https://kevinpotterecology.org/contact/2026-05-01T02:42:05+00:00weekly0.6https://kevinpotterecology.org/links/2026-05-01T02:40:48+00:00weekly0.6https://kevinpotterecology.org/publications/2026-05-01T02:40:46+00:00weekly0.6https://kevinpotterecology.org/biography/https://kevinpotterecology.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/437ee-dsc_0018.jpgKevin M. PotterKevin M. Potter2026-05-01T02:40:46+00:00weekly0.6https://kevinpotterecology.org/about/2026-05-01T02:39:15+00:00weekly0.6https://kevinpotterecology.org/invasive-species/https://kevinpotterecology.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/921b8-laurel_wilt_mortality.pnglaurel_wilt_mortalityLaurel wilt mortality in redbay, Evans County, Georgia2026-05-01T02:39:15+00:00weekly0.6https://kevinpotterecology.org/biodiversity-function/https://kevinpotterecology.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/14b29-southern_appalachian_hardwood_forest_mingo_falls_qualla_boundary5_052608.jpgSouthern_Appalachian_hardwood_forest_Mingo_Falls_Qualla_Boundary5_052608Southern Appalachian cove hardwood forest, North Carolina2026-05-01T02:39:15+00:00weekly0.6https://kevinpotterecology.org/forest-health-monitoring/https://kevinpotterecology.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/1cde7-fhm2016_cover.pngFHM2016_coverThe Forest Health Monitoring: National Status, Trends and Analysis 2018 report2026-05-01T02:39:15+00:00weekly0.6https://kevinpotterecology.org/vulnerability-assessment/https://kevinpotterecology.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/b23c9-pest_clustering_030918.pngpest_clustering_030918The prioritization framework aims to assess the relationship for each species between the severity of threats (such as insects and disease) and two intrinsic vulnerability dimensions (Sensitivity and Low Adaptive Capacity) associated with the threats. The Sensitivity and Low Adaptive Capacity vulnerability dimensions each consists of multiple species attributes, such as rarity and dispersal ability.2026-05-01T02:39:15+00:00weekly0.6https://kevinpotterecology.org/genetic-diversity/2026-05-01T02:39:15+00:00weekly0.6https://kevinpotterecology.org/research/https://kevinpotterecology.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/40d8d-sept-17-2010-182.jpgEastern hemlock, South Mountains State Park, North CarolinaEastern hemlock, South Mountains State Park, North Carolinahttps://kevinpotterecology.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/a7aad-sept-17-2010-178.jpgEastern hemlock, South Mountains State Park, North CarolinaEastern hemlock, South Mountains State Park, North Carolina2026-05-01T02:37:56+00:00weekly0.6https://kevinpotterecology.org/cv/2026-05-01T02:24:53+00:00weekly0.6https://kevinpotterecology.org/2026/04/25/hello-world/2026-04-25T17:04:04+00:00monthlyhttps://kevinpotterecology.org/2022/03/16/report-quantifies-nonnative-trees-across-u-s-forests/https://kevinpotterecology.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/65690-img_4076.jpgPe'epe'e Falls, HawaiiNon-native trees in the Boiling Pots Section of Wailuku River State Park on Hawai‘i Island, near Hilo, with African tulip tree (<i>Spathodea campanulate</i>) in the right foreground and numerous Mollucan albizia (<i>Falcataria moluccana</i>) in the background.2022-03-16T18:32:40+00:00monthlyhttps://kevinpotterecology.org/2022/02/01/forest-service-publishes-20th-consecutive-forest-health-monitoring-annual-report/https://kevinpotterecology.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/2c1d3-fhm2020.pngFHM2020Scientists from across the Forest Service, as well as university researchers, state partners, and other experts contributed to the 2020 FHM report.2022-02-02T05:38:46+00:00monthlyhttps://kevinpotterecology.org/2022/02/01/paper-proposes-indicator-of-risk-of-forest-genetic-variation-loss/https://kevinpotterecology.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/57668-provisional_seed_zones_prov_n_at_risk_122121.pngprovisional_seed_zones_prov_N_at_risk_122121The number of forest tree species below the 75% sustainable regeneration deficit threshold within each provisional seed zone.2022-02-02T05:08:08+00:00monthlyhttps://kevinpotterecology.org/2020/10/11/542/https://kevinpotterecology.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/5488d-fhm2020.pngFHM2020https://kevinpotterecology.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/88ffa-image1_gtr-srs250-768x608-1.pngImage1_gtr-srs250-768x608Scientists from across the Forest Service, as well as university researchers, state partners, and other experts contributed to the 2019 FHM report.2020-10-11T23:05:51+00:00monthlyhttps://kevinpotterecology.org/2020/06/29/new-zones-delineate-seed-source-regions/https://kevinpotterecology.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/fd3a0-image1_seed_zones_east.pngImage1_seed_zones_EastMap of the 245 seed zones developed for the eastern United States.2020-06-30T01:59:35+00:00monthlyhttps://kevinpotterecology.org/2020/01/15/european-forest-genetic-resources-programme-highlights-project-capture/https://kevinpotterecology.