Name: Brian Sturtevant

Title: Research Ecologist

Contact Information:
USFS North Central Research Station
Forestry Sciences Laboratory
5985 Hwy K
Rhinelander, WI 54501
715-362-1105 (phone)
bsturtevant@fs.fed.us

Research Interest:
I am generally interested in the multi-scale processes affecting the health and function of forested and mixed-use landscapes, and have focused on three research avenues falling under this broader theme. First, I am investigating the spatial-temporal dynamics and resulting impacts of disturbance by forest insect defoliators, using a combination of remote sensing, pattern analysis, and simulation modeling. Critical questions associated with this research include: How do outbreaks of forest defoliators impact regional carbon cycles? Do landscape-scale forest patterns influence the connectivity of defoliator populations and/or the intensity of their outbreaks? How does tree mortality associated with insect outbreaks interact with fire disturbance and forest succession? Second, I am investigating interactions between natural and human processes as they influence fire dynamics. This research includes analyses of modern fire databases in the upper Midwest, and the simulation of fire disturbance patterns as influenced by human activities, forest management, and insect disturbances. Third, I am working with Canadian scientists to develop a “multi-scale toolkit” approach to informing sustainable forest management across diverse ecological and socioeconomic systems. The approach emphasizes the application of a suite of simulation tools, and fosters collaboration between scientists, local experts, and stakeholders in
designing alternative landscape management scenarios. Due to the broad scale and interdisciplinary nature of my research, I collaborate extensively with colleagues whose interests and specializations complement my own strengths.

Additional Information:
Curriculum Vita