of the spatial distribution and variability of forest resources. Geospatial information derived from this data integration provides for improved assessments of wildlife habitat for species that are dependent upon both vegetation structure and spatial pattern of forest patches.

Education

• University of Minnesota, Ph.D. Natural Resources Science and Management 2005
• University of Minnesota, M.S. Wildlife Conservation 1992
• Winona State University, B.A. Biology 1982

Professional Experience

Professional Organizations

• Forest Science, Associate Editor (2013 - Current)
• Journal of Forestry, Journal Referee (2012 - Current)
• International Association for Landscape Ecology (U.S. Chapter), Member (2011 - Current)
• International Journal of Remote Sensing, Journal Referee (2008 - Current)
• Landscape Ecology, Journal Referee (2008 - Current)
• The Wildlife Society, Member (2006 - Current)
• Remote Sensing of Environment, Journal Referee (2005 - Current)
• American Society for Photogrammetry & Remote Sensing, Member (2001 - Current)
• Northern Journal of Applied Forestry (GIS and Remote Sensing), Associate Editor (2010 - 2013)

Awards & Recognition

Featured Publications & Products

• Nelson, Mark; Robertson, Guy; Riitters, Kurt. 2015. Conserving forest biological diversity: How the Montreal Process helps achieve sustainability.
• Tavernia, Brian G.; Nelson, Mark D.; Garner, James D.; Perry, Charles H. (Hobie). 2016. Spatial characteristics of early successional habitat across the Upper Great Lakes states.
• Nelson, M.D.; McRoberts, R.E.; Holden, G.R.; Bauer, M.E. 2009. Effects of satellite image spatial aggregation and resolution on estimates of forest land area.
• Knoot, T.G.; Shea, M.E.; Schulte, L.A.; Tyndall, J.C.; Nelson, M.D.; Perry, C.H.; Palik, B.J. 2015. Forest change in the Driftless Area of the Midwest: From a preferred to undesirable future.
• Tavernia, Brian G.; Nelson, Mark D.; Goerndt, Michael E.; Walters, Brian F.; Toney, Chris. 2013. Changes in forest habitat classes under alternative climate and land-use change scenarios in the northeast and midwest, USA.
• Tavernia, Brian G.; Nelson, Mark D.; Caldwell, Peter; Sun, Ge. 2013. Water stress projections for the northeastern and Midwestern United States in 2060: anthropogenic and ecological consequences.
• Nelson, Mark D.; Healey, Sean; Moser, W. Keith; Masek, J.G.; Cohen, Warren. 2011. Consistency of forest presence and biomass predictions modeled across overlapping spatial and temporal extents.
• Jones-Farrand, D. Todd; Fearer, Todd M.; Thogmartin, Wayne E.; Thompson, Frank R., III.; Nelson, Mark D.; Tirpak, John M. 2011. Comparison of statistical and theoretical habitat models for conservation planning: the benefit of ensemble prediction.
• Brown, Donald J.; Ribic, Christine A.; Donner, Deahn M.; Nelson, Mark D.; Bocetti, Carol I.; Deloria-Sheffield, Christie M.; Thompson, Des. 2017. Using a full annual cycle model to evaluate long-term population viability of the conservation-reliant Kirtland's warbler after successful recovery.
• Brown, Donald J.; Nelson, Mark D.; Rugg, David J.; Buech, Richard R.; Donner, Deahn M. 2016. Spatial and temporal habitat-use patterns of wood turtles at the western edge of their distribution.

Publications

• Nelson, Mark D.; Riitters, Kurt H.; Coulston, John W.; Domke, Grant M.; Greenfield, Eric J.; Langner, Linda L.; Nowak, David J.; O'Dea, Claire B.; Oswalt, Sonja N.; Reeves, Matthew C.; Wear, David N. 2020. Defining the United States land base: a technical document supporting the USDA Forest Service 2020 RPA assessment.
• Morin, Randall S.; Butler, Brett J.; Crocker, Susan J.; Horton, Jonathan ; Kurtz, Cassandra M.; Lister, Tonya W.; McWilliams, William H.; Nelson, Mark D.; Riemann, Rachel ; Walters, Brian F.; Woodall, Christopher W. 2020. New Hampshire Forests 2017.
• Morin, Randall S.; Butler, Brett J.; Crocker, Susan J.; Halman, Joshua ; Kurtz, Cassandra M.; Lister, Tonya W.; McWilliams, William H.; Nelson, Mark D.; Riemann, Rachel I; Walters, Brian F.; Woodall, Christopher W. 2020. Vermont Forests 2017.
• Knight, Kathleen S.; Flower, Charles E.; Nelson, Mark D.​. 2019. A Forest Death in Three Acts: From Woodpeckers to Water, the Emerald Ash Borer's Effects are Widespread.