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/e2395-tsuga_caroliniana_northcarolina-scaled-1.jpgTsuga_caroliniana_NorthCarolinaCarolina hemlock (Tsuga caroliniana) at Linville Gorge, North Carolina. Carolina hemlock is among the most vulnerable U.S. tree species.2020-01-15T20:11:03+00:00monthlyhttps://kevinpotterecology.org/2019/12/08/assessing-the-health-of-u-s-forests/2019-12-08T20:05:32+00:00monthlyhttps://kevinpotterecology.org/2018/07/17/the-state-of-the-nations-forests-annual-report-summarizes-forest-health-across-the-u-s/https://kevinpotterecology.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/30ea3-cover_of_2017_fhm_annual_report.jpgCover_of_2017_FHM_annual_report2019-12-08T20:00:23+00:00monthlyhttps://kevinpotterecology.org/2019/09/03/assessments-of-insect-and-disease-threats-to-u-s-forests/2019-09-03T17:08:36+00:00monthlyhttps://kevinpotterecology.org/2019/07/12/effects-of-forest-fragmentation-and-restoration-on-invasive-species/2019-07-12T23:08:47+00:00monthlyhttps://kevinpotterecology.org/2019/04/17/tree-range-shift-paper-wins-award-from-the-ecological-society-of-america/https://kevinpotterecology.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/39247-sciencesadvances.pngSciencesAdvances2019-04-17T17:25:33+00:00monthlyhttps://kevinpotterecology.org/2019/03/25/tree-diversity-regulates-invading-forest-pests/https://kevinpotterecology.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/84343-greatsmokymountains-1500-950x535-1.jpgGreatSmokyMountains-1500-950x535A nonnative insect called balsam woolly adelgid has decimated old-growth stands of Fraser fir throughout the range of this southern Appalachian tree species, including on the summit of Clingmans Dome in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Photo by Kevin M. Potter, NC State University2019-03-25T21:53:43+00:00monthlyhttps://kevinpotterecology.org/2018/03/13/conserving-eastern-hemlock-combining-genetics-and-climate-change-models-to-assess-conservation-needs/https://kevinpotterecology.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/49d38-10544788874_4bfa47a418_z.jpg10544788874_4bfa47a418_zHemlock woolly adelgids have affected half of all eastern hemlock ecosystems. Photo by Nicholas Tonelli.2018-07-31T03:21:35+00:00monthlyhttps://kevinpotterecology.org/2018/03/13/carolina-hemlock-populations-isolated-and-imperiled/https://kevinpotterecology.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/110ad-carolinahemlock_mtjefferson-2.jpgCarolinaHemlock_MtJefferson-2Carolina hemlock can thrive on rocky hillsides, ledges, or ridges — like this site on Mt. Jefferson, NC. Photo by Robert Jetton, NCSU.2018-07-31T03:20:50+00:00monthlyhttps://kevinpotterecology.org/2018/07/30/trees-in-protected-areas-rarity-and-evolutionary-distinctiveness/https://kevinpotterecology.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/0ee13-phylogeny_species_complex.svg_-768x576-1.pngPhylogeny_species_complex.svg_-768x5762018-07-31T03:19:39+00:00monthlyhttps://kevinpotterecology.org/2018/03/22/tree-range-shifts-among-discover-magazines-top-100-stories-of-2017/https://kevinpotterecology.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/5d939-discover_cover.jpgDiscover_cover2018-03-22T15:26:18+00:00monthlyhttps://kevinpotterecology.org/2018/03/22/underground-forces-could-explain-forests-vulnerability-to-plant-invasions/https://kevinpotterecology.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/5ab5a-mycorrhiza.jpgmycorrhizaMycorrhizal fungi (pictured in white and yellow) have a working relationship with tree roots. Photo by Indiana Unviersity.2018-03-22T15:15:05+00:00monthlyhttps://kevinpotterecology.org/2018/03/13/annual-forest-health-checkup-forest-service-report-assesses-the-state-of-u-s-forest-health/https://kevinpotterecology.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/e000c-rough_ridge_fire_burning_in_the_cohutta_wilderness_2016_11_11-11.45.52.687-cst.jpgRough_Ridge_Fire_burning_in_the_Cohutta_Wilderness_2016_11_11-11.45.52.687-CSTForest threats include wildfires. In 2015, satellites detected over 80,000 wildfire occurrences in the U.S. USFS photo.2018-03-13T19:00:20+00:00monthlyhttps://kevinpotterecology.org/2018/03/13/hemlock-seed-banking-identifying-collection-locations-for-future-hemlock-restoration/https://kevinpotterecology.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/ccc1c-eastern_hemlock_prioritization-768x608-1.jpgEastern_hemlock_prioritization-768x608Maps show prioritized locations for seed collection from eastern hemlock populations. Red indicates the highest priority.2018-03-13T17:02:50+00:00monthlyhttps://kevinpotterecology.org/2018/03/13/the-most-vulnerable-trees-list-captures-most-susceptible-u-s-tree-species/https://kevinpotterecology.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/16f32-water_locust_t.evans_gsmnp_bugwood-768x548-1.jpgwater_locust_T.Evans_GSMNP_Bugwood-768x548Water locust, native to the Southeast and found in wet soils, is among the U.S. tree species most vulnerable to climate change. Photo by Troy Evans, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Bugwood.org.2018-03-13T17:02:27+00:00monthlyhttps://kevinpotterecology.org/2018/03/13/eastern-trees-move-north-and-west-evergreen-and-deciduous-species-respond-to-climatic-changes/https://kevinpotterecology.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/b2f47-quercus_falcata_bugwood-768x988-1.jpgQuercus_falcata_Bugwood-768x988The distribution of 13 red oak species shifted west during the study period. Photo by David Stephens, Bugwood.org.2018-03-13T17:02:04+00:00monthlyhttps://kevinpotterecology.orgdaily1.02026-05-01T02:42:05+00:00