We study how forests work and how humans interact with them. Much of our work focuses on the mechanisms that drive the dynamics of forest ecosystems. Forests provide essential ecosystem functions and indispensable natural resources. Our research focuses on the patterns of forest diversity and the mechanism that can create and maintain diversity, so we can better manage those natural resources and maintain ecosystem functionality. We are interested in providing sound science to inform policy and management decisions at the local, national and international levels. We focus on linking big long-term forest data sets across spatial scales paired with detailed experiments to provide answers to pressing ecological and economic questions.
Recruiting: I am looking for a PhD student to join my lab. The questions are open to personal interest. Please contact me if you would like to discuss the opportunity further! (johnson.daniel@ufl.edu)
New additions: Siddarth Machado (PhD) and Kaylyn Glenn (MFRC) joined the lab in the fall of 2019. Really looking forward to deepening our understanding of forests with you both.
Newest Publication:
Climate sensitive size-dependent survival in tropical trees. Online now in Nature Ecology and Evolution
Recent Publications:
Frequency-dependent feedback constrains plant community coexistence. Online now in Nature Ecology and Evolution
Variation in hydroclimate sustains tropical forest biomass and promotes functional diversity. Online now in New Phytologist
The role of large diameter trees in forests around the globe. Online now in Global Ecology and Biogeography
Abiotic niche partitioning and negative density dependence drive tree seedling survival in a tropical forest. Published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B. DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2017.2210
Mycorrhizal associations and the spatial structure of an old-growth forest community. Here. This is the first paper that solely focuses on the forest dynamics plot I set-up.
Fungi from space: Can we know what kind of fungi lives on or in tree roots from space? Our paper in Global Change Biology has the answer.
Here is a link to check it out: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/gcb.13264/full
Outreach: The paper above has been turned into a learning module for kids and can be found here.
News:
Very excited to be joining the faculty at the School of Forest Resources and Conservation at the University of Florida this fall!
Smithsonian scientist Ben Turner visited the IUFDP to characterize the soils of Lilly Dickey Woods recently, thanks Ben.
Great publication on the CTFS ForestGEO network.
Daniel J. Johnson
Assistant Professor
School of Forest Resources and Conservation
University of Florida
I can be contacted via email at (johnson.daniel at ufl dot edu)
Research Gate Profile
Google Scholar Profile