• Tavernia, Brian G.; Nelson, Mark D.; Rau, Rebecca ; Garner, James D.; Perry, Charles H. 2018. American woodcock singing-ground survey sampling of forest type and age.
• Nelson, Mark D.; Feeley, Tivon E. 2018. Forests of Iowa, 2017.
• Meneguzzo, Dacia M.; Nelson, Mark D. 2018. Forests of Nebraska, 2017.
• Crocker, Susan J.; Nelson, Mark , D. 2018. Forests of New Jersey, 2017.
• Donner, Deahn M.; Brown, Donald J.; Ribic, Christine A.; Nelson, Mark ; Greco, Tim . 2018. Managing forest habitat for conservation-reliant species in a changing climate: The case of the endangered Kirtland's Warbler.
• Meneguzzo, Dacia M.; Haugen, David E.; Walters, Brian F.; Butler, Brett J.; Crocker, Susan J.; Kurtz, Cassandra M.; Morin, Randall S.; Nelson, Mark D.; Piva, Ronald J.; Smith, James E. 2018. Northern Great Plains Forests 2015.
• Albright, Thomas A.; Butler, Brett J.; Crocker, Susan J.; Kurtz, Cassandra M.; Lister, Tonya W.; McWilliams, William H.; Miles, Patrick D.; Morin, Randall S.; Nelson, Mark D.; Riemann, Rachel ; Smith, James E.; Woodall, Christopher W. 2018. Ohio Forests 2016.
• Cochrane, Madaline M.; Brown, Donald J.; Nelson, Mark D.; Buech, Richard R.; Schrage, Mike; Ryan, Dan; Moen, Ron A. 2018. Status of a wood turtle (Glyptemys Insculpta) population in northeastern Minnesota.
• Lister, Tonya W.; Butler, Brett J.; Crocker, Susan J.; Kurtz, Cassandra M.; Lister, Andrew J.; Luppold, William G.; McWilliams, William H.; Miles, Patrick D.; Morin, Randall S.; Nelson, Mark D.; Piva, Ronald J.; Riemann, Rachel I.; Smith, James E.; Westfall, James A.; Widmann, Richard H.; Woodall, Christopher W. 2017. Delaware Forests 2013.
• Nelson, Mark D.; Feeley, Tivon E.; Kurtz, Cassandra M. 2017. Forests of Iowa, 2016.
• Crocker, Susan J.; Butler, Brett J.; Kurtz, Cassandra M.; McWilliams, William H.; Miles, Patrick D.; Morin, Randall S.; Nelson, Mark D.; Riemann, Rachel I.; Smith, James E.; Westfall, James A.; Woodall, Christopher W. 2017. Illinois Forests 2015.
• Pugh, Scott A.; Heym, Douglas C.; Butler, Brett J.; Haugen, David E.; Kurtz, Cassandra M.; McWilliams, William H.; Miles, Patrick D.; Morin, Randall S.; Nelson, Mark D.; Riemann, Rachel I.; Smith, James E.; Westfall, James A.; Woodall, Christopher W. 2017. Michigan forests 2014.
• Crocker, Susan J.; Barnett, Charles J.; Butler, Brett J.; Hatfield, Mark A.; Kurtz, Cassandra M.; Lister, Tonya W.; Meneguzzo, Dacia M.; Miles, Patrick D.; Morin, Randall S.; Nelson, Mark D.; Piva, Ronald J.; Riemann, Rachel; Smith, James E.; Woodall, Christopher W.; Zipse, William. 2017. New Jersey Forests 2013.
• Kurtz, Cassandra M.; Dahir, Sally E.; Stoltman, Andrew M.; McWilliams, William H.; Butler, Brett J.; Nelson, Mark D.; Morin, Randall S.; Piva, Ronald J.; Herrick, Sarah K.; Lorentz, Laura J.; Guthmiller, Mark; Perry, Charles H. 2017. Wisconsin Forests 2014.
• Niemi, Gerald J.; Howe, Robert W.; Sturtevant, Brian R.; Parker, Linda R.; Grinde, Alexis R.; Danz, Nicholas P.; Nelson, Mark D.; Zlonis, Edmund J.; Walton, Nicholas G.; Gnass Giese, Erin E.; Lietz, Sue M. 2016. Analysis of long-term forest bird monitoring data from national forests of the western Great Lakes Region.
• Tavernia, Brian G.; Nelson, Mark D.; Seilheimer, Titus S.; Gormanson, Dale D.; Perry, Charles H. (Hobie); Caldwell, Peter V.; Sun, Ge. 2016. Conservation and maintenance of soil and water resources.
• Tavernia, Brian G.; Nelson, Mark D.; Riemann, Rachel; Dickinson, Brent; Moser, W. Keith; Wilson, Barry T. (Ty); Garner, James D. 2016. Conservation of biological diversity.
