Joseph D. Birch @josephdbirch.bsky.social · 13/04/2026I saw it for the second time last night. Go Rocky (and Grace)! 110
Joseph D. Birch @josephdbirch.bsky.social · 09/04/2026 Editor Bob Keane of Fire Ecology was kind enough to feature our work on the journal's podcast and chat with us about how prescribed fire and fuel treatments can reduce the risk of cheatgrass invasion in mixed-conifer forests. Have a listen - its only 8 minutes! fireecology.org/feco-podcast...fireecology.orgEpisode 89: Overstory retention in a managed mixed-conifer stand limits cheatgrass invasion after wildfire — Association for Fire EcologyJoe Birch, Jessica Miesel, and Matthew Dickinson discuss cheatgrass abundance in response to overstory death and prescribed fire. 000
Reposted by Joseph D. BirchJustine Karst 🇨🇦 @j-karst.bsky.social · 18/03/2026This needs attention. Suzanne Simard threatened legal action against a journalist asking critical questions. This is not how science works. Brave of @aislingirwin.bsky.social to report. 13714
Reposted by Joseph D. BirchJustine Karst 🇨🇦 @j-karst.bsky.social · 11/02/2026A follow-up to the debunk of trees anticipating solar eclipses. Wonderfully argued by Novoplansky, the lead author. (I accidentally deleted the original post). figsinwintertime.substack.com/p/when-scien...figsinwintertime.substack.comWhen science worships its own shadowOn trees, eclipses, and the perils of belief 062
Joseph D. Birch @josephdbirch.bsky.social · 16/02/2026Do arborglyphs hurt aspen? In our newest paper we examined the ecological effects of arborglyphs. Aspen with arborglyphs had 19% faster radial growth, and no 10-yr mortality bump. This is likely because people carve the healthiest and largest trees! www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...sciencedirect.comAmerican graffiti: Spatial distribution and ecological consequences of aspen arborglyphsAspen (Populus tremuloides Michaux) is perhaps the most iconic tree species of the American West. The thin, white bark of aspen has long been a canvas… 021
Joseph D. Birch @josephdbirch.bsky.social · 18/09/2025A short clip of the 2025 Dillon wildfire in northern California. We (the USFS Fire Behavior Assessment Team) took immediate pre-, active-, and post-fire measurements of this and other forests to understand how fire behavior shapes forest health. 000
Joseph D. Birch @josephdbirch.bsky.social · 18/06/2025Great visualization of the 'dripline' on trees. Fallen needles accumulate just under this tree in the golden trout wilderness. 000
Joseph D. Birch @josephdbirch.bsky.social · 08/02/2025Our newest study is out today! We found that 9 y after fire there were HUGE differences in bacterial and fungal communities between neighboring burned soils and small unburned refugia. Contact me directly if you can't access the paper and I will email you a pdf copy! doi.org/10.1016/j.sc...doi.orgRedirecting 041
Reposted by Joseph D. BirchTerminally Online Leftist 🥂 @terminallyol.bsky.social · 23/12/2024 1345447746338
Joseph D. Birch @josephdbirch.bsky.social · 23/12/2024Arborglyphs are fascinating, complex, and controversial. I always feel terrible for the tree and the damage it has suffered! However, this is something quite cool with finding one like this one - in southern Utah. 000
Joseph D. Birch @josephdbirch.bsky.social · 15/12/2024Despite my past trauma with bark beetles 🐞, I still find their galleries beautiful (so long as they are not in my ear)! 010
Reposted by Joseph D. BirchThe Onion @theonion.com · 15/12/2024Assad Returns To Ophthalmology At Moscow LensCrafterstheonion.comAssad Returns To Ophthalmology At Moscow LensCraftersMOSCOW—Just days after rebels seized Damascus, deposed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad reportedly returned to practicing ophthalmology at a Moscow LensCrafters, sources confirmed Tuesday. “Which one ... 376160641686
Joseph D. Birch @josephdbirch.bsky.social · 11/12/2024Meet Ol' Blue - the world's oldest blue spruce. Seen here getting a hug on its 457th birthday. We made it a cake, gave it a party hat, and sang it a song. 000
Joseph D. Birch @josephdbirch.bsky.social · 10/12/2024Tree rings a beautiful! This is an image of a Great Basin bristlecone pine (Pinus longaeva) core with the years 1999 - 2017 visible (oldest on the left). The four pencil dots mark the year 2000 and the paired dots mark a missing ring (2002) which was extremely dry at this site. 010
Reposted by Joseph D. Birchlukelukeluke @lukelukeluke.bsky.social · 04/12/2024Here are some nice mushrooms 733389971874
Reposted by Joseph D. BirchSteve Voelker @thetreecorener.bsky.social · 13/11/2024If you know someone that is looking for a grad student opportunity in 2025 in fire ecology / dendroecology / spatial analyses -- please pass on this announcement. Julia Burton, Jed Meunier, Eric Rebitzke and myself are looking for a student to join our team and be based here at Michigan Tech. 01622
Reposted by Joseph D. Birchmolly conger @socialistdogmom.bsky.social · 02/12/2024i need a shock collar that punishes me for trying to do more research once i’ve decided it’s time to start writing. 88190287
Joseph D. Birch @josephdbirch.bsky.social · 03/12/2024Call me Celebrimbor for I just made a ring from 2000 y old wood! 000
Joseph D. Birch @josephdbirch.bsky.social · 03/12/2024Sometimes I wish I was a cat so I could snuggle under a blanket and forget about things for a while... 020
Joseph D. Birch @josephdbirch.bsky.social · 30/11/2024Yes! Most recently my forehead and face as well. She loves to set boundaries 😂 110
Joseph D. Birch @josephdbirch.bsky.social · 25/11/2024Biodiversity is all around us if we know how/where to look! 010
Joseph D. Birch @josephdbirch.bsky.social · 25/11/2024Our new paper is out on the dendroclimatology of Picea pungens (blue spruce) and Picea engelmannii (Engelmann spuce)! We describe the world's oldest blue spruce (Ol' Blue) and how each species responds to climate. Read more here: doi.org/10.1002/ecs2...doi.orgSpruce up your climate analysis: Dendroclimatology of Picea engelmannii and Picea pungensWarming and more variable climates threaten to upend historical tree ranges, climatic sensitivity, and vigor. In western North America, the species Picea engelmannii var. engelmannii Parry ex Engelma.... 010
Joseph D. Birch @josephdbirch.bsky.social · 25/11/2024Yes! My cat loves to do that to our furniture and my arm =D 110