Research Interests
I study ecophysiology in western coniferous forests and woodlands. My research investigates tree water use, growth, physiology, and responses to management and climate. I also study canopy ecology, tall tree physiology, and how ecosystem biodiversity responds to land use history. As my primary research tools, I use stable isotope analyses, dendrochronology, and gas exchange measurements. Our lab is equipped with a cryogenic vacuum extraction line, a LI-COR 6400, leaf porometers, stem psychrometers, pressure chambers, a cavitation chamber, fog chambers, mesocosms, and a complete setup for dendrochronological analyses. Ongoing studies include conifer responses to drought, conifer encroachment of oak woodlands, restoration in second-growth redwood forests, forest mortality and regeneration, and foliar water uptake in conifers.
Selected Publications (Google Scholar)
Kerhoulas, L.P., N. Umstattd, G.W. Koch. 2023. Seasonal water source patterns in a northern Arizona pine forest. Frontiers in Forests and Global Change 6: 1150413. (PDF)
Robinson, W.L., L.P. Kerhoulas, R.L. Sherriff, G.J. Roletti, P.J. van Mantgem. 2023. Drought survival strategies differ between coastal and montane conifers in northern California. Ecosphere 14: e4480. (PDF)
Kane, J.M., L.P. Kerhoulas, G.S. Goff. 2023. Conifer encroachment increases foliar moisture content in a northwestern California oak woodland. International Journal of Wildland Fire: 22184. (PDF)
Goodwin, M.J., L.P. Kerhoulas, H.S.J. Zald, M.P. North, M.D. Hurteau. 2022. Conifer water-use patterns across temporal and topographic gradients in the southern Sierra Nevada. Tree Physiology 43: 210-220. (PDF)
Chin, A.R.O., P.G. Guzmán-Delgado, L.P. Kerhoulas, M.A. Zwieniecki. 2022. Acclimation of interacting leaf surface traits affects foliar water uptake. Tree Physiology: 1-12. (PDF)
Chin, A.R.O., P.G. Guzmán-Delgado, S.C. Sillett, L.P. Kerhoulas, A.R. Ambrose, A. R. McElrone, M.A. Zwieniecki. 2022. Tracheid buckling buys time, foliar water uptake pays it back: Coordination of leaf structure and function in tall redwood trees. Plant, Cell & Environment 45: 2607-2616. (PDF)
Save the Redwoods League article
Chin, A.R.O., P.G. Guzmán-Delgado, S.C. Sillett, J. Orozco, R.D. Kramer, L.P. Kerhoulas, Z.J. Moore, M. Reed, M.A. Zwieniecki. 2022. Shoot dimorphism enables Sequoia sempervirens to separate requirements for foliar water uptake and photosynthesis. American Journal of Botany 109: 564-579. (PDF)
San Francisco Chronicle article
Scientific American article
KMUD Podcast interview
Beckmann, J.J., R.L. Sherriff, L.P. Kerhoulas, and J.M. Kane. 2021. Douglas-fir encroachment reduces drought resistance in Oregon white oak of northern California. Forest Ecology and Management 498: 119543. (PDF)
Soland, K.R., L.P. Kerhoulas, N.J. Kerhoulas, and J.R. Teraoka. 2021. Second-growth redwood forest responses to restoration treatments. Forest Ecology and Management 496: 119370. (PDF)
Save the Redwoods League article
Weinberg, W.C., J.R. Suoja, L.P. Kerhoulas, R.J. Maberry, C.A. Lee, D.S. Baston, and S.E. Marshall. 2021. Phytophthora ramorum foliar infection reduces leaf-level productivity in tanoak and California by: A pilot study from Redwood National Park. Madroño 68: 99-108. (PDF)
National Park Service Science Story
Kerhoulas, L.P., D.T. Hammons, and N.J. Kerhoulas. 2020. Bigleaf maple within-crown leaf morphology and seasonal physiology. Northwest Science 94: 176-187. (PDF)
