Current Research

• Ecology and Silviculture of Mixed-Species Stands - Recent and ongoing projects include short- and long-term dynamics of multi-aged stands (with a focus on selection, diameter-limit, and other forms of partial cutting), rehabilitation of degraded stands, regeneration substrates and dynamics, stand and sub-stand structure, and relationships between forest management and understory vegetation. Many of these projects are in collaboration with University of Maine faculty and graduate students. Much of my work is on the Penobscot Experimental Forest in Maine, but I also conduct research on the Dukes Experimental Forest in Michigan and in cooperation with a number of large landowners and Northern Forest managers. My research addresses the northern conifer (hemlock - spruce - fir) and northern hardwood (beech - birch - maple) forest types, with an emphasis on mixedwood stands (i.e., hardwood - softwood mixtures).
• Sustainability - I am a principal investigator in a cross-border study of northern white-cedar ecology and silviculture, in collaboration with Laval University (Quebec), the Canadian Forest Service, and the Quebec Ministry of Forests, Parks, and Wildlife. I also have been working with University of Maine and NRS colleagues on studies of soil-site-growth relationships, the long-term effects of harvesting on site productivity, the role of site in determining sub-stand-level variation in silvicultural outcomes, and residual stand and regeneration implications of mechanized partial harvesting.
• Experimental Forest Research - My research portfolio includes a number of long-term (foundational) studies on experimental forests. These studies, which originated as many as 80+ years ago, provide unusually robust findings about management outcomes. In addition to using historical work to answer contemporary forest management questions (e.g., effect of silviculture on carbon storage), I am working with the Forest Service's Research Data Archive to make data from long-term studies of forest ecology and management publicly available. 

Research Interests

In addition to ongoing studies, I would like to expand my research in the areas of rehabilitation of degraded stands; ecology and silviculture of northern white-cedar, and networking and synthesis of long-term silvicultural experiments such as those on experimental forests.

Why This Research is Important

The forests of the northeastern United States and eastern Canada are structurally and compositionally complex, and recent trends in forest management have been toward silvicultural systems that maintain or increase complexity of structure and species. However, the dynamics of mixed-species and multi-aged stands are incompletely understood, and information about ecosystem response to management in both the short- and long-term is needed. I am using current studies, as well as archived data and intact plots from early Forest Service research, to address problems of contemporary forest management. Additionally, focus on potentially at-risk components of complex ecosystems and forests degraded by past mismanagement is important. Long-term sustainability of the northern white-cedar resource, for example, is a concern due to widespread problems with regeneration and recruitment and the advanced age of the managed resource in many regions. My research contributes both to effective forest management and long-term forest sustainability.

Education

• University of Maine, Ph.D. Forest Resources 2000
• State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry, M.S. Forest Resource Management 1995
• State University of New York at Binghamton, B.A. Environmental Studies 1992

Professional Organizations

• Ecological Society of America, Member (1999 - Current)
• New England Society of American Foresters, Member, Working Group Chair, Forest Science Coordinator (2004-2006) (1995 - Current)
• Society of American Foresters (SAF), Member, Working Group Communications Coordinator (2016-Current) (1995 - Current)
• U.S. Forest Service, Experimental Forest and Range Working Group, Member, Northern Research Station Representative, Chair (2009 - 2012)

Awards & Recognition

Publications

• Muñoz Delgado, Bethany L.; Kenefic, Laura S.; Weiskittel, Aaron R.; Fernandez, Ivan J.; Benjamin, Jeffrey G.; Dibble, Alison C. 2019. Northern mixedwood composition and productivity 50 years after whole-tree and stem-only harvesting with and without post-harvest prescribed burning.
• Reuling, Laura F.; Kern, Christel C.; Kenefic, Laura S.; Bronson, Dustin R. 2019. The Northern White-Cedar Recruitment Bottleneck: Understanding the Effects of Substrate, Competition, and Deer Browsing.
• Puhlick, Joshua J.; Kuehne, Christian ; Kenefic, Laura S. 2018. Crop tree growth response and quality after silvicultural rehabilitation of cutover stands.
• Livingston, William H.; Kenefic, Laura S. 2018. Low densities in white pine stands reduce risk of drought-incited decline.
• Janowiak, Maria K.; D'Amato, Anthony W.; Swanston, Christopher W.; Iverson, Louis; Thompson, Frank R.; Dijak, William D.; Matthews, Stephen; Peters, Matthew P.; Prasad, Anantha; Fraser, Jacob S.; Brandt, Leslie A.; Butler-Leopold, Patricia; Handler, Stephen D.; Shannon, P. Danielle; Burbank, Diane; Campbell, John; Cogbill, Charles; Duveneck, Matthew J.; Emery, Marla R.; Fisichelli, Nicholas; Foster, Jane; Hushaw, Jennifer; Kenefic, Laura; Mahaffey, Amanda; Morelli, Toni Lyn; Reo, Nicholas J.; Schaberg, Paul G.; Simmons, K. Rogers; Weiskittel, Aaron; Wilmot, Sandy; Hollinger, David; Lane, Erin; Rustad, Lindsey; Templer, Pamela H. 2018. New England and northern New York forest ecosystem vulnerability assessment and synthesis: a report from the New England Climate Change Response Framework project.
• Wesely, Nathan ; Fraver, Shawn ; Kenefic, Laura ; Weiskittel, Aaron ; Ruel, Jean-Claude ; Thompson, Michael ; White, Alan . 2018. Structural Attributes of Old-Growth and Partially Harvested Northern White-Cedar Stands in Northeastern North America.
• McWilliams, William H.; Westfall, James A.; Brose, Patrick H.; Dey, Daniel C.; D'Amato, Anthony W.; Dickinson, Yvette L.; Fajvan, Mary Ann; Kenefic, Laura S.; Kern, Christel C.; Laustsen, Kenneth M.; Lehman, Shawn L.; Morin, Randall S.; Ristau, Todd E.; Royo, Alejandro A.; Stoltman, Andrew M.; Stout, Susan L. 2018. Subcontinental-scale patterns of large-ungulate herbivory and synoptic review of restoration management implications for midwestern and northeastern forests.
• Gleason, Kelly E.; Bradford, John B.; Bottero, Alessandra; D'Amato, Anthony W.; Fraver, Shawn; Palik, Brian J.; Battaglia, Michael A.; Iverson, Louis; Kenefic, Laura; Kern, Christel C. 2017. Competition amplifies drought stress in forests across broad climatic and compositional gradients.
• Fraver, Shawn; Dodds, Kevin J.; Kenefic, Laura S.; Morrill, Rick; Seymour, Robert S.; Sypitkowski, Eben. 2017. Forest structure following tornado damage and salvage logging in northern Maine, USA.
• Ayrey, Elias; Fraver, Shawn; Kershaw, John A.; Kenefic, Laura S.; Hayes, Daniel; Weiskittel, Aaron R.; Roth, Brian E. 2017. Layer stacking: A novel algorithm for individual forest tree segmentation from LiDAR point clouds.
• Kabrick, John M.; Clark, Kenneth L.; D'Amato, Anthony W.; Dey, Daniel C.; Kenefic, Laura S.; Kern, Christel C.; Knapp, Benjamin O.; MacLean, David A.; Raymond, Patricia; Waskiewicz, Justin D. 2017. Managing hardwood-softwood mixtures for future forests in eastern North America: assessing suitability to projected climate change.
• Rogers, Nicole; Kenefic, Laura; Crandall, Mindy; Seymour, Robert; Sendak, Paul. 2017. Sixty Years of Silviculture in a Northern Conifer Forest in Maine, USA.
• Kenefic, Laura S.; Rogers, Nicole S. 2017. The Evolution of USDA Forest Service Experimental Forest Research on Northern Conifers in the Northeast.
• carr, tish; Kenefic, Laura S.; Ranco, Darren J. 2017. Wabanaki Youth in Science (WaYS): A Tribal Mentoring and Educational Program Integrating Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Western Science.
• Puhlick, Joshua J.; Weiskittel, Aaron R.; Fraver, Shawn; Russell, Matthew B.; Kenefic, Laura S. 2016. Assessing the role of natural disturbance and forest management on dead wood dynamics in mixed-species stands of central Maine, USA.
• Puhlick, Joshua J.; Fraver, Shawn; Fernandez, Ivan J.; Weiskittel, Aaron R.; Kenefic, Laura S.; Kolka, Randy; Gruselle, Marie-Cecile. 2016. Factors influencing organic-horizon carbon pools in mixed-species stands of central Maine, USA.
• Puhlick, Joshua J.; Weiskittel, Aaron R.; Fernandez, Ivan J.; Fraver, Shawn; Kenefic, Laura S.; Seymour, Robert S.; Kolka, Randall K.; Rustad, Lindsey E.; Brissette, John C. 2016. Long-term influence of alternative forest management treatments on total ecosystem and wood product carbon storage.
• Kenefic, Laura S. 2016. Mixedwood management in the Northeastern United States.
• Kern, Christel C.; Kenefic, Laura S.; Stout, Susan L. 2015. Bridging the Gender Gap: The demographics of scientists in the USDA Forest Service and academia.
• Kenefic, Laura S.; Kern, Christel C. 2015. Early northern hardwood silvicultural research at the Dukes Experimental Forest, Michigan.
• Waskiewicz, Justin D.; Kenefic, Laura S.; Rogers, Nicole S.; Puhlick, Joshua J.; Brissette, John C.; Dionne, Richard J. 2015. Sampling and measurement protocols for long-term silvicultural studies on the Penobscot Experimental Forest.
• Kenefic, Laura; Ruel, Jean-Claude; Tremblay, Jean-Pierre. 2015. Sustainable management of white-tailed deer and white-cedar.
• Frank, Robert M., Jr..; Kenefic, Laura S. 2014. Bob Frank's recollections made on the occasion of the Penobscot Experimental Forest's 60TH anniversary.
• Brissette, John C.; Kenefic, Laura S. 2014. Centerpiece of research on the Penobscot Experimental Forest: the US Forest Service long-term silvicultural study.
• Kern, Christel; Erdmann, Gus; Kenefic, Laura; Palik, Brian; Strong, Terry. 2014. Development of the selection system in northern hardwood forests of the Lake States: an 80-year silviculture research legacy.
• Kenefic, Laura S.; Brissette, John C. 2014. History of the Penobscot Experimental Forest, 1950-2010.
• Kenefic, Laura S.; Brissette, John C.; Judd, Richard W. 2014. Northeastern conifer research: Multiple species and multiple values.
• Kenefic, Laura S.; Brissette, John C. 2014. Penobscot Experimental Forest: 60 years of research and demonstration in Maine, 1950-2010.
• Kenefic, Laura S.; Brissette, John C. 2014. Publications of the Penobscot Experiment Forest, 1950-2010.
• Kenefic, Laura S. 2014. Selective cutting, rehabilitation, and alternatives for forests of northeastern North America and elsewhere.
• Kenefic, Laura S.; Bataineh, Mohammad; Wilson, Jeremy S.; Brissette, John C.; Nyland, Ralph D. 2014. Silvicultural rehabilitation of cutover mixedwood stands.
• Russell, Matthew B.; Meyer, Spencer R.; Brissette, John C.; Kenefic, Laura. 2014. Sixty years of research, 60 years of data: long-term US Forest Service data management on the Penobscot Experimental Forest.
• Bataineh, Mohammad; Kenefic, Laura; Weiskittel, Aaron; Wagner, Robert; Brissette, John. 2013. Influence of partial harvesting and site factors on the abundance and composition of natural regeneration in the Acadian Forest of Maine, USA.
• Waskiewicz, Justin; Kenefic, Laura; Weiskittel, Aaron; Seymour, Robert. 2013. Species mixture effects in northern red oak-eastern white pine stands in Maine, USA.
• Kenefic, Laura S.; Kern, Christel C.; Brissette, John; Russell, Matthew; Irland, Lloyd; Weiskittel, Aaron; Berven, Kate. 2013. Suggestions for maintaining records for long-term field studies. A supplement to papers by Berven et al. and Kenefic and Kern (this volume).
• Berven, Kate; Kenefic, Laura; Weiskittel, Aaron; Twery, Mark; Wilson, Jeremy. 2013. The lost research of early northeastern spruce-fir experimental forests: a tale of lost opportunities.
• Kenefic, Laura S.; Kern, Christel C. 2013. The remarkable story of the partial cutting study at the Dukes Experimental Forest.
• Fraver, Shawn; Milo, Amy M.; Bradford, John B.; D’Amato, Anthony W.; Kenefic, Laura; Palik, Brian J.; Woodall, Christopher W.; Brissette, John. 2013. Woody debris volume depletion through decay: Implications for biomass and carbon accounting.
• Boulfroy, Emmanuelle; Forget, Eric; Hofmeyer, Philip V.; Kenefic, Laura S.; Larouche, Catherine; Lessard, Guy; Lussier, Jean-Martin; Pinto, Fred; Ruel, Jean-Claude; Weiskittel, Aaron. 2012. Silvicultural guide for northern white-cedar (eastern white cedar).
• Olson, Elizabeth; Kenefic, Laura S.; Dibble, Alison C.; Brissette, John C. 2011. Nonnative invasive plants in the Penobscot Experimental Forest in Maine, USA: influence of site, silviculture, and land use history.
• Weiskittel, Aaron R.; Kenefic, Laura S.; Li, Rongxia; Brissette, John. 2011. Stand Structure and Composition 32 Years after Precommercial Thinning Treatments in a Mixed Northern Conifer Stand in Central Maine.
• Hofmeyer, Philip V.; Kenefic, Laura S.; Seymour, Robert S. 2010. Historical early stem development of northern white-cedar (Thuja occidentalis L.) in Maine.
• Larouche, Catherine; Kenefic, Laura S.; Ruel, Jean-Claude. 2010. Northern white-cedar regeneration dynamics on the Penobscot Experimental Forest in Maine: 40-year results.
• Hofmeyer, Philip V.; Seymour, Robert S.; Kenefic, Laura S. 2010. Production ecology of Thuja occidentalis.
• Weaver, Jamie K.; Kenefic, Laura S.; Seymour, Robert S.; Brissette, John C. 2009. Decaying wood and tree regeneration in the Acadian Forest of Maine, USA.
• Wells, Gail; Hayes, Deborah; Krause, Katrina; Bartuska, Ann; LeVan-Green, Susan; Anderson, Jim; Gough, Tivoli; Adams, Mary; Schuler, Thomas; Kolka, Randy; Sebestyen, Steve; Kenefic, Laura; Brissette, John; Stout, Susan; Kanoti, Keith; Swanson, Fred; Greene, Sarah; Herring, Margaret; Ritchie, Martin; Skinner, Carl; Lisle, Tom; Keppeler, Elizabeth; Reid, Leslie; Wohlegemuth, Peter; Kitchen, Stanley; McCaughey, Ward; Guldin, Jim; Bragg, Don; Shelton, Michael; Loftis, David; Greenberg, Cathryn; Murphy, Julia. 2009. Experimental forests and ranges : 100 years of research success stories.
• Hofmeyer, P.V.; Seymour, R.S.; Kenefic, L.S. 2009. Influence of soil site class on growth and decay of northern white-cedar and two associates in Maine.
• Weiskittel, Aaron; Kenefic, Laura S.; Seymour, Robert S.; Phillips, Leah M. 2009. Long-term effects of precommercial thinning on stem form, volume, and branch characteristics of red spruce and balsam fir crop trees.
• Hofmeyer, Philip V.; Kenefic, Laura S.; Seymour, Robert S. 2009. Northern white-cedar ecology and silviculture in the northeastern United States and southeastern Canada: a synthesis of knowledge.
• Baldwin, Elizabeth Dennis; Kenefic, Laura S.; LaPage, Will F. 2007. Alternative large-scale conservation visions for northern Maine: interviews with decision leaders in Maine.
• Kenefic, Laura S.; Nyland, Ralph D. 2007. Cavity trees, snags, and selection cutting: a northern hardwood case study.
• Moores, Andrew R.; Seymour, Robert S.; Kenefic, Laura S. 2007. Height development of shade-tolerant conifer saplings in multiaged Acadian forest stands.
• Hofmeyer, Philip V.; Kenefic, Laura S.; Seymour, Robert S. 2007. Northern white-cedar (Thuja occidentalis L.): an annotated bibliography.
• Kenefic, Laura S.; Nyland, Ralph D.; Nyland, Ralph D. 2006. Facilitating a Dialogue About Diameter-Limit Cutting.
• Hofmeyer, Philip V.; Kenefic, Laura S.; Seymour, Robert S.; Brissette, John C. 2006. Growth comparison of northern white-cedar to balsam fir and red spruce by site class.
• Brissette, John C.; Saunders, Michael R.; Kenefic, Laura S.; Sendak, Paul E. 2006. Long-term research on classical silvicultural approaches in the Acadian Forest: Penobscot Experimental Forest Part I.
• Kenefic, Laura S.; Brissette, John C.; Sendak, Paul E.; Sendak, Paul E. 2006. Overview of USDA Forest Service Research on Diameter-Limit Cutting in Northern Conifers.
• Kenefic, Laura S.; Nyland, Ralph D., eds.; Nyland, Ralph D., eds. 2006. Proceedings of the conference on diameter-limit cutting in northeastern forests.
• Kenefic, Laura S.; Sendak, Paul E.; Brissette, John C. 2006. Turning data into knowledge for over 50 years: USDA Forest Service research on the Penobscot Experimental Forest.
• Baldwin, Elizabeth D.; Kenefic, Laura S.; LaPage, Wilbur; Daigle, John J. 2005. A Forest in Conflict: the Proposal for a 3.2 Million Acre National Park and Preserve in Maine's Working Forest.
• Kenefic, Laura S.; Twery, Mark J., eds. 2005. Changing Forests - Challenging Times: Proceedings of the New England Society of American Foresters 85th Winter Meeting.
• Kenefic, Laura S.; Sendak, Paul E.; Brissette, John C. 2005. Comparison of Fixed Diameter-Limit and Selection Cutting in Northern Conifers.
• Kenefic, Laura S.; Sendak, Paul E.; Brissette, John C. 2005. Digging Out the Data: USDA Forest Service Research on the Penobscot Experimental Forest.
• Kenefic, Laura S.; Elias, Susan P.; Kimball, Alan J.; Witham, Jack W. 2005. Dynamics of Tree Growth and Composition Following Partial Cutting in an Oak Pine Forest in Maine.
• Hofmeyer, Philip V.; Kenefic, Laura S.; Seymour, Robert S.; Brissette, John C. 2005. Ecology and Silviculture of Northern White-cedar.
• Weaver, Jamie K.; Kenefic, Laura S.; Fernandez, Ivan J. 2005. Effect of Harvest Intensity on Soil Physical Properties and Site Productivity in Riparian Mixedwood Forests.
• Waskiewicz, Justin D.; Kenefic, Laura S. 2005. Elementary Silviculture: Presenting Forest Science to Children Through the NSF's GK-12 Fellowship.
• Sendak, Paul E.; Brissette, John C.; Frank (retired), Robert M.; Kenefic, Laura S. 2005. Forty Years of Partial Harvesting in Mixed Northern Conifers in Maine: Results from the Penobscot Experimental Forest.
• Witham, Jack W.; Hunter, Malcolm L. Jr.; Kimball, Alan J.; White, Alan S.; Elias, Susan P.; Kenefic, Laura S. 2005. Long-term study of a pine oak forest ecosystem: Holt Research Forest.
• Kenefic, Laura S.; White, Alan S.; Cutko, Andrew R.; Fraver, Shawn. 2005. Reference Stands for Silvicultural Research: A Maine Perspective.
• Hebert, Barbara; Gagnon, Rejean; LaRouche, Catherine; Ruel, Jean-Claude; Kenefic, Laura S.; Brissette, John C. 2005. Regeneration of Northern White-cedar Following Silvicultural Treatment: a Long-term Study.
• Kenefic, Laura S.; Brissette, John C. 2005. Sapling Recruitment and Growth Dynamics in Multi-aged Northern Conifer Stands: a 20-year Study.
• Ruel, Jean-Claude; Larouche, Catherine; Morisette, Sabrina; Lussier, Jean Martin; Kenefic, Laura S. 2005. Silviculture of Northern White-cedar in Mixedwood Forests.
• Maguire, Michael P.; Kenefic, Laura S.; Wilson, Jeremy S.; Nyland, Ralph D. 2005. Simulating Rehabilitation Treatments in Northern Hardwood Stands Following Diameter-limit Cutting.
• Reinmann, Andy B.; Kenefic, Laura S.; Fernandez, Ivan J.; Shortle, Walter C. 2005. Soil Characteristics 30-years Post-harvest on Maine Spruce Flats: Preliminary Results.
• Hofmeyer, Philip V.; Kenefic, Laura; Brissette, John C. 2005. Stand-level Responses of Northern White-cedar to Silvicultural Treatments in Central Maine.
• Witham, Jack W.; Kimball, Alan J.; Elias, Susan P.; Kenefic, Laura S. 2005. Tree Regeneration at Holt Research Forest: Impacts of Red Maple Removal and White-tailed Deer Browsing.
• Reinmann, Andy; Kenefic, Laura; Fernandez, Ivan; Shortle, Walter. 2004. Preliminary Results From a Retrospective Study of Harvest Intensity, Site Productivity, and Red Spruce Growth.
• Kenefic, Laura S.; White, Alan S.; Fraver, Shawn. 2004. Reference conditions for silvicultural field studies in Maine: limitations and opportunities.
• Maguire, Michael; Kenefic, Laura. 2004. Rehabilitation of Northern Hardwood Stands in Southern Maine Following Exploitative Harvests.
• Kenefic, Laura S.; Brissette, John C.; Sendak, Paul E. 2004. The Effects of Alternative Diameter-Limit Cutting Treatments: Some Findings from a Long-Term Northern Conifer Experiment.
• Moores, Andrew; Seymour, Robert; Kenefic, Laura. 2004. Understory Height Growth Dynamics in Uneven-Aged, Mixed-Species Northern Conifer Stands.
• Seymour, Robert S.; Kenefic, Laura S. 2002. Influence of age on growth efficiency of Tsuga canadensis and Picea rubens trees in mixed-species, multiaged northern conifer stands.
• Brissette, John C.; Kenefic, Laura S. 2000. Eastern hemlock response to even- and uneven-age management in the Acadian forest: results from the Penobscot Experimental Forest long-term silviculture study.
• Kenefic, Laura S.; Seymour, Robert S. 2000. Growth patterns of Tsuga canadensis in managed uneven-aged northern conifer stands.
• Kenefic, Laura S.; Nyland, Ralph D. 2000. Habitat diversity in uneven-aged northern hardwood stands: a case study.
• Kenefic, Laura S.; Seymour, R.S. 1999. Leaf area prediction models for Tsuga canadensis in Maine.
• Kenefic, Laura S.; Nyland, R.D. 1999. Sugar maple height-diameter and age-diameter relationships in an uneven-aged northern hardwood stand.
• Seymour, Robert S.; Kenefic, Laura S. 1998. Balance and sustainability in multi-aged stands: a northern conifer case study.
• Nowak, Chris; Stout, Susan; Brissette, John; Kenefic, Laura; Miller, Gary; Leak, Bill; Yaussy, Dan; Schuler, Tom; Gottschalk, Kurt. 1997. Defining the role of silvicultural research in the Northeastern Forest Experiment Station.

Research Highlights

Highlight	Title	Year
NRS-2013-083	Earth Camps Connect Students to Nature The University of Maine's first high school forest resource camps, a partnership with the Forest Service's Northern Research Station, attracted ...	2013
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-2012-29	New Management Guide Offers Strategies for Northern White-Cedar Guide contains newly discovered and proven management strategies for one of the least-studied commercially important North American tree species	2012
NRS-2016-163	Sustainable Northern Conifer Forest Management Stores More Carbon than Exploitative Harvesting An important part of climate change mitigation is carbon storage in forests and wood products. Yet managers are often uncertain about which mana ...	2016
NRS-2016-161	Tribal Collaboration Spreads Knowledge of Invasive Plants In a unique collaboration aimed at training the next generation of natural resource professionals, the Forest Service partnered with the Univers ...	2016
NRS-2015-175	“Smart Forests” Digital Environmental Sensors and Telecommunications Take Research to New Levels Scientific breakthroughs of the 21st century will be powered by tools that help researchers collect and manipulate massive datasets, visualize t ...	2015