Carolina and Marcus sit down with Ciera Rhodes of Quail Forever to discuss the importance of using fire when managing for gamebirds, programs and agencies available to assist landowners with management practices and funding, and best fire practices for maximizing quail on your property.   Resources: NRCS EQIP Quail Forever   Dr. Carolina Baruzzi (wildlandmgmt) (Academic Profile) Dr. Marcus Lashley (DrDisturbance) (Academic Profile)   Have suggestions for future episodes?...

Dr. Anthony Taylor, Associate Professor of Forest Management at the University of New Brunswick, joins Carolina to discuss the Canadian wildfires, the implications of climate change on our ecological and human communities, and what tools can help mitigate these effects moving forward.   Resources: Wang, J., Taylor, A. R., & D’Orangeville, L. (2023). Warming-induced tree growth may help offset increasing disturbance across the Canadian boreal forest. Proceedings of the National...

Dr. Istvan Kereszy joins Marcus and Carolina to discuss his company: Fire Neural Network. Learn how artificial intelligence is used to detect high-risk lightning, how it is currently being applied to fight wildfires across the globe, and how we can continue to benefit from this technology moving forward.   Dr. Istvan Kereszy  ([email protected]) Fire Neural Network (https://www.fireneuralnetwork.com/) UF Article (https://news.ufl.edu/2023/04/fire-neural-network/)   Dr. Carolina...

We welcome Dr. Carolina Baruzzi, Assistant Professor of Wildlife Ecology & Management at the University of Florida, who joins Marcus as our new co-host of Fire University! Hear about their previous work together, Dr. Baruzzi’s research interests, and their ideas for the series moving forward.  Resources from the episode: Baruzzi, C., et al. "The pyrogenic bunchgrass Aristida beyrichiana is negatively affected by soil biota when planted outside of its home soil." Plant and Soil (2022):...

Marcus is joined by Jenn Fawcett, Extension Associate & SERPPAS Prescribed Fire Work Group Coordinator for NC State University. Join as they discuss the various avenues of education and coordination available to landowners across the southeast wanting to get fire on their land.  Resources from the episode: https://kstate.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=3eacaaf1a3514d3da2e5215b5dd55f9b https://sites.cnr.ncsu.edu/southeast-fire-update/prescribed-burn-associations// ...

Marcus is joined by Laurel Kays, Fire Learning Network Manager of The Nature Conservancy. Learn of the programs and networking support in which fire professionals are helping landowners to understand and navigate getting fire on their lands. Resources from the episode: Fire Learning Network Project Firehawk: Decolonizing Prescribed Fire A Pessimist’s Guide to Optimal Hope  Dr. Sarah McCaffrey on Effective Communication about Wildfire Management: Observations from 20 years of fire social...

Dr. Marcus Lashley is joined by Dr. Kevin Robertson, Fire Ecology Research Scientist at Tall Timbers Research Station. Listen as they discuss Dr. Robertson’s recent research assessing how fire affects the restoration of pine savannas over a 100 year period. Research study discussed: Pine savanna restoration on agricultural landscapes: The path back to native savanna ecosystem services Dr. Kevin Robertson Dr. Marcus Lashley- @DrDisturbance  Enroll now in our free fire course. This...

In this episode of Fire University, Marcus chats with Dr. Victoria Donovan, Assistant Professor of Forest Management at the University of Florida. Join as they discuss her past research understanding the roles of fire dynamics across plant and animal communities, as well as future research programs to continue understanding how fire shapes communities within spatio-temporal scales. Dr. Victoria Donovan The Donovan Lab [email protected]    Dr. Marcus Lashley  - @DrDisturbance -...

Earlier this year, we created an online Fire Training Course to teach and train participants on how to use prescribed fire to reach land management objectives. We had fire experts join a panel discussion to answer questions and share their knowledge on the fundamentals of implementing fire and connecting with fire communities. This episode is that panel discussion. The Fire Training Course remains open, free, and available to all:  https://bit.ly/RxFireTraining This podcast is supported by ...

Whether it’s from fear of red meat allergy or Lyme’s disease, it’s safe to say that most people don’t hope to find a tick on them during routine checks. In this episode, Marcus introduces longtime friend and newly hired UF Assistant Professor of Wildlife Ecology and Management Dr. Carolina Baruzzi. Join as they break down their recent (unreleased) study assessing the effects that fire timing and deer have on tick populations.   Articles mentioned in this episode: The Phenology of Ticks...

The species you hunt need habitat year round. Now is a key time to evaluate your habitat management outcomes and plan for upcoming applications. Join Marcus as he chats with old friend and colleague Dr. Will Gulsby, Associate professor at Auburn University, as they discuss what you can do during the July heat.  Dr. Will Gulsby - @dr_will_gulsby - Auburn Deer Lab Dr. Marcus Lashley  - @DrDisturbance - @ufdeerlab  Enroll now in our free wildland fire course. Available to all! This...

We talk a lot about the aspects of habitat that wildlife use the most…but what about the unique habitat features wildlife use infrequently but are critical to their survival? For this episode, Marcus sits down with good colleagues and friends Dr. Colter Chitwood and Dr. Dwayne Elmore of Oklahoma State University to discuss this concept with gamebirds, box turtles, and more. Dr. Colter Chitwood - [email protected] - Chitwood Lab  Dr. Dwayne Elmore - [email protected] Dr....

Providing lactating does and their fawns with high-quality forage and cover is integral for both their nutrition and survival. In the southeast, fire is one of the leading management tools used to increase the quality of white-tailed deer habitat. For this episode, Marcus sits down with deer expert Dr. Bronson Strickland of the MSU Deer Lab to discuss details on what factors play a role in creating good-quality habitat for lactating does and their fawns. Please help us justify this effort by...

In today’s episode, @DrDisturbance chats with Dr. Stephen Pyne, author and professor at Arizona State University who specializes in fire history. Come travel back in time as he walks us through the evolution of fire on the North American landscape, human relationship with fire in the environment, and problems we face now and in the future.  Dr. Stephen Pyne : [email protected] | Website | Publications   Please help us justify this effort by taking our quick survey: ...

In this episode of Fire University, Marcus chats with Dr. Katie Greenberg, research ecologist of upland hardwood ecology and management for the USDA Forest Service. Join as they discuss findings from long-term research treatments studying the effects of fire intensity on disturbance-dependent species. From open savannahs to upland oaks, you’ll learn the history of fire on the North American landscape as well as tips for improving your current land management practices.   Katie H. Greenberg |...

It’s the 5th and final day of #WildTurkeyWeek, and to wrap it up we’ve brought on hunting lease manager and wildlife biologist Ryan Basinger of Westervelt Wildlife Services. This episode puts you in the shoes of a landowner managing a 25 year old loblolly pine stand. How do your strategies change depending on targeted species and what are the trade-offs involved? Tune in to find out this and more as Ryan breaks down why and how integral fire is to the success of future turkey habitat. ...

For Day 4 of #WildTurkeyWeek, we’ve brought on Ted DeVos, co-owner of Bach and DeVos Forestry and Wildlife Services. Ted has over 22 years of experience helping landowners as a consulting forester and wildlife biologist. In this episode, he breaks down the vital components of turkey habitat management, the resources and programs available to landowners wanting to use prescribed fire, and the responsibility that we as private landowners hold for the future success of this species.  Bach &...

For Day 3 of #WildTurkeyWeek, we’ve brought on Chipper Gibbes from Whitetail Properties to talk turkey habitat management. Join us as Chipper reveals how he uses fire in tandem with other land management strategies to create his ideal turkey habitat.  What is #WildTurkeyWeek? In celebration of turkey season 2022, we’re bringing you a NEW episode EVERY day talkin’ everything TURKEYS! Be sure to follow @DrDisturbance @ufdeerlab to catch the latest science and information on gobblers that you...

For #WildTurkeyWeek Day 2,  we’re sitting down with turkey lover and fire enthusiast David Hawley of the Wild Turkey Report. Hear from David on how he manages his land for wild turkey using prescribed fire, discusses how turkey habitat management has evolved over generations, and shares what future generations can do to help this beloved species.   What is #WildTurkeyWeek? In celebration of turkey season 2022, we’re bringing you a NEW episode EVERY day talkin’ everything TURKEYS! Be sure...

It’s the first day of #WildTurkeyWeek and to kick it off, we’ve brought on Dr. Michael Chamberlain, leading wildlife ecology researcher and professor at the University of Georgia. In this episode, we dive into the latest science on wild turkey populations in the U.S., major problems they currently face, and what we as hunters, landowners, and conservationists can do to improve their habitat moving forward. What is #WildTurkeyWeek? In celebration of turkey season 2022, we’re bringing you a NEW...

What interactions change in upland oak ecosystems when we expand the burn window into the fall? How does this change acorn preference of wildlife like deer and squirrels? In this episode of Fire University, Dr. Marcus Lashley sits down with deer biologist and old graduate student Moriah Boggess to discuss their recent study assessing the effects of fire on acorn consumer preference. Paper: Boggess, C.M., Baruzzi, C., Alexander, H.D., Strickland, B.K. and Lashley, M.A., 2022. Exposure to fire...

How does fire regime affect seed production and dispersal in plants? Marcus sits down with former graduate student Dr. Carolina Baruzzi and current PhD candidate David Mason, MSc to chat recent and ongoing research investigating how fire regimes affect plant investment in seed production and how wildlife responses to fire may be important for which plants colonize. Join as they discuss plant responses to fire, the roles wildlife play in seed dispersal, and how these effects impact the outcome...

A common concern people have when it comes to using prescribed fire is if it will result in the unwanted encroachment of invasive species. In this episode, Dr. Marcus Lashley talks with Dr. David Coyle, assistant professor and extension specialist at Clemson University who researches the impacts of invasive species and forest health management. Join them as they dive into the relationship between invasives and fire and what management strategies you can take to improve overall forest health.  

We’ve all heard time and time again that the biggest problem a landowner faces is their neighbor. But what if instead of competing with your neighbor, you joined forces? Join Dr. Lashley and Dr. Bronson Strickland, host of Deer University, as they sit down with Hunter Pruitt, founder of the National Wildlife Cooperative, to discuss the benefits co-ops provide and how working with your neighbor can give you a tangible return on investment.