Below are summaries of recent decisions by the Science Advisory Council. We will continue to summarize and post decisions made from 2020 on.
The Science Advisory Council Operational Protocols
The Science Advisory Council approved revised operational protocols by unanimous vote Monday, Aug. 2025.Following is a summary of those protocols:
PURPOSE: The Science Advisory Council (SAC) serves at the behest of the Paint Rock Forest Research Center. Its primary purpose is to:
— evaluate and monitor proposals for research on lands leased, owned or otherwise managed by Paint Rock Forest Research Center lands [JG1] to avoid conflicts[JG2] ;
— develop and advise on scientific merit and priorities for research and make recommendations to the Research Center for awards of research funds;
— advise on general priorities for the Research Center;
— where applicable, ensure that research meets the requirements of PRFRC’s partners, including The Nature Conservancy and other landowners.
The SAC will consider the capacity and resources of natural systems and the research center in its decision-making.
APPROVALS: The Science Advisory Council approves projects by majority vote.
COMPOSITION: The Science Advisory Council votes on new members and on its chair. Currently, the Council is composed of Doug Booher, U.S. Forest Service and University of Georgia researcher; Tim Lindblom, Dean of Arts and Humanities at Jacksonville State University; Kendra Abbott, Barton Scholar at University of Alabama; Davis Goode, researcher in forest dynamics, Nature Conservancy representative; Bill Finch, Paint Rock Forest Research Center Executive Director.
Black gum (Nyssa sylvatica) adaptive significance survey, University of Virginia
Skyline Management Area.
Masters student Ethan Skuches at University of Virginia proposed collecting samples of black gum (Nyssa sylvatica) on the forest dynamics plot and perhaps elsewhere on the preserve. We have 177 Nyssa stems on the 60 hectare forest dynamics plot. The SAC approved Friday August 22, 2025. Skuches is investigating population differentiation of Nyssa sylvatica across its native range, as well as between wet and dry populations. By doing this this, researchers aim to determine the adaptive significance of N. sylvatica to drought, flooding, and other climate extremes, ultimately assessing which genotype(s) are most tolerant of climate extremes and most resilient to abiotic factors. This information can then be used to inform forest assisted migration decisions, as well as decisions regarding the sourcing of some native plant materials for restoration work. The work is partially supported by Alabama A&M, according to Dawn Lemke.
[JG1]How do we define PRFRC lands? Both PRFRC owned and leased, and Sharp Bingham. I think we should be clear here as to which properties the SAC has authority to approve/reject research proposals [JG2]and scientific merit.