Thomas Doyle, Ph.D.
Prior to his retirement in 2021, Thomas Doyle's research focused on developing integrated simulation models of plant growth and succession at the leaf, tree, stand and landscape levels.
RESEARCH
Thomas Doyle's models have predicted effects of natural and anthropogenic disturbance on the structure and function of coastal and floodplain forests. He applied dendroecological techniques of tree-ring analysis for climate reconstruction, disturbance interventions of floods and hurricanes, and forest model validation. Current ecosystem model applications include projected impacts of global climate change, sea-level rise, elevated carbon dioxide, and hurricane impact along with resource management issues of wetland restoration, fire, wastewater pollution, and landscape fragmentation.
Ecosystem analysis and modeling with a special emphasis on tree-ring applications, forest succession, and landscape simulation models, role of natural and anthropogenic disturbance and climate change on forest structure and diversity of coastal ecosystems of the southeastern United States and Caribbean regions.
SCIENCE AND MANAGEMENT IMPACT
Doyle's research spans several decades of developing spatial simulation models for temperate and tropical ecosystems from mangroves, tidal freshwater forested wetlands and marshes to floodplain swamp forests, pine flatwoods, and montane eastern deciduous and tropical rain forests. His field and modeling research takes an integrated hierarchical approach to understanding physiological processes at the leaf layer and plant level, to competition and spatial relations of tree canopy and species dynamics at the stand and forest level, and landscape scale exchange of physical forcings of climate, flooding, fire, storms, and management of riverine and coastal systems. His dendrochronology research has shown that hurricane wind and surge evidence is imprinted in the growth record of surviving trees in coastal counties and that tree-ring chronologies from coastal locations are problematic for climate reconstruction for confounding storm influences. His tree-ring collections in riverine floodplains shows that streamflow records are valuable climate proxies for rainfall distribution annually and seasonally, and that different tree species respond to temperature and precipitation to different degrees such that multi-species approach is more comprehensive for climate reconstruction than single species models. His hurricane research and models are based on dozens of post-storm assessments in mangrove and tidal freshwater forests across the southeastern U.S., Caribbean, and Central America. These investigations and tools have shown that hurricane intensity and frequency are important determinants of ecosystem type and structure based on measured species sensitivity to windthrow and surge impact.
Education and Certifications
Ph.D., Systems Ecology, University of Tennessee, 1983
M.S., Systems Ecology, University of Tennessee, 1980
B.S., Biology, Northeast Louisiana University, 1976
Science and Products
Ecology of tidal freshwater forests in coastal deltaic Louisiana and northeastern South Carolina: Chapter 9
Sap flow characteristics of neotropical mangroves in flooded and drained soils
Wind damage and salinity effects of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita on coastal baldcypress forests of Louisiana
Sediment deposition from Hurricane Rita on Hackberry Beach chenier in southwestern Louisiana
Cheniere forest as stopover habitat for migrant landbirds: Immediate effects of Hurricane Rita
Pore-water and substrate quality of the peat marshes at Barataria Preserve, Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, and comparison with Penchant Basin peat marshes, south Louisiana, 2000-2002
Leaf gas exchange characteristics of three neotropical mangrove species in response to varying hydroperiod
Interactive effects of substrate, hydroperiod, and nutrients on seedling growth of Salix nigra and Taxodium distichum
Evaluating the relative contributions of hydroperiod and soil fertility on growth of south Florida mangroves
Regional processes in mangrove ecosystems: Spatial scaling relationships, biomass, and turnover rates following catastrophic disturbance
Woody debris in the mangrove forests of South Florida
Nonlinear dynamics in ecosystem response to climatic change: Case studies and policy implications
Science and Products
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Filter Total Items: 68
Ecology of tidal freshwater forests in coastal deltaic Louisiana and northeastern South Carolina: Chapter 9
Tidal freshwater swamps in the southeastern United States are subjected to tidal hydroperiods ranging in amplitude from microtidal (<0.1 m) to mesotidal (2-4 m), both having different susceptibilities to anthropogenic change. Small alterations in flood patterns, for example, can switch historically microtidal swamps to permanently flooded forests, scrub-shrub stands, marsh, or open water but are lAuthorsWilliam H. Conner, Ken W. Krauss, Thomas W. DoyleSap flow characteristics of neotropical mangroves in flooded and drained soils
Effects of flooding on water transport in mangroves have previously been investigated in a few studies, most of which were conducted on seedlings in controlled settings. In this study, we used heat-dissipation sap probes to determine if sap flow (Js) attenuates with radial depth into the xylem of mature trees of three south Florida mangrove species growing in Rookery Bay. This was accomplished byAuthorsKen W. Krauss, P. Joy Young, Jim L. Chambers, Thomas W. Doyle, Robert R. TwilleyWind damage and salinity effects of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita on coastal baldcypress forests of Louisiana
