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Northern Research Station
11 Campus Blvd., Suite 200
Newtown Square, PA 19073
(610) 557-4017
(610) 557-4132 TTY/TDD

You are here: NRS Home / Scientists & Staff / Ronald S. Zalesny Jr.
Scientists & Staff

[image:] Ronald S. Zalesny Jr. Ronald S. Zalesny Jr.

Title: Team Leader, Research Plant Geneticist
Unit: Institute for Applied Ecosystem Studies: Theory and Application of Scaling Science in Forestry
Address: NRS
5985 Highway K
Rhinelander, WI 54501-9128
Phone: 715-362-1132
E-mail: Contact Ronald S. Zalesny Jr.

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Education

  • Iowa State University (McNabb Excellence Fellow), Ph.D., Forest Biology (Quantitative Genetics & Tree Improvement), 2003
  • University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, B.S., Natural Resources & Environmental Studies (Forest Resources & Biometrics), 1999

Civic & Professional Affiliations

  • IUFRO Working Group 2.08.04 (Physiology and Genetics of Poplars and Willows) (Deputy Coordinator)
  • International Poplar Commission (FAO) Environmental Applications of Poplar and Willow Working Party (International Delegate)
  • USDA Northeast Regional Biomass Center (Leadership Team)
  • Short Rotation Woody Crops Operations Working Group (Steering Committee)
  • Poplar Council of the United States (Steering Committee)
  • International Phytotechnology Society (Board of Directors)
  • BioEnergy Research (Editorial Board)
  • International Journal of Phytoremediation (Editorial Board)
  • Iowa State University, Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management (Adjunct Professor, USDA Collaborator)
  • Northern Wisconsin Research Network (Board of Directors)
  • U.S. Forest Service Northwoods Environmental Scholars Program (Program Manager)
  • University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point LEAF K-12 Forestry Education Program (Advisory Committee)
  • Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society (Full Member)

Current Research

I study genetic and physiological mechanisms regulating biomass production of short rotation woody crops (i.e., poplars and willows) grown for bioenergy, fiber, and phytotechnologies. I utilize the broad amount of variability in parental species and hybrids from current poplar and willow breeding programs in the United States to increase availability of promising genotypes for these end uses. In addition, I study the impacts of changing climates on patterns of tree adaptation in northern coniferous forest ecosystems. The success of such systems depends upon understanding the linkages among energy, climate, and tree genetics. Likewise, successful deployment requires selection among and within populations of genotypes that grow fast, resist diseases and pests, and possess traits that facilitate reliable and economical commercial production. Within these broad research goals, my current lines of science include:

  • Conducting a crop genetic development program to test the growth, yield, and pest resistance of new genotypes of poplar on regional and national scales;
  • Applying quantitative genetic analyses to develop guidelines for optimal testing;
  • Developing models to predict the effects of genotype x environment interactions on the limits to geographic transfer of clonal selections;
  • Acquiring knowledge of National energy issues to provide policy-relevant input on bioenergy opportunities for the Northern Research Station and U.S. Forest Service;
  • Studying existing long-term conifer field experiments to assess growth, yield, and pest resistance.

Why is This Important

Understanding the underlying genetic and physiological mechanisms supports effective deployment of favorable genotypes that helps: 1) reduce impacts from invasive species, 2) provide an energy source that does not contribute to increased atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) and global climate change, and 3) improve the rural agricultural environment through remediation and/or restoration. Overall, the knowledge gained from my research helps researchers and growers increase the success of sustainable woody crop production systems, with examples of key benefits including increasing biomass supplies in regions such as the North Central United States and ultimately reducing pressure on native forest ecosystems worldwide. In addition, the general public gets a supply of wood and wood products while having the native forests for aesthetics and recreation.

Future Research

In general, I plan to conduct detailed quantitative genetic analyses of forest crops with high probability of yielding valuable commercial genotypes for multiple end uses. Regardless of the product or environmental service from the trees, using such analyses to determine the magnitude of genetic and environmental control of important traits, and the magnitude of genetic and environmental correlations between traits, will be an important step in refining testing protocols, designing multiple-trait selection strategies, and identifying commercially-valuable genotypes. More specifically, I am beginning to:

  1. Test the below- and above-ground growth and physiology of intensively managed forest crops, with an emphasis on understanding root growth under different applications (i.e., invasive species competition, fiber, bioenergy, phytoremediation, etc.);
  2. Strengthen collaborations to determine the economic value of intensive forest crops to ascertain how such crops contribute to rural economic development, with an emphasis on bioenergy;
  3. Test the rooting ability and tree establishment potential of poplar and willow genotypes subjected to various pre- and post-planting treatments (e.g., soil temperature) when planted in field settings;
  4. Test the ability of poplar and willow genotypes for phytoremediation of inorganic and organic contaminants at local levels (especially near waterways), along with using these data and those from collaborators to estimate the environmental benefit of such remediative efforts at regional and national scales.

Featured Publications

Additional Online Publications

Last Modified: 02/15/2012