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Forest Biology Research Cooperative 

Forest Biology Research Cooperative 

The Forest Biology Research Cooperative (FBRC) is an integrated program dedicated to optimizing the productivity, health, and sustainability of intensively-managed Southern pine forest ecosystems.

Founded in 1996 (and part of the University of Florida's School of Forest Resources and Conservation), FBRC works with its members to develop and synthesize research into advanced forest management systems for the 21st century.

Specifically, the FBRC's mission and primary focus is on the use of integrated, applied, and intensively-studied field experiments designed to understand interactions and dynamics of genetics, pest management, silviculture, ecophysiology, nutrition, and soils. Supportive laboratory and greenhouse studies - along with existing field studies - are also used to achieve the mission.

Use this website to learn more about FBRC, including how you can get involved and support program endeavors.

About FBRC

  • Rationale

    scientists using construction equipment in the forest to study trees and natural elements

    Rationale for an Integrated, Multi-Disciplinary Cooperative

    Modern, site-specific pine plantation management requires knowledge about the interactive effects of silviculture, genetics, nutrition, soils, pests, and pathogens.

    Single-discipline, empirical studies aimed at one or a few factors are inefficient (and often ineffective) in furthering knowledge of these integrated dynamics. Integrated, long-term field studies - employing scientists from many disciplines - are imperative for the development of an understanding of the complex dynamics which underlie sustainable production.

  • Executive Overview

    Executive Overview

    thumbnail image showing the executive overview of the FBRC project

  • Current Research

    Current FBRC Research

    chart showing current FBRC research

  • Photos

    FBRC Photo Gallery

    Note: Images were captured prior to national guidelines of face coverings and social distancing

    researchers collecting samples in the forestfemale researcher checking the health of a pine tree in the forestresearcher monitoring tree health

    researchers in the fieldresearchers collecting samples in the forest

    male researcher reviewing organic samples in the labmale researcher checking the health of a pine tree in the forest

    researcher monitoring tree health male researcher reviewing organic samples in the lab

    close up of written data collected from field researchresearcher inspecting tree stump health in the forest

    researchers using construction equipment to inspect trees in the forest

Membership

  • Cooperators

    FBRC Cooperators

    Industrial cooperators and institutions support the FBRC through salary and institutional support, annual monetary dues, and in-kind contributions in the form of field study installation and maintenance. Most importantly, the cooperators guide FBRC research programs and help to place research within an applied context. 

    If you are interested in becoming a cooperator with FBRC, please get in touch using the contact information on this website. 

    Full Members

    Contributing Members

  • Membership Information

    FBRC Membership Information

    There are two types of membership: Full and Contributing. FBRC membership categories are currently being reconfigured. For more information on our new membership categories, and to learn how FBRC membership might benefit your organization, please get in touch using the contact information on this website. 

Personnel

  • Scientists

    FBRC Scientists

    The FBRC team is comprised of scientists specializing in genetics, silviculture, physiology, forest soils, pathology, and biometrics. These professionals collaborate with each other and with our cooperators to plan and carry out multi-disciplinary research projects.

    martin-tim

    Tim Martin
    Co-Director

    Forest tree physiology, stand dynamics

    peter-gary

    Gary Peter
    Co-Director

    Forest genomics, molecular biology. and wood quality

    quesada-tania

    Tania Quesada
    Program Manager and Research Assistant Scientist

    Molecular genetics, genomics, disease resistance

    vogel-jason

    Jason Vogel

    Forest nutrition and nutrient cycling, forest carbon allocation, and root processes

    johnson-daniel

    Daniel Johnson

    Forest dynamics, production ecology, forest health

    hulcr-jiri

    Jiri Hulcr

    Forest entomology

    smith-jason

    Jason Smith

    Forest pathology

  • Students

    FBRC Graduate Students

    NameDegreeYear GraduatedResearch 
    Praveen Subedi  Ph.D.   2019  Above and belowground carbon and nutrient dynamics 
    Priscilla Someda  M.S.  2019  Incorporating genetics into slash pine growth and yield models 
    Julio Tobar  M.S.  2015  Incorporating weather into growth and yield models 
    Chelsea Drum  Ph.D.  2015  Soil carbon dynamics 
    Maxwell Wightman  M.S.  2014  Loblolly pine water relations in throughfall diversion treatments 
    Angelica Garcia  M.S.  2013  Biomass allocation in contrasting loblolly pine clones 
    Praveen Subedi  M.S.  2013  Carryover effects in loblolly pine 
    Brian Roth  Ph.D.  2010  Growth efficiency of intensively managed loblolly pine families 
    Ethan Sadowski  M.S.  2010  Effects of forest management on litter decompostion among selected loblolly Pine
    (Pinus taeda L.) famlies in Northern Florida 
    Carlos Gonzalez  Ph.D.  2009  Multi-scale water relations in southern pines 
    Xiaobo Li  Ph.D.  2009  Wood properties of improved loblolly pine in the Southeast United States 
    Deoyani Sarkhot  Ph.D.  2007  Soil organic C, SON and SOP in sandy soils as affected by intensive loblolly pine management in the Southeast United States 
    Liliana Parisi  M.S.  2006  Shoot elongation patterns and genetic control of height growth in Pinus taeda L. using clonally replicated trials 
    Gogce Kayihan  Ph.D.  2006  Molecular and quantitative genetics of disease resistance 
    Veronica Emhart  Ph.D.  2005  Physiological genetics of contrasting loblolly / slash pine families and clones 
    Brian Baltunis  Ph.D.  2005  Genetic effects of rooting ability and early growth traits in loblolly pine clones 
    Douglas Shoemaker  M.S.  2005  Remote sensing and simulation to estimate forest productivity in southern pine plantations 
    Corey Stover  M.S.  2005  A physiological and morphological analysis of the effects of nitrogen supply on the relative growth rates of nine loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) clones 
    Maheteme Gebremedhin  M.S.  2003  Clonal variation in morphology, water relations and gas exchange parameters in loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) rooted cuttings 
    Luis Suau  MFRC  2002  Aboveground nitrogen accumulation in loblolly pine stands under varying management intensity 
    Rob McGarvey  M.S.  2000  A multi-scale comparison of photosynthetic capacity in fast and slow-growing families of Pinus elliottii and Pinus taeda 
    Yu Xiao  Ph.D.  2000  Relationship between nutritional traits and early growth strategies of slash and loblolly pine and their F1 hybrids 
    Javier Lopez-Upton  Ph.D.  1999  Early growth, cold hardiness, and pest resistance of loblolly pine, slash pine, and some pine hybrids 
    Karina Peres Gramacho  Ph.D.  1999  Disease resistance and pathogenic variability in the fusiform rust-slash pine pathosystem 

Contact Us

You may contact FBRC personnel directly using the information below. Our central fax number is: (352) 846-1277. Alternatively, you may wish to send correspondence via U.S. mail and/or parcel delivery to the following mailing address:

University of Florida - Forest Biology Research Cooperative
P.O. Box 110410
Gainesville, FL 32611-0410

Tim Martin | Co-Director, FBRC

Email: tamartin@ufl.edu
Phone: (352) 846-0866

Tania Quesada | Program Coordinator, FBRC

Email: tquesada@ufl.edu
Phone: (352) 846-0870