Phillip van Mantgem
Phil van Mantgem is a research ecologist at the Western Ecological Research Center.
RESEARCH INTERESTS
- Conservation biology
- Fire ecology
- Forest ecology
Professional Experience
Research Ecologist, USGS, Redwood Field Station, Arcata, CA, 2008 - Present
Ecologist, USGS, Sequoia and Kings Canyon Field Station, Three Rivers, CA, 2000 - 2008
Education and Certifications
Ph.D., Ecology, University of California, Davis, CA 2001
M.S., Plant Biology, University of California, Davis, CA 1996
B.S., Botany, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 1991
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 73
Forest turnover rates follow global and regional patterns of productivity
Using a global database, we found that forest turnover rates (the average of tree mortality and recruitment rates) parallel broad-scale patterns of net primary productivity. First, forest turnover was higher in tropical than in temperate forests. Second, as recently demonstrated by others, Amazonian forest turnover was higher on fertile than infertile soils. Third, within temperate latitudes, turn
Authors
Nathan L. Stephenson, Phillip J. van Mantgem
Forest turnover rates follow global and regional patterns of productivity
Using a global database, we found that forest turnover rates (the average of tree mortality and recruitment rates) parallel broad-scale patterns of net primary productivity. First, forest turnover was higher in tropical than in temperate forests. Second, as recently demonstrated by others, Amazonian forest turnover was higher on fertile than infertile soils. Third, within temperate latitudes, turn
Authors
N.L. Stephenson, P. J. van Mantgem
The accuracy of matrix population model projections for coniferous trees in the Sierra Nevada, California
1 We assess the use of simple, size-based matrix population models for projecting population trends for six coniferous tree species in the Sierra Nevada, California. We used demographic data from 16 673 trees in 15 permanent plots to create 17 separate time-invariant, density-independent population projection models, and determined differences between trends projected from initial surveys with a 5
Authors
Phillip J. van Mantgem, Nathan L. Stephenson
Effects of an introduced pathogen and fire exclusion on the demography of sugar pine
An introduced pathogen, white pine blister rust (Cronartium ribicola), has caused declines in five-needled pines throughout North America. Simultaneously, fire exclusion has resulted in dense stands in many forest types, which may create additional stress for these generally shade-intolerant pines. Fire exclusion also allows fuels to accumulate, and it is unclear how affected populations will resp
Authors
Phillip J. van Mantgem, Nathan L. Stephenson, MaryBeth Keifer, Jon E. Keeley
Does coring contribute to tree mortality?
We assess the potential of increment coring, a common method for measuring tree ages and growth, to contribute to mortality. We used up to 21 years of annual censuses from two cored and two uncored permanent plots in the Sierra Nevada of California, to detect changes in mortality rates 12 years following coring for individuals >5 cm DBH from two coniferous species, Abies concolor (Gordon & Glend.)
Authors
P. J. van Mantgem, N.L. Stephenson
An experimental demonstration of stem damage as a predictor of fire-caused mortality for ponderosa pine
We subjected 159 small ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa Dougl. ex P. & C. Laws.) to treatments designed to test the relative importance of stem damage as a predictor of postfire mortality. The treatments consisted of a group with the basal bark artificially thinned, a second group with fuels removed from the base of the stem, and an untreated control. Following prescribed burning, crown scorch seve
Authors
P. van Mantgem, M. Schwartz
Bark heat resistance of small trees in Californian mixed conifer forests: Testing some model assumptions
An essential component to models of fire-caused tree mortality is an assessment of cambial damage. Cambial heat resistance has been traditionally measured in large overstory trees with thick bark, although small trees have thinner bark and thus are more sensitive to fire. We undertook this study to determine if current models of bark heat transfer are applicable to small trees (<20 cm diameter at
Authors
Phillip J. van Mantgem, Mark Schwartz
Growth rate predicts mortality of Abies concolor in both burned and unburned stands
Tree mortality is often the result of both long-term and short-term stress. Growth rate, an indicator of long-term stress, is often used to estimate probability of death in unburned stands. In contrast, probability of death in burned stands is modeled as a function of short-term disturbance severity. We sought to narrow this conceptual gap by determining (i) whether growth rate, in addition to cro
Authors
Phillip J. van Mantgem, Nathan L. Stephenson, Linda S. Mutch, Veronica G. Johnson, Annie M. Esperanza, David J. Parsons
Monitoring wildfire effects: Coming to terms with pseudoreplication
No abstract available.
Authors
Phillip J. van Mantgem, Mark W. Schwartz, MaryBeth Keifer
Population persistence in Florida torreya: Comparing modeled projections of a declining coniferous tree
The Florida torreya ( Torreya taxifolia) is a coniferous tree endemic to a 35-km stretch of bluffs and ravines along the east side of the Apalachicola River in northern Florida and southern Georgia. This formerly locally abundant tree has declined as a result of disease during the 1950s and is on the U.S. endangered species list. With no seed production in the wild, this species is headed toward
Authors
Mark W. Schwartz, Sharon M. Hermann, Phillip J. van Mantgem
Estimating the magnitude of decline of the Florida torreya (Torreya taxifolia Arn.)
