About

Dr. Jay Sullivan is a professor in the Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation at Virginia Tech. He holds a B.S. and M.S. from Colorado State University and a Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley. His research interests include forest and resource economics, the economics of forest conservation and restoration, forest landowner incentives and decisions, and forest management and planning. Dr. Sullivan is involved in examining the financial viability of forest management practices, such as Southern Pine Beetle prevention measures, and the conversion of mined lands into productive forests for wood products, renewable energy, and ecosystem services. His work also explores incentive programs for landowners, the regional economic impacts of conservation initiatives, and the social costs associated with forest land use and reclamation. He has contributed to the academic community through teaching courses related to forest management and economics and has served as an associate editor for prominent journals in his field.

Research topics

• Botany
• Horticulture
• Biology
• Agronomy

Selected publications

• Introduction

  Palgrave gothic · 2025-01-01

  book-chapter1st authorCorresponding
  PublisherDOI

• Effect of drought stress on the physiology and early growth of seven Senegalia (Acacia) Senegal (L.) Britton provenances

  New Forests · 2024 · 6 citations

  Senior authorCorresponding
  • Biology
  • Horticulture
  • Botany

  Abstract Decline of Senegalia senegal ( Acacia senegal ) in its natural range has been observed and attributed mainly to harsh environmental conditions such as frequent drought occurrences. The objective of this study is to assess the effect of water stress on growth, biomass allocation and photosynthetic capacity in Senegalia senegal seedlings. Seeds were collected from seven provenances in Senegal and grown under greenhouse conditions in a randomized complete block design with 5 replications. Seedlings were subjected to three cyclic droughts by watering them when average soil moisture content dropped to 4.7%, 2.7%, and 2.1% during the first, second, and third dry down cycles, respectively. With the exception of net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance and transpiration at the second and third dry down cycles, no drought by provenance interaction was found for any trait measured. Ngane provenance had a lower root/shoot ratio and allometric analysis revealed that Ngane allocated less biomass to roots than shoots. Ngane developed superior growth traits and biomass production, despite similar net photosynthetic rate with other provenances before treatments started. Overall, drought stress significantly reduced biomass, stem height, diameter and leaf gas exchange. Total biomass was reduced by 28.5%, whereas root/shoot ratio was increased by 25% compared to control. Significant interaction on leaf gas exchanges at the second and third dry down cycles reveals different sensitivity levels to drought among provenances with the Ranerou provenance exhibiting no decline in leaf gas exchange. No significant difference of stomatal limitation among genotypes was found, which is indicative of the complex process of photosynthesis and the need for extended times scales for measurements to better depict physiological sensitivity of Senegalia senegal to drought.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Effect of Drought Stress on the Physiology and Early Growth of Seven Senegalia senegal (L.) Britton Provenances

  Research Square (Research Square) · 2023

  Senior authorCorresponding
  • Biology
  • Horticulture
  • Agronomy

  Abstract Decline of Senegalia senegal in its natural range has been observed and attributed mainly to harsh environmental conditions such as frequent drought occurrences. The objective of this study is to assess the effect of water stress on growth, biomass allocation and photosynthetic capacity in Senegalia senegal seedlings. Seeds were collected from seven provenances in Senegal and grown under greenhouse conditions in a randomized complete block design with 5 replications. Seedlings were subjected to three cyclic droughts by watering them when average soil moisture content dropped to 4.7%, 2.7%, and 2.1% during the first, second, and third dry-down cycles, respectively. With the exception of net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance and transpiration at the second and third dry down cycles, no drought by provenance interaction was found for any trait measured. Ngane provenance had a lower root/shoot ratio and allometric analysis revealed that Ngane seemed to allocate less biomass to roots than shoots. Ngane developed superior growth traits and biomass production, despite similar net photosynthetic rate with other provenances before treatments started. Overall, drought stress significantly reduced biomass, stem height, diameter and leaf gas exchange. Total biomass was reduced by 28.5%, whereas root/shoot ratio was increased by 25% compared to control. Significant interaction on leaf gas exchanges at the second and third dry down cycles reveals different sensitivity levels to drought among provenances with the Ranerou provenance exhibiting no decline in leaf gas exchange. No significant difference of stomatal limitation among genotypes was found, which is indicative of the complex process of photosynthesis and the need for extended times scales for measurements to better depict physiological sensitivity of Senegalia senegal under drought.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Drought resistance and gum yield performances in a Senegalia senegal (L.) Britton progeny trial in Senegal

