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Craig G. Lorimer

Professor

Russell Labs
1630 Linden Drive
Madison, WI 53706

Phone: 608-262-6187
E-mail:clorimer@wisc.edu

Current Projects and Positions Available

Specialization

My research and teaching program focus on forest stand dynamics, or the study of how forests change over time. In my group, we study how forests develop over periods of several decades to several centuries with or without major disturbances such as windstorms or logging. Because forests change so slowly, we use multiple lines of evidence to investigate long-term changes in species composition and forest structure. These methods include permanent plot records, computer simulation, chronosequences, tree-ring evidence, field experiments, and historical records.

This research has a number of applications that can be used to improve forest management practices and natural areas management. Some examples from recent projects include techniques to accelerate the restoration of old-growth forest, forest management practices that enhance biological diversity, approaches for reversing the regional decline of oak forest, and determining minimum opening sizes needed for canopy recruitment of species with low shade tolerance.

I teach 3 courses in the department: Principles of Silviculture (Forest 410), Forest Fire Behavior and Management (Forest 501), and Forest Stand Dynamics (Forest 635).

Selected Publications

  1. Webster, C.R. and C.G. Lorimer. 2005. Minimum opening sizes for canopy recruitment of midtolerant species: a retrospective approach. Ecological Applications 15: 1245-1262.
  2. Cole, W.G. and C.G. Lorimer. 2005. Probabilities of small-gap capture by sugar maple saplings based on height and crown growth data from felled trees. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 35: 643-655.
  3. Hix, D.M., C.G. Lorimer, R.P.Guries, and J. Kotar. 2005. Forest site classification for the Kickapoo River watershed of southwestern Wisconsin. College of Agric. and Life Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison. 68 pp.
  4. Taylor, S.O. and C.G. Lorimer. 2003. Loss of oak dominance in dry-mesic deciduous forests predicted by gap capture methods. Plant Ecology 167: 71-88.
  5. Lorimer, C.G. 2003. The decline of oak forests. (editorial) BioScience 53:915.
  6. Lorimer, C.G. and A.S. White. 2003. Scale and frequency of natural disturbances in the northeastern United States: implications for early successional forest habitat and regional age distributions. Forest Ecology and Management 185: 41-64.
  7. Webster, C.R. and C.G. Lorimer. 2003. Comparative growing-space efficiency of four tree species in mixed conifer-hardwood forests. Forest Ecology and Management 177: 361-377.
  8. Lorimer, C.G. 2003. Silviculture and ecosystem management. In: Introduction to Forest Ecosystem Science and Management (R.A. Young and R.L. Giese, editors). 3rd edition, John Wiley and Sons, N.Y., pp. 285-312.
  9. Webster, C.R., and C.G. Lorimer. 2002. Single-tree versus group selection in hemlock-hardwoods forests: are smaller openings less productive? Canadian Journal of Forest Research 32: 591-604.
  10. Lorimer, C.G., S.E. Dahir, and E.V. Nordheim. 2001. Tree mortality rates and longevity in mature and old-growth hemlock-hardwood forests. Journal of Ecology 89: 960-971.
  11. Lorimer, C.G. 2001. Historical and ecological role of disturbance in eastern North American forests: 9000 years of change. Wildlife Society Bulletin 29: 425-439.
  12. Choi, J., C.G. Lorimer, J. Vanderwerker, W.G. Cole, and G.L. Martin. 2001. A crown model for simulating long-term stand and gap dynamics in northern hardwood forests. Forest Ecology and Management 152: 235-258.
  13. Goodburn, J.M. and C.G. Lorimer. 1999. Population structure in old-growth and managed northern hardwoods: an examination of the balanced diameter distribution concept. Forest Ecology and Management 118: 11-29.
  14. Lorimer, C.G., S.E. Dahir, and M.T. Singer. 1999. Frequency of partial rings in Acer saccharum in relation to canopy position and growth rate. Plant Ecology 143: 189-202.
  15. Goodburn, J.M. and C.G. Lorimer. 1998. Cavity trees and coarse woody debris in old-growth and managed northern hardwood forests in Wisconsin and Michigan. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 28: 427-438.
  16. Lorimer, C.G., and L.E. Frelich. 1998. A structural alternative to chronosequence analysis for ueneven-aged northern hardwood forests. Journal of Sustainable Forestry 6: 347-366.
  17. Singer, M.T. and C.G. Lorimer. 1997. Crown release as a potential old-growth restoration approach in northern hardwoods. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 27: 1222-1232.
  18. Dahir, S.E. and C. G. Lorimer. 1996. Variation in canopy gap formation among developmental stages of northern hardwood stands. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 26:1875-1892.
  19. Lorimer, C.G. 1995. Dynamics and structural characteristics of eastern hemlock stands. Proceedings, Conference on Hemlock Ecology and Management, pp. 43-59. Edited by G. Mroz and A.J. Martin. Dept. of Forestry, University of Wisconsin-Madison.
  20. Lorimer, C. G. and L. E. Frelich. 1994. Natural disturbance regimes in old-growth northern hardwoods: implications for restoration efforts. Journal of Forestry 92: 33-38.
  21. Lorimer, C. G., J. Chapman and W. D. Lambert. 1994. Tall understory vegetation as a factor in the poor development of oak seedlings beneath mature stands. Journal of Ecology 82:227-237.
  22. Lorimer, C.G. 1993. Causes of the oak regeneration problem. Pages 14-39 in: Oak Regeneration: Serious Problems, Practical Recommendations. D.L. Loftis and C.E. McGee (eds.). U.S.D.A. Forest Service General Technical Report, SE-84.
  23. Frelich, L. E. and C. G. Lorimer. 1991. Natural disturbance regimes in hemlock-hardwood forests of the Upper Great Lakes region. Ecological Monographs 61: 145-164.
  24. Frelich, L. E. and C. G. Lorimer. 1991. A simulation of landscape-level stand dynamics in the northern hardwood region. Journal of Ecology 79: 223-233.
  25. Hix, D. M. and C. G. Lorimer. 1991. Early stand development on former oak sites of southwestern Wisconsin. Forest Ecology and Management 42: 169-193.
  26. Lorimer, C. G. and L. E. Frelich. 1989. A methodology for estimating canopy disturbance frequency and intensity in dense temperate forests. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 19: 651-663.

Education

Degree Institution Major Field Granted
B.A. Colby College Biology 1972
Ph.D. Duke University Forest Ecology, Silviculture 1976

Professional Experience

Institution Specialization Title Years
Harvard Research Fellow Forest Silviculture 1976-77
UW-Madison Assistant Prof. Silviculture, For. Ecol 1977-83
UW-Madison Assoc. Prof. Silviculture, For. Ecol 1983-88
UW-Madison Professor Silviculture, For. Ecol 1988-present

Honors and Awards

Associate Editor, Plant Ecology (1996-present)

Associate Editor, Canadian Journal of Forest Research (1987-91)

Selection Committee, W.S. Cooper Award, Ecological Society of America (1992-93)

7th Annual Award for Outstanding Research, Hardwood Research Council (1991)

Charles A. Dana Scholar

Julius S. Bixler Scholar

Phi Beta Kappa

Sigma Xi

Xi Sigma Pi

Society/Professional Memberships

Society of American Foresters

Ecological Society of America

 

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