Education: Ph.D., University of Illinois, 1989; Plant Biology (supervisor: F.A. Bazzaz) M.S., University of Hawaii, 1980; Botanical Sciences (supervisor: D. Mueller-Dombois) B.Sc.(Hon.) Univ. of Sask., 1978; Biology; (minor in Land Use & Environmental
Studies)
Employment History: 2003-date: Adjunct Professor, University of Northern British Columbia,
Ecosystem Science and Management Program, Prince George, B.C. 2002-2003: Bullard Fellow of Forest Research, Harvard University,
Harvard Forest, Petersham, Massachusetts - gap dynamics research, editing of a book on boreal forestry 1995-date: Adjunct Professor, University of British Columbia, Department of
Forest Sciences, Vancouver, B.C. - currently serving on the
advisory committee of one Ph.D. student 1995-date: Partner, Symbios Research and Restoration, Smithers,
B.C. - independent researcher and
environmental consultant in the areas of plant ecology,
silviculture, landscape ecology, conservation biology, and ecosystem
restoration 1995-date: Adjunct Professor, University of British Columbia, Department of
Forest Sciences, Vancouver, B.C. - currently serving on the
advisory committee of one Ph.D. student - module leader for a "Foundations"
course in the Advanced Silviculture Diploma program administered
by the Forest Management Institute of British Columbia 1990-1995: Assistant Professor, University of British Columbia,
Department of Forest Sciences, Vancouver,
B.C. - conducted research on forest
regeneration, vegetation dynamics and plant competition - supervised the thesis research
of five graduate students (3 M.Sc., 2 Ph.D.) who
successfully completed their degrees - taught courses in regeneration
silviculture, vegetation management, field school,
and restoration ecology 1988-1989: Post-Doctoral Research Associate, University of Virginia, Department of Environmental
Sciences, Charlottesville, Virginia - worked on vegetation simulation
modelling with H. Shugart, T. Smith, D. Urban 1984-1988: Technical Research Biologist, Illinois Natural History
Survey, Champaign, Illinois - conducted rare plant searches,
database management, prairie restoration
planning 1981-1983: Plant Ecologist, Montreal Engineering Co. Ltd., Calgary,
Alberta - coal minespoil reclamation
and monitoring, environmental impact assessment
and mitigation 1979-1980: Research Assistant, Department of Botany, University
of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii. 1977-1978 (summers): Seasonal Park Warden, Parks Canada, Nahanni National Park, Nahanni Butte,
NWT. 1975-1976 (summers): Fire Lookoutman, Alberta Forest Service, Rocky-Clearwater Forest, Rocky
Mountain House, Alberta.
Professional Interests: Research into mechanisms and implications of plant competition,
especially between trees and non-trees; all aspects of forest regeneration,
plant succession and vegetation dynamics; computer simulation of forest
stand development and succession; impact assessment and mitigation of human
activities on ecosystem biodiversity, productivity and resilience; silvicultural
systems and ecological approaches to forest management; ecosystem restoration;
forest stand edge effects; landscape ecology. Extension and Technology Transfer of information and approaches
for regeneration silviculture, vegetation management, ecological restoration
and ecosystem management, landscape ecology and planning.
Other Interests: Travel, regional and world. Outdoor recreation, especially hiking, skiing and canoeing. Photography, especially nature and landscape. Propagation and cultivation of native plants; natural landscaping. Environmental policy, especially regarding wilderness protection,
sustainable resource management, and incorporation of indigenous approaches.
Selected Publications:
DeLong, C., P.J. Burton, and M. Harrison. 2004. Assessing relative old
growth quality: an example from the Robson Valley. B.C. Journal of
Ecosystems and Management. in press. Burton, P.J., C. Messier, D.W. Smith, and W.L. Adamowicz, editors. 2003.
Towards Sustainable Management of the Boreal Forest. NRC Research
Press, Ottawa, Ontario. 1039 p.
Burton, P.J., W.L. Adamowicz, G.F. Weetman, C. Messier, E. Prepas, and R.
Tittler. 2003. The state of boreal forestry and the drive for change. Pages
1 to 40 in P.J. Burton, C. Messier, D.W. Smith, and W.L. Adamowicz,
editors. Towards Sustainable Management of the Boreal Forest. NRC
Research Press, Ottawa, Ontario.
