ISSE Staff
Jack Ranney
Research Ecologist
Office Phone: (865) 974-3938
Email: jwranney@utk.edu
Ph.D., Systems Ecology, University of Tennessee
Master of Landscape Architecture, North Carolina State University.
B.S., Forestry, North Carolina State University
Dr. Ranney’s principle role as ecologist is to organize initiatives and multidisciplinary teams
across campus, at times partnering with other institutions, to address various ecological and resource
management needs across Tennessee and the Southern Appalachian region. Dr. Ranney also serves as an
adjunct professor in UT’s forestry, wildlife and fisheries department and coordinates the Southern
Appalachian Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU), which is based in the ecology and evolutionary
biology department. He also leads initiatives in the Southern Appalachian Man and Biosphere Cooperative
on native and invasive species and serves as principal investigator on numerous ISSE and CESU research
projects.
Dr. Ranney’s professional specialties include invasive plants, ecological health, aesthetics and ecology,
landscape ecology, resource management, and biomass energy. He has managed such projects as "Native
Habitat Landscaping at Saturn Corporation" and "Construction Site Sediment Retention Problems
and Small Stream Sustainability in East Tennessee." His projects often involve implementing research
ideas, especially along riparian corridors. Currently, he is monitoring invasive plants, assisting the
National Park Service in selecting ecological health indicators, evaluating U.S. natural landmarks, evaluating
biomass energy opportunities in Tennessee, and training volunteers to monitor ecological health.
Dr. Ranney has published some 100 technical reports, professional meeting proceedings, book chapters,
and articles for peer-reviewed journals, focusing on biomass energy, environment, and economics. He is
a member of the Society of American Foresters and the American Society of Landscape Architects.
Selected Publications
- J. W. Ranney and R. D. Perlack, "Biomass Supply Management for Advanced Energy Applications in Developing Countries," Proceedings of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, December 1995.
- J. W. Ranney and L. K. Mann, "Environmental Considerations in Energy Crop Production," Biomass and Bioenergy 6(3), 1994.