• Nelson, Mark D.; Brewer, Matt; Meneguzzo, Dacia M.; Clark, Kathryne. 2016. Forests of Iowa, 2015.
• Gormanson, Dale D.; Gallion, Joey; Barnett, Charles J.; Butler, Brett J.; Crocker, Susan J.; Kurtz, Cassandra M.; Lister, Tonya W.; Luppold, William; McWilliams, William; Miles, Patrick D.; Morin, Randall S.; Nelson, Mark D.; O'Connell, Barbara; Perry, Charles H. (Hobie); Riemann, Rachel I.; Piva, Ronald J.; Smith, James E.; Sowers, Paul A.; Westfall, Jim; Woodall, Christopher W. 2016. Indiana Forests 2013.
• Nelson, Mark D.; Barnett, Charles J.; Brewer, Matt; Butler, Brett J.; Crocker, Susan J.; Domke, Grant M.; Gormanson, Dale D.; Kurtz, Cassandra M.; Lister, Tonya W.; Matthews, Stephen; McWilliams, William H.; Meneguzzo, Dacia M.; Miles, Patrick D.; Morin, Randall S.; Piva, Ronald J.; Riemann, Rachel; Smith, James E.; Walters, Brian F.; Westfall, Jim; Woodall, Christopher W. 2016. Iowa Forests, 2013.
• McCaskill, George L.; Albright, Thomas; Barnett, Charles J.; Butler, Brett J.; Crocker, Susan J.; Kurtz, Cassandra M.; McWilliams, William H.; Miles, Patrick D.; Morin, Randall S.; Nelson, Mark D.; Widmann, Richard H.; Woodall, Christopher W. 2016. Maine Forests 2013.
• Miles, Patrick D.; VanderSchaaf, Curtis L.; Barnett, Charles; Butler, Brett J.; Crocker, Susan J.; Gormanson, Dale D.; Kurtz, Cassandra M.; Lister, Tonya W.; McWilliams, William H.; Morin, Randall S.; Nelson, Mark D.; Perry, Charles H. (Hobie); Riemann, Rachel I.; Smith, James E.; Walters, Brian F.; Westfall, Jim; Woodall, Christopher W. 2016. Minnesota Forests 2013.
• Piva, Ronald J.; Treiman, Thomas B.; Butler, Brett J.; Crocker, Susan J.; Gormanson, Dale D.; Griffith, Douglas M.; Kurtz, Cassandra M.; Lister, Tonya W.; Luppold, William G.; McWilliams, William H.; Miles, Patrick D.; Morin, Randall S.; Nelson, Mark D.; Perry, Charles H. (Hobie); Riemann, Rachel; Smith, James E.; Walters, Brian F.; Woodall, Christopher W. 2016. Missouri Forests 2013.
• Morin, Randall S.; Cook, Gregory W.; Barnett, Charles J.; Butler, Brett J.; Crocker, Susan J.; Hatfield, Mark A.; Kurtz, Cassandra M.; Lister, Tonya W.; Luppold, William G.; McWilliams, William H.; Miles, Patrick D.; Nelson, Mark D.; Perry, Charles H. (Hobie); Piva, Ronald J.; Smith, James E.; Westfall, Jim; Widmann, Richard H.; Woodall, Christopher W. 2016. West Virginia Forests 2013.
• Brown, Donald J.; Schrage, Mike; Ryan, Dan; Moen, Ron A.; Nelson, Mark D.; Buech, Richard R. 2015. Glyptemys insculpta (wood turtle). Longevity in the wild.
• McWilliams, William H.; Westfall, James A.; Brose, Patrick H.; Dey, Daniel C.; Hatfield, Mark; Johnson, Katherine; Laustsen, Kenneth M.; Lehman, Shawn L.; Morin, Randall S.; Nelson, Mark D.; Ristau, Todd E.; Royo, Alejandro A.; Stout, Susan L.; Willard, Thomas; Woodall, Christopher W. 2015. A regeneration indicator for Forest Inventory and Analysis: history, sampling, estimation, analytics, and potential use in the midwest and northeast United States.
• Tavernia, Brian G.; Nelson, Mark D.; Garner, James D. 2015. Ecosystem services: a new NRS-FIA analytical science initiative.
• Nelson, Mark D.; Brewer, Matt; Butler, Brett J.; Pugh, Scott A. 2015. Forests of Iowa, 2014.
• Morin, Randall S.; Barnett, Chuck J.; Butler, Brett J.; Crocker, Susan J.; Domke, Grant M.; Hansen, Mark H.; Hatfield, Mark A.; Horton, Jonathan; Kurtz, Cassandra M.; Lister, Tonya W.; Miles, Patrick D.; Nelson, Mark D.; Piva, Ronald J.; Wilmot, Sandy; Widmann, Richard H.; Woodall, Christopher W.; Zaino, Robert. 2015. Forests of Vermont and New Hampshire 2012.