Adamowicz, W.L., and P.J. Burton. 2003. Sustainability and sustainable forest
management. Pages 41 to 64 in P.J. Burton, C. Messier, D.W. Smith, and
W.L. Adamowicz, editors. Towards Sustainable Management of the Boreal
Forest. NRC Research Press, Ottawa, Ontario.
Lieffers, V.J., C. Messier, P.J. Burton, J.-C. Ruel, and B.E. Grover. 2003.
Nature-based silviculture for sustaining a variety of boreal forest values.
Pages 481 to 530 in P.J. Burton, C. Messier, D.W. Smith, and W.L.
Adamowicz, editors. Towards Sustainable Management of the Boreal
Forest. NRC Research Press, Ottawa, Ontario.
Work, T., J. Spence, J. Volney, and P.J. Burton. 2003. Progress and priorities in
moving to sustainable boreal forest management. Pages 953 to 970 in
P.J. Burton, C. Messier, D.W. Smith, and W.L. Adamowicz, editors.
Towards Sustainable Management of the Boreal Forest. NRC Research
Press, Ottawa, Ontario.
Burton, C.M., and P.J. Burton. 2003. A Manual for Growing and Using Seed from Several Herbaceous Plants Native to the Northern Interior of British Columbia. Symbios Research & Restoration, Smithers, B.C. 168 p.
Burton, P.J., and C.M. Burton. 2002. Promoting genetic diveristy in the
production of large quantities of native plant seed. Ecological
Restoration 20(2):117-123.
Burton, P.J. 2002. Effects of clearcut edges on trees in the Sub-Boreal Spruce zone of northwest-central British Columbia. Silva Fennica 36:329-352. Tittler, R., C. Messier, and P.J. Burton. 2001. Hierarchical forest management
planning and sustainable forest management in the boreal forest.
The Forestry Chronicle 77:998-1005. Burton, P. 2001. Bioregionalism in a terrorized world. Newsletter
of the Institute for Bioregional Research 4(2/3):4. Burton, P., and T. Kuuluvainen. 2001. Emulating nature in forestry
will mean a greater diversity of management practices.
Ecoforestry 16(1):21-23. Burton, C.M., and P.J. Burton. 2001. Fertilization can reduce the amount of seed needed to revegetate degraded soils (British Columbia). Ecological Restoration 19(1):57-58. Burton, P. 2000. Challenging the ethics of long-distance travel.
Newsletter of the Institute for Bioregional Research
3(3/4):4. Burton, P.J., D.C. Sutherland, N.M. Daintith, M.J. Waterhouse, and
T.A. Newsome. 2000. Factors Influencing
the Density of Natural Regeneration in Uniform Shelterwoods Dominated
by Douglas-fir in the Sub-Boreal Spruce Zone. Working Paper
47. B.C. Ministry of Forests Research Program. Victoria, B.C. 65. Burton, P., L. Bedford, M. Goldstein, and M. Osberg. 2000. Effects
of disk trench orientation and planting
spot selection on the ten-year performance of lodgepole pine.
New Forests 20:23-44. Cumming, S.G., F.K.A. Schmiegelow, and P.J. Burton. 2000. Gap dynamics in boreal aspen stands: is
the forest older than we think? Ecological Applications 10:744-759. Burton, P. 2000. Ecological restoration gaining momentum as dominant paradigm for land management.
Ecoforestry 15(1):33-34. Coates, K.D., and P.J. Burton. 1999. Growth of planted tree seedlings
in response to ambient light levels
in northwestern interior cedar-hemlock forests of British Columbia.
Canadian Journal of Forest Research 29:1374-1382. Burton, P.J., D.D. Kneeshaw, and K.D. Coates. 1999. Managing forest harvesting to maintain old growth in boreal and sub-boreal forests. The Forestry Chronicle 75:623-631. Trevor, M., and P.J. Burton. 1999. Locating the terminal bud of
western redcedar, Thuja plicata.
