Brent Frey Hometown: Elmira, Ontario, Canada Advisor: Mark Ashton

Deforestation is a widespread concern throughout the world, but is particularly acute in many regions of the tropics where biodiversity is high. Landscape fragmentation and soil degradation induced by widespread forest loss are compelling society to develop approaches for facilitating reforestation. Ecologists and forest managers are tasked with the problem of how to reestablish diverse productive forests, often with limited points of reference, models or analogues. Many relatively slower growing species, particularly primary forest species - shade tolerant, non-pioneer species - are of particular concern as they are often extirpated or marginalized in the landscape. Reforestation efforts must therefore take a more active role in reintroducing these species into forests. To this end, an increased understanding of the ecological regeneration niche of slower growing species is needed, as a means of developing silvicultural approaches that address what species to establish and when and how to establish them within different kinds of reforestation systems.

My dissertation will evaluate establishment processes and regeneration ecology of tropical seedlings in understory environments. As light is a primary driver of growth and survival below a canopy, seedling ecophysiological response to light availability will be a central focus of the research. This knowledge will be used to evaluate conditions that can be manipulated to favour the establishment of slower growth species characteristic of mature forests.