Scientists & Staff
Mary Ann Fajvan
Current Research
- In 2005-07 I established two new research projects using silvicultural treatments in an attempt to make stands more resistant to hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) and beech bark disease. For HWA, I selected four non-infested hemlock stands on the Allegheny National Forest and designed a thinning study to reduce stand density and improve hemlock vigor before HWA attack. We are now expanding the study into New England. We will examine growth changes in released trees as well as monitor their foliar nutrient content over time. The objective of the beech bark disease study is to determine if visually resistant beech trees can serve as a source of resistant beech regeneration as part of the shelterwood regeneration method. The project is also on the Allegheny NF and involves using herbicides to eliminate nonresistant beech regeneration.
- Two other new studies involve (1) modeling tree regeneration height growth in oak shelterwood studies and (2) using dendrochronolgy to model growth in mature oak forests.
Research Interests
My research program focuses on studies of stand dynamics and silviculture in oak-dominated forests and associated hemlock forests in response to natural and human disturbances, including invasive species. I would like to develop new projects that examine the combined disturbance effects of exploitative harvesting practices, invasive species, and over browsing by white-tailed deer on stand development.Why This Research is Important
My research examines the dynamics of how forests change in relationship to natural and human disturbances. Understanding these ecological trends assists scientists, managers and landowners in maintaining forest sustainability.Education
- University of Maine, Ph.D. Quantitative Silviculture, 1991
- Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, M.S. Silviculture, 1983
- Rutgers University, Cook College, B.S. Natural Resource Management, 1981
Professional Organizations
- Society of American Foresters (SAF)
- Ecological Society of America
Featured Publications & Products
- Fajvan, Mary Ann; Bohall Wood, Petra. 2010. Maintenance of eastern hemlock forests: Factors associated with hemlock vulnerability to hemlock woolly adelgid. In: Rentch, James S.; Schuler, Thomas M., eds. 2010. Proceedings from the conference on the ecology and management of high-elevation forests in the central and southern Appalachian Mountains; 2009 May 14-15; Slatyfork, WV. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-P-64. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station: 31-38.
- Rentch, James; Fajvan, Mary Ann; Evans, Richard A.; Onken, Brad. 2009. Using dendrochronology to model hemlock woolly adelgid effects on eastern hemlock growth and vulnerability. Biological Invasions. 11: 551-563.
- Fajvan, Mary Ann; Rentch, Jim; Gottschalk, Kurt W. 2009. The effects of thinning and gypsy moth defoliation on wood volume growth in oaks. In: McManus, Katherine A; Gottschalk, Kurt W., eds. Proceedings. 19th U.S. Department of Agriculture interagency research forum on invasive species 2008; 2008 January 8-11; Annapolis, MD. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-P-36. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station: 22.
- Rentch, James; Fajvan, Mary Ann; Evans, Richard; Onken, Brad. 2008. Using dendrochronology to model hemlock woolly adelgid effects on eastern hemlock growth and vulnerability. In: Onken, Brad; Reardon, Richard, comps. Fourth Symposium on hemlock woolly adelgid in the eastern United States; 2008 February 12-14; Hartford, CT. FHTET 2008-01. Morgantown, WV: U.S. Forest Service, Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team: 177.
- Fajvan, Mary Ann. 2008. The role of silvicultural thinning in eastern forests threatened by hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae). In: Deal, R.L., tech. ed. Integrated restoration of forested ecosystems to achieve multiresource benefits: proceedings of the 2007 national silviculture workshop; 2007 May 7-10; Ketchikan, AK. Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-733. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station: 247-256.
Publications & Products
- Fajvan, Mary Ann; Hille, Andrea ; Turcotte, Richard M. 2019. Managing Understory Fagus grandifolia for Promoting Beech Bark Disease Resistance in Northern Hardwood Stands. Forest Science
- McWilliams, William H.; Westfall, James A.; Brose, Patrick H.; Dey, Daniel C.; D'Amato, Anthony W.; Dickinson, Yvette L.; Fajvan, Mary Ann; Kenefic, Laura S.; Kern, Christel C.; Laustsen, Kenneth M.; Lehman, Shawn L.; Morin, Randall S.; Ristau, Todd E.; Royo, Alejandro A.; Stoltman, Andrew M.; Stout, Susan L. 2018. Subcontinental-scale patterns of large-ungulate herbivory and synoptic review of restoration management implications for midwestern and northeastern forests. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-182. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 24 p.
- Piatek, Kathryn B.; Fajvan, Mary Ann; Turcotte, Richard M. 2017. Thinning effects on foliar elements in eastern hemlock: implications for managing the spread of the hemlock woolly adelgid. Canadian Journal of Forest Research. 47(1): 81-88.
- Briseno, Martin Alfonso Mendoza; Fajvan, Mary Ann; Sotelo, Juan Manuel Chacon; Martinez, Alejandro Velazquez; Silva, Antonio Quinonez. 2014. Silvicultural recommendations for the management of ponderosa pine forest. National Forestry Commission of Mexico.
- Brown, John; Lister, Andrew J.; Fajvan, Mary Ann; Ruefenacht, Bonnie; Mazzarella, Christine. 2012. Modeling forest ecosystem changes resulting from surface coal mining in West Virginia. In: McWilliams, Will; Roesch, Francis A. eds. 2012. Monitoring Across Borders: 2010 Joint Meeting of the Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) Symposium and the Southern Mensurationists. e-Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS-157. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station. 67-75.
