Dr. William  J.  Platt  III  is currently working as a Professor  in the Department of Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University , USA. His research interests includes effects of natural and anthropogenic disturbances that are important in the evolutionary ecology and conservation biology of coastal-plain landscapes of the southeastern United States. He is serving as an editorial member and reviewer of several international reputed journals. Dr. William  J.  Platt  III  is the member of many international affiliations. He has successfully completed his Administrative responsibilities. He has authored of many research articles/books related to effects of natural and anthropogenic disturbances that are important in the evolutionary ecology and conservation biology of coastal-plain landscapes of the southeastern United States.

My research is focused on concepts regarding effects of natural and anthropogenic disturbances that are important in the evolutionary ecology and conservation biology of coastal-plain landscapes of the southeastern United States. Long-term studies have been conducted in longleaf and south Florida slash pine savannas, temperate and subtropical hardwood forests, and coastal habitats that transition from salt marshes and estuaries to upland forests and pine savannas. Trees, shrubs and herbs are marked, mapped, and censused regularly in study plots in old-growth forests. These empirical demographic studies, some now conducted for almost four decades, have produced quantitative descriptions of spatial and temporal patterns of the population and community dynamics of these habitats, as well as changes that are associated with global climate change. Hypotheses have been developed regarding effects of disturbances (e.g., fires, hurricanes) on plant populations and communities in the different habitats being studied. Experimental field studies have then been used to test aspects of these hypotheses. For example, study of old-growth longleaf pine populations and groundcover has generated hypotheses regarding the role of pyrogenicity in maintaining conditions conducive for this species (and maintaining, even engineering savannas).