Forests And Windstorms

Description

Dr. Lee Frelich will discuss how windstorms are a major factor influencing the structure and composition of forests. Examine the different types of windstorms in the Great Lakes region, how trees of different sizes and species respond to wind, tree mortality during severe storms and the landscape patterns created by wind disturbance in forests.

We will also discuss the recent wind damage in Newport State Park and the potential for forest recovery.

Lee E. Frelich is Director of the University of Minnesota Center for Forest Ecology. Research interests include large-scale fire and wind, earthworm invasion and climate change in temperate and boreal forests.