  New Forests · 2021 · 13 citations

  • Biology
  • Botany
  • Horticulture

  Abstract With continued global change as a result of land use changes, invasive species and changing climatic patterns, it is becoming increasingly important to understand the adaptability of Senegalia senegal provenances to maximize resilience in managed and natural populations of this species. The objective of this study is to investigate Senegalia senegal genotypic differences in water use efficiency (WUE) measured by stable 13 C isotope composition in foliage according to their ploidy levels. Secondary objectives are to discuss inherent adaptive variation related to soil pH, survival, growth indexes, gum arabic yield and WUE within provenance in the climate change context. A S enegalia senegal progeny trial, in Dahra, Senegal was used in this study: 443 adult trees consisting of 60 families nested within 4 provenances were assessed in this study. Results showed significant differences in gum yield among provenances ( P = 0.0002) and families ( P < 0.0001). Diamenar and Ngane provenances showed overall similar annual gum yield despite a lower tree survival rate of Ngane than Diamenar. Growth traits, especially stem volume index and crown area index were larger on Ngane provenance, which also displayed significantly higher foliar WUE and lower leaf area index (LAI) than the other provenances. WUE was positively correlated with gum yield ( P = 0.0302), but the coefficient of determination was only 2%. Foliar δ 13 C varied significantly ( P < 0.0001) between diploids (− 27.91‰) and polyploids (− 27.12‰). However, within each provenance no significant difference was found. Only 15% of isotope compositions could be explained by ploidy level variation. Differences found in growth and gum yield may be attributed to genotype-specific variation. However, a significant correlation between soil pH and tree survival rate was found ( P = 0.0051; r = 0.60). This study confirmed a possible improvement of the gum arabic sector through genotype based selection. Ngane and Diamenar seem to be more profitable to grow in Dahra than the other tested provenances. Future research should investigate the effect of soil pH, other soil physical and chemical properties, and management activities to improve site quality on tree survival and gum yields among provenances. Further, more research is needed to clarify inherent traits underlying drought tolerance in the field and gum yield performance.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Contaminating Touch in Richard Marsh's The Beetle

  2020-01-01

  article1st authorCorresponding
  Publisher

• Growth and Physiology of Senegalia senegal (L.) Britton Seedlings as Influenced by Seed Origin and Salinity and Fertility Treatments

  Forests · 2017-10-11 · 6 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Multipurpose trees such as Senegalia senegal are widespread in arid and semi-arid lands that have natural or induced saline soils and poor soil fertility. Such environmental problems impact growth and have the potential to influence plant physiological adaptations. Identifying superior genotypes better adapted to these environmental stresses will be of great importance for tree selection for reclamation of degraded drylands. The main objective of this study was to examine the growth performance, and physiological and morphological adaptations to salinity, and fertility treatments of different Senegalia senegal families. We used five families (DB16, DB14, K4B19, K17B19, NB1) selected from 60 families of a Senegalia senegal progeny trial in Dahra, Senegal. Seedlings were grown under greenhouse conditions by watering all plants for three weeks and then stopping all watering for three more weeks. In a randomized complete block design, a two-level factorial combination was used for salinity (zero and 183.1 mM NaCl added) and fertility (zero and 100 kg/ha N-P-K added) treatments. A significant family × salt × fertilizer interaction was found for all biomass parameters (leaf dry matter, stem dry matter, root dry matter, and leaf area). The fertilizer application resulted in a significant increase of total biomass of all families, ranging from 63% to 237% for NB1 and K17B19, respectively. In contrast, salt only decreased total biomass of NB1 and K17B19 increased growth. Despite similar net photosynthetic rates before treatment started, fertilizer and salinity induced different effects between families. Prior to drought stress, fertilizer did not affect photosynthesis of DB16, while salt significantly decreased stomatal conductance of all families. DB16 and N1B1, despite significant differences of stomata size and density, significantly decreased transpiration, and thereby increased their intrinsic water use efficiency. Under drought, relative growth rate was significantly decreased. Given that genotype differences were found, these families and salinity and fertilizer treatments need to be explored in field trials.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Differing Levels of Forestry Best Management Practices at Stream Crossing Structures Affect Sediment Delivery and Installation Costs

