Biology

Neil MacDonald

Neil MacDonald, Ph.D.

Professor and Department Chair

Forest Soils & Ecology; Watershed Management;
Applied Soil Science

Natural Resources Management Faculty

Office: 215 Henry
Phone: (616) 331-2697;
Email: macdonan@gvsu.edu
 

Photograph by Adam Bird
Education:

Ph.D. - Michigan State University, Department of Forestry, 1987.
Dissertation Title: Sulfate Adsorption in Michigan Forest Soils.

M.S. - Michigan State University, Department of Forestry, 1983.
Thesis Title: The Effects of Simulated Acid Precipitation on Regeneration and Soils in the Jack Pine - Grayling Sand Ecosystem.

B.S. - The University of Michigan, School of Natural Resources, 1976.

  

Courses taught at GVSU:

BIO 696 Perspectives in Biology
NRM 150 Introduction to Natural Resources

Research Interests:

A variety of opportunities exist for students to be involved in research related to watershed management, forest ecology and management, wetland restoration, reclamation of degraded lands, and ecological restoration. Recent studies completed include a study of water quality in the Pigeon River watershed, native grass establishment on a degraded site, burning effects on spotted knapweed germination and establishment, survival of trout in the Pigeon River (Ottawa County), and vegetation responses to landfill leachate application.

Recent Publications:

MacDonald, N.W., D.W. Mays, R.R. Rediske, and C.R. Ruetz III. 2011. Environmental variation, fish community composition, and brown trout survival in the Pigeon River, Ottawa County, Michigan.  Michigan Academician XL(2):135-168.

MacDonald, N.W., R.R. Rediske, B.T. Scull, and D. Wierzbicki. 2008. Landfill cover soil, soil solution, and vegetation responses to municipal landfill leachate applications.  Journal of Environmental Quality 37:1974-1985.

MacDonald, N.W., B.T. Scull, and S.R. Abella. 2007. Mid-spring burning reduces spotted knapweed and increases native grasses during a Michigan experimental grassland establishment. Restoration Ecology 15(1):118-128.

Pregitzer, K.S., D.R. Zak, A.J. Burton, J.A. Ashby, and N.W. MacDonald. 2004. Chronic nitrate additions dramatically increase the export of carbon and nitrogen from northern hardwood ecosystems. Biogeochemistry 68:179-197.

MacDonald, N.W., M.T. Koetje, and B.J. Perry. 2003. Native warm-season grass establishment on spotted knapweed-infested gravel mine spoils. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation 58:243-250.

Abella, S.R., V.B. Shelburne, and N.W. MacDonald. 2003. Multifactor classification of forest landscape ecosystems of Jocassee Gorges, southern Appalachian Mountains, South Carolina. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 33:1933-1946.

Abella, S.R., and N.W. MacDonald. 2002. Spatial and temporal patterns of eastern white pine regeneration in a northwestern Ohio oak stand. Michigan Botanist 41:111-119.

MacDonald, N.W., P.J. Bosscher, C.A. Mieczkowski, E.M. Sauter, and B.J. Tinsley. 2001. Burning reduces spotted knapweed seedling establishment. Ecological Restoration 19(4):262-263.

MacDonald, N.W., R.R. Rediske, and J.E. Van Denend. 2001. Hydrologic events and water quality in the Pigeon River, Ottawa County, Michigan. Michigan Academician XXXIII:155-173.

Abella, S.R., and N.W. MacDonald. 2000. Intense burns may reduce spotted knapweed germination. Ecological Restoration 18(3):203-205.

Recent Presentations:

MacDonald, N.W., L.M. Martin, C.K. Kapolka, and T.F. Botting. 2012. Three years of hand pulling controls spotted knapweed on a degraded site in western Michigan. Poster presentation made at the Fourth Midwest-Great Lakes Society for Ecological Restoration Chapter Meeting in Ann Arbor, Michigan, 4 May 2012.
 
MacDonald, N.W. 2011. Spotted knapweed responses to fire: Direct effects and interactions with other control methods. Invited oral presentation made at the 12th Annual Meeting of the Michigan Prescribed Fire Council, Hastings, Michigan, 11 September 2011.
 
MacDonald, N.W., C.K. Kapolka, T.F. Botting, and L.M. Martin. 2011. Second-year site preparation and hand pulling effects on spotted knapweed control on a degraded site in western Michigan. Oral presentation made at the Third Midwest-Great Lakes Society for Ecological Restoration Chapter Meeting in Springfield, Illinois, 2 April 2011. 
 
MacDonald, N.W. 2009. Ottawa County's Pigeon River: A Qualified Success Story.  Invited presentation made at the Ottawa County Water Quality Forum in West Olive, Michigan, 26 October 2009. 

MacDonald, N.W., and K.J. Thompson. 2009. Development of a revised critical areas map of the Pigeon River watershed, Ottawa County, Michigan.  Presentation made at the 64th International Annual Conference of the Soil and Water Conservation Society in Dearborn, Michigan, 13 July 2009. 

MacDonald, N.W. 2008. Establishment of native grasses on spotted knapweed-infested sites with the aid of herbicides and fire.  Invited presentation made at the Michigan Invasive Plant Council Symposium in East Lansing, Michigan, 29 February 2008.

MacDonald, N.W. 2007. Establishment of native grasses on spotted knapweed-infested sites with the aid of fire.  Invited presentation made at the Michigan Association of Conservation Districts and Michigan Prescribed Fire Council Conservation Convention in Bellaire, Michigan, 4 December 2007.

Mays, D.W., N.W. MacDonald, A. Harrington, and C.R. Ruetz. 2007. Survival of stocked brown trout (Salmo trutta) in the Pigeon River, Ottawa County, Michigan.  Oral presentation at the Michigan Academy Meetings in Big Rapids, Michigan, 9 March 2007 (presentation made by N.W. MacDonald).   

MacDonald, N.W. 2007. Establishment of native grasses on spotted knapweed-infested sites.  Invited presentation made at the 20th Annual Conference of the Wildflower Association of Michigan in East Lansing, Michigan, 4 March 2007.

MacDonald, N.W., R.R. Rediske, and B.T. Scull. 2006. Landfill cap soil and vegetation responses to municipal solid waste leachate applications. Abstracts of the American Society of Agronomy-Crop Science Society of America-Soil Science Society of America 2006 International Meetings, Abstract 307-7 (CD). Oral presentation at the 2006 ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meetings in Indianapolis, Indiana, 15 November 2006.

MacDonald, N.W., B.T. Scull, and S.R. Abella. 2006. Mid-spring burning reduces spotted knapweed and increases native grasses on a degraded, knapweed-infested site. Michigan Academician (In Press). Oral presentation at the Michigan Academy Meetings in Auburn Hills, Michigan, 3 March 2006.

MacDonald, N.W., and B.T. Scull. 2004. Spring Burning of Native Warm-Season Grasses Reduces Spotted Knapweed Density and Biomass. Michigan Academician 36:17. Oral presentation at the Michigan Academy Meetings in Grand Rapids, Michigan, 5 March, 2004.

MacDonald, N.W., B.T. Scull, and R.R. Rediske. 2004. Soil and Vegetation Responses to Municipal Solid Waste Leachate Applications at the Fenske Landfill. Michigan Academician 36:36. Oral presentation at the Michigan Academy Meetings in Grand Rapids, Michigan, 5 March, 2004. 
 

Scientific & Professional Societies:

American Association for the Advancement of Science
Michigan Academy of Science, Arts, and Letters
Society for Ecological Restoration
Society of American Foresters
Soil Science Society of America
Soil and Water Conservation Society

Page last modified June 22, 2012