Climate Change and Seed Transfer Research
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Climate Change and Seed Transfer Research
AMAT - Assisted
Migration Adaption Trial
Provenance Research - Conifers
Provenance Research - Broadleaves
The growth, form, wood quality,
and health of British Columbia's managed forests depend on tree
seedlings being adapted to the range of climates at their planting
location. British Columbia’s seed transfer system ensures that seedlots
permitted for plantations are adapted to their climatic environment as
described in the
Chief
Forester’s Standards (CFS) for Seed Use.
Provenance trials have historically provided critical information
about adaptation, and are also being used to evaluate the impacts of
climate change on tree growth and health. Scientists are increasingly
concerned about
climate change and predict major changes in climate in the next
50–100 years. The ability to understand the implications of potential
future climate scenarios and assess risk is critical to ensuring that
British Columbia’s planted forests will be adapted throughout their
rotation.
Forest
geneticists in the Climate Change and Seed Transfer research area are seeking
new tools and approaches to deal with the threats posed
by climate change. The field of genecology—the study of the relationship between
patterns of adaptive genetic variation and ecological variation—and the
application of new tools, such as Geographical Information Systems (GIS),
fine-scale climate models, and new analytical techniques are improving our
understanding of the relationship between future climate change scenarios and
adaptation in tree breeding programs. Researchers are exploring
opportunities to mitigate (and reverse, in some locations) negative impacts on
forest health and productivity by better matching seedlot and site climates,
facilitating migration of seedlots and species on a landscape, and implementing
response function–based seed transfer systems.
The Climate Change and Seed Transfer research program has provided substantial
support to revising and implementing the
Chief Forester’s
Standards (CFS) for Seed Use,
representing a consolidation of current knowledge and research results. The
program also supports the
Future Forest Ecosystems
Initiative
and
development of the
Gene Resource
Conservation and Management Strategy, while
contributing to improving industry competitiveness.
- AMAT - Assisted Migration Adaptation
Trial - Developing a multi-species adaptation trial to better understand Class A seedlot productivity responses across a wide climatic and latitudinal range
(48 climate regions in British Columbia and neighbouring states). Results of
these trials will predict which orchard seedlots will be most productive for
each site under future climate projections.
- Established a large trial (18 test sites) of
improved and natural-stand seedlots of interior spruce. Data from this trial
will assist in refining transfer guidelines for class A and B interior
spruce seed (3-year height data were collected this year and a preliminary
analysis was completed.
- Developing the first province-wide adaptive map for
spruce, using data collected from an interior spruce provenance trial (four
sites; 150 populations from western North America). This research will help
standardize the system of breeding values for spruce in British Columbia,
while providing insight into the distribution of adaptive variation of
spruce across the interior.
- Mapped the spatial distribution and relationship of
coastal Douglas-fir and lodgepole pine wood quality with climate to evaluate
potential impacts of climate change on Douglas-fir wood quality and its
distribution, a key component of forest value.
- Re-measured the Illingworth lodgepole pine
provenance tests (43 sites; 32 years old) in 2005. These tests provide
invaluable long-term information on a range of issues related to lodgepole
pine gene management, from seed transfer to seed performance under different
climates.
- Published the results of two studies to account for
population variability and non-climatic effects on growth response
functions. This research will improve our ability to accurately predict
climate change impacts when making decisions about migrating seed. Analysis
is currently under way to develop dynamic site index curves to account for
climate change.
- Developing and testing tools for economically
measuring wood density, an important commercial trait for tree breeding.
- Developed a universal tree seed transfer function
derived from site climate and provenance climate, using data available from
lodgepole pine provenance trials.
- Evaluating options for a climate-based tree seed
transfer system to replace the current geographic-based system and to
comprehensively incorporate assisted migration. Using climate criteria for
seed deