The 2024 Spring Seminar Series will feature John Tracy, Ph.D. candidate at the University of Florida, West Florida Research and Education Center. Tracy will give a talk titled “An investigation of shifting forest species composition in the Apalachicola River Floodplain of Florida” on Wednesday, Jan. 31, at 11 a.m. in Room 2217 of the College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment Building located at 602 Duncan Drive, Auburn, AL.  

Tracy is hosted by Dr. Ajay Sharma, Assistant Professor in the College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment. Tracy’s presentation will detail how anthropogenic and climatic forces have combined to alter flow regimes throughout the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin with significant biological responses observed in the Apalachicola River floodplain and bay. Drier floodplain conditions are believed to be responsible for observed reductions in density of lower elevation swamp species such as Nyssa spp. and Fraxinus spp. This talk will discuss drivers behind these forest species responses, the ecological significance, and how restoration efforts can use these observations to set achievable goals. 

Tracy’s background is in management of bottomland hardwood and pine forests of south Louisiana with 10 years of industrial forestry experience. He studies forest ecology of river floodplain systems and his research informs slough-flow restoration efforts in the Apalachicola River of Florida. 

Faculty, students, and the public are invited to attend this program. Advanced registration is not required.  Refreshments will be available after the seminar. Parking is available on the third and fourth floors in the South Quad Parking Deck across from the CFWE Building on Duncan Drive. To receive announcements about future seminars, download the 2024 Spring Seminar Calendar or request to join our email list at cfwecom@auburn.edu. 

Contact the seminar host or Robert Gitzen at rag0012@auburn.edu if you would like to attend via Zoom or access a recorded version of the seminar.