dr vanderyacht

Jillian Vander Yacht, DVM

Faculty Profile Andrew Vander Yacht

Assistant Professor

Department of Sustainable Resources Management 310b Bray Hall

[email protected] 315-470-6568

Ph.D. in Natural Resources, The University of Tennessee, 2018

Dissertation: Plant & Fuel Dynamics in Response to Canopy Disturbance & Season of Burn

M.S. in Wildlife Science - Statistics Minor, The University of Tennessee, 2013

Thesis: Vegetation & Wildlife Response to Oak Savanna & Woodland Restoration

B.S. in Biology - Environmental Science & Chemistry Minors, 2009

Undergraduate Research: fungal endophytes in grasses & field studies in East Africa

Research Interests

• Mechanistic understanding of the forest mesophication process
• Restoring disturbance-dependent components of forest biodiversity
• Effects of disturbance on the adaptive capacity of forests
• Fire and fuel ecology and management in the Eastern USA
• Microbial plant-soil(-fire) feedbacks & forest regeneration
• Oak ( Quercus spp.) and pine ( Pinus spp.) ecology and silviculture
• Mechanical, chemical, and fire control of American beech competition
• Ticks, tick-borne disease, and prescribed fire management
• Relationships between pyrodiversity and biodiversity
• Traditional ecological knowledge of forest disturbance
• Forest Management and Wildlife (FOR 496)
• Fire Ecology and Management (FOR 496)
• Silviculture (FOR 334 or 534)

Prospective Students

My philosophy towards mentorship involves encouraging and enabling students to pursue their strongest interests and abilities as we codevelop innovative, rigorous, and applied research. If it appears our research interests align, please feel free to reach out via email ([email protected]) for more information. Funded graduate assistantships, and undergraduate research technicians, will be offered based on demonstrated academic excellence, related research experience, and passion for forest, fire, and wildlife management.

Selected Publications

Vander Yacht, A.L. , Kobe, R.K., & Walters, M.B. 2022. Hardwood regeneration in red pine plantations: Thinning and site quality effects on changes in density and species composition from edges to interiors . Forest Ecology & Management  526: 1-29.

Vander Yacht, A.L. , Keyser, P.D., Barrioz, S.A., Kwit, C., Stambaugh, M.C., Clatterbuck, W.K., & Jacobs, R. 2020. Litter to glitter: promoting herbaceous groundcover & diversity in mid-southern USA oak forests using canopy disturbance & fire . Fire Ecology 16:17 1-19.

Vander Yacht, A.L. , Keyser, P.D., Kwit, C., Stambaugh, M.C., & Clatterbuck, W.K. 2020. Thresholds in woody & herbaceous component coexistence inform the restoration of a fire-dependent community . Applied Vegetation Science 23: 159-174. ( Journal Cover Photo ).

Keyser, P.D., Vander Yacht, A.L. , Henderson, C.A., Willcox, E.V., Cox, M.R., Buehler, D.A., Harper, C.A., Kwit, C., & Stambaugh, M.C.  2019. Wildlife response to oak ecosystem restoration . In: Clark, S.L. & Schweitzer, C.J. (eds.) Oak symposium: sustaining oak forests in the 21st century through science-based management e-Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS-237. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Southern Research Station. pg. 157.

Vander Yacht, A.L. , Keyser, P.D., Kwit, C., Stambaugh, M.C., Clatterbuck, W.K., & Simon, D.M. 2019. Fuel dynamics during oak woodland & savanna restoration in the Mid-South USA . International Journal of Wildland Fire 28(1): 70-84.

Vander Yacht, A.L. , Keyser, P.D., Barrioz, S.A., Kwit, C., Stambaugh, M.C., Clatterbuck, W.K., & Simon, D.M. 2018. Reversing mesophication effects on understory woody vegetation in Mid-Southern oak forests . Forest Science 65(3): 289-303.

Vander Yacht, A.L. , Keyser, P.D., Kwit, C., & Stambaugh, M.C. 2018. Effectiveness of joint fuel treatments & vegetation management in restoring Eastern upland oak ecosystems . JFSP Project ID 13-1-04-14 Final Report.

Vander Yacht, A.L. , Keyser, P.D., Harper, C.A., Buckley, D.S., & Saxton, A.S. 2017. Restoration of oak woodlands & savannas in Tennessee using canopy-disturbance, fire-season, & herbicides . Forest Ecology & Management  406: 351-360.

Vander Yacht, A.L. , Barrioz, S.A., Keyser, P.D., Harper, C.A., Buckley, D.S., Buehler, D.A. & Applegate, R.D. 2017. Vegetation response to canopy disturbance & season of burn during oak woodland & savanna restoration in Tennessee . Forest Ecology & Management 390: 187-202.

Vander Yacht, A.L. , Keyser, P.D., Buehler, D.A., Harper, C.A., Buckley, D.S. & Applegate, R.D. 2016. Avian occupancy response to oak woodland & savanna restoration . The Journal of Wildlife Management 80: 1091-1105.

Cox, M.R., Willcox, E.V., Keyser, P.D., & Vander Yacht, A.L. 2016. Bat response to prescribed fire & overstory thinning in hardwood forests on the Cumberland Plateau, Tennessee . Forest Ecology & Management 359: 221-231.

