Sinking Pond Paper Published!

Dr. Evans published the results of his 17 year study examining the effect of climate change on forest dynamics at the Sinking Pond Natural Area on the Arnold Air Force Base. The study found that current patterns of tree recruitment and mortality within this forested wetland indicate that it is progressively transitioning towards a more open-pond condition. The paper in the journal: Forest Ecology and Management involved collaboration with hydrologists at the US Geological Survey and former student Sarah McCarthy Neuman C’99 who recently joined the faculty at TN State University. Angus Pritchard C’22, Herbarium Block Fellow, was also a co-author. The study represents one of the first examples of a climate driven state change occurring with an inland ecosystem of the southeastern United States.