Kerhoulas, L.P., W.T. Polda, N.J. Kerhoulas, and J.-P. Berrill. 2020. Physiology and growth of Douglas-fir and redwood seedlings planted after partial harvesting. Frontiers in Forests and Global Change 3: 49. (PDF)
Kerhoulas, L.P., A.S. Weisgrau, E.C. Hoeft, and N.J. Kerhoulas. 2020. Vertical gradients in foliar physiology of tall Picea sitchensis trees. Tree Physiology: 1-12. (PDF)
van Mantgem, P.J., L.P. Kerhoulas, R.L. Sherriff, and Z.J. Wenderott. 2020. Tree-ring evidence of forest management moderating drought responses: implications for dry, coniferous forests in the southwestern U.S. Frontiers in Forests and Global Change 3: 41. (PDF)
Gorman, A.J., L.P. Kerhoulas, W.T. Polda, and N.J. Kerhoulas. 2019. Epiphyte diversity and distribution in an old Sitka spruce crown. Evansia 36: 12–22. (PDF)
Kerhoulas, L.P., T.E. Kolb, and G.W. Koch. 2017. The influence of monsoon climate on latewood growth in southwestern ponderosa pine. Forests 8: 1–16. (PDF)
Kerhoulas, L.P., T.E Kolb, and G.W. Koch. 2013. Tree size, stand density, and the source of water used across seasons by ponderosa pine in northern Arizona. Forest Ecology and Management 289: 425–433. (PDF)
Arizona Daily Sun article
Kerhoulas, L.P., T.E Kolb, M.D. Hurteau and G.W. Koch. 2013. Managing climate change adaptation in forests: a case study from the U.S. Southwest. Journal of Applied Ecology 50: 1311–1320. (PDF)
Kerhoulas, L.P., and J.M. Kane. 2012. Sensitivity of ring growth and carbon allocation to climatic variation vary within ponderosa pine trees. Tree Physiology 32: 14–23. (PDF)
Mullin (Kerhoulas), L.P., Sillett, S.C., Koch, G.W., K.P. Tu, and M.E. Antoine. 2009. Physiological consequences of height-related morphological variation in Sequoia sempervirens foliage. Tree Physiology 29: 999–1010. (PDF)
I study ecophysiology in western coniferous forests and woodlands. My research investigates tree water use, growth, physiology, and responses to management and climate. I also study canopy ecology, tall tree physiology, and how ecosystem biodiversity responds to land use history. As my primary research tools, I use stable isotope analyses, dendrochronology, and gas exchange measurements. Our lab is equipped with a cryogenic vacuum extraction line, a LI-COR 6400, leaf porometers, stem psychrometers, pressure chambers, a cavitation chamber, fog chambers, mesocosms, and a complete setup for dendrochronological analyses. Ongoing studies include conifer responses to drought, conifer encroachment of oak woodlands, restoration in second-growth redwood forests, forest mortality and regeneration, and foliar water uptake in conifers.
Selected Publications (Google Scholar)
Kerhoulas, L.P., N. Umstattd, G.W. Koch. 2023. Seasonal water source patterns in a northern Arizona pine forest. Frontiers in Forests and Global Change 6: 1150413. (PDF)
Robinson, W.L., L.P. Kerhoulas, R.L. Sherriff, G.J. Roletti, P.J. van Mantgem. 2023. Drought survival strategies differ between coastal and montane conifers in northern California. Ecosphere 14: e4480. (PDF)
Kane, J.M., L.P. Kerhoulas, G.S. Goff. 2023. Conifer encroachment increases foliar moisture content in a northwestern California oak woodland. International Journal of Wildland Fire: 22184. (PDF)
Goodwin, M.J., L.P. Kerhoulas, H.S.J. Zald, M.P. North, M.D. Hurteau. 2022. Conifer water-use patterns across temporal and topographic gradients in the southern Sierra Nevada. Tree Physiology 43: 210-220. (PDF)