The Canadian Field-Naturalist 113:396-400. Burton, P.J. 1998. Designing riparian buffers. Ecoforestry 13(3):12-22. Kneeshaw, D.D., and P.J. Burton. 1998. Assessment of functional
old-growth status: a case study in the
Sub-Boreal Spruce zone of British Columbia, Canada. Natural Areas Journal
18:293-308. Clark, D.F., D.D. Kneeshaw, P.J. Burton, and J.A. Antos. 1998. Coarse
woody debris in sub-boreal spruce
forests of west-central British Columbia. Canadian Journal of Forest
Research 28:284-290. Burton, C., and P. Burton. 1998. Making native plant seed available
for mainstream land management.
Menziesia 3(1):8-10. (Newsletter for the NPSBC, Native Plant Society
of British Columbia) Leadem, C.L., S.L. Gillies, H.K. Yearsley, V. Sit, D. Spittlehouse,
and P.J. Burton. 1997. How to Study
Tree Seed Biology in the Field. Land Management Handbook 40, B.C.
Ministry of Forests, Victoria, B.C. 196 p. Kneeshaw, D.D., and P.J. Burton. 1997. Canopy and age structures
of some old sub-boreal Picea stands in
British Columbia. Journal of Vegetation Science 8:615-626. Coates, K.D., and P.J. Burton. 1997. A gap-based approach for the development of silvicultural
systems to address ecosystem management objectives. Forest Ecology
and Management 99:339-356. Burton, P. 1997. Viewpoint: Ecosystem management means long-term management. ABCPF Forum 4(2):9-10.
(Published by the Association of British Columbia Professional
Foresters, Vancouver, B.C.) Balisky, A.C., and P.J. Burton. 1997. Planted conifer seedling growth
under two soil thermal regimes in high-elevation
forest openings in interior British Columbia. New Forests 14:63-82. Burton, P., and D. Coates. 1996. Characterizing old growth and strategies
for old growth management in the
Sub-Boreal Spruce zone. Extension Note #14, B.C. Ministry of Forests,
Prince Rupert Forest Region, Forest Sciences Section. Smithers, B.C. 9 p. Cumming, S.G., P.J. Burton, and B. Klinkenberg. 1996. Boreal mixedwood forests may have no "representative"
areas: some implications for reserve design. Ecography 19:162-180. Burton, P.J. 1996. Differences in early conifer performance in young
seral vegetation of the CWHdm subzone.
Extension Note 06, B.C. Ministry of Forests Research Program, Victoria,
B.C. 8 p. Balisky, A.C., and P.J. Burton. 1995. Root-zone soil temperature
variation associated with microsite characteristics
in high-elevation forest openings in the interior of British
Columbia. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology 77:31-54. Burton, P.J., and S.G. Cumming. 1995. Potential effects of climatic
change on some western Canadian forests,
based on phenological enhancements to a patch model of forest succession.
Water, Air, and Soil Pollution 82:401-414. Cumming, S.G., P.J. Burton, M. Joy, B. Klinkenberg, F.K.A. Schmiegelow,
and J. N. M. Smith. 1995. Experimental
Habitat Fragmentation and Simulation of Landscape Dynamics in the Boreal
Mixedwood: A Pilot Study. Project Report No. 5016, Canada-Alberta
Partnership Agreement in Forestry (PAIF). Canadian Forest Service,
Edmonton, Alberta. 67 p. Burton, P.J. 1995. A cultural perspective on a widespread plant
genus. [book review] Bulletin of the Canadian
Botanical Association 28(2):26. Camm, E.L., R.D. Guy, D.S. Kubien, D.C. Goetze, S.N. Silim, and
P.J. Burton. 1995. Physiological recovery
of freezer-stored white and Engelmann spruce seedlings planted following
different thawing regimes. New Forests 10:55-77. Burton, P.J., and F.A. Bazzaz. 1995. Ecophysiological responses
of tree seedlings invading different
patches of old-field vegetation. Journal of Ecology 83:99-112. Burton, P.J. 1995. The Mendelian compromise: a vision for equitable
land use allocation. Land Use Policy
12:63-68. Li, X.J., P.J. Burton, and C.L. Leadem. 1994. Interactive effects
of light and stratification on the germination
of some British Columbia conifers. Canadian Journal of Botany
72:1635-1646. Burton, P.J. 1994. Coniferous forests. Pages 268 to 272 in R. A.
