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Scientists & Staff

Dr. John M. Kabrick

John Kabrick

Research Forester
Sustainable Management of Central Hardwood Ecosystems and Landscapes
202 ABNR Bldg., University of Missouri-Columbia
Columbia, MO, 65211-7260
Phone: 573-875-5341 x229

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Current Research

Ecology and silviculture of hardwood - softwood mixtures. Naturally occurring mixtures of hardwoods and softwoods, or "mixedwoods", are found throughout the temperate region of the United States, Canada, and elsewhere in the world. They are compositionally diverse and appear to have originated from a complex array of natural disturbances or past harvesting. Contemporary mixedwood stands can be difficult to regenerate and manage because individual species of these mixtures have differing shade tolerances, growth rates, longevities, phenology, and crown and root structure. Consequently, they often cannot be sustained without deliberate silvicultural efforts to regenerate and recruit desirable species. Despite the difficulties, foresters are interested in managing hardwood-softwood mixtures because of the many benefits that they are perceived to confer including increased resistance to pests and diseases, improved habitat diversity, enhanced climate change resilience and adaptability, and increased diversity of forest products. My research includes (1) evaluating the benefits of mixtures relative to their hardwood or softwood analogs in terms of resilience to insect pests and diseases, climate change, and other disturbances; (2) developing and testing silvicultural practices for sustainably managing the various mixtures in the eastern United States and Canada, particularly for shortleaf pine and oak mixtures; and (3) engaging with managers and fellow scientists to share local and broader-scale findings related to the benefits and silviculture of mixedwood types.

Composition, structure, and silviculture of woodlands and other open forests. Much is known about the composition and structure of forests and silvicultural methods for regenerating and tending forests have been widely studied. However, the composition, structure, and in particular, the silviculture of woodlands and other disturbance-dependent open forests has received little attention. My research includes (1) developing meaningful density and size distribution metrics and targets for woodlands and savannas; (2) experimentally examining the effects of prescribed burning and thinning for meeting compositional and structural targets; and (3) developing a conceptual framework and sets of tools based on fundamental silvicultural principles.

Dynamic soil properties for sustainable forest management. Sustainable forest management requires ensuring that soil physical properties are protected, and soil carbon and nutrient supplies are not depleted through harvesting, prescribed burning, and related management activities. I am currently working on several projects that are focused on the effects of management on soils. This includes examining the effects of timber harvesting and prescribed burning on soil carbon, nutrients, and physical properties including aggregate stability, bulk density, and porosity. I am a team member of the Long-Term Soil Productivity network to examine the effects of organic matter removal and soil compaction on sustained forest growth and productivity. Along with colleagues in the Natural Resources Conservation Service, I am establishing baseline information about soil health metrics in native forests so that the effects of past and present land used can be evaluated. I am working with a team of scientists to mitigate compaction in log landings with subsoiling treatments and biochar applications, ultimately to establish pollinator habitat. I am quantifying the role of soil temperature and mositure on soil organic matter decomposition, and for bottomland tree root growth and flood tolerance in managed wetlands. Recently I began working with scientists and managers in the Forest Service and other agencies to provide more access to soil moisture and temperature data for making management decisions. 

Research Interests

I am interested in developing and evaluating silvicultural systems for sustaining native flora and fauna communities in balance with traditional forest commodities. This includes quantifying the roles of disturbances (harvests and fire) and environmental conditions for creating and maintaining various forest and woodland structures over space and time. Of particular interest are the interactions between the physical environment (e.g., geological parent material, landform position/aspect, soils, and hydrology) and forest vegetation. I also have interests in examining the long-term consequences of forest management on the soil's ability to store carbon and to supply nutrients and water, and using models for evaluating silvicultural approaches for positioning forests and woodlands for projected changing conditions.

Past Research

Important research included examining the relationship between site factors and oak decline and mortality, quantifying the cumulative effects of even-aged, uneven-aged, and no-harvest management on forest vegetation and wildlife species, developing methods for the natural and artificial regeneration of bottomland forests, and evaluating the flood tolerance of bottomland hardwoods.

Why This Research is Important

Forest management is becoming more challenging because of the combination of changing societal expectations and evolving ecological perspectives. Consequently, public forest land management agencies are increasingly setting more complex objectives emphasizing more wholistic, system-level forest management including restoring and sustaining native forest and woodland communities. Moreover, private forest land owners are shifting their priorities to emphasize non-commodity forest values such as wildlife habitat. These changing expectations and evolving perspectives require developing and evaluating new management methods based upon basic silvicultural and ecological principles.

Education

  • University of Wisconsin, Ph.D. Soil Science, 1995
  • Purdue University, M.S. Soil Science, 1991
  • University of Missouri, B.S.F. Forestry, 1988

Professional Organizations

  • Missouri Society Of American Foresters (2018 - 2019)
    Program Chair
  • Society of American Foresters (SAF)
  • Soil Science Society of America
  • Missouri Society Of American Foresters (2003 - 2013)
    Forest Science Coordinator

Awards & Recognition

  • The Karkhagne Award, 2018 For outstanding service to the profession of Forestry and to the Missouri Society of American Foresters
  • National Silviculture Award, 2017 For excellence in silviculture research

Featured Publications & Products

Publications & Products

National Research Highlights

Examples of mixedwood types in eastern North America: A) shortleaf pine – oak forest in southern Missouri (credit: Missouri Department of Conservation); B) white pine – red oak forest in southern Maine (credit: Justin Waskiewicz); C) spruce – fir – hardwood forest in Quebec (credit: Patricia Raymond); D) hemlock – hardwood forest in northern Wisconsin. Kate Gerndt.

Hardwood-Softwood Mixtures for Future Forests in Eastern North America: Assessing Suitability to Projected Climate Change

Year: 2016

Despite growing interest in management strategies for climate change adaptation, there are few methods for assessing the ability of stands to endure or adapt to projected future climates. Forest Service scientists developed a means for assigning climate “compatibility” and “adaptability” scores to stands for assessing the suitability of tree species for projected climate scenarios. They used these scores to determine if mixed hardwood-softwood stands or “mixedwoods” were better suited to projected future climates than pure hardwood or pure softwood stands.

Phenocam and Antenna on top of the pierce laboratory at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest, NH. USDA Forest Service

“Smart Forests” Digital Environmental Sensors and Telecommunications Take Research to New Levels

Year: 2015

Scientific breakthroughs of the 21st century will be powered by tools that help researchers collect and manipulate massive datasets, visualize that data, and offer new ways of understanding the scientific processes behind that information. Forest Service scientists are taking a lead in developing a national Experimental Forests and Ranges “Smart Forests” Network. This network of wired forests uses digital environmental sensors, wireless communications, and new data visualization programs to create a powerful integrated research and monitoring program for the nation’s air, water, forest and rangeland resources.

Landscape photograph of the Missouri Ozark forests. Dan Dey, USDA Forest Service

Forest Management Guidelines Help Improve and Sustain Missouri's Forest Resources

Year: 2014

Missouri landowners and resource managers need state-of-the-art, science-based knowledge of forest management planning, silviculture, and best management practices to guide their stewardship and use of Missouri's 15.5 million acres of forestland. Forests contribute significantly to the state economy (more than $8 billion from forest industry alone), provide substantial job opportunities, produce clean air and water, act as playgrounds for recreation, serve as home to valued wildlife, and protect high levels of native biodiversity. Forest Service scientists and partners have produced "Missouri Forest Management Guidelines," as a comprehensive, science-based publication on forest management for sustainable multiple-use of Missouri's forests.

Last modified: Friday, July 30, 2021