• Garner, James D.; Nelson, Mark D.; Tavernia, Brian G.; Perry, Charles H. (Hobie); Housman, Ian W. 2015. Mapping forest canopy disturbance in the Upper Great Lakes, USA.
• Nelson, Mark D.; Flather, Curtis; Riitters, Kurt H.; Sieg, Carolyn; Garner, James D. 2015. National report on sustainable forests 2015: conservation of biological diversity.
• Widmann, Richard H.; Crawford, Sloane; Kurtz, Cassandra M.; Nelson, Mark D.; Miles, Patrick D.; Morin, Randall S.; Riemann, Rachel. 2015. New York Forests, 2012.
• Schrader-Patton, Charlie; Liknes, Greg C.; Gatziolis, Demetrios; Wing, Brian M.; Nelson, Mark D.; Miles, Patrick D.; Bixby, Josh; Wendt, Daniel G.; Kepler, Dennis; Schaaf, Abbey. 2015. Refining FIA plot locations using LiDAR point clouds.
• Butler, Brett J.; Hewes, Jaketon H.; Liknes, Greg C.; Nelson, Mark D.; Snyder, Stephanie A. 2014. A comparison of techniques for generating forest ownership spatial products.
• Nelson, Mark D.; Brewer, Matt. 2014. Forests of Iowa, 2013.
• Shifley, Stephen R.; Moser, W. Keith; Goerndt, Michael E.; Song, Nianfu; Nelson, Mark D.; Nowak, David J.; Miles, Patrick D.; Butler, Brett J.; DeSantis, Ryan D.; Aguilar, Francisco X.; Tavernia, Brian G. 2014. Futures project anticipates changes and challenges facing forests of the northern United States.
• Hewes, Jaketon H.; Butler, Brett J.; Liknes, Greg C.; Nelson, Mark D.; Snyder, Stephanie A. 2014. Map of distribution of six forest ownership types in the conterminous United States.
• Widmann, Richard H; Randall, Cotton K.; Butler, Brett J.; Domke, Grant M.; Griffith, Douglas M.; Kurtz, Cassandra M.; Moser, W. Keith; Morin, Randall S.; Nelson, Mark D.; Riemann, Rachel; Woodall, Christopher W. 2014. Ohio's Forests 2011.
• Crocker, Susan J.; Nelson, Mark D.; Barnett, Charles J.; Butler, Brett J.; Domke, Grant M.; Hansen, Mark H.; Hatfield, Mark A.; Lister, Tonya W.; Meneguzzo, Dacia M.; Piva, Ronald J.; Wilson, Barry T.; Woodall, Christopher W. 2013. Illinois' Forests 2010.
• Nelson, M.D.; Brewer, M.; Pugh, S.A. 2013. Iowa's forest resources, 2012.
• Moser, W. Keith; Hansen, Mark H.; Atchison, Robert L.; Butler, Brett J.; Crocker, Susan J.; Domke, Grant; Kurtz, Cassandra M.; Lister, Andrew; Miles, Patrick D.; Nelson, Mark D.; Piva, Ronald J.; Woodall, Christopher W. 2013. Kansas' Forests 2010.
• Meneguzzo, Dacia M.; Liknes, Greg C.; Nelson, Mark D. 2013. Mapping trees outside forests using high-resolution aerial imagery: a comparison of pixel- and object based classification approaches.
• Liknes, Greg C.; Nelson, Mark D.; Kaisershot, Daniel J. 2013. Net change in forest density, 1873-2001. Using historical maps to monitor long-term forest trends..
• Fan, Zhaofei; Moser, W. Keith; Hansen, Mark H.; Nelson, Mark D. 2013. Regional patterns of major nonnative invasive plants and associated factors in upper Midwest forests.
• Piva, Ronald J.; Walters, Brian F.; Haugan, Douglas D.; Josten, Gregory J.; Butler, Brett J.; Crocker, Susan J.; Domke, Grant M.; Hatfield, Mark A.; Kurtz, Cassandra M.; Lister, Andrew J.; Lister, Tonya W.; Moser, W. Keith; Nelson, Mark D.; Woodall, Christopher W. 2013. South Dakota's Forests 2010.
• Butler, Brett J.; Morin, Randall S.; Nelson, Mark D. 2012. Connecticut's forest resources, 2011.
• Lister, Tonya W.; Gladders, Glenn; Barnett, Charles J.; Brand, Gary J.; Butler, Brett J.; Crocker, Susan J.; Domke, Grant M.; Griffith, Douglas M.; Hatfield, Mark A.; Kurtz, Cassandra M.; Lister, Andrew J.; Morin, Randall S.; Moser, W. Keith; Nelson, Mark D.; Perry, Charles H.; Piva, Ronald J.; Riemann, Rachel; Woodall, Christopher W. 2012. Delaware's Forests 2008.
