Many ecologists who typically work in natural landscapes assume the fine-grained, fragmented landscapes that encompass major metropolitan areas have few areas of ecological value, particularly when forest ecosystems are of interest.  Our lab embraces the forest remnants of southeastern Michigan that include a rich diversity of community and ecosystem types.  Aside from understanding how ash species respond to emerald ash borer across this landscape, graduate and undergraduate students in our lab have studied forest remnants including those dominated by old growth beech-sugar maple, black spruce, and oaks.  These studies shed light not only on the ecological value of small tracts of semi-intact forest ecosystems in a human-dominated landscape, but also the workings of these ecosystems themselves.  These remnants provide fertile ground for field teaching labs, but also for forest ecology research focused on natural areas.

Related publications at Wayne State:

Spei, B.A., and D.M. Kashian.  2018.  Age and structure of a Picea mariana stand at the southern extent of its range in southern Michigan.  Great Lakes Botanist 57: 2-14.

Schneider, V.P., and D.M. Kashian.  2014.  Effects of prescribed burns on herpetofauna in wetlands in southeastern Michigan.  Ecological Restoration 32: 144-152.

Dodge, W.B., and D.M. Kashian.  2013.  Recent distribution of coyotes across an urban landscape in southeastern Michigan.  Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management 4: 377-395.

Graduate Students doing related work:

Bill Dodge (MS 2016)