Eblen and W. R. Eblen, editors. The Encyclopedia
of the Environment. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston. Cumming, S.G., P.J. Burton, M. Mapili, and S. Prahacs. 1994. Potential conflicts between timber supply and habitat
protection in the boreal mixedwood of Alberta, Canada: a simulation
study. Forest Ecology and Management 68:281-302. Balisky, A.C., and P.J. Burton. 1993. Distinction of soil thermal
regimes under various experimental vegetation
covers. Canadian Journal of Soil Science 73:411-420. Burton, P.J. 1993. Some limitations inherent to static indices of
plant competition. Canadian Journal
of Forest Research 23:2141-2152. Cumming, S.G., and P.J. Burton. 1993. A programmable shell and graphics system for forest stand simulation.
Environmental Software 8:219-230. Smith, T.M., H.H. Shugart, F.I. Woodward, and P.J. Burton. 1993.
Plant functional types. Pages 272
to 292 in A. M. Solomon and H. H. Shugart, editors. Vegetation Dynamics
and Global Change. Chapman and Hall, New York. Burton, P.J., A.C. Balisky, L.P. Coward, S.G. Cumming, and D.D.
Kneeshaw. 1992. The value of managing
for biodiversity. The Forestry Chronicle 68:225-237. Burton, P.J., and F.A. Bazzaz. 1991. Tree seedling emergence on
interactive temperature and moisture gradients
and in patches of old-field vegetation. American Journal
of Botany 78:131-149. Burton, P.J., and D.L. Urban. 1990. An overview of ZELIG, a family
of individual-based gap models
simulating forest succession. Pages 92 to 96 in E. Hamilton, compiler. Vegetation
Management: An Integrated Approach. FRDA Report 109,
Forestry Canada and B.C. Ministry of Forests, Victoria. Burton, P.J., K.R. Robertson, L.R. Iverson, and P.G. Risser. 1988.
Use of resource partitioning and
disturbance regimes in the design and management of restored prairies.
Pages 46 to 88 in E.B. Allen, editor. The Reconstruction of Disturbed
Arid Lands: An Ecological Approach. Westview Press, Boulder, Colorado. Burton, P.J., N. Balakrishnan, and D. Mueller-Dombois. 1987. Effects
of light intensity and plant size on
the mineral nutrient content of field-grown Metrosideros polymorpha
seedling leaves. Journal of Plant Nutrition 10:663-676. Burton, P.J., and D. Mueller-Dombois. 1984. Response of Metrosideros polymorpha seedlings
to experimental canopy opening. Ecology 65:779-791.
Selected Presentations: Burton, P.J. 2001. Forest Restoration and Sustainable Forestry. Lectures to ER 328 class, Restoration
of Natural Systems Program, University of Victoria. October 12-16, 1999, Victoria,
B.C. Burton, P. 2001. Response of Vascular Vegetation to Cutblock Edges in the Sub-Boreal Spruce Zone of Northwest Central British
Columbia. Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Canadian Botanical Association,
Kelowna, B.C., June 25-27, 2001. Burton, P. 2001. Windthrow Patterns on Cutblock Edges and in Retention Patches in the SBSmc. Presented at The Windthrow
Researchers Workshop, Richmond, B.C., Jan. 31-Feb.1, 2001. Sponsored by Forest Renewal B.C., B.C. Ministry of Forests, and B.C. Forestry Continuing Studies Network, Vancouver, B.C. Burton, P.J. 2000. Towards Sustainable Management of the Boreal
Forest: Emulating Nature, Minimizing Impacts and Supporting
Communities. Presented at the Natural Resources Research and Management Seminar Series, Northwest Community College, Nov. 16, 2000, Smithers, B.C. Burton, P.J., and C.M. Burton. 2000. The Wilp Sa Maa'y Harvesting Co-operative and Wild Berry Research in Gitxsan
Traditional Territory. Presented at a Non-Timber Forest Products Workshop, May 24, 2000,
Creston, B.C. Sponsored by the Ktunaxa Kinbasket Treaty Council. Proceedings published by the Southern Interior Forest Extension and