• Nelson, Mark D.; Roy, Charlotte. 2012. Estimating tree cavity distributions from historical FIA data.
• Yu, Weiming; Fan, Zhaofei; Moser, W. K.; Hansen, M. H.; Nelson, M. D. 2012. Estimation of invasive probability of multiflora rose in the upper Midwest.
• Stueve, Kirk M.; Housman, Ian W.; Zimmerman, Patrick L.; Nelson, Mark D.; Webb, Jeremy; Perry, Charles H.; Chastain, Robert A.; Gormanson, Dale D.; Huang, Chengquan; Healey, Sean P.; Cohen, Warren B. 2012. Improving automated disturbance maps using snow-covered landsat time series stacks.
• Nelson, M.D.; Brewer, M.; Domke, G. 2012. Iowa's forest resources, 2011.
• Nelson, Mark; Stueve, Kirk; Perry, Charles; Gormanson, Dale; Huang, Chengquan; Healey, Sean. 2012. Mapping young forest in Wisconsin.
• Butler, Brett J.; Morin, Randall S.; Nelson, Mark D. 2012. Massachusetts' forest resources, 2011.
• Meneguzzo, Dacia M; Crocker, Susan J.; Nelson, Mark D.; Barnett, Charles J.; Butler, Brett J.; Domke, Grant M.; Hansen, Mark H.; Hatfield, Mark A.; Liknes, Greg C.; Lister, Andrew J.; Lister, Tonya W.; Piva, Ronald J.; Wilson, Barry T. (Ty); Woodall, Christopher W. 2012. Nebraska's Forests 2010.
• Tavernia, Brian G.; Nelson, Mark D.; Walters, Brian F.; Toney, Chris. 2012. Projected trends in forest habitat classes under climate and land-use change scenarios.
• Nelson, Mark D.; Tavernia, Brian G.; Toney, Chris; Walters, Brian F. 2012. Relating FIA data to habitat classifications via tree-based models of canopy cover.
• Butler, Brett J.; Morin, Randall S.; Nelson, Mark D. 2012. Rhode Island's forest resources, 2011.
• Perry, Charles H.; Everson, Vern A.; Butler, Brett J.; Crocker, Susan J.; Dahir, Sally E.; Diss-Torrance, Andrea L.; Domke, Grant M; Gormanson, Dale D.; Herrick, Sarah K.; Hubbard, Steven S.; Mace, Terry R.; Miles, Patrick D.; Nelson, Mark D.; Rodeout, Richard B.; Saunders, Luke T.; Stueve, Kirk M.; Wilson, Barry T.; Woodall, Christopher W. 2012. Wisconsin's Forests 2009.
• Stueve, Kirk M.; Perry, Charles H. (Hobie); Nelson, Mark D.; Healey, Sean P.; Hill, Andrew D.; Moisen, Gretchen G.; Cohen, Warren B.; Gormanson, Dale D.; Huang, Chengquan. 2011. Ecological importance of intermediate windstorms rivals large, infrequent disturbances in the northern Great Lakes.
• Nelson, Mark D.; Brewer, Matt; Woodall, Christopher W.; Perry, Charles H.; Domke, Grant M.; Piva, Ronald J.; Kurtz, Cassandra M.; Moser, W. Keith; Lister, Tonya W.; Butler, Brett J.; Meneguzzo, Dacia M.; Miles, Patrick D.; Barnett, Charles J.; Gormanson, Dale. 2011. Iowa's Forests 2008.
• Nelson, M.D.; Brewer, M. 2011. Iowa's forest resources, 2010.
• Lister, T.W.; Perdue, J.L; Barnett, C.J.; Butler, B.J.; Crocker, S.J.; Domke, G.M.; Griffith, D.; Hatfield, M.A.; Kurtz, C.M.; Lister, A.J.; Morin, R.S.; Moser, W.K.; Nelson, M.D.; Perry, C.H.; Piva, R.J.; Riemann, R.; Widmann, R.; Woodall, C.W. 2011. Maryland's Forests 2008.
• Morin, R.S.; Nelson, M. 2011. New Hampshire's forest resources, 2010.
• Crocker, Susan J.; Nelson, Mark D.; Barnett, Charles J.; Brand, Gary J.; Butler, Brett J.; Domke, Grant M.; Hansen, Mark H.; Hatfield, Mark A.; Lister, Tonya W.; Meneguzzo, Dacia M.; Perry, Charles H.; Piva, Ronald J.; Wilson, Barry T.; Woodall, Christopher W.; Zipse, Bill. 2011. New Jersey's forests, 2008.
• Stueve, Kirk M.; Housman, Ian W.; Zimmerman, Patrick L.; Nelson, Mark D.; Webb, Jeremy B.; Perry, Charles H.; Chastain, Robert A.; Gormanson, Dale D.; Huang, Chengquan; Healey, Sean P.; Cohen, Warren B. 2011. Snow-covered Landsat time series stacks improve automated disturbance mapping accuracy in forested landscapes.
