Jared L. DeForest
Assistant Professor
Ph.D., University of Michigan, 2004
Ecosystem and Soil EcologyPorter Hall 419
740 593 0742Other Websites
Forest Soil Ecology Lab
Optimized lab protocols for testing soils
Faculty Research Focus Areas
Eastern Deciduous Forest Ecology
Plant Cell Wall Biotechnology
Courses
PBIO 103: Plants and People (Spring)
PBIO 4/514: Soil Ecology (Spring)
PBIO 3/502: Soil Microbial Laboratory (One-week, Summer)
PBIO 2090: Plant Ecology (Fall Semester, 2012)
PBIO 1030: Plants & People (Spring Semester)
PBIO 3/5330: Restoration Ecology (Spring Semester 2013)
PBIO 4/5380: Soils & Ecosystems (Fall Semester, 2013)
Departmental Service
IT Committee (Chair)
Faculty Search Committee (Chair)
Awards Committee
OCEES Advisory Board
Environmental Studies Advisory Board
Webmaster
Professional Service
Subject Editor, Soil Biology & Biochemistry
Secretary, ESA Soil Ecology Section
Research Program Summary
My research goals are to improve our understanding of how the soil environment alters the structure and function of terrestrial ecosystems, either natural or anthropogenic. Most of my research involves investigating the influence of soil microorganisms mediating the cycling of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus. One active project involves understanding the role of soil acidity and phosphorus influencing the carbon and nitrogen cycle in acidic hardwood forests. My research draws from soil science, ecosystem ecology, microbial ecology, and forestry.
Selected References
Within the last 5 years:
Burke DJ, Smemo KA, López-Gutiérrez JC, DeForest JL. 2012. Soil fungi influence the distribution of microbial functional groups that mediate forest greenhouse gas emissions. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, in press.
DeForest, JL, Smemo KA, Burke DJ, Elliott HL, Becker JC. 2012. Soil microbial responses to elevated phosphorus and pH in acidic temperate deciduous forests. Biogeochemistry,109:189-202.
Rinkes, ZL, Weintraub MN, DeForest JL, Moorhead DL. 2011. Microbial substrate preference and community dynamics during decomposition of Acer saccharum. Fungal Ecology, 4(6): 369-407.
Cheng, L, Booker FL, Burkey KO, Tu C, Shew D, Rufty TW, Fiscus EL, DeForest JL, Hu S. 2011. Soil microbial responses to elevated CO2 and O3 in a nitrogen-aggrading agroecosystem. PLos ONE 6(6): e21377. DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0021377
DeForest, JL and McCarthy BC. 2011. Diminished soil quality in an old-growth mixed mesophytic forest following chronic acid deposition. Northeastern Naturalist, 18(2): 177-184.
DeForest, JL and Scott LG. 2010. Available organic phosphorus has an important influence on microbial community composition. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J.,74: 2059-2066.
Smucker, NJ, DeForest JL, Vis ML. 2009. Difference methods and storage duration affect measurements of epilithic extracellular enzyme activities in lotic biofilms. Hydrobiologia, 636:153-162.
DeForest, JL. 2009. The influence of time, storage temperature, and substrate age on potential soil enzyme activity in acidic forest soils using MUB-linked substrates and L-DOPA. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 41:1180-1186.
Yuan W., Luo Y, Richardson RD, et al. 2009. Latitudinal patterns of magnitude and interannual variability in net ecosystem exchange regulated by biological and environmental variables. Global Change Biology, 15:2905-2920.
DeForest, JL., Chen J., McNulty SG. 2009. Leaf litter is an important mediator of soil respiration in an oak-dominated forest. Int. J. Biometeorol., 53: 127-134.
Li, Q, Moorhead DL., DeForest, JL., Henderson R., Chen J., Jensen R. 2009. Mixed litter decomposition in a managed Missouri Ozark forest ecosystem. For. Ecol. Manage., 257: 688-694.
Noormets, A., McNulty SG., DeForest JL., Sun G., Li, Q., Chen J. 2008. Drought during canopy development has lasting effect on annual carbon balance in a deciduous temperate forest. New Phytologist, 179: 818-828.
Li, Q, Chen, J, Moorhead DL., DeForest JL., Jensen R, Henderson R. 2007. Effects of timber harvest on carbon pools in Ozark Forests. Can. J. For. Res., 37: 2337-2348.
Funding
National Science Foundation (NSF-DEB)
Current and Recent Research Projects
Influence of weather and climate on decomposition.
A field-based experiment to understand phosphorus limitation in eastern deciduous forests.
Effects of phosphorus availability on forest productivity and community composition.
Effects of acidity on forest productivity and community composition.
Effects of phosphorus availability on the cycling of nitrogen and carbon (decomposition).
Effect of soil organic matter quality on productivity in natural farming systems.
Current and Recent Student Research Projects
Undergraduate:
Determining phosphorus turnover in acidic hardwood forests.
Understanding how weather and micro-climate interactions influence leaf litter decomposition.
Determining Acer spp. nutrient use efficiency under elevated pH and/or phosphorus.