Scientists & Staff

Extracting a northern goshawk from a net.

Mariko Yamasaki

Team Leader / Research Wildlife Biologist

Northern Forest Science and Applications

271 Mast Road

Durham, NH, 03824

Phone: 603-868-7659

Contact Mariko Yamasaki

Current Research

I work on forest management issues that affect the quality and quantity of vertebrate wildlife habitat availability in the northeastern US, and I provide useful wildlife-silvicultural habitat guidance for forest managers on working forest landscapes and across non-industrial forest landscapes.

Research Interests

We continue to work on the influence of silvicultural practices and land capability on species-habitat relationships across working forest landscapes as well as urbanizing forest landscapes. Forest raptors, passerine birds, small mammals, bats, and salamanders provide numerous opportunities to investigate these habitat relationships for forest managers desiring integrated wildlife/timber practices in northern forest ecosystems. We also have an increasing interest in the level of contaminants, particularly mercury, in forest-dwelling species.

Why This Research is Important

There is a pressing need to provide forest managers with information and strategies to maintain vertebrate diversity and habitat quality in the face of increasing urbanization of forest landscapes in the northeastern US as well as provide guidance to forest managers on working forest landscapes.

Education

University of Michigan, M.S. Natural Resources (Wildlife),
University of Michigan, B.S. Anthropology-Zoology,

Professional Organizations

The Wildlife Society
Society of American Foresters (SAF)
American Society of Mammalogists and Raptor Research Foundation
USGS Bird Banding Lab

Featured Publications & Products

Leak, William B.; Yamasaki, Mariko; Holleran, Robbo. 2014. Silvicultural guide for northern hardwoods in the northeast. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-132. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 46 p.
Yamasaki, Mariko; Costello, Christine A.; Leak, William B. 2014. Effects of clearcutting, patch cutting, and low-density shelterwoods on breeding birds and tree regeneration in New Hampshire northern hardwoods. Res. Pap. NRS- 26. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 15 p.
DeGraaf, Richard M.; Lester, Anna M.; Yamasaki, Mariko; Leak, William B. 2007. Visual simulations of forest wildlife habitat structure, change, and landscape context in New England. Northern Journal of Applied Forestry. 24(3): 218-226.
Leak, William B.; Yamasaki, Mariko. 2010. Seventy-year record of changes in the composition of overstory species by elevation on the Bartlett Experimental Forest. Res. Pap. NRS-13. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 12 p.
Yamasaki, Mariko; Leak, William B. 2006. Snag longevity in managed northern hardwoods. Northern Journal of Applied Forestry 23(3):215-217
Yamasaki, Mariko. 2006. Wildlife assessments at the Bartlett Experimental Forest. In: Irland, Lloyd C.; Camp, Ann E.; Brissette, John C.; and Donohew, Zachary R., eds. Long-term Silvicultural & Ecological Studies: Results for Science and Management. New Haven, CT: Yale University: 34-36
Yamasaki, Mariko. 2005. Bats and small mammals in old growth habitats in the White Mountains. In: Bennett, Karen P., tech. coord. Moving toward sustainable forestry: lessons from old growth forests; 2004 September 23-26; Moultonborough, NH. Durham NH: University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension: 62-63.