The frequency of hurricane landfall in a given coastal stretch may play a more important role in the ecology of coastal forests than previously thought because of direct and indirect impacts of fallen trees and the introduction of salt water that lingers long after the storm passes. Findings show that surge events can inundate interior freshwater forests many miles from the coast and elevate soilAuthorsThomas W. Doyle, William H. Conner, Richard H. Day, Ken W. Krauss, Christopher M. SwarzenskiSediment deposition from Hurricane Rita on Hackberry Beach chenier in southwestern Louisiana
Hurricane Rita significantly impacted the chenier forests of southwestern Louisiana, an important habitat for Neotropical migratory birds. Sediment deposition was measured along transects at Hackberry Beach chenier, and Rita's effects on chenier structure and morphology were determined.AuthorsStephen Faulkner, Wylie Barrow, Thomas Doyle, Michael Baldwin, Thomas Michot, Christopher Wells, Clint JeskeCheniere forest as stopover habitat for migrant landbirds: Immediate effects of Hurricane Rita
It is not known whether en route fall migratory birds (August-October) are likely to suffer more from direct or secondary effects of hurricanes. On September 24, 2005, Hurricane Rita wreaked havoc on Louisiana's coast by toppling trees over vast areas and by stripping away microhabitats that harbor the invertebrates and produce the fruits upon which migrant landbirds depend (e.g., canopy foliage,AuthorsWylie Barrow, Paul Chadwick, Brady R. Couvillion, Thomas Doyle, Stephen Faulkner, Clint Jeske, Tommy Michot, Lori Randall, Chris Wells, Scott WilsonPore-water and substrate quality of the peat marshes at Barataria Preserve, Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, and comparison with Penchant Basin peat marshes, south Louisiana, 2000-2002
No abstract available.AuthorsChristopher M. Swarzenski, Thomas W. Doyle, Thomas G. HargisLeaf gas exchange characteristics of three neotropical mangrove species in response to varying hydroperiod
We determined how different hydroperiods affected leaf gas exchange characteristics of greenhouse-grown seedlings (2002) and saplings (2003) of the mangrove species Avicennia germinans (L.) Stearn., Laguncularia racemosa (L.) Gaertn. f., and Rhizophora mangle L. Hydroperiod treatments included no flooding (unflooded), intermittent flooding (intermittent), and permanent flooding (flooded). Plants iAuthorsKen W. Krauss, Robert R. Twilley, Thomas W. Doyle, Emile S. GardinerInteractive effects of substrate, hydroperiod, and nutrients on seedling growth of Salix nigra and Taxodium distichum
The large river swamps of Louisiana have complex topography and hydrology, characterized by black willow (Salix nigra) dominance on accreting alluvial sediments and vast areas of baldcypress (Taxodium distichum) deepwater swamps with highly organic substrates. Seedling survival of these two wetland tree species is influenced by their growth rate in relation to the height and duration of annual floAuthorsRichard H. Day, T.W. Doyle, R. O. Draugelis-DaleEvaluating the relative contributions of hydroperiod and soil fertility on growth of south Florida mangroves
Low and high water periods create contrasting challenges for trees inhabiting periodically flooded wetlands. Low to moderate flood durations and frequencies may bring nutrient subsidies, while greater hydroperiods can be energetically stressful because of oxygen deficiency. We tested the hypothesis that hydroperiod affects the growth of mangrove seedlings and saplings in a greenhouse experiment byAuthorsK. W. Krauss, T.W. Doyle, R.R. Twilley, V. H. Rivera-Monroy, J.K. SullivanRegional processes in mangrove ecosystems: Spatial scaling relationships, biomass, and turnover rates following catastrophic disturbance
Physiological processes and local-scale structural dynamics of mangroves are relatively well studied. Regional-scale processes, however, are not as well understood. Here we provide long-term data on trends in structure and forest turnover at a large scale, following hurricane damage in mangrove ecosystems of South Florida, U.S.A. Twelve mangrove vegetation plots were monitored at periodic intervalAuthorsG.A. Ward, T. J. Smith, K.R.T. Whelan, T.W. DoyleWoody debris in the mangrove forests of South Florida
Woody debris is abundant in hurricane‐impacted forests. With a major hurricane affecting South Florida mangroves approximately every 20 yr, carbon storage and nutrient retention may be influenced greatly by woody debris dynamics. In addition, woody debris can influence seedling regeneration in mangrove swamps by trapping propagules and enhancing seedling growth potential. Here, we report on line‐iAuthorsK. W. Krauss, T.W. Doyle, R.R. Twilley, T. J. Smith, K.R.T. Whelan, J.K. SullivanNonlinear dynamics in ecosystem response to climatic change: Case studies and policy implications
Many biological, hydrological, and geological processes are interactively linked in ecosystems. These ecological phenomena normally vary within bounded ranges, but rapid, nonlinear changes to markedly different conditions can be triggered by even small differences if threshold values are exceeded. Intrinsic and extrinsic ecological thresholds can lead to effects that cascade among systems, precludAuthorsVirginia R. Burkett, Douglas A. Wilcox, Robert Stottlemyer, Wylie Barrow, Dan Fagre, Jill Baron, Jeff Price, Jennifer L. Nielsen, Craig D. Allen, David L. Peterson, Greg Ruggerone, Thomas Doyle - Science
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