Laura Leites

Research Professor of Quantitative Forest Ecology

Laura Leites

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

Climate-Smart Seed Sourcing for Resilient Pennsylvania Forests.

Laura Leites, Carolyn Pike, Allyson Muth, 2023, on p. 16 p.

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

Alexander Curtze, Allyson B. Muth, Jeffery Larkin, Laura P. Leites, 2022, Forest Ecology and Management on p. 120598

Alexander Curtze, Allyson B. Muth, Jeffery Larkin, Laura P. Leites, 2022, Journal of Forestry on p. 527-542

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

Kim C. Steiner, Lake E. Graboski, Jennifer L. Berkebile, Songlin Fei, Laura P. Leites, 2021, Diversity and Distributions on p. 1449-1461

Lauren Onofrio, Gary Hawley, Laura P. Leites, 2021, Ecology and Evolution on p. 7399-7410

Most-Cited Papers

Carolyn Pike, Kevin M. Potter, Paul Berrang, Barbara Crane, Joanne Baggs, Laura Leites, Tom Luther, 2020, Journal of Forestry on p. 444-451

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

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

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

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

Kim C. Steiner, Lake E. Graboski, Jennifer L. Berkebile, Songlin Fei, Laura P. Leites, 2021, Diversity and Distributions on p. 1449-1461

Anthony J. Campbell, Kim C. Steiner, James J. Finley, Laura Leites, 2015, Forest Science on p. 874-881

News Articles Featuring Laura Leites

Growing people and forests: The power of undergraduate research

Mont Alto program coordinator partners with former mentor to support undergraduate research opportunities.

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

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 .

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.

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.