Publications & Products

Lott, Casey A.; Akresh, Michael E.; Costanzo, Bridgett E.; D'Amato, Anthony W.; Duan, Shengwu ; Fiss, Cameron J.; Fraser, Jacob S.; He, Hong S.; King, David I; McNeil, Darin J.; Stoleson, Scott H.; Yamasaki, Mariko ; Larkin, Jeffery L. 2021. Do Review Papers on Bird-Vegetation Relationships Provide Actionable Information to Forest Managers in the Eastern United States?. Forests
Leak, William B.; Yamasaki, Mariko ; Bennett, Karen P.; Desmarais, Ken ; Pohl, Peter ; Costello, Christine ; Munck, Isabel. 2020. White pine silviculture for timber and wildlife habitat in New England. Durham, NH: University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension, 34 p.
Hoover, Coeli M.; Ducey, Mark J.; Colter, R. Andy; Yamasaki, Mariko. 2018. Evaluation of alternative approaches for landscape-scale biomass estimation in a mixed-species northern forest. Forest Ecology and Management. 409: 552-563.
Stephens, Ryan B.; Hocking, Daniel J.; Yamasaki, Mariko; Rowe, Rebecca J. 2016. Synchrony in small mammal community dynamics across a forested landscape. Ecography
Hocking, Daniel J.; Babbitt, Kimberly J.; Yamasaki, Mariko. 2013. Comparison of silvicultural and natural disturbance effects on terrestrial salamanders in northern hardwood forests. Biological Conservation. 167: 194-202.
Leak, William B.; Yamasaki, Mariko. 2013. Regeneration of upper-elevation red oak in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Res. Note NRS-161. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 5 p.
Leak, William B.; Yamasaki, Mariko. 2013. Effects of low-density thinning in a declining white pine stand in Maine. Res. Note NRS-170. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 6 p.
Leak, William B.; Yamasaki, Mariko. 2012. Tree species migration studies in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Res. Pap. NRS-19. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 8 p.
Leak, William B.; Yamasaki, Mariko. 2012. Historical (1899) age and structural characteristics of an old-growth northern hardwood stand in New York State. Res. Note NRS-144. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 11 p.
Leak, William B.; Yamasaki, Mariko. 2012. 80 Years of thinning research on northern hardwoods in the Bartlett Experimental Forest, New Hampshire. Res. Pap. NRS-20. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 8 p.
King, David; Yamasaki, Mariko; DeGraaf, R.M.; Costello, Christine. 2011. Three decades of avian research on the Bartlett Experimental Forest, New Hampshire, U.S.A. Forest Ecology and Management. 262(1): 3-11.
Leak, William B.; Yamasaki, Mariko. 2011. The Bartlett Experimental Forest, Its first 75 years. NRS-INF-12-11. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 21 p.
DeGraaf, Richard M.; Yamasaki, Mariko ; Leak, William B.; Lester, Anna M. 2006. Technical guide to forest wildlife habitat management in New England. Burlington, VT: University of Vermont Press, and Hanover, NH: University Press of New England. 305 p.
DeGraaf, Richard M.; Yamasaki, Mariko ; Leak, William B.; Lester, Anna M. 2005. Landowner's guide to wildlife habitat, forest management for the New England Region. Burlington, VT: University of Vermont Press and Hanover, NH: University Press of New England. 111 p.
DeGraaf, Richard M.; Yamasaki, Mariko. 2003. Options for managing early-successional forest and shrubland bird habitats in the northeastern United States. Forest Ecology and Management. 185: 179-191.
Yamasaki, Mariko. 2003. White pine as wildlife habitat. In: Managing white pine in a new millennium 2003 workshop proceedings; 2003 October 9-10; Hillsborough, NH. Durham, NH: University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extention: 33-36.
DeGraaf, Richard M.; Yamasaki, Mariko. 2002. Effects of edge contrast on redback salamander distribution in even-aged northern hardwoods. Forest Science. 48(2): 351-363.
Yamasaki, Mariko. 2001. Coarse woody debris on the Bartlett Experimental Forest. In: 2001 workshop proceedings forest measurements for natural resource professionals; 2001 October; Durham, NH. Durham, NH: University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension: 8-11.
Yamasaki, Mariko. 2001. Writing integrated prescriptions from your cruise results -- or how do i recognize and treat wildlife habitat elements. In: 2001 workshop proceedings forest measurements for natural resource professionals; 2001 October; Durham, NH. Durham, NH: University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension: 45-48.
Costello, Christine A.; Yamasaki, Mariko; Pekins, Peter J.; Leak, William B.; Neefus, Christopher D. 2000. Songbird response to group selection harvests and clearcuts in a New Hampshire northern hardwood forest. Forest Ecology and Management. 127: 41-54.
Yamasaki, Mariko. 2000. Forestry effects on vertebrate species habitats in the riparian zone. In: Wagner, Robert G.; Hagan, John M., eds. Forestry and the Riparian Zone; 26 October 2000; Orono, ME. Orono, ME: University of Maine: 31-35.
Yamasaki, Mariko; DeGraaf, Richard M.; Lanier, John W. 2000. Wildlife habitat associations in eastern hemlock - birds, smaller mammals, and forest carnivores. In: McManus, Katherine A.; Shields, Kathleen S.; Souto, Dennis R., eds. Proceedings: Symposium on sustainable management of hemlock ecosystems in eastern North America. Gen. Tech. Rep. NE-267. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station. 135-143.
DeGraaf, Richard M.; Hestbeck, Jay B.; Yamasaki, Mariko. 1998. Associations between breeding bird abundance and stand structure in the White Mountains, New Hampshire and Maine, USA. Forest Ecology and Management. 103: 217-233.
Leak, William B.; Yamasaki, Mariko; Kittredge, David B., Jr.; Lamson, Neil I.; Smith, Marie-Louise. 1997. Applied ecosystem management on nonindustrial forest land. . Gen. Tech. Rep. NE-239. Radnor, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station. 30 p.
Krusic, Rachel A.; Yamasaki, Mariko; Neefus, Christopher D.; Pekins, Peter J. 1996. Bat habitat use in White Mountain National Forest. Journal of Wildlife Management. 60(3): 625-631.
Leak, William B.; Yamasaki, Mariko; Smith, Marie-Louise; Funk, David T. 1994. Selection criteria for forested natural areas in New England, USA. Natual Areas Journal. 14(4): 300-305.
DeGraaf, Richard M.; Yamasaki, Mariko; Leak, William B. 1993. Management of New England northern hardwoods, spruce-fir, and eastern white pine for neotropical migratory birds. In: Finch, Deborah M.; Stangel, Peter W. (eds.). Status and management of neotropical migratory birds: September 21-25, 1992, Estes Park, Colorado. Gen. Tech. Rep. RM-229. Fort Collins, Colo.: Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Forest Service: 363-373
DeGraaf, Richard M.; Yamasaki, Mariko. 1992. A nondestructive technique to monitor the relative abundance of terrestrial salamanders. Wildlife Society Bulletin. 20(3): 260-264.
DeGraaf, Richard M.; Yamasaki, Mariko; Leak, William B.; Lanier, John W. 1992. New England wildlife: management forested habitats. Gen. Tech. Rep. NE-144. Radnor, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station. 271 p.
Tubbs, Carl H.; DeGraaf, Richard M.; Yamasaki, Mariko; Healy, William M. 1987. Guide to wildlife tree management in New England northern hardwoods. Gen. Tech. Rep. NE-118. Broomall, PA: U. S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station. 30 p.

