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Adaptive Physiology
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An important step in using either wild-stand or genetically selected trees in
reforestation is matching species and seed sources to their most fitting
planting sites. As part of this step, we need to know how various seed sources
are adapted to a range of environmental conditions. An increased risk of
maladaptation (poor survival, growth, or reproduction) might come from planting
fast-growing non-local provenances or from overextending the range of progeny
obtained from seed orchards. If maladaptation occurs soon after planting,
replanting can be done, but if it occurs later in stand development, the costs
associated with the loss can be much greater.
Adaptive traits rely on physiological mechanisms such as photosynthesis, cold
acclimation, bud activity, and synthesis of protective compounds, and have a
recognizable ecological importance. Identifying physiological traits that
improve adaptive fitness will give more information than measurements of
survival and growth alone. Also, understanding the environmental limits of
genetically selected and wild-stand seedlings will help when delineating
breeding and planting zones, and when developing seed transfer guidelines.
The Adaptive Physiology research program helps forest geneticists and forest
nurseries produce stress-resistant trees with high growth potential by testing
genetic variation in frost hardiness, photosynthetic potential, and phenology,
as well as heat, drought, and other stress tolerances. We test seedlings and
young trees growing in forest nurseries and in planted field test sites. Our
goal is to help maximize field performance of planted seedlings while minimizing
the risk of maladaptation, and conducting research to improve our understanding
of how tree seedlings from a wide range of populations (from both within and
outside British Columbia)
will adapt to the effects of
climate change.
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Genecology: measured response to drought and frost of 150 seed sources of
interior spruce from British Columbia planted in a common garden; described
patterns of genetic variation.
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Climate
change: measured late-winter levels of photosynthetic potential in 127
populations of white spruce from across western North America, planted at
two field sites in British Columbia.
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Seedling quality: measured fall frost hardiness of multiple seed sources of
coastal western redcedar, Douglas-fir, and western hemlock to estimate
readiness for overwinter frozen storage; tested frost hardiness at four
temperatures to find the optimal level for storability prediction; measured
seedlings of five conifer species from a common garden test for survival and
growth after cold storage.
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Seedling quality: investigated storability of identical seedlots of coastal
Douglas-fir, coastal western redcedar, and western hemlock sown at one
northern and two south-coastal nurseries. The 7,500 seedlings were then
planted at a common site and assessed at the end of the growing season for
injury, height growth, and survival. These measures of tree performance were
examined in relation to the frost hardiness of the seedlings when they were
lifted. The research, conducted for the Nursery Services Section of BC
Timber Sales, has uncovered several significant factors affecting the
adaptability and performance of nursery-grown seedlings.
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Nursery Services, Ministry
of Forests and Range: provided information on stock handling,
frost-hardiness, and winter damage.
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Forest nurseries
(commercial): provided advice and information on seedling growing
conditions, frost hardiness testing, and storability testing.
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Optisciences Corporation:
provided research summaries and links to publications to assist other
researchers using fluorometers.
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Oregon State University:
presented information on using chlorophyll fluorescence in stress testing in
conifers.
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University of Victoria:
assisted with methods and measurements of frost hardiness.
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Washington Department of
Natural Resources: provided information on testing protocols for frost
hardiness using chlorophyll fluorescence.
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Other researchers in
universities and industry: provided information about methods for testing
stress resistance and photosynthetic capacity in tree seedlings using
chlorophyll fluorescence.
L'Hirondelle, S.J., D.G. Simpson, and W.D. Binder. 2006. Overwinter
storability of conifer planting stock: Operational testing of fall frost
hardiness. New Forests 32: 307–321.
L'Hirondelle, S.J., D.G. Simpson, and W.D. Binder. 2006.
Predicting planting
stock quality. B.C. Min. For. Range, Res. Br., Victoria, B.C.
http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hfd/pubs/Docs/P/P078.htm
L'Hirondelle, S.J., D.G. Simpson, and W.D. Binder. 2007. Chlorophyll
fluorescence, root growth potential, and stomatal conductance as estimates of
field performance potential in conifer seedlings. New Forests 34: 235–251.
Sylvia L’Hirondelle, Research Scientist
Ministry contact: Alvin Yanchuk
Please direct questions regarding webpage to For.Prodres@gov.bc.ca
Updated June 2009 |