• Butler, Brett J.; Barnett, Charles J.; Crocker, Susan J.; Domke, Grant M.; Gormanson, Dale ; Hill, William N.; Kurtz, Cassandra M.; Lister, Tonya; Martin, Christopher; Miles, Patrick D.; Morin, Randall; Moser, W. Keith; Nelson, Mark D.; O'Connell, Barbara; Payton, Bruce; Perry, Charles H.; Piva, Ronald J.; Riemann, Rachel; Woodall, Christopher W. 2011. The Forests of Southern New England, 2007: A report on the forest resources of Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island.
• Morin, R.S.; Nelson, M.; De Geus, R. 2011. Vermont's forest resources, 2010.
• Perry, Charles H.; Nelson, Mark D.; Piva, Ronald J. 2010. Imports and exports of roundwood in the upper Midwestern United States. Chapter 2..
• Nelson, M.D.; Brewer, M.; Flickinger, A.; Feeley, T. 2010. Iowa's forest resources, 2008.
• Nelson, M.D.; Brewer, M.; Crocker, S.J. 2010. Iowa's forest resources, 2009.
• Nelson, Mark D.; Liknes, Greg C.; Butler, Brett J. 2010. Map of forest ownership in the conterminous United States. Scale 1:7,500,000 ..
• McRoberts, Ronald E.; Nelson, Mark D.; Mahal, Lisa; Flather, Curtis H.; Alig, Ralph J.; Comas, Sara. 2010. Private forest habitat for at-risk species: where is it and where might it be changing.
• Liknes, Greg C.; Nelson, Mark D.; Butler, Brett J. 2010. Public and private forest ownership in the conterminous United States. Chapter 6..
• Woodall, C.W.; Oswalt, C.M.; Westfall, J.A.; Perry, C.H.; Nelson, M.D.; Finley, A.O. 2010. Selecting tree species for testing climate change migration hypotheses using forest inventory data.
• Moser, W. Keith; Bush, Renate; Shaw, John D.; Hansen, Mark H.; Nelson, Mark D. 2010. The role of strategic forest inventories in aiding land management decision-making: Examples from the U.S.
• Toney, Chris; Shaw, John D.; Nelson, Mark D. 2009. A stem-map model for predicting tree canopy cover of Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) plots.
• Woodall, C.W.; Oswalt, C.M.; Westfall, J.A.; Perry, C.H.; Nelson, M.D.; Finley, A.O. 2009. An indicator of tree migration in forests of the eastern United States.
• Nelson, Mark; Healey, Sean; Moser, W. Keith; Hansen, Mark; Cohen, Warren; Hatfield, Mark; Thomas, Nancy; Masek, Jeff. 2009. Analyzing Landsat time-series data across adjacent path/rows and across multiple cycles of FIA: Lessons learned in southern Missouri.
• Perry, Charles H. (Hobie); Nelson, Mark D. 2009. Cartographic standards to improve maps produced by the Forest Inventory and Analysis program.
• Nelson, Mark; Liknes, Greg; Perry, Charles H. 2009. Combining forest inventory, satellite remote sensing, and geospatial data for mapping forest attributes of the conterminous United States.
• Nelson, Mark D.; Healey, Sean P.; Moser, W. Keith; Hansen, Mark H. 2009. Combining satellite imagery with forest inventory data to assess damage severity following a major blowdown event in northern Minnesota, USA.
• Nelson, Mark D.; Lister, Andrew J.; Hansen, Mark H. 2009. Estimating number and size of forest patches from FIA plot data.
• Nelson, Mark D.; Johnson, David H.; Linkhart, Brian D.; Miles, Patrick D. 2009. Flammulated owl (Otus flammeolus) breeding habitat abundance in ponderosa pine forests of the United States.
• Nelson, Mark D.; Ward, Kathleen T.; Bauer, Marvin E. 2009. Forest-cover-type separation using RADARSAT-1 synthetic aperture radar imagery.
• Ruefenacht, Bonnie; Nelson, Mark D.; Finco, Mark. 2009. Harmonizing estimates of forest land area from national-level forest inventory and satellite imagery.
• Liknes, Greg C.; Nelson, Mark D. 2009. Improving Forest Inventory and Analysis efficiency with common land unit information.
• Moser, W. Keith; Nelson, Mark D.; Hansen, Mark H. 2009. Inventory shows extent of non-native invasive plants in Minnesota forests.
• Nelson, M.D.; Brewer, M. 2009. Iowa's Forest Resources, 2007.
• Perry, Charles H. (Hobie); Nelson, Mark D.; Toney, J. Christopher; Frescino, Tracey S.; Hoppus, Michael L. 2009. Mapping forest resources of the United States.