Keyser, P.D., Harper, C.A., Anderson, M. & Vander Yacht, A.L. 2016. Chapter 15: How do I manage for woodlands & savannahs? In: Managing oak forests in the Eastern United States . Keyser, P.D., Fearer, T., & Harper, C.A., editors. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL.

Burger, G., Keyser, P.D., & Vander Yacht, A.L. 2016. Ecology & management of oak woodlands & savannahs . University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture Extension Publication PB 1812.

Current Graduate Advisees

• Graduate Advisor(s): Vander yacht
• Area of Study : Forest Mgt and Operations

• Area of Study : Forest Resources Management

Personal Statement I am a Fire Ecologist and my current research is primarily focused on exploring how wildland fire influences the ecology of tickborne diseases in North Atlantic Coastal Woodlands. By understanding how fire influences disease transmission cycles in these systems, we hope to explore how fire management could be potentially employed as a means of promoting disturbance dependent ecosystems while concurrently benefiting the health of neighboring human populations (through a potential reduction in disease risk). Much of my work is predicated upon employing a One- Health approach to solving pressing environmental and epidemiological issues. One- Health is a methodology that aims to find realistic solutions to problems that exist at the interface of human health, environmental resiliency, and animal wellbeing. I am also broadly interested in Plant Conservation, Environmental History, and Emergency Medical Services.

Graduate Research Topic Fire Ecology & Ecology of Vector-borne Diseases

Favorite Quote “Land Management is an art that builds on history and is based in science”— Herbert L. Stoddard Sr.

Personal Statement Hello! My name is Maria Loughran (muh-rye-uh lock-ran) and I am a friend of Burner Bob and pursuing a master's degree after ten-long years in the field. I hope to hone my experiences in freshwater ecology, botany, and fire ecology to a fine scientific point while I am here at ESF. My project involves better understanding how hydrologic behaviors might change in soil structures here in New York after interactions with fire (as could happen with prescribed or wildland fire). I am also working in the Applied Forest and Fire Ecology Lab to monitor and improve prescribed fire teaching fields set up at Heiberg Memorial Forest, where students of the new Fire Ecology and Management class perform a field exercise in prescribed fire in the fall semester. These fields also host a growth and survival experiment on American Chestnut, and will monitor how they respond to the prescribed fire events.

Graduate Research Topic Fire Ecology: Soil and Hydrology, American Chestnut Growth and Survival

Personal Statement I'm Anna Welch, a Graduate Assistant pursuing a Master of Science on a hybridized timeline in order to maintain my operational position on an Interagency Hotshot Crew (IHC) in Northern California. After four years of hiking, digging line, and slinging a drip torch, I am excited to use my hands on familiarity with wildland fire management to guide my research which will prioritize practical applications of fire on the natural landscape. Specifically, my goal is the foster harmony between incident command support, successful fire management operations and the need to meet stewardship missions. I believe researching IHC tactics, which are underrepresented in academic literature, will serve this goal. Outside of focusing on national wildfire management, as a native New Englander, I'm also interested in inspiring the integration of fire management with forest management strategies in the Northeast.

Graduate Research Topic Forest and Fire Ecology

Favorite Quote "Before enlightenment I chopped wood and carried water; after enlightenment I chopped wood and carried water" - Zen Saying

Central New York air quality concerns impact animal health, vet urges pet precautions

by Maggie DesRosiers

MANLIUS, N.Y. — The air quality is still cause for concern in the Central New York area, which may impact animals' health.

The Rosamond Gifford Zoo closed Wednesday due to air quality concerns but reopened Thursday. Zoo staff reassured the community that the animals in outdoor exhibits have access to indoor climate-controlled areas.

RELATED: Syracuse's Rosamond Gifford Zoo closes Wednesday due to air quality concerns

Although the air quality is improving , veterinarians stress it is still important to monitor it and make adjustments for your pets.

Dr. Jillian VanDeryacht, a veterinarian a the Manlius Veterinary Hospital said, “Taking similar precautions that you would for yourself for your dogs and cats is going to be really important because their lungs function just like ours do and could have the same amount of irritation.”

As with people, there is a concern for lung irritation and respiratory issues. According to vets, you should hold off on walking your pets if possible and stay inside. If you do go outside, make it short.

“Just like in humans, worrying about more strenuous activity causing faster breathing is going to get more of that stuff in your lungs and in the same way with humans, they’re saying our older pets, our compromised pets our pets that are predisposed to respiratory diseases.”

The best thing to remember is if you wouldn’t want to be outside without a mask on, you shouldn’t have your pup out there either. Any outdoor animals should be brought inside whenever possible.

Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Thursday that measures were even taken to protect horses at New York State racetracks, "As New Yorkers continue to experience unhealthy air quality as a result of Canadian wildfires, we must all work to ensure that animals - including these peak-performance equine athletes - are protected."

Dr. VanDeryacht also said cat owners should take special notice of their cat’s fur, “Especially with cats and grooming themselves, not only are they going to be potentially inhaling those but grooming small particulates off their hair coats is going to be problematic so if you have an animal that does spend a lot of time outside considering wetting them down or something like that when they come inside to get that fine particulate off of them.”

If you’re concerned for your pet's health, contact your local veterinarian for help.

RELATED: CNY SPCA is at capacity as another animal is dropped off overnight, donations needed