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US Forest Service Research & Development
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  • US Forest Service Research & Development
  • 1400 Independence Ave., SW
  • Washington, D.C. 20250-0003
  • 800-832-1355
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Dr. Dan Dey

Daniel C. Dey, Dr.

Project Leader / Research Forester
University of Missouri
202 Anheuser Busch Natural Resources Building
Columbia
Missouri
United States
65211-7260

Phone: 573-875-5341 x225
Fax: 573-875-0038
Contact Daniel C. Dey, Dr.


Current Research

My research focuses on evaluating silvicultural practices to manage forests that produce the wide array of goods and services that land owners and society desire. I specialize in solving forest regeneration issues in hardwood-dominated forests in both uplands and bottomlands. Much of my experience is in the natural regeneration and development of hardwood-dominated forests and in the afforestation of bottomland agricultural lands. I have done extensive work with collaborators on determining historic fire regimes in oak/pine-dominated ecosystems throughout the Eastern United States. This knowledge is the basis for developing prescriptions that combine prescribed fire with mechanical thinning and harvesting to restore native forest communities such as woodlands and savannas, favor fire dependent species, reduce fuels and fire risk, restore natural ecosystem processes, etc. I model forest responses to specific silvicultural practices. I develop forest management guidelines for practitioners. i study the effects of prescribed fire on timber quantity, quality and value and seek to design applications of fire that minimize adverse ecological, economic and social impacts.

Research Interests

I plan on continuing my work in forest regeneration and restoration in primarily oak/pine forests, woodlands and savannas, and in the afforestation of bottomland forests. I am interested in wildlife and forest interactions during the regeneration process. I also am interested in developing regional regeneration models for the Central Hardwood Region. I am initiating new research in the silviculture of pine/oak forests with emphasis on shortleaf pine regeneration and development in natural upland forests. I am always interested in supporting and contributing to increasing our knowledge on fire history in American forests.

Why This Research is Important

Forest managers often want to regenerate mature forests, to restore forests where they use to be, or to restore fire-dependent woodland and savanna ecosystems. They desire to shape the structure and composition of the forests, provide quality wildife habitat, conserve native biodiversity, and promote the production of a diversity of goods and services. Developing silvicultural prescriptions to accomplish these goals in an economical manner is a challenge. My research addresses priority issues in forest regeneration, sustainability and restoration in the northern region. I provide a better understanding of how forests respond to natural and human disturbances, and how management can be used to guide forest regeneration and succession. I evaluate innovative combinations of traditional silvicultural practices for managing forests, woodlands and savannas. I produce models of forest regeneration, which are useful tools for forest managers. They allow evaluation of current forest conditions and prediction of future outcomes for specified types of management. My work in fire and vegetation history provides an ecological foundation for forest restoration work. Ultimately, this research is the basis for forest management guidelines and standards.

Education

  • University of Missouri, Ph.D. Quantitative Silviculture 1991
  • University of Missouri, M.Sc. Quantitative Silviculture 1980
  • University of Missouri, B.S. Forest Management Univ 1976

Professional Organizations

  • Society of American Foresters (SAF)

Featured Publications & Products

Publications

Research Highlights

HighlightTitleYear

NRS-2012-22		Effects of Timber Harvesting and Biomass Removal on Forest Health Studied

A 10-year study shows that forest sites are able to experience high levels of soil compaction and biomass removal with little negative effects o ...

2012

NRS-2014-026		Forest Management Guidelines Help Improve and Sustain Missouri's Forest Resources

Missouri landowners and resource managers need state-of-the-art, science-based knowledge of forest management planning, silviculture, and best m ...

2014

NRS-2016-84		Hardwood-Softwood Mixtures for Future Forests in Eastern North America: Assessing Suitability to Projected Climate Change

Despite growing interest in management strategies for climate change adaptation, there are few methods for assessing the ability of stands to en ...

2016

NRS-2013-077		Loss of diversity in the Missouri Ozark Highlands Places Ecosystem at Risk

Past land use over the last 200 years has made Missouri's Ozark Highlands less diverse and more homogeneous in the condition of its vegetation. ...

2013

NRS-2012-27		New Model Estimates Historic Fire Frequency

Model will help restore fire-dependent ecosystems and assess effects of changing climates

2012

NRS-2015-126		Study Guides Restoration of Natural Communities in Missouri

Land use over the last 200 years has decreased diversity, and increased homogeneity, of the vegetative landscape of Missouri. This trend has put ...

2015

NRS-2016-83		The History of Fire in the United States and its Future Under Changing Climates

In the past, North America was a fire continent, but the role of fire was highly variable across the country and over time. Fire history researc ...

2016

Last updated on : 07/01/2020