John Lhotka

John Lhotka

Photo of John Lhotka

John Lhotka

Professor of Silviculture

Faculty
210 Thomas Poe Cooper Building 730 Rose Street Lexington, KY 40546-0073

Last Revised: Aug 29th, 2023

Professional Biography

Research Interests

  • Ecology and management of oak dominated forests
  • Irregular and gap-based silvicultural systems
  • Modeling tree- and stand-level growth in a silvicultural context and under changing climates
  • Linkage among forest structure, understory environment, and development of tree reproduction
  • Effects of thinning and intermediate stand treatments on tree growth and recruitment  
  • Quantification of canopy structure and forest microclimates in single and mixed species stands
  • Natural and artificial regeneration of forest communities
  • Reforestation and reclamation of disturbed lands
  • Woody biomass production and utilization for bioenergy 

Profile Resources

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Education

Ph.D., Silviculture, Auburn University, 2006
M.S., Forest Resource Management, Southern Illinois University, 2001
B.S., Forestry, Southern Illinois University, 1999

Course Instruction

FOR 350: Silviculture (4)
Course Description: A study of ecologically based manipulations of forests to achieve desired management objectives. Develop and apply silvicultural prescriptions and learn the effects of these prescriptions on timber and non-timber forest benefits, forest health and biodiversity, soil, and water resources as well as their effect on broader social, economic, and ecological issues.

Term(s) Taught: Fall
FOR 358: Silvicultural Practices (3)
Course Description: A study of the silvicultural practices for altering the forest canopy and regenerating the forest. Students will learn to apply these practices to meet multiple use objectives such as forest products, wildlife, health and protection, watershed, and recreation and develop silvicultural prescriptions. Class will be conducted in an outdoor forest setting often in steep terrain and inclement weather.

Term(s) Taught: Spring
FOR 480: Integrated Forest Resource Management (5)
Course Description: Capstone course. Students will be presented with a real life management scenario in a forested location in Kentucky. Working in teams, students will collect data, determine management objectives, and develop action plans for managing the forest according to the desires of the owner, subject to realistic legal, economic, ethical, and social constraints. Students will be required to produce a professional management plan and present the plan in a public forum at the end of the semester. This course is a Graduation Composition and Communication Requirement (GCCR) course in certain programs, and hence is not likely to be eligible for automatic transfer credit to UK. Class will be conducted in an outdoor forest setting often in steep terrain and inclement weather.

Term(s) Taught: Spring

Contact Information

Thomas Poe Cooper Building 730 Rose Street Lexington, KY 40546-0073