David Vandermast, an assistant professor of biology, presented some of his research at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park Science Colloquium in Gatlinburg, Tenn., on April 14, 2008.
Vandermast’s presentation, titled “Temporal trends in diameter, basal area, and biomass in high-elevation beech forests,” reported on unusually high rates of biomass accumulation in what are supposed to be stable, slow-growing forests. The results of this study suggest that one or more novel environmental drivers are causing this anomalous growth rate.
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park Science Colloquium was organized in order to facilitate the flow of information among a wide variety of scientists from various disciplines who conduct research in the park.