Undergraduate and graduate teaching in forest ecology; landscape ecology; natural history, and identification of Woody Plants. Research focuses on the theory and application of the landscape ecosystem approach. Studies emphasize spatial mapping of landscape ecosystems as the basis for conserving and managing ecosystems at multiple scales. Research on diversity of ecosystems and biota in upland, riverine, and wetland ecosystems. Specific areas include genetic and systematic studies of aspen species (genus Populus), worldwide and comparative studies of east Asian and North American forests and species of the temperate zone.

Research Interests:
Theory and applications of the landscape ecosystem approach in research and ecosystem management, including: Recovery of the Kirtland's Warbler (MI); regeneration of oak species (MI, PA); ecosystem-based succession in aspen forests (MI), design of Old-Growth Plan [Huron-Manistee National Forests] (MI); ecosystem diversity and biodiversity in wetlands and riverine landscape (MI, PA, Japan); conservation of the Japanese red maple (Honshu, Japan); evolution of taxa in Section Rubra (maples, Sapindaceae), in eastern Asia and eastern North America.

Current/Recent Research:

Comparative landscape ecology of disjunct species of eastern North America and east Asia--JSPS, Japan International Science & Technology Exchange Center, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology.

Primary research in progress focuses on the comparative landscape ecology of Japanese red maple and its disjunct sister species, American red maple. Whereas the American red maple is one of the most widely distributed and abundant species in eastern North America, Japanese red maple is an endangered species in central Honshu, Japan. All known sites supporting Japanese red maple were located and described. It is an obligate species of forested wetlands that has persisted for millions of years due to unique geological, topographic, and soil conditions. Because of the rarity of these wetland sites, its inability to colonize upland sites, and the encroachment of agriculture and urbanization the occurrence of Japanese red maple is increasingly limited. However, using aerial surveying in 2003 and 2004, we discovered many new occurrences that provide new opportunities for conservation.

A complementary project was conducted from 2002-04 in wetland ecosystems dominated by red and silver maples in southeastern Michigan. The American red maple dominates wetland ecosystems in ice contact and lake plain landforms, whereas silver maple dominates seasonally inundated ecosystems of moraine and lake plan landforms. From these wetland sanctuaries red maple colonizes adjacent uplands, replacing oak species.

Landscape Ecology and the Occurrence of the Kirtland's Warbler--Michigan DNR, Wildlife Division and USDA McIntire-Stennis.
A landscape ecosystem framework was developed for part of the Mack Lake Burn, southern Oscoda Co., MI. The initial colonization and pattern of occurrence of the rare and endangered Kirtland's warbler over a 13-year period were significantly related to the physiography, soil, microclimate of landforms and landscape ecosystem types. In a comprehensive study of 61 sites occupied by the warbler in northern Lower Michigan, initial occupancy and duration of occupancy were closely related to ecosystem components of physiography, soil, and microclimate which affect ground-cover vegetation and jack pine height growth. Guidelines were developed for selecting warbler management areas that maximize duration of warbler occupancy using this landscape ecosystem approach.

Ecosystem change and forest succession--USDA McIntire-Stennis.
At the University of Michigan Biological Station (UMBS), multiple successional parthways were determined for landforms and landscape ecosystem types currently dominated by declining bigtooth and trembling aspen stands. Using a multi-scale, multi-factor ecosystem approach, the 4,000-ha UMBS land was classified and mapped to facilitate characterization of the ecosystem-specific successional pathways. On dry-mesic and dry ecosystems, white pine, red maple, and red pine are replacing bigtooth aspen. In contrast, on mesic ecosystems, sugar and red maples and American beech are replacing bigtooth aspen. Prescribed burning, fencing, and aspen removal are experimental treatments being used to study aspen regeneration and the restoration of present-day aspen forests to old-growth forests of eastern white pine, red pine, and northern red oak. The regeneration of red maple and northern red oak in relation to ecosystem type and deer browsing were also characterized.

Landscape ecosystem diversity --USDA Forest Service and USDA McIntire-Stennis.
Ecosystem diversity, the kinds and patterns of landscape ecosystems of an area, were determined in river valleys and wetlands of the Huron-Manistee National Forests, MI at several spatial scales. The research provides the ecological framework for monitoring and preserving biodiversity and for planning the restoration of old-growth forests. At the U.M. Biological Station, landscape ecosystems, vegetative cover types, and landforms were distinguished, classified, and mapped for the 4,000-hectare tract. Diversity of landscape ecosystems was compared quantitatively for several physiographic systems and landform-level ecosystems of UMBS and with other areas of Michigan. The landscape ecosystem approach provides the baseline for monitering changes in the diversity of plants and animals due to climatic change.

Teaching Interests:
Undergraduate and graduate teaching in forest ecology; landscape ecology; ecology, biology, natural history, and identification of woody plants.

Selected Publications:
Books:

• Barnes, B. V., and W. H. Wagner, Jr. 2004. Michigan Trees. 2nd Ed. Univ. Michigan Press. 447 pp.
• Barnes, B.V., D.R. Zak, S.D. Denton, and S.H. Spurr. 1998. Forest Ecology. 4th edition, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York. 774 pp.
  Selected Publications:
• Barnes, B. V., I. Saeki, and A. Kitazawa. 2004. Occurrence and landscape ecology of a rare disjunct maple species, Acer pycnanthum, and comparison with Acer rubrum. Env. Reviews 12: 163-196. Online: http://er.nrc.ca/ on November 26, 2004.
• Kashian, D. M., B. V. Barnes, and W. S. Walker. 2004. Ecological species groups of landform-level ecosystems dominated by jack pine in northern Lower Michigan, USA. Plant Ecology (Kluwer).
• White, L. L., D. R. Zak, and B. V. Barnes. 2004. Biomass accumulation and soil nitrogen availability in an 87-year-old Populus grandidentata chronosequence. Forest Ecology and Management 191: 121-127.
• Walker, W. S., B. V. Barnes, and D. M. Kashian. 2003. Landscape ecosystems of the Mack Lake burn, northern Lower Michigan, and the occurrence of the Kirtland's warbler. For. Sci. 49: 119-139.
• Kashian, D. M., B. V. Barnes, and W. S. Walker. 2003. Landscape ecosystems of northern Lower Michigan and the occurrence and management of the Kirtland's warbler. For. Sci. 49:140-159.
• Kashian, D. M., and B. V. Barnes. 2000. Landscape influence on the spatial and temporal distribution of the Kirtland's warbler at the Bald Hill burn, northern Lower Michigan, U.S.A. Can. J. For. Res. 30:1895-1904.
• Baker, M.E., and B.V. Barnes. 1998. Landscape ecosystem diversity of river floodplains in northwestern Lower Michigan, U.S.A. Can. J. For. Res. 28: 1405-1418.
• Lapin, M., and B.V. Barnes. 1995. Using the landscape ecosystem approach to assess species and ecosystem diversity. J. Conserv. Biol. 9:1148-1158.
• Zogg, G.P., and B.V. Barnes. 1995. Ecological classification and analysis of wetland ecosystems, northern Lower Michigan, USA. Can. J. For. Res. 25: 1865-1875.