Research Partnership, Kamloops,
B.C. Burton, P.J. 1999,2000. Disturbance, Stand Dynamics and Forest Succession. Presentation to Professional
Module 1 of the Silviculture Institute of British Columbia. Jan. 26, 1999,
Kamloops, B.C., Feb. 2, 2000, Prince George, B.C." Burton, P.J. 1999,2000. Principles of Ecosystem Management. Presentation
to Professional Module 1 of the
Silviculture Institute of British Columbia. January 19, 1999, Kamloops,
B.C. January 28, 2000, Prince George, B.C. Burton, P.J. 1998. Inferring the response of berry-producing shrubs
to different light environments
in the ICHmc. Presented as part of the Natural Resources Research and Management
Seminar Series, November, 1998, Smithers, B.C. Also presented
at the Wilp Sa Maa’y Harvesting Co-operative Annual General
Meeting, December 7, 1998, Hazelton, B.C. Burton, C.M., and P.J. Burton. 1998. Making native plant seed available
for revegetation of disturbed land
in the northern Interior of British Columbia. Poster presented at Helping
the Land Heal: Ecological Restoration in British Columbia, November
5-7, 1998. Victoria, B.C. Sponsored by the B.C. Environmental Network
Educational Foundation. Burton, P.J. 1998. An assessment of silvicultural practices and
forest policy in British Columbia from the perspective
of restoration ecology. Presented at Helping the Land Heal: Ecological
Restoration in British Columbia, November 5-7, 1998. Victoria,
B.C. Published as pages 173 to 178 in B. Egan, editor. Helping the Land
Heal: Ecological Restoration in British Columbia, Conference Proceedings.
B.C. Environmental Network Educational Foundation, Vancouver, Burton, P.J., and B. Camenzind. 1998. Windthrow along clearcut block
edges in the SBSmc: Incorporation in
timber supply analysis. Presented at the Third Annual Natural Disturbance
Workshop, February 24, 1998, Prince George, B.C. Burton, P.J., and P. Daigle. 1997. Landscape ecology and ecosystem management. Invited presentation
to Professional Refresher Module of the Silviculture Institute
of British Columbia, December 1, 1997, Kamloops, B.C. Burton, P.J., and C.M. Burton. 1997. Interactive effects of substrate
and canopy cover on conifer germination
and first-year survivorship. Poster presented at the Annual Meeting
of the Ecological Society of America, August 10-14, 1997. Albuquerque,
New Mexico, U.S.A. Also presented at Silvicultural Systems Workshop,
November 4-6, 1997, Richmond, B.C. Sponsored by the B.C. Forestry
Continuing Studies Network. Burton, P.J. 1997. Clearcut edge effects in the SBSmc: Searching
for impacts on plant biodiversity and stand
productivity. Presented at the Second Annual Natural Disturbance
Workshop, April 7, 1997, Prince George, B.C. Also presented as part of the
Natural Resources Research & Management Seminar Series, November 20,
1997, Smithers, B.C. Burton, P.J. 1997. Patterns of vegetation response to biotic disturbance
in coniferous forests. Invited
presentation to the Forty-fifth Annual Meeting of the Western International
Forest Disease Work Conference. Sept. 16-19, 1997, Prince George,
B.C. Burton, P.J. 1996-1999. Landscape ecology and design. Invited presentation to Professional Module 1 of
the Silviculture Institute of British Columbia. January 24, 1996, Surrey, B.C.;
January 22, 1997, Prince George, B.C.; January 20, 1999, Kamloops,
B.C. Burton, P.J., D.D. Kneeshaw, and K.D. Coates. 1996. Managing forest harvesting to maintain old-growth
forest in the Sub-Boreal Spruce zone of British Columbia. Second International
Workshop on Disturbance Dynamics in Boreal Forest,
August 26-30, 1996. Rouyn-Noranda, Québec. Sponsored by the Université
du Québec. Burton, P.J. 1996. Native Plants: Their Place in Land Reclamation.
