Shawn Behling will describe her current research into the role of light and plant development at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7, at Olympic Natural Resources Center, 1455 S. Forks Ave. Behling is investigating community dynamics and physiological responses to light in two conifer species and Arabidopsis, a small model plant. This data will be used to improve crop yields and forest product quality in Washington forests.

Behling is fascinated by all forest communities and has conducted research in the Catskills, the Adirondacks, Shenandoahs, Cascades and Olympics in association with USGS, USDA, USFS and the Smithsonian Institution. Her work with peanut farmers in Mozambique through USAID allowed her to use her ecophysiology background to investigate how both crops and forests can be improved through light dynamic research, regardless of their location.

Behling is a doctoral student in the Canopy Dynamics Lab at the University of Washington School of Environmental and Forest Sciences.

Evening Talks at ONRC is funded the Rosmond Forestry Education Fund, an endowment that honors the contributions of Fred Rosmond and his family to forestry and the Forks community.  

Everyone is welcome.