Chin, A.R.O., P.G. Guzmán-Delgado, L.P. Kerhoulas, M.A. Zwieniecki. 2022. Acclimation of interacting leaf surface traits affects foliar water uptake. Tree Physiology: 1-12. (PDF)
Chin, A.R.O., P.G. Guzmán-Delgado, S.C. Sillett, L.P. Kerhoulas, A.R. Ambrose, A. R. McElrone, M.A. Zwieniecki. 2022. Tracheid buckling buys time, foliar water uptake pays it back: Coordination of leaf structure and function in tall redwood trees. Plant, Cell & Environment 45: 2607-2616. (PDF)
Save the Redwoods League article
Chin, A.R.O., P.G. Guzmán-Delgado, S.C. Sillett, J. Orozco, R.D. Kramer, L.P. Kerhoulas, Z.J. Moore, M. Reed, M.A. Zwieniecki. 2022. Shoot dimorphism enables Sequoia sempervirens to separate requirements for foliar water uptake and photosynthesis. American Journal of Botany 109: 564-579. (PDF)
San Francisco Chronicle article
Scientific American article
KMUD Podcast interview
Beckmann, J.J., R.L. Sherriff, L.P. Kerhoulas, and J.M. Kane. 2021. Douglas-fir encroachment reduces drought resistance in Oregon white oak of northern California. Forest Ecology and Management 498: 119543. (PDF)
Soland, K.R., L.P. Kerhoulas, N.J. Kerhoulas, and J.R. Teraoka. 2021. Second-growth redwood forest responses to restoration treatments. Forest Ecology and Management 496: 119370. (PDF)
Save the Redwoods League article
Weinberg, W.C., J.R. Suoja, L.P. Kerhoulas, R.J. Maberry, C.A. Lee, D.S. Baston, and S.E. Marshall. 2021. Phytophthora ramorum foliar infection reduces leaf-level productivity in tanoak and California by: A pilot study from Redwood National Park. Madroño 68: 99-108. (PDF)
National Park Service Science Story
Kerhoulas, L.P., D.T. Hammons, and N.J. Kerhoulas. 2020. Bigleaf maple within-crown leaf morphology and seasonal physiology. Northwest Science 94: 176-187. (PDF)
Kerhoulas, L.P., W.T. Polda, N.J. Kerhoulas, and J.-P. Berrill. 2020. Physiology and growth of Douglas-fir and redwood seedlings planted after partial harvesting. Frontiers in Forests and Global Change 3: 49. (PDF)
Kerhoulas, L.P., A.S. Weisgrau, E.C. Hoeft, and N.J. Kerhoulas. 2020. Vertical gradients in foliar physiology of tall Picea sitchensis trees. Tree Physiology: 1-12. (PDF)
van Mantgem, P.J., L.P. Kerhoulas, R.L. Sherriff, and Z.J. Wenderott. 2020. Tree-ring evidence of forest management moderating drought responses: implications for dry, coniferous forests in the southwestern U.S. Frontiers in Forests and Global Change 3: 41. (PDF)
Gorman, A.J., L.P. Kerhoulas, W.T. Polda, and N.J. Kerhoulas. 2019. Epiphyte diversity and distribution in an old Sitka spruce crown. Evansia 36: 12–22. (PDF)
Kerhoulas, L.P., T.E. Kolb, and G.W. Koch. 2017. The influence of monsoon climate on latewood growth in southwestern ponderosa pine. Forests 8: 1–16. (PDF)
Kerhoulas, L.P., T.E Kolb, and G.W. Koch. 2013. Tree size, stand density, and the source of water used across seasons by ponderosa pine in northern Arizona. Forest Ecology and Management 289: 425–433. (PDF)
Arizona Daily Sun article
Kerhoulas, L.P., T.E Kolb, M.D. Hurteau and G.W. Koch. 2013. Managing climate change adaptation in forests: a case study from the U.S. Southwest. Journal of Applied Ecology 50: 1311–1320. (PDF)
Kerhoulas, L.P., and J.M. Kane. 2012. Sensitivity of ring growth and carbon allocation to climatic variation vary within ponderosa pine trees. Tree Physiology 32: 14–23. (PDF)
Mullin (Kerhoulas), L.P., Sillett, S.C., Koch, G.W., K.P. Tu, and M.E. Antoine. 2009. Physiological consequences of height-related morphological variation in Sequoia sempervirens foliage. Tree Physiology 29: 999–1010. (PDF)