Northern Research Station
11 Campus Blvd., Suite 200
Newtown Square, PA 19073
(610) 557-4017
(610) 557-4132 TTY/TDD
Deahn DonnerWright
Title: Research Ecologist
Unit: Institute for Applied Ecosystem Studies: Theory and Application of Scaling Science in Forestry
Previous Unit: Principles of Landscape Ecology for Managing Temporate Ecosystems
Address: Northern Research Station
5985 Highway K
Rhinelander, WI 54501-9128
Phone: 715-362-1146
E-mail: Contact Deahn DonnerWright
Education
- Ph. D. University of Wisconsin - Madison, WI. Gaylord Nelson Institute of Environmental Studies. Landscape Ecology. 2007
- M. S. University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point, WI. Wildlife Ecology. 1997
- B. S. University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point, WI. Wildlife Ecology. 1988
Civic & Professional Affiliations
- International Association for Landscape Ecology, US Chapter
- The Wildlife Society
Current Research
Current research focuses on how the increasing demand for bioenergy will compete with other ecological services forests and lands provide. Specifically, I am investigating the impact of fine woody debris (FWD; <6 inches diameter) removal on nutrient availability and above and belowground community assemblages on rich soils under regenerating northern hardwood stands in Wisconsin. In addition, I am involved with a study that is merging knowledge of poplar biology with large-scale spatial analysis to predefine zones of potential plant adaptation that are ecologically sustainable and economically feasible across the landscape, and investigating how potential landuse conversion within these zones to hybrid poplars would influence other ecological services such as water quality, soil health, and conservation.
I am also continuing research on the federally endangered Kirtland's Warbler including the impact 26 years of forest management practices and natural disturbances (i.e., wildfires) has had on the population's distribution, abundance, and habitat selection through time and space.
Why is This Important
Information gained from the bioenergy studies will provide land managers and policy makers with scientific information they need to evaluate the trade-offs of harvesting woody biomass for energy use or converting lands to hybrid poplars against other ecological services. The Kirtland's Warbler research provides a better understanding of the temporal variability in species response to spatial structure that will aid conservation efforts of animal populations found within fragmented landscapes.
Future Research
Expand the hybrid poplar large-scale spatial analysis to the eastern region; expand the woody biomass study to include carbon pools between different fine woody debris harvesting levels; survivorship and dispersal movements of the Kirtland's Warbler research from return color band records.
Featured Publications
- Donner, Deahn M.; Ribic, Christine A.; Probst, John R. 2009. Male Kirtland's Warblers' patch-level response to landscape structure during periods of varying population size and habitat amounts
- Donner, Deanh M.; Probst, John R.; Ribic, Christine A. 2008. Influence of habitat amount, arrangement, and use on population trend estimates of male Kirtland's warblers
- Probst, John R.; Donner, Deahn M.; Bozek, Michael A. 2007. Continuous, age-related plumage variation in male Kirtland's Warblers
- Wiese, A.H.; Zalesny, J.A.; Donner, D.M.; Zalesny, Ronald S., Jr. 2006. Bud removal affects shoot, root, and callus development of hardwood Populus cuttings
- Probst, John R.; Donner, Deahn M.; Worland, Mike; Weinrich, Jerry; Huber, Phillip; Ennis, Kenneth R. 2005. Comparing census methods for the endangered Kirtland's Warbler
Additional Online Publications
- Probst, John R.; DonnerWright, Deahn. 2003. Fire and shade effects on ground cover structure in Kirtland's warbler habitat
- Probst, John R.; Donner, Deahn; Bocetti, Carol I.; Sjogren, Steve. 2003. Population increase in Kirtland's warbler and summer range expansion to Wisconsin and Michigan's Upper Peninsula, USA
- Probst, John R.; Donner, Deahn M.; Bocetti, Carol I.; Sjogren, Steve. 2003. Population increase in Kirtland's warbler and summer range expansion to Wisconsin and Michigan's Upper Peninsula, USA
- DonnerWright, Deahn; Bozek, Michael A.; Probst, John R.; Anderson, Eric M. 1999. Responses of turtle assemblage to environmental gradients in the St. Croix River in Minnesota and Wisconsin, U.S.A.
Last Modified: 08/19/2009