Associate Professor
Forest Measurements
and Modeling
PhD. Ecology and Evolution, Rutgers University, 2001;
B.S. Natural Resource Management, Cook College, 1995; C.T.E. (Certified Tree Expert) 1997
Contact Information
215 Natural Resources Building
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI 48824
Phone: (517) 355-2399
Fax: (517) 432-1143
Email: macfar24@msu.edu
Courses Taught
- Forest Biometry - FOR 306
- Forestry Field Studies - FOR 420
- Sampling Methods for Forest Ecosystem Studies (New course for Fall 2009)
Degree Options for Graduate Students
- M.S. or Ph.D. in Forestry
- Dual M.S. or Ph.D. in Forestry and Ecology and Evolutionary Biology through the Ecology and Evolutionary and Behavioral Biology graduate program
Research Interests
My research program focuses on answering two basic questions:
- How do we know what we think we know about forests? (i.e., forest measurements)
- How can we utilize what we know to better understand how forests work and how to manage them more effectively? (i.e., forest modeling).
Forests are complex ecosystems that are intricately linked to environmental quality and human industry. I am interested in developing new methods for measuring attributes of forests, particularly those attributes that are typically given less attention (under-measured), such as tree bark & branch measurements. I am also interested in improving methods for accurate forest resource inventories, particularly wood products and carbon biomass inventories. This involves developing novel survey and sampling methodologies as well as new measurements. An exciting area of research I am working in now involves using models to improve sampling methods.
Recent Projects
- Exploring allometric relationships between stem and branch attributes of hardwood trees and developing new models to predict tree branch volume.
- Working with the Chicago Climate Exchange to develop acceptable protocols for quantifying uncertainty in carbon emissions offsets from planted trees and forest management.
- Developing novel methods for quantifying potential availability of wood biomass and wood products from urban trees and trees growing outside of forests.
- Working with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to improving its forest inventory system.
- Developing novel methods for quantifying tree bark surface structure.
Research Opportunities for Graduate Students
Research assistants working in my program will have the opportunity to get out in the forest and use a wide range of tools to measure it. Back at the lab, students will work toward developing new models and metrics using a variety of computer-based analytical techniques.
Prospective graduate students interested in conducting research in forest measurements and modeling should feel free to contact me. If your prior background is not in forestry you are welcome to apply, so long as you have strong quantitative abilities and an interest in forestry. The interdisciplinary nature of my research program will allow for a broad range of individuals with a wide range of talents to participate, including (but not limited to) those with prior degrees or skills in ecology, computer programming, mathematics and statistics.
Recent Publications
MacFarlane, D.W. 2008. Potential availability of urban wood biomass in Michigan: implications for energy production, carbon sequestration and sustainable forest management in the USA. Biomass & Bioenergy, In Press.
Rubin B.D. and MacFarlane, D.W. 2008. Using the space-time permutation scan statistic to map anomalous diameter distributions drawn from landscape-scale forest inventories. For. Sci. 54(5): 523-533.
MacFarlane, D.W. 2007. Quantifying urban saw timber abundance and quality in southeastern Lower Michigan, U.S. Arboriculture and Urban Forestry 33(4): 253-263.
Zakrzewski, W.T., MacFarlane D.W. 2006. Regional stem profile model for cross border comparisons of harvested red pine (Pinus resinosa Ait.) in Ontario and Michigan, For. Sci. 52(4): 468-475.
MacFarlane, D.W. and Kobe, R.K. 2006. Selecting models for capturing tree size effects on growth-resource relationships. Can. J. For. Res. 36: 1695-1704.
MacFarlane, D.W. and Meyer, S.P. 2005. Characteristics and distribution of potential ash tree hosts for Emerald Ash Borer. For. Ecol. & Manage., 213: 15-24.
MacFarlane, D.W. 2004. Ecologically stratified height-diameter models for hardwood species in northwestern lower Michigan. In Proceedings of the 14th Central Hardwoods Forest Conference, GTR-NE-316, Wooster, Ohio, March 17-19th, 2004.
MacFarlane, D.W., Green, E.J., Brunner, A., and Amateis, R.L. 2003. Modeling loblolly pine canopy dynamics for a light capture model. For. Ecol.& Manage. 173: 145-168.
MacFarlane, D.W., Green, E.J., Brunner, A., and Burkhart, H.E. 2002. Predicting survival and growth rates for individual loblolly pine trees from light capture estimates. Can. J. For. Res. 32(11): 1970-1983.