• Tirpak, John M.; Jones-Farrand, D. Todd; Thompson, Frank R., III; Twedt, Daniel J.; Nelson, Mark D.; Uihlein, William B., III. 2009. Predicting bird habitat quality from a geospatial analysis of FIA data.
• Moser, W. Keith; Hansen, Mark H.; Nelson, Mark D.; McWilliams, William H. 2009. Relationship of invasive groundcover plant presence to evidence of disturbance in the forests of the upper midwest of the United States. Chapter 3..
• Liknes, Greg C.; Nelson, Mark D.; Gormanson, Dale D.; Hansen, Mark. 2009. The utility of the cropland data layer for Forest Inventory and Analysis.
• Woodall, Christopher W.; Oswalt, Christopher M.; Westfall, James A.; Perry, Charles H.; Nelson, Mark N. 2009. Tree migration detection through comparisons of historic and current forest inventories.
• Moser, W. Keith; Nelson, Mark D.; Hansen, Mark H.; Healey, Sean; Cohen, Warren. 2009. Trends in afforestation in southern Missouri.
• Moser, W. Keith; Nelson, Mark D. 2009. Windstorm damage in Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (Minnesota, USA): Evaluating landscape-level risk factors.
• Ruefenacht, B.; Finco, M.V.; Nelson, M.D.; Czaplewski, R., Ph.D..; Helmer, E.H.; Blackard, J. A.; Holden, G.R.; Lister, A.J.; Salajanu, D.; Weyermann, D.; Winterberger, K. 2008. Conterminous U.S. and Alaska Forest Type Mapping Using Forest Inventory and Analysis Data.
• Moser, W. Keith; Hansen, Mark H.; Atchison, Robert L.; Brand, Gary J.; Butler, Brett J.; Crocker, Susan J.; Meneguzzo, Dacia M.; Nelson, Mark D.; Perry, Charles H.; Reading, William H. IV; Wilson, Barry T.; Woodall, Christopher W. 2008. Kansas forests 2005.
• Blackard, J. A.; Finco, M. V.; Helmer, E. H.; Holden, G. R.; Hoppus, M. L.; Jacobs, D.M.; Lister, A. J.; Moisen, G. G.; Nelson, M. D.; Riemann, R.; Ruefenacht, B.; Salajanu, D.; Weyermann, D. L.; Winterberger, K. C.; Brandeis, T. J.; Czaplewski, R. L., Ph.D..; McRoberts, R. E.; Patterson, P. L.; Tymcio, R. P. 2008. Mapping U.S. forest biomass using nationwide forest inventory data and moderate resolution information.
• Moser, W. Keith; Hansen, Mark H.; Nelson, Mark D. 2008. The extent of selected non-native invasive plants on Missouri forestland.
• Robles, Marcos D.; Flather, Curtis H.; Nelson, Mark D.; Cutko, Andrew. 2008. The geography of private forests that support at-risk species in the conterminous United States.
• Perry, Charles H. (Hobie); Everson, Vern A.; Brown, Ian K.; Cummings-Carlson, Jane; Dahir, Sally E.; Jepsen, Edward A.; Kovach, Joe; Labissoniere, Michael D.; Mace, Terry R.; Padley, Eunice A.; Rideout, Richard B.; Butler, Brett J.; Crocker, Susan J.; Liknes, Greg C.; Morin, Randall S.; Nelson, Mark D.; Wilson, Barry T. (Ty); Woodall, Christopher W. 2008. Wisconsin's forests, 2004.
• Moser, W. Keith; Hansen, Mark H.; Nelson, Mark D.; Crocker, Susan J.; Perry, Charles H.; Schulz, Bethany; Woodall, Christopher W. 2007. After the blowdown: a resource assessment of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, 1999-2003.
• Nelson, Mark; Moisen, Gretchen; Finco, Mark. 2007. Forest Inventory and Analysis in the United States: Remote sensing and geospatial activities.
• Nelson, Mark D.; Liknes, Greg C. 2007. Forest Land Ownership in the Conterminous United States map.
• Nelson, Mark; Moisen, Gretchen; Finco, Mark. 2007. Forest inventory and analysis in the United States: remote sensing and geospatial activities.
• Nelson, Mark D.; Moser, W. Keith. 2007. Integrating remote sensing and forest inventory data for assessing forest blowdown in the boundary waters canoe area wilderness.
• Nelson, Mark D.; Vissage, John. 2007. Mapping Forest Inventory and Analysis forest land use: timberland, reserved forest land, and other forest land.
• Crocker, Susan J.; Moser, W. Keith; Hansen, Mark H.; Nelson, Mark D. 2007. The spatial distribution of riparian ash: implications for the dispersal of the emerald ash borer.
• McRoberts, Ron; Nelson, Mark; Theobald, David; Eley, Mike; Dechter, Mike. 2006. Forests on the Edge: A GIS-based Approach to Projecting Housing Development on Private Forests.
