Shawn Fraver - Research - School of Forest Resources

UMaine Alert

Posted: April 19, 2024 - 1:32 PM

At approximately 9:24 a.m. on Friday, April 19, a University of Maine graduate student was struck by a university vehicle on Long Road at the University of Maine campus in Orono. The student reports that they are at a local hospital with minor injuries.

Emergency services, including the Orono Fire Department, University Volunteer Ambulance Corps, University of Maine Police Department, Orono Police Department and Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene.

The university vehicle involved in the incident was a Chevrolet Express van. It was being operated by a university employee.

Counseling services and support are available for students, faculty or staff who may have been affected. The Counseling Center can be reached at 207-581-1392 and the Dean of Students Office can be reached at 207-581-1406.

The scene has been cleared and Long Road is now accessible. An investigation is being conducted by the University of Maine Police Department with assistance from the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office Crash Reconstruction Unit. Any witnesses to the incident are encouraged to contact Lt. Noel Santiago at noel.santiago@maine.edu.

Shawn Fraver – Research

My research addresses a wide range of questions related to the ecology of both natural and managed forests. Much of this work relies on dendrochronology (tree-ring) methods to assess tree growth and forest productivity through time. The following overview of topics captures the breadth of my work, as well as listing primary collaborators.

Old-growth forest structure and dynamics

This work addresses the current structure and long-term development and disturbance histories of old-growth forests, with projects in Maine, New Hampshire, Minnesota, Sweden, and Central Europe. This work relies heavily on dendrochronological methods.

Forest carbon dynamics

This work addresses forest carbon stores and fluxes for the purpose of better quantifying the forest carbon cycle, including factors (such as climate) that influence fluxes. This work is based on field and laboratory studies, as well as modelling (by colleagues).

Woody debris dynamics, biodiversity, and biometrics

This work encompasses a large number of topics related to woody debris, an important forest structural attribute, in terms of biodiversity, carbon storage, and fire behavior.

Climate–growth relationships of forest trees

This work investigates the effects of climate, in some cases combined with past silvicultural treatments, on forest growth and productivity. The work relies on long-term permanent plot data, combined with dendrochronological methods.

Tree-tree competition in natural forests

This work addresses the growth constraints and mortality risk due to tree-tree competition, as well as the role of tree spatial patterning in moderating competitive effects. This work relies heavily on dendrochronological methods and detailed tree mapping.

Impacts of salvage logging following natural disturbances

This work addresses the impacts of salvage logging on forest structure and composition. It also addresses the compound effects of salvage logging in combination with severe wind storms and wildfire.