Oak ecosystems are declining across the Midwest. The Arboretum is undertaking research and restoration initiatives to find ways to combat these declines.
We are using DNA data to further understand the reproductive biology of an under-studied oak, Quercus havardii, which will help inform seed collection strategies and collection management.
We are using DNA data to better understand the fragmentation and recent history of populations of threatened species especially oaks, ashes and magnolias, in the southeastern and western US.
Controlled burning is a common restoration technique in midwestern forests. This project examines its effects on soils, which are largely unknown, but can have significant impacts on tree growth and young tree establishment.
The number of species that can tolerate poor-quality of roadside soils is limited. Can we increase the diversity of trees that can thrive in this harsh environment and increase the ecosystem services they provide by matching soil amendments with tree traits?
We are developing new approaches to combine multiple sources of information about how species’ ranges shifted after the last Ice Age, 20,000 years ago, and we are using Fraxinus as a case study.