- Fajvan, Mary Ann; Gottschalk, Kurt W. 2012. The effects of silvicultural thinning and Lymantria dispar L. defoliation on wood volume growth of Quercus spp.. American Journal of Plant Sciences. 3: 276-282.
- Turcotte, Richard M.; Elliott, Thomas R.; Fajvan, Mary Ann; Park, Yong-Lak; Snider, Daniel A.; Tobin, Patrick C. 2012. Effects of ice storm damage on hardwood survival and growth in Ohio. Northern Journal of Applied Forestry. 29(2): 53-59.
- DeLuca, Travis; Fajvan, Mary Ann; Miller, Gary. 2009. Diameter-limit harvesting: effects of residual trees on regeneration dynamics in Appalachian hardwoods. Northern Journal of Applied Forestry. 26(2): 52-60.
- Fajvan, Mary Ann; Rentch, Jim; Gottschalk, Kurt. 2008. The effects of thinning and gypsy moth defoliation on wood volume growth in oaks. Trees. 22: 257-268.
- Fajvan, Mary Ann; Fajvan, Mary Ann. 2006. Research on Diameter-Limit Cutting in Central Appalachian Forests. In: Kenefic, Laura S.; Nyland, Ralph D. eds. Proceedings of the conference on diameter-limit cutting in northeastern forests; 2005 May 23-24; Amherst, MA. Gen. Tech. Rep. NE-342. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Forest Service: 32-38.
- Marsh, Michael A.; Fajvan, Mary Ann; Huebner, Cynthia D.; Schuler, Thomas M.; Schuler, Thomas M. 2005. The Effects of Timber Harvesting and Prescribed Fire on Invasive Plant Dynamics in the Central Appalachians. In: Gottschalk, Kurt W., ed. Proceedings, 16th U.S. Department of Agriculture interagency research forum on gypsy moth and other invasive species 2005; 2005 January 18-21; Annapolis, MD. Gen. Tech. Rep. NE-337. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Research Station: 64.
- Brashears, Mark Benjamin; Fajvan, Mary Ann; Schuler, Thomas M. 2004. An assessment of canopy stratification and tree species diversity following clearcutting in Central Appalachian hardwoods. Forest Science. 50(1): 54-64.
- Dorsey, Wade; Fajvan, Mary Ann; Fajvan, Mary Ann. 2000. Effects of Shelterwood Harvesting and Prescribed Fire on Regeneration Structure. In: Yaussy, Daniel A., comp. 2000. Proceedings: workshop on fire, people, and the central hardwoods landscape; 2000 March 12-14; Richmond, KY. Gen. Tech. Rep. NE-274. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Research Station: 124.
- Graves, Aaron T.; Fajvan, Mary Ann; Miller, Gary W. 2000. The effects of thinning intensity on snag and cavity tree abundance in an Appalachian hardwood stand. Canadian Journal of Forest Research. 30: 1214-1220.
- Schuler, Thomas M.; Fajvan, Mary Ann. 1999. Understory tree characteristics and disturbance history of a central Appalachian forest prior to old-growth harvesting. Res. Pap. NE-710. Radnor, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Research Station. 12 p.
- Fajvan, Mary Ann; Grushecky, Shawn T. 1997. The effects of partial cutting practices on forest stand structure in Appalachian hardwood forests. In: Pallardy, Stephen G.; Cecich, Robert A.; Garrett, H. Gene; Johnson, Paul S., eds. Proceedings of the 11th Central Hardwood Forest Conference; Gen. Tech. Rep. NC-188. St. Paul, MN: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, North Central Forest Experiment Station: 284
- Gribko, Linda S.; Hilt, Donald E.; Fajvan, Mary Ann. 1995. A generalized ingrowth model for the northeastern United States. In: Gottschalk, Kurt W.; Fosbroke, Sandra L. C., ed. Proceedings, 10th Central Hardwood Forest Conference; 1995 March 5-8; Morgantown, WV.: Gen. Tech. Rep. NE-197. Radnor, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station. p.544
National Research Highlights
Collaboration seeks to preserve Chesapeake Bay Watershed health in the face of hemlock decline
Year: 2017
Few studies have examined how insect outbreaks affect landscape-level hydrologic processes. Anticipating hydrologic impacts resulting from the decline of hemlock trees in watersheds infested with hemlock wooly adelgid, Forest Service scientists are partnering with state and federal conservation agencies and nongovernmental organizations to devise management strategies for ameliorating hydrologic impacts from the pending decline of eastern hemlock in northern watersheds of the Chesapeake Bay.
Thinning Effects on Foliar Elements in Eastern Hemlock: Implications for Managing the Spread of Hemlock Woolly Adlegid
Year: 2016
With the imminent entrance of hemlock woolly adlegid (HWA) into forest stands in the Allegheny National Forest in Pennsylvania, it was critical to understand whether silvicultural thinning results in increased foliage palatability for HWA. Forest Service research findings suggest that thinning may be used in hemlock stands without risking HWA attack due to increased needle nutritional value.