• McRoberts, Ronald E.; Barbour, R. James; Gebert, Krista M.; Liknes, Greg C.; Nelson, Mark D.; Meneguzzo, Dacia M.; et al., . 2006. Using basic geographic information systems functionality to support sustainable forest management decision making and post-decision assessments.
• McRoberts, Ronald E.; Holden, Geoffrey R.; Nelson, Mark D.; Liknes, Greg C.; Gormanson, Dale D. 2006. Using satellite imagery as ancillary data for increasing the precision of estimates for the Forest Inventory and Analysis program of the USDA Forest Service.
• Holden, Geoffrey R.; Nelson, Mark D.; McRoberts, Ronald E. 2005. Accuracy Assessment of FIA's Nationwide Biomass Mapping Products: Results From the North Central FIA Region.
• McRoberts, Ronald E.; Liknes, Greg C.; Nelson, Mark D.; Gebert, Krista M.; Barbour, R. James; Odell, Susan L.; Yaddof, Steven C. 2005. Allocating Fire Mitigation Funds on the Basis of the Predicted Probabilities of Forest Wildfire.
• Nelson, Mark D.; McRoberts, Ronald E.; Liknes, Greg C.; Holden, Geoffrey R. 2005. Comparing Forest/Nonforest Classifications of Landsat TM Imagery for Stratifying FIA Estimates of Forest Land Area.
• Nelson, Mark D.; McRoberts, Ronald E.; Lessard, Veronica C. 2005. Comparison of U.S. Forest Land AreaEstimates From Forest Inventory and Analysis, National Resources Inventory, and Four Satellite Image-Derived Land Cover Data Sets.
• McRoberts, Ronald E.; Holden, Geoffrey R.; Nelson, Mark D.; Liknes, Greg C.; Moser, Warren K.; Lister, Andrew J.; King, Susan L.; LaPoint, Elizabeth B.; Coulston, John W.; Smith, W. Brad; Reams, Gregory A. 2005. Estimating and circumventing the effects of perturbing and swapping inventory plot locations.
• McRoberts, Ronald E.; Alig, Ralph J.; Nelson, Mark D.; Theobald, David M.; Eley, Mike; Dechter, Mike; Carr, Mary. 2005. Forests on the edge: housing development on America s private forests..
• Liknes, Greg C.; Holden, Geoffrey R.; Nelson, Mark D.; McRoberts, Ronald E. 2005. Spatially Locating FIA Plots from Pixel Values.
• Liknes, Greg C.; Nelson, Mark D.; McRoberts, Ronald E. 2004. Evaluating Classified MODIS Satellite Imagery as a Stratification Tool.
• Nelson, Mark D.; McRoberts, Ronald E.; Hansen, Matthew C. 2004. Forest land area estimates from vegetation continuous fields.
• Lessard, Veronica C.; Hansen, Mark H.; Nelson, Mark D. 2002. Comparing Minnesota land cover/use area estimates using NRI and FIA data.
• McRoberts, Ronald E.; Nelson, Mark D.; Wendt, Daniel. 2002. Stratified estimates of forest area using the k-nearest neighbors technique and satellite imagery.
• McRoberts, Ronald E.; Nelson, Mark D.; Wendt, Daniel G. 2002. Stratified estimation of forest area using satellite imagery, inventory data, and the k-nearest neighbors technique.
• Brand, Gary J.; Nelson, Mark D.; Wendt, Daniel G.; Nimerfro, Kevin K. 2000. The hexagon/panel system for selecting FIA plots under an annual inventory.
• Buech, Richard R.; Hanson, Lynelle G.; Nelson, Mark D. 1997. Identification of wood turtle nesting areas for protection and management.
• Nelson, Mark D.; Buech, Richard R. 1996. A test of 3 models of Kirtland's warbler habitat suitability.
• Nelson, Mark D.; Benyus, Janine M.; Buech, Richard R. 1992. NORTHWOODS Wildlife Habitat Data Base.
• Benyus, Janine M.; Buech, Richard R.; Nelson, Mark D. 1992. Wildlife in the Upper Great Lakes Region: a community profile..

Research Highlights

Highlight	Title	Year
NRS-2011-05	Forest Land Estimates Improved by Novel Automated Mapping Technique Using Winter Satellite Imagery Most automated satellite-based approaches for mapping forest lands rely on summer satellite imagery and are usually inconsistent with FIA plot-b ...	2011
NRS-2010-023	Mapping Young Forest Habitats across the Great Lakes Region NRS research scientists from the Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) program used current FIA data to estimate trends in abundance of young fore ...	2010
NRS-2017-90	“Long live the wood turtles!” is both a cheer and a fact Forest Service researchers and their collaborators revisited a 25-year-old study and found that old turtles can deliver new knowledge about the ...	2017