Research Datasets

Leak, William B.; Yamasaki, Mariko; Belair, Ethan P.; Knapp, Rachel A.; Brissette, John C. 2017. Bartlett Experimental Forest permanent cruise plot data. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2017-0036.

National Research Highlights

LiDAR-derived map of canopy cover for the Bartlett Experimental Forest and surrounding area. Values are a percentage; the dark blue colors are 100 percent canopy closure. Coeli M Hoover, U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service.

LiDAR: A Bird’s-Eye Look at Wildlife Habitat

Year: 2016

Wildlife species often prefer habitats with specific characteristics. For example, many birds need dense brushy areas where they can safely nest, feed young, complete their growth, and prepare for migration. LiDAR, or Light Detection and Ranging, data give us a bird’s-eye view at the landscape level to help locate areas that might meet the habitat needs of species of concern to managers.

Bartlett Haystack Mountains, Bartlett, N.H. U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service.

Has Climate Affected Tree Species Distribution in New England?

Year: 2016

Remeasurement of plots 70 years after establishment on the White Mountain National Forest shows no evidence of changes in elevations among climate-sensitive species.

Whole-tree harvest in 1935. Bartlett Experimental Forest, Bartlett, NH. USDA Forest Service

No Signifigant Losses of Stand Productivity From Whole-tree Harvesting and Clearcutting in New England Forests

Year: 2015

Silviculturalists have been concerned over nutrient losses from clearcutting and, more recently, whole-tree harvesting in New England since the late 1960s. Recent information from studies in New Hampshire and Maine show there are no significant losses of essential nutrients and stand productivity following these harvest methods.

Looking east toward the Attitash Mountain Range from the Bartlett Experimental Forest, NH. Ken Dudzik, USDA Forest Service

Silvicultural Guide for Northern Hardwoods in the Northeast Updated

Year: 2014

This revision of the 1987 silvicultural guide updates and expands the silvicultural information on northern hardwoods. It provides additional information on wildlife habitat and managing mixed-wood and northern hardwood-oak stand.

Shrubland Birds and Their Habitats

Year: 2010

Shrubland birds, such as prairie warblers and field sparrows require constant habitat management, and thus, reliable and specific knowledge to guide management efforts is urgently needed. NRS researchers David King and Mariko Yamasaki have been providing expert advice based on their research for state and federal land managers as well as private individuals, in both formal and informal settings.

Last modified: Thursday, September 10, 2015