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RESEARCH

Buzzing with purpose

When Ashley Mertens heads into the dry forests of eastern Oregon, she's not just looking at trees. She's listening for buzzing. Mertens, a graduate research assistant in the Forest Animal Ecology Lab, is investigating how forest management practices affect wild bee communities, and what she's finding could change how land managers think about the intersection of wildfire risk and biodiversity.

STUDENT EXPERIENCE

Inside the 2026 Microclimate Ecology and Biogeography Conference

Hannah Sachs, a Master’s student in Betts Forest Landscape Ecology Lab and NSF Graduate Research Fellow, shares their unique experience attending this years Microclimate Ecology and Biogeography Conference.

Macrocosms at Ecotron where they have an experiment testing water uptake, soil moisture, and nutrient fluxes in different soil types.

FORESTRY & NATURAL RESOURCES EXTENSION

A Pacific tree frog in an ephemeral pond, or wet spot. Photo by Jon Cox

The big importance of small places: microsites

What comes to mind when you hear the term ‘wildlife habitat’? Do you imagine lush forests, cattail-filled wetlands, river corridors, and mountain meadows? Or are you the type that likes to zoom in to the scale of a mossy log, a decaying stump, or the underside of a rock? The latter could be described as microhabitats nestled within the former larger-scale habitats. A microhabitat is a small, structurally distinct area within a larger habitat that provides everything a species needs: food, water, shelter, space.

In The Woods Podcast

Check out this monthly podcast series brought to you by the Oregon State University Forestry & Natural Resources Extension program.

Listen to the latest episode

Episode 74: Prescribed Burn Associations, or PBA’s

Episode 73: Post Wildfire Recovery, Pt. 2

Episode 72: Cultivating Shiitake Mushrooms

College of Forestry News

News

FEATURES

OSU study evaluates steep-slope logging impacts

2026 College of Forestry Commencement Celebration

Forest Restoration and Spotted Owl Conservation Can Work Together, Study Finds

Turning forest waste into clean fuel: OSU researchers explore new bioenergy solutions

RESEARCH

Buzzing with purpose

OSU study evaluates steep-slope logging impacts

Panel Discussion: Managing Forests for Multiple Values in a Changing World

Forest Restoration and Spotted Owl Conservation Can Work Together, Study Finds

Turning forest waste into clean fuel: OSU researchers explore new bioenergy solutions

OSU researchers expand international collaboration on blue carbon monitoring in Vietnam

OSU, Forest Service find high wildfire risk for old forests where fire used to be common

New research reveals increased wildfire risk for more than 400 communities in Northwest

New forest visions: advancing forestry with robotics, AI and 3D mapping

OSU study links stand spacing to Douglas-fir wood value

STUDENT EXPERIENCE

Inside the 2026 Microclimate Ecology and Biogeography Conference

From Corvallis to Seoul: Presenting Mass Timber Research on the International Stage

Two OSU student teams win big at statewide innovation competition

2026 College of Forestry Commencement Celebration

Forestry students honored by Oregon Society of American Foresters

From the Adirondacks to the Andrews: How curiosity and conviction shaped Lucy Heflin’s path

The power of putting yourself out there: OSU senior Abby Schroeder’s College of Forestry experience

From local roots to global branches: The International Forestry Students’ Association year in review

From barriers to belonging: The Paulines carry forward a legacy of inclusive forestry

Oregon State University and National Taiwan University chart a new course in climate-smart forestry

FORESTRY & NATURAL RESOURCES EXTENSION

The big importance of small places: microsites

OSU Extension communications work earns national awards

Extension provides wildfire resilience education in Josephine County

Forest tour helps Washington County woodland owners plan for climate change

Multilingual fair connects coastal residents to services and safety

Partnerships improve wildfire preparedness in Washington County

OSU Extension helps woodland owners consider big trees

Oregon State University to host Get Outdoors Day on May 30 at Peavy Arboretum in the McDonald-Dunn Research Forest

Clatsop students explore forestry careers outdoors

Workshop helps participants connect students to outdoor careers

Landowners expand prescribed fire use in Eastern Oregon

In The Woods Podcast

EVENTS

Your land in your hands: digital mapping with Avenza & CalTopo

Tree School Umpqua

COMMUNITY UPDATES

College of Forestry welcomes 2026 Branching Borders interns

COF Food Drive Impact

Welcome Nick Bryant

COF IN THE NEWS

PUBLICATIONS