Macdonald Burgess

Graduate Student

Master of Science in Environmental Studies (MSES) Program

Athens, Ohio

Email: mb934404@ohio.edu

Adviser: Dr. Kim Brown
Research Lab: Forest Ecophysiology and Ecosystem Function Lab
Supporting Department: Environmental and Plant Biology
Additional Support From: Institute for Local Government Administration and Rural Development (ILGARD)
Thesis Committee Members: Dr. Mary Stoertz (Geology), Dr. Jeff Ueland (Geography)

C.V. available here

Current Schedule here

Current Research:

My current research project involves the Biohydrology of Dysart Woods, an old-growth forest in eastern Ohio. I anticipate completing my Master's thesis in November 2006. Photos of Dysart Woods
My research addresses the following questions:

1. What is the water holding capacity of the soils of Dysart Woods, how does this vary spatially?

This question is addressed using a digitized version of the Belmont County Soil Survey, GIS, and spatially extensive sampling of soil depth, texture, rock content, and soil water retention characteristics.

2. What is the spatial and temporal variation of water availability to plants? How does the temporal variation relate to weather variability and groundwater contributions?

This question is addressed using data from an intensive survey of soil water content every 2 weeks during the 2005 growing season, hourly monitoring of soil water content at multiple depths, 2 slopes positions, and 2 aspect locations, and monitoring of weather conditions with a Campbell Scientific weather station. I installed and programmed all of the monitoring instrumentation at Dysart Woods. Weather and soil moisture data are available for collaborative research.

3. Do the trees of Dysart Woods use and depend upon groundwater?

This question is addressed using stable isotopes methods. Samples of soil water, ground water, rain water, and tree root-tissue water were collected during the 2005 growing season. Results of this research were presented at the 2006 annual meeting of the Ecological Society of America.

Future Research Interests:

My goal is to continue on for a PhD in the broad area of Environmental Science. At the most fundamental level I am interested in helping to inform decision makers with regards to soils, water resources, energy, and the sustainability of the systems of production and distribution of agricultural products. I have a positive vision for the future of human life on Earth. All agriculture (including food, fiber, and energy biomass systems) must strive towards sustainability, even while the very definition of sustainability continues to evolve. Organic production practices may play a role in sustainability, but most of the earth's people are not interested in paying a price premium for special food. The apparent necessity of moving towards increased use of biomass as an energy feedstock makes practical research into sustainable agriculture even more important.

More specific lines of thinking for future research are listed below. I recognize that these interests are broader in scope than a typical PhD dissertation. These interests might also be possible future areas of research collaboration.

I am interested in cropping systems, cover cropping, crop rotations, and organic and no-till production practices for agriculture. Potential issues to be addressed and quantified include: energy efficiency, weed control, pathogen suppression, economic viability, and sustainability. I am also interested in following the long-term effects of different cropping systems on soil organic matter and the associated physical properties of soils (e.g structure, aggregate stability, water holding capacity, nutrient cycling, CEC).

I am interested in the Industrial Ecology of the agricultural production system as a whole, from the farm to the end consumer. Particularly with regard to the production of biomass for energy systems, I am interested in using GIS, spatial modeling of soil and farmland economic factors, and transportation network analysis to help optimize the size and location of biomass-energy production facilities.

I am interested in the relationship between academic researchers, farmers and other land-management decision-makers, and the general public. I hope to frame my future research questions such that the results will be comprehensible and useful to people who make day-to-day decisions about land management and business. I am also interested in helping farmers and land-owners articulate their problems and concerns to scientists. I think the best research includes stake-holders as advisers and participants.

I am interested in agroforestry systems for riparian habitat protection, water quality improvement, and mixed production of woody biomass as an energy feedstock, forage, and other crops. Issues of interest include: agroforestry system design for different climates and soils, cultural adaptation, economic viability, assessment of the value of water quality and riparian habitat, and policy implementation.

Past Projects:
Arcata Educational Farm