Jack is a PhD student in the Department of Plant Biology at Michigan State University. Through his research, he seeks to guide the restoration of fire-maintained ecosystems in the Midwest. His PhD research evaluates the consequences of prescribed fire, canopy tree thinning, and white tail deer for the restoration of fire-suppressed oak savannas, including through assessments of ground layer plants and oak regeneration.

TSN Conference 2026

January 22nd, 2026 (Thursday) // 10:15 am – 11:15 am // Red Cedar Room // The Restoration of Midwestern Oak Ecosystems // Oak ecosystems cover a broad zone from the Eastern deciduous forests to the Great Plains, including a mosaic of forests, woodlands, and savannas in southern Michigan. Unfortunately, these ecosystems and the species they support are imperiled due to fire suppression and other human-caused ecosystem changes. In turn, oak ecosystem restorations that employ prescribed fire and other management techniques are widespread. But, how well do these approaches work for achieving goals such as open canopy structure, oak regeneration, and high ground layer plant diversity? We provide an overview of Midwestern oak ecosystems, including their ecology and natural history, threats, and approaches to restoration. We then describe findings and ongoing projects from our research, evaluating the efficacy of different restoration approaches, including a multi-state survey and projects in southern Michigan. We conclude by considering what we view as important open questions in oak ecosystem restoration.