Current Research

Brian provides GIS, programming, statisitical analysis and modeling support for research on forest disturbance in the Great Lakes region.  His research explores interactions among forests, people, fire and other disturbances, such as defoliating insects. He uses simulation models to explore long-term impacts of management decisions, including timber harvest and fire and fuels management. De Jager, Nathan R.; Drohan, Patrick J.; Miranda, Brian M.; Sturtevant, Brian R.; Stout, Susan L.; Royo, Alejandro A.; Gustafson, Eric J.; Romanski, Mark C. 2017. Simulating ungulate herbivory across forest landscapes: A browsing extension for LANDIS-II. Ecological Modelling. 350: 11-29. Sturtevant, Brian R.; Miranda, Brian R.; Yang, Jian; He, Hong S.; Gustafson, Eric J.; Scheller, Robert M. 2009. Studying fire mitigation strategies in multi-ownership landscapes: balancing the management of fire-dependent ecosystems and fire risk. Ecosystems. 12: 445-461.

Research Interests

Brian's research interestes include combining forest simulation modeling and wildlife habitat evaluations. Simulation models provide information about potential future conditions, which can be very useful in planning wildlife habitat management and conservation. De Jager, Nathan R.; Rohweder, Jason J.; Miranda, Brian R.; Sturtevant, Brian R.; Fox, Timothy J.; Romanski, Mark C. 2017. Modelling moose—forest interactions under different predation scenarios at Isle Royale National Park, USA. Ecological Applications. 21 p. https://doi.org/10.1002/eap.1526.

Why This Research is Important

Our research helps forest managers decide how to minimize risks due to fire and other disturbances. We can model potential outcomes of alternative management decisions or priorities, and inform the decision-makers of the possible consequences.

Education

• SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, M.S. Fish and Wildlife Biology and Management 2002
• SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, B.S. Environmental and Forest Biology 1999

Professional Organizations

• The Wildlife Society
• International Association for Landscape Ecology
• International Association of Wildland Fire

Featured Publications & Products

• Miranda, Brian; Sturtevant, Brian R.; Schmelzer, Isabelle; Doyon, Frederik; Wolter, Peter. 2016. Vegetation recovery following fire and harvest disturbance in central Labrador a landscape perspective.
• De Jager, Nathan R.; Drohan, Patrick J.; Miranda, Brian M.; Sturtevant, Brian R.; Stout, Susan L.; Royo, Alejandro A.; Gustafson, Eric J.; Romanski, Mark C. 2017. Simulating ungulate herbivory across forest landscapes: A browsing extension for LANDIS-II.
• Miranda, Brian R; Sturtevant, Brian R; Stewart, Susan I; Hammer, Roger B. 2012. Spatial and temporal drivers of wildfire occurrence in the context of rural development in northern Wisconsin, USA.
• Sturtevant, Brian R.; Scheller, Robert M.; Miranda, Brian R.; Shinneman, Douglas; Syphard, Alexandra. 2009. Simulating dynamic and mixed-severity fire regimes: a process-based fire extension for LANDIS-II.
• Sturtevant, Brian R.; Miranda, Brian R.; Yang, Jian; He, Hong S.; Gustafson, Eric J.; Scheller, Robert M. 2009. Studying fire mitigation strategies in multi-ownership landscapes: balancing the management of fire-dependent ecosystems and fire risk.
• Miranda, Brian R.; Sturtevant, Brian R.; Yang, Jian; Gustafson, Eric J. 2009. Comparing fire spread algorithms using equivalence testing and neutral landscape models.
• Yang, Jian; He, Hong S.; Sturtevant, Brian R.; Miranda, Brian R.; Gustafson, Eric J. 2008. Comparing effects of fire modeling methods on simulated fire patterns and succession: a case study in the Missouri Ozarks.

Publications

• Gustafson, Eric ; Miranda, Brian ; Sturtevant, Brian . 2018. Can Future CO2 Concentrations Mitigate the Negative Effects of High Temperature and Longer Droughts on Forest Growth.
• Tonini, Francesco ; Jones, Chris ; Miranda, Brian R.; Cobb, Richard C.; Sturtevant, Brian R.; Meentemeyer, Ross K. 2018. Modeling epidemiological disturbances in LANDIS-II.
• Marquardt, Paula E.; Miranda, Brian R.; Jennings, Shane ; Thurston, Ginger ; Telewski, Frank W. 2018. Variable climate response differentiates the growth of Sky Island Ponderosa Pines.
• Gustafson, Eric J.; Miranda, Brian R.; De Bruijn, Arjan M.G.; Sturtevant, Brian R.; Kubiske, Mark E. 2017. Do rising temperatures always increase forest productivity Interacting effects of temperature, precipitation, cloudiness and soil texture on tree species growth and competition.
• De Jager, Nathan R.; Rohweder, Jason J.; Miranda, Brian R.; Sturtevant, Brian R.; Fox, Timothy J.; Romanski, Mark C. 2017. Modelling moose-forest interactions under different predation scenarios at Isle Royale National Park, USA.
• Gustafson, Eric J.; de Bruijn, Arjan; Lichti, Nathanael; Jacobs, Douglass F.; Sturtevant, Brian R.; Foster, Jane; Miranda, Brian R.; Dalgleish, Harmony J. 2017. The implications of American chestnut reintroduction on landscape dynamics and carbon storage.
• Gustafson, Eric J.; De Bruijn, Arjan M. G.; Miranda, Brian R.; Sturtevant, Brian R.; Thompson, J. 2016. Implications of mechanistic modeling of drought effects on growth and competition in forest landscape models.
• Sturtevant, Brian R.; Miranda, Brian R.; Wolter, Peter T.; James, Patrick M.A.; Fortin, Marie-Josée; Townsend, Philip A. 2014. Forest recovery patterns in response to divergent disturbance regimes in the Border Lakes region of Minnesota (USA) and Ontario (Canada).
• De Bruijn, A.; Gustafson, E.J.; Sturtevant, B.R.; Foster, J.R.; Miranda, B.R.; Lichti, N.I.; Jacobs, D.F. 2014. Toward more robust projections of forest landscape dynamics under novel environmental conditions: embedding PnET within LANDIS-II.
• Gustafson, Eric J.; Kubiske, Mark E.; Sturtevant, Brian R.; Miranda, Brian R. 2013. Scaling Aspen-FACE experimental results to century and landscape scales.
• Doyon, Frederik; Sturtevant, Brian; Papaik, Michael J.; Fall, Andrew; Miranda, Brian; Kneeshaw, Daniel D.; Messier, Christian; Fortin, Marie-Josee; James, Patrick M.A. 2012. Assessing knowledge ambiguity in the creation of a model based on expert knowledge and comparison with the results of a landscape succession model in central Labrador. Chapter 10..
• Sturtevant, Brian R; Miranda, Brian R; Shinneman, Douglas J; Gustafson, Eric J; Wolter, Peter T. 2012. Comparing modern and presettlement forest dynamics of a subboreal wilderness: Does spruce budworm enhance fire risk.
• Wolter, Peter T.; Sturtevant, Brian R.; Miranda, Brian R.; Lietz, Sue M.; Townsend, Phillip A.; Pastor, John. 2012. Forest land cover change (1975-2000) in the Greater Border Lakes region.

Research Highlights

Highlight	Title	Year
NRS-2017-59	Modeling wolf-moose forest interactions at Isle Royale National Park The loss of top predators may have unintended consequences for forest composition and function. Forest Service scientists partnered with the U.S ...	2017
NRS-2013-003	Scientists Predict Survivability Factors for Northern Forests Given Elevated CO2 and Ozone Levels The researchers scaled up a high-profile 11-year ecosystem experiment called Aspen-FACE to assess how elevated carbon dioxide and ozone levels m ...	2013