Welcome to the Southern Research Station

The Southern Research Station, with headquarters located in western North Carolina, is the leading organization for research on natural resource management and sustainability in the Southern United States. With a staff of 130 scientists serving 13 Southern States, our mission is to create the science and technology needed to sustain and enhance Southern forest ecosystems and the benefits they provide. (more...)

Message from the Director...

I am Jim Reaves, and I welcome you to the Southern Research Station.

As the new director, I pledge to build on our Station's long history of contributing to forest sustainability in the Southern United States by providing credible and useful scientific information.

Over my 26 years with the Forest Service, I have had many positions within our agency including scientist and assistant director with the Southern Research Station. Now I am thrilled to be back leading what I believe to be the premiere natural resources research organization in the South!

As I begin my tenure I think that it is important to share with you the basis of my vision for the future. (more....)

Invasive of the Month: Oriental Bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus Thunb.)

Synonym: Asian bittersweet

History and use. Introduced from Asia in 1736. Very showy ornamental with berried vines that are traditionally collected as home decorations in winter.

Resembles American bittersweet, C. scandens L., which has only terminal flowers and fruit, and leaves usually twice as large but absent among the flowers and fruit. Hybridization suspected between the two species.

Also resembles grape vines, Vitis spp., in winter, but can be distinguished by persistent scarlet fruit versus grapes.

Ecology. Occurs on a wide range of sites mainly along forest edges. Found as scattered plants to extensive infestations in forest openings, margins, and roadsides as well as in meadows. Mostly shade intolerant. Colonizes by prolific vine growth and seedlings, and spreads by bird- and other animal-dispersed seeds and humans collecting decorative fruit-bearing vines.

Plant. Deciduous, twining and climbing woody vine to 60 feet in tree crowns, forming thicket and arbor infestations...(More)

Recent Publications Added To Our Website

We have 24,671 publications online that you can view and print.

• Effects of raw materials on the properties of wood fiber-polyethylene composites--part 3: effect of a compatibilizer and wood adhesive on the interfacial adhesion of wood/plastic composites
• A two-part measure of degree of invasion for cross-community comparisons
• Black stain root disease studies on ponderosa pine parameters and disturbance treatments affecting infection and mortality
• Inferences on the phylogeography of the fungal pathogen Heterobasidion annosum, including evidence of interspecific horizontal genetic transfer and of human-mediated, long-range dispersal
• Demand for resident hunting in the southeastern United States
• Structure and composition of moist coastal forests in Dorado, Puerto Rico
• Two new species of mites of the genera Petalomium Cross and Caesarodispus Mahunka (acari: Heterostigmata:Neopygmephoridae, Microdispidae) associated with Solenopsis Invicta Buren (hymenoptera: Formicdae) from the U.S.A.
• Post-fertilization physiology and growth performance of loblolly pine clones
• Hispanic logging worker safety in the south
• Soil disturbances from horse/mule logging operations coupled with machines in the Southern United States
• Spatial distribution of ammonium and calcium in optimally fertilized pine plantation soils
• A report on conceptual advances in roll on/off technology in forestry