Philip G Comeau

Biography

Philip G Comeau is a professor belongs to the department of Agricultural, Life and Environmental Sciences from the University of Alberta.

Research Interest

A major focus of the research being conducted by my team during the past 6 years has been in the area of silviculture and management of spruce-aspen mixedwood stands in the western boreal forests of Canada. We are also conducting research relating to vegetation management and silvicultural systems (shelterwood and selection) in B.C. and Alberta. We are exploring effects of silvicultural practices on species and structural diversity and contributing to the development and evaluation of practices that maintain, restore or enhance diversity (for example boreal mixedwood stands). Another important component of our research is an examination of effects of environmental conditions on survival and growth of trees, particularly in relation to competitive, site and climatic influences and the influences of silviculture practices. In conjunction with this research we have examined methods for measuring and estimating light levels and are conducting work relating to effects of vegetation (amount and type) and overstory tree canopies on light, temperature and soil moisture and its relationship to tree seedling and sapling survival and growth under current and future climates. I am actively involved in the development of models for applying research results, this includes development of a light model (LITE), and accessory software for analyzing hemispherical photographs (SLIM). I am a member of the research team working on refinements and enhancements to the Mixedwood Growth Model (MGM) to improve its representation of small tree growth and stand tending practices and have served as Chair of the Western Boreal Growth and Yield Association (WESBOGY) since 2003. My modeling activities focus on quantifying dynamics of species mixtures and growth and yield outcomes of silvicultural practices.