Laura Leites
Research Professor of Quantitative Forest Ecology
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0312 Forest Resources
University Park, PA - lpl3@psu.edu
- 814-865-4244
Research Summary
Adaptation to climate in forest trees, seed movement under a changing climate, forest ecosystem modeling.
Huck Graduate Students
Huck Affiliations
Most Recent Publications
Forest tree species adaptation to climate across biomes: Building on the legacy of ecological genetics to anticipate responses to climate change
Laura Leites, Marta Benito Garzón, 2023, Global Change Biology on p. 4711-4730
Climate-Smart Seed Sourcing for Resilient Pennsylvania Forests.
Laura Leites, Carolyn Pike, Allyson Muth, 2023, on p. 16 p.
A haplotype-resolved chromosome-scale genome for Quercus rubra L. provides insights into the genetics of adaptive traits for red oak species
Beant Kapoor, Jerry Jenkins, Jeremy Schmutz, Tatyana Zhebentyayeva, Carsten Kuelheim, Mark Coggeshall, Chris Heim, Jesse R. Lasky, Laura Leites, Nurul Islam-Faridi, Jeanne Romero-Severson, Victoria L. DeLeo, Sarah M. Lucas, Desanka Lazic, Oliver Gailing, John Carlson, Margaret Staton, 2023, G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics
Seeing past the green: Structure, composition, and biomass differences in high graded and silviculture-managed forests of similar stand density
Alexander Curtze, Allyson B. Muth, Jeffery Larkin, Laura P. Leites, 2022, Forest Ecology and Management on p. 120598
Decision Support Tools to Inform the Rehabilitation and Management of High Graded Forests
Alexander Curtze, Allyson B. Muth, Jeffery Larkin, Laura P. Leites, 2022, Journal of Forestry on p. 527-542
Modeling Advance Oak Reproduction at Landscape Scale: The Relative Importance of Abiotic and Biotic Factors
Joshua Rittenhouse, Laura P. Leites, 2022, Forest Science on p. 353-363
Ecological analysis of intraspecific variability of eastern white pine (Pinus strobus) under climate change by combining provenance and demographic data
Anantha Prasad, Laura Leites, 2022, Landscape Ecology on p. 109-128
Cost implications of cluster plot design choices for precise estimation of forest attributes in landscapes and forests of varying heterogeneity
Andrew J. Lister, Laura P. Leites, 2022, Canadian Journal of Forest Research on p. 188-200
Uncertainty in the modelled mortality of two tree species (Fraxinus) under novel climatic regimes
Kim C. Steiner, Lake E. Graboski, Jennifer L. Berkebile, Songlin Fei, Laura P. Leites, 2021, Diversity and Distributions on p. 1449-1461
Ecological genetics of Juglans nigra: Differences in early growth patterns of natural populations
Lauren Onofrio, Gary Hawley, Laura P. Leites, 2021, Ecology and Evolution on p. 7399-7410
Most-Cited Papers
Forest tree species adaptation to climate across biomes: Building on the legacy of ecological genetics to anticipate responses to climate change
Laura Leites, Marta Benito Garzón, 2023, Global Change Biology on p. 4711-4730
Role of population genetics in guiding ecological responses to climate
Gerald E. Rehfeldt, Laura P. Leites, Dennis G. Joyce, Aaron R. Weiskittel, 2018, Global Change Biology on p. 858-868
New Seed-Collection Zones for the Eastern United States: The Eastern Seed Zone Forum
Carolyn Pike, Kevin M. Potter, Paul Berrang, Barbara Crane, Joanne Baggs, Laura Leites, Tom Luther, 2020, Journal of Forestry on p. 444-451
Adaptation to climate in five eastern North America broadleaf deciduous species: Growth clines and evidence of the growth-cold tolerance trade-off
Laura P. Leites, Gerald E. Rehfeldt, Kim C. Steiner, 2019, Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics on p. 64-72
Patchy landscapes support more plant diversity and ecosystem services than wood grasslands in Mediterranean silvopastoral agroforestry systems
Simonetta Bagella, Maria Carmela Caria, Giovanna Seddaiu, Laura Leites, Pier Paolo Roggero, 2020, Agricultural Systems
A haplotype-resolved chromosome-scale genome for Quercus rubra L. provides insights into the genetics of adaptive traits for red oak species
Beant Kapoor, Jerry Jenkins, Jeremy Schmutz, Tatyana Zhebentyayeva, Carsten Kuelheim, Mark Coggeshall, Chris Heim, Jesse R. Lasky, Laura Leites, Nurul Islam-Faridi, Jeanne Romero-Severson, Victoria L. DeLeo, Sarah M. Lucas, Desanka Lazic, Oliver Gailing, John Carlson, Margaret Staton, 2023, G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics
Modeling and simulation of tree spatial patterns in an oak-hickory forest with a modular, hierarchical spatial point process framework
Andrew J. Lister, Laura P. Leites, 2018, Ecological Modelling on p. 37-45
Ecological analysis of intraspecific variability of eastern white pine (Pinus strobus) under climate change by combining provenance and demographic data
Anantha Prasad, Laura Leites, 2022, Landscape Ecology on p. 109-128
Seeing past the green: Structure, composition, and biomass differences in high graded and silviculture-managed forests of similar stand density
Alexander Curtze, Allyson B. Muth, Jeffery Larkin, Laura P. Leites, 2022, Forest Ecology and Management on p. 120598
Uncertainty in the modelled mortality of two tree species (Fraxinus) under novel climatic regimes
Kim C. Steiner, Lake E. Graboski, Jennifer L. Berkebile, Songlin Fei, Laura P. Leites, 2021, Diversity and Distributions on p. 1449-1461
News Articles Featuring Laura Leites
Jul 24, 2025
Huck Students impress at Forest Genetics conference
Penn State grad students took the Forest Genetics 2025 conference by storm, winning more than half of the poster and presentation awards available. Three Huck trainees were among those recognized.
Full Article
Feb 14, 2025
Growing people and forests: The power of undergraduate research
Mont Alto program coordinator partners with former mentor to support undergraduate research opportunities.
Full Article
Jan 29, 2024
Six researchers recognized with Institute of Energy and the Environment Awards
Six Penn State researchers were recognized with Institute of Energy and the Environment’s (IEE) Research Awards at the IEE reception on Jan. 18 at the Hintz Family Alumni Center
Full Article
Oct 16, 2023
Grants awarded to Penn State faculty for tropical ecosystems research in Belize
Three projects have been awarded seed grants as part of the Penn State-Belize Foundation for Research and Environmental Education Research and Education Initiative to develop agroforestry systems .
Full Article
Oct 28, 2022
201 promoted teaching, research and clinical faculty celebrated at event
University leaders praised the critical role of faculty with teaching, research and clinical appointments at an event that celebrated their recent promotions with their families and supporters. Speaking at the celebration, Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi said the University’s core missions would not be possible without non-tenure-line faculty.
Full Article
Aug 25, 2020
Penn State black walnut trial turns 40, now ideal climate-change experiment
Visitors to Penn State’s University Park campus often arrive with a short list of attractions they want to see. Among the most popular are the Nittany Lion Shrine, the Berkey Creamery and The Arboretum at Penn State. However, few are aware of the Black Walnut Provenance Study, let alone care to visit it.
Full Article