Invited presentation at the Second
Annual Clearwater Forest District Reclamation-Revegetation Seminar,
April 19, 1996, Clearwater, B.C. Sponsored by the B.C. Ministry
of Forests. Burton, P.J. 1995-1997. Rehabilitation and restoration. Invited
presentation to Professional Module 2 of the
Silviculture Institute of British Columbia. October 26, 1995, Prince George,
B.C.; Nov. 29, 1996, Surrey, B.C.; Nov. 26, 1997, Prince George, B.C. Burton, P.J., and C.M. Burton. 1995. A program to develop native
grass and legume mixtures for forest
road and landing revegetation. The Native Plant Forum, November 25, 1995,
Vernon, B.C. Sponsored by the B.C. Ministry of Forests. Organized and chaired a panel discussion on "First Nations Forest Management in B.C.: Expectations
and Experience", Vancouver Section of the Canadian Institute of Forestry,
April 11, 1995. Burton, P.J. 1994. Meeting technical and scientific information
needs. Invited presentation at a Conservation
Leadership Workshop, Nov, 19, 1994, Whistler, B.C. Sponsored by
The Whistler Centre for Business & the Arts. Burton, P.J. 1994. Some challenges of managing forests for sustainability. Invited presentation at a workshop
on Environmental Law and Management for the Canadian
Forest Industry, October 18, 1994, Vancouver, B.C. Sponsored by
The Canadian Institute. Burton, P.J. 1994. Some differences in plant competition experienced
by conifer seedlings: implications
to vegetation management and land stewardship. Departmental Seminar,
October 12, 1994, Faculty of Forestry, U.B.C. Burton, P.J. 1993. When is treatment of forest vegetation necessary? Invited presentation to a workshop
on Integrative Forest Vegetation Management: Options and Applications,
November 29-30, 1993, Richmond, B.C. Schmiegelow, F.K.A., S.J. Hannon, J.B. Stelfox, S.G. Cumming, P.J. Burton, and F.L. Bunnell. 1993. Broad-scale
harvesting and wildlife community dynamics in the boreal mixedwood
forest. Presented at a conference on Forest, Environment and New
Technology in Northern Europe, Petrozavodsk, Russia, September
20, 1993. Burton, P.J. 1991. Ecosystem restoration versus reclamation: The
value of managing for biodiversity.
Invited presentation to the 15th Annual B.C. Mine Reclamation Symposium
and the 16th Annual Canadian Land Reclamation Association Meeting,
June 24-28, 1991, Kamloops, B.C. Burton, P.J. 1990. An overview of current research on tree/non-tree interactions [Abstract published
in Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America 71(2):109]. (Symposium
organizer) Burton, P.J., and D.L. Urban. 1989. Enhanced simulation of early
secondary succession by incorporating
multiple growthform interaction and dispersal. [Poster published
in Studies in Plant Ecology (Svenska Växtgeografiska Sällskapet,
Uppsala) 18:47-49.] Burton, P.J., and F.A. Bazzaz. 1986. Establishment of tree seedlings
in different old-field neighborhoods.
Presented at the IVth International Congress of Ecology, August
10-16, 1986, Syracuse, New York. Johnson, R.L., P.J. Burton, V. Klassen,
P.D. Lulman, and D.R. Doram. 1984. Reclamation monitoring: The elements
of a reclamation monitoring program. Presented at the Ninth Annual
Meeting of the Canadian Land Reclamation Association, August 21-24,
1984, Calgary, Alberta. Behie, S.W., and P.J. Burton. 1984. Biophysical terrain sensitivity
mapping as an input to linear facility
route selection. Presented at a Workshop on "Facility Siting and Routing:
Energy and Environment," sponsored by Environment Canada, April 15-18,
1984, Banff, Alberta. Burton, P.J., J.C. Bateman, and P.R. Guy. 1983. Woodland establishment
on coal mine spoils in central
Alberta. Presented at the 1983 Winter Meeting of the American Society of
Agricultural Engineers, December 13-16, 1983, Chicago, Illinois. Burton, P.J., R.L. Johnson, K.P. Kucera, and P.A. Neame. 1983. A
terrain sensitivity rating system and
its application to corridor development. Presented at a Symposium on
Environmental Impact Assessment in Canada: An Ecological Evaluation.
Sponsored by the Canadian Society of Environmental Biologists, January
4-5, 1983, Winnipeg, Manitoba.