  Water · 2016-03-10 · 18 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Forestry best management practices (BMPs) are used to reduce sedimentation from forest stream crossings. Three BMP treatments (BMP−, BMP-std, and BMP+) were applied to three forest road stream crossings (bridge, culvert, and ford). BMP− did not meet existing BMP guidelines, BMP-std met standard recommendations, and BMP+ treatments exceeded recommendations. Following BMP applications, three simulated rainfall intensities (low, medium, and high) were applied in order to evaluate sediment delivery from crossing type and BMP level. During rainfall simulation, sediment concentrations (mg/L) were collected with automated samplers and discharge (L/s) was estimated to calculate total sediment loading. Costs of stream crossings and BMP levels were also quantified. Mean sediment associated with the three stream crossings were 3.38, 1.87, and 0.64 Mg for the BMP−, BMP-std, and BMP+ levels, respectively. Ford, culvert, and bridge crossings produced 13.04, 12.95, and 0.17 Mg of sediment during construction, respectively. BMP enhancement was more critical for sediment control at the culvert and ford crossings than at the bridge. Respective costs for BMP−, BMP-std, and BMP+ levels were $5,368, $5,658, and $5,858 for the bridge; $3,568, $4,166 and $4,595 for the culvert; and $180, $420 and $1,903 for the ford. Costs and sediment values suggest that current standard BMP levels effectively reduce stream sediment while minimizing costs.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Productivity and costs of utilizing small-diameter stems in a biomass-only harvest

  International Journal of Forest Engineering · 2016-01-02 · 19 citations

  article

  The expanded use of woody biomass for energy has increased the number of in-woods chipping operations across the southeastern US. Young loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) stands that undergo a first commercial thinning, or sometimes a pre-commercial thinning, may serve as a potential raw material source for these chipping operations. A harvesting case study was completed using activity sampling and elemental time studies to analyze conventional logging equipment thinning and chipping of a 15-year-old planted loblolly pine stand located in the coastal plain of Virginia. All stems in the harvest were chipped for biomass and no pulpwood or sawtimber was produced. Overall individual machine productivity rates for the feller-bunchers, skidders, and chipper were 27.9, 21.2, and 75.9 green tonnes (gt) per productive machine hour, respectively. A total cut-and-haul cost of $21.28/gt was calculated using the Auburn Harvesting Analyzer (AHA). Hauling was found to comprise the largest component of total costs at 33% or $6.30/gt. Conducting sensitivity analyses by balancing the operation in the AHA reduced the cut-and-haul cost by 5% to $20.21/gt. Considering a regional average delivered price of $15.74/gt for in-woods whole-tree pine biomass chips, the operation in the case study failed to break even. Results of this study suggest that current delivered in-woods pine chip prices are exceeded by harvesting costs in biomass-only harvests of young pine stands; however, optimally balancing operations will improve feasibility.

  PublisherDOI

• Optimal forest management with sequential disturbances

  Journal of Forest Economics · 2016-06-27 · 10 citations

  articleSenior author

  Previous work in forest management under uncertainty has been based on the assumption that landowners face a risk of only one damaging event during any forest rotation, with the main result being that landowners choose shorter rotation ages. These models are universal in an assumption that, should the disturbance arise in a given rotation, the landowner salvages what is possible through a harvest and replants to begin a new rotation. However, a real possibility exists that multiple disturbances may occur in one rotation, with the landowner retaining the damaged stand thereby waiting through the first or even a subsequent disturbance to harvest and begin a new rotation. We develop a new approach for rotations models and choices that allows more than one event and flexibility in the timing of harvest, where tree recovery and damage may make continuance of the rotation, rather than starting over, a rent maximizing strategy. We thereby generalize the highly-cited body of literature based on Paul Samuelson's and William Reed's seminal contributions. Results demonstrate that failure to consider these new features leads to suboptimal harvest decisions and highly suboptimal land rent values. Important parameters are found to be arrival rates of future disturbances and survival proportions and growth rates after each disturbance.

  PublisherDOI

• Amenities, Multiple Natural Disturbances, and the Forest Rotation Problem

  Forest Science · 2016-04-22 · 8 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Gregory S. Amacher

  17 shared

• Mame Sokhna Sarr

  Institut Sénégalais de Recherches Agricoles

  5 shared

• John R. Seiler

  4 shared

• M. Chad Bolding

  University of Georgia

  4 shared

• J. Keith Gilless

  University of California, Berkeley

  3 shared

• Scott M. Barrett

  3 shared

• M. Christine Conway

  3 shared

• Ying Xu

  3 shared

Awards & honors

• Gamma Sigma Delta Faculty Teaching Award, Virginia Tech (200…
• Certificate of Teaching Excellence, College of Natural Resou…