Torreya taxifolia is a coniferous tree that is endemic to the 35 km stretch of bluffs and ravines along the east side of the Apalachicola River in northern Florida and adjacent southern Georgia. This formerly locally abundant tree declined during the 1950s and 1960s as a result of disease and is currently on the US Endangered Species list. For sparsely distributed species it can often be difficult
Authors
Mark W. Schwartz, Sharon M. Hermann, Phillip J. van Mantgem
Linking biodiversity to ecosystem function: Implications for conservation ecology
We evaluate the empirical and theoretical support for the hypothesis that a large proportion of native species richness is required to maximize ecosystem stability and sustain function. This assessment is important for conservation strategies because sustenance of ecosystem functions has been used as an argument for the conservation of species. If ecosystem functions are sustained at relatively lo
Authors
M.W. Schwartz, C.A. Brigham, J.D. Hoeksema, K.G. Lyons, M.H. Mills, P. van Mantgem
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 73
Forest turnover rates follow global and regional patterns of productivity
Using a global database, we found that forest turnover rates (the average of tree mortality and recruitment rates) parallel broad-scale patterns of net primary productivity. First, forest turnover was higher in tropical than in temperate forests. Second, as recently demonstrated by others, Amazonian forest turnover was higher on fertile than infertile soils. Third, within temperate latitudes, turn
Authors
Nathan L. Stephenson, Phillip J. van Mantgem
Forest turnover rates follow global and regional patterns of productivity
Using a global database, we found that forest turnover rates (the average of tree mortality and recruitment rates) parallel broad-scale patterns of net primary productivity. First, forest turnover was higher in tropical than in temperate forests. Second, as recently demonstrated by others, Amazonian forest turnover was higher on fertile than infertile soils. Third, within temperate latitudes, turn
Authors
N.L. Stephenson, P. J. van Mantgem
The accuracy of matrix population model projections for coniferous trees in the Sierra Nevada, California
1 We assess the use of simple, size-based matrix population models for projecting population trends for six coniferous tree species in the Sierra Nevada, California. We used demographic data from 16 673 trees in 15 permanent plots to create 17 separate time-invariant, density-independent population projection models, and determined differences between trends projected from initial surveys with a 5
Authors
Phillip J. van Mantgem, Nathan L. Stephenson
Effects of an introduced pathogen and fire exclusion on the demography of sugar pine
An introduced pathogen, white pine blister rust (Cronartium ribicola), has caused declines in five-needled pines throughout North America. Simultaneously, fire exclusion has resulted in dense stands in many forest types, which may create additional stress for these generally shade-intolerant pines. Fire exclusion also allows fuels to accumulate, and it is unclear how affected populations will resp
Authors
Phillip J. van Mantgem, Nathan L. Stephenson, MaryBeth Keifer, Jon E. Keeley
Does coring contribute to tree mortality?
We assess the potential of increment coring, a common method for measuring tree ages and growth, to contribute to mortality. We used up to 21 years of annual censuses from two cored and two uncored permanent plots in the Sierra Nevada of California, to detect changes in mortality rates 12 years following coring for individuals >5 cm DBH from two coniferous species, Abies concolor (Gordon & Glend.)
Authors
P. J. van Mantgem, N.L. Stephenson
An experimental demonstration of stem damage as a predictor of fire-caused mortality for ponderosa pine
We subjected 159 small ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa Dougl. ex P. & C. Laws.) to treatments designed to test the relative importance of stem damage as a predictor of postfire mortality. The treatments consisted of a group with the basal bark artificially thinned, a second group with fuels removed from the base of the stem, and an untreated control. Following prescribed burning, crown scorch seve
Authors
P. van Mantgem, M. Schwartz
Bark heat resistance of small trees in Californian mixed conifer forests: Testing some model assumptions
An essential component to models of fire-caused tree mortality is an assessment of cambial damage. Cambial heat resistance has been traditionally measured in large overstory trees with thick bark, although small trees have thinner bark and thus are more sensitive to fire. We undertook this study to determine if current models of bark heat transfer are applicable to small trees (<20 cm diameter at
Authors
Phillip J. van Mantgem, Mark Schwartz
Growth rate predicts mortality of Abies concolor in both burned and unburned stands
Tree mortality is often the result of both long-term and short-term stress. Growth rate, an indicator of long-term stress, is often used to estimate probability of death in unburned stands. In contrast, probability of death in burned stands is modeled as a function of short-term disturbance severity. We sought to narrow this conceptual gap by determining (i) whether growth rate, in addition to cro
Authors
Phillip J. van Mantgem, Nathan L. Stephenson, Linda S. Mutch, Veronica G. Johnson, Annie M. Esperanza, David J. Parsons
Monitoring wildfire effects: Coming to terms with pseudoreplication
No abstract available.
Authors
Phillip J. van Mantgem, Mark W. Schwartz, MaryBeth Keifer
Population persistence in Florida torreya: Comparing modeled projections of a declining coniferous tree
The Florida torreya ( Torreya taxifolia) is a coniferous tree endemic to a 35-km stretch of bluffs and ravines along the east side of the Apalachicola River in northern Florida and southern Georgia. This formerly locally abundant tree has declined as a result of disease during the 1950s and is on the U.S. endangered species list. With no seed production in the wild, this species is headed toward
Authors
Mark W. Schwartz, Sharon M. Hermann, Phillip J. van Mantgem
Estimating the magnitude of decline of the Florida torreya (Torreya taxifolia Arn.)
Torreya taxifolia is a coniferous tree that is endemic to the 35 km stretch of bluffs and ravines along the east side of the Apalachicola River in northern Florida and adjacent southern Georgia. This formerly locally abundant tree declined during the 1950s and 1960s as a result of disease and is currently on the US Endangered Species list. For sparsely distributed species it can often be difficult
Authors
Mark W. Schwartz, Sharon M. Hermann, Phillip J. van Mantgem
Linking biodiversity to ecosystem function: Implications for conservation ecology
We evaluate the empirical and theoretical support for the hypothesis that a large proportion of native species richness is required to maximize ecosystem stability and sustain function. This assessment is important for conservation strategies because sustenance of ecosystem functions has been used as an argument for the conservation of species. If ecosystem functions are sustained at relatively lo
Authors
M.W. Schwartz, C.A. Brigham, J.D. Hoeksema, K.G. Lyons, M.H. Mills, P. van Mantgem