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School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences

School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences

Wendell Cropper

Professor, Biological Process Modeling

Wendell Cropper joined the School faculty in 2002 with teaching and research responsibilities in Biological Process Modeling. He has extensive experience developing computer simulation models of populations and physiological and ecosystem processes for southern pines and other Florida ecosystems.

Courses Taught

IdentifierCourse Name
FNR 5608  Research Planning 
FOR 6156  Simulation Analysis of Forest Ecosystems 
FOR 6215  Fire Paradigms 
FOR 6154  Analysis of Forest Ecosystems 
  • Research Interests

    • Simulation modeling of plantation and natural forests at multiple scales.
    • Matrix population modeling of tree and palm species.
    • Mechanistic modeling of physiological and ecological processes. Modeling of nutrient uptake in roots and mycorrhizae.
    • Landscape modeling of pine forests.
    • Applications of genetic algorithms for optimization, model calibration and inverse modeling.
    • Habitat suitability modeling of plant and animal species.
    • Applications of neural networks for prediction of complex ecological characteristics, such as pine Leaf Area Index.
    • Analysis of the ecology of introduced species.

FOREST RESOURCES & CONSERVATION

214 Newins-Ziegler Hall, PO Box 110410
Gainesville, FL 32611-0410

wcropper@ufl.edu
352-846-0859

  • Education

    • PhD, Emory University, 1980
    • MS, Emory University, 1977
    • BA, Cornell College, 1973

  • Publications

    ORCID: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7851-7382

    • Bongiolo, E.S., K. Kainer, W. Cropper, C. Staudhammer, L. H. de Oliveira Wadt 2020. Swidden fallow management to increase landscape-level Brazil nut productivity. Forest Ecology and Management 464:118019 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2020.118019
    • Yudaputra, A., I. Fijridiyanto, W.P. Cropper, Jr. 2020. The potential impact of climate change on the distribution pattern of Eusideroxylon zwagerii (Bornean Ironwood) in Kalimantan, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 21:326-333 https://doi.org/10.13057/biodiv/d210140
    • Moulton, M.P. and W.P. Cropper, Jr. 2019. Propagule pressure does not consistently predict of the Outcomes of Exotic Bird Introductions. PeerJ 7: e7637 doi: 10.7717/PeerJ.7637
    • Klimas, K., W. P. Cropper, Jr., K.A. Kainer and L.H. de Oliveira Wadt 2018. Multi-model projections for evaluating sustainable timber and seed harvest of Carapa guianensis. Forest Science 64:15-27. https://doi.org/10.5849/FS-2017-001
    • Bertwell, T.D., K.A. Kainer, W.P. Cropper, Jr., C.L. Staudhammer and L.H. de Oliveira Wadt. 2018. Assessing Sustainability: Perspectives Informed by Demographic Models Integrating 14 Years of Bertholletia excelsa Research. Biotropica 50:50-59 https://doi.org/10.1111/btp.12505
    • Freeman, J., L. Kobziar, E. White, and W. Cropper. 2017. A critical evaluation of the historical fire regime concept in conservation. Conservation Biology 31:976-985; doi:10.1111/cobi.12942
    • Ruslandi, W.P. Cropper, Jr. and F.E. Putz 2017. Effects of silviculture intensification on timber yields, carbon dynamics, and tree species composition in a dipterocarp forest in Kalimantan, Indonesia: An individual-tree-based model simulation. Forest Ecology and Management 390:104-118; http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2017.01.019
    • Valadares, S.V., W.P. Cropper, Jr., J.C.L. Neves, H.G. Leite, N.F. de Barros and S. Gerber. 2017. Pedotransfer functions to estimate parameters for soil P models. Soil Science Society of America Journal 81:210-213 doi:10.2136/sssaj2016.06.0162n
    • Wright, W.C., B.E. Wilkinson and W.P. Cropper, Jr. 2017.Estimating GPS signal loss in a natural deciduous forest using sky photography. Papers in Applied Geography 3:119-128 http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/23754931.2016.1264990
    • Fortini, L.B., W.P. Cropper, Jr. and D.J. Zarin. 2015. Modeling the complex impacts of timber harvests to find optimal management regimes for Amazon tidal floodplain forests. PLoS ONE 10(8): e0136740. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0136740.
    • S. Delphin, F.J. Escobedo, A. Abd-Elrahman, W.P. Cropper. 2016. Urbanization as a land use change driver of forest ecosystem Services. Land Use Policy 54:188-199. doi: 10.1016/j.landusepol.2016.02.006
    • Gonzalez-Benecke, C., L.J. Samuelson, T.A. Martin, W.P. Cropper, K.H. Johnsen, T.A. Stokes, J.R. Butnor and P.H. Anderson 2015. Modeling the effects of forest management on in situ and ex situ longleaf pine forest carbon stocks. Forest Ecology and Management 355:24-36; doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2015.02.029
    • Sales, M.V.S., A.C. Gama-Rodrigues, N.B. Comerford, W.P. Cropper, W.P., E.F. Gama-Rodrigues and P.H.G. Oliveira 2015. Respecification of structural equation models for the P cycle in tropical soils. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems 102:347-358; http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10705-015-9706-5
    • Nifong, R.L., M.J. Cohen and W. P. Cropper, Jr. 2014. Homeostasis and nutrient limitation of benthic autotrophs in natural chemostats. Limnology and Oceanography 59:2101-2111; doi:10.4319/lo.2014.59.6.2101
    • Moulton, M.P. and W.P. Cropper 2015. A comment on the role of propagule pressure in the establishment success of introduced birds. Oecologia 177:317-319; doi: 10.1007/s00442-014-3184-3
    • Loudermilk, E.L., J.J. O’Brien, R.J. Mitchell, W.P. Cropper, Jr., J.K. Hiers, S. Grunwald, J.Grego and J. Fernandez. 2012. Linking complex forest fuel structure and fire behavior at fine scales. International Journal of Wildland Fire 21:882-893; doi:10.1071/WF10116
    • Klimas, C.A., W.P. Cropper, Jr., K.A. Kainer and L. H. de Oliveira Wadt. 2012.Viability of combined timber and non-timber harvests for one species: A Carapa guianensis case study. Ecological Modelling 246:147-156.; doi:10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2012.07.022
    • Moulton, M.P., W.P. Cropper, Jr., M.L. Avery. 2012. Historical records of passerine introductions to New Zealand fail to support the propagule pressure hypothesis. Biodiversity and Conservation 21:297-307. doi:10.1007/s10531-011-0165-2
    • Bracho, R, G. Starr, H.L. Gholz, T.A. Martin, W.P. Cropper, Jr., and H.W. Loescher. 2012. Controls on carbon dynamics by ecosystem structure and climate for southeastern U.S. pine plantations. Ecological Monographs 82:101-128. doi:10.1890/11-0587.1
    • Gonzalez-Benecke, C.A., T.A. Martin and W.P. Cropper, Jr. 2011. Whole-tree water relations of co-occuring, mature Pinus palustris and P. elliottii. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 41:509-523. doi:10.1139/X10-230
    • Loudermilk, E.L., W.P. Cropper, Jr., R.J. Mitchell and H. Lee. 2011. Longleaf pine and hardwood dynamics in a fire-maintained ecosystem: A simulation approach. Ecological Modelling 222:2733-2750. doi:10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2011.05.004
    • Cropper, W.P., Jr., J.A. Holm and C.J. Miller. 2012. Inverse model analysis of a matrix population model using a genetic algorithm. Ecological Informatics 7:41-45. doi:10.1016/j.ecoinf.2011.06.002
    • Loudermilk, E.L. and W.P. Cropper, Jr. 2007. Multi-scale modeling of longleaf pine (Pinus palustris). Canadian Journal of Forest Research 37:2080-2089. doi:10.1139/X07-070
    • Epps, K.Y., N.B. Comerford, J.B. Reeves, III, W.P. Cropper, Jr., Q. R. Araujo. 2007. Chemical diversity - Highlighting a species richness and ecosystem function disconnect. Oikos 116:1831-1840. doi:10.1111/j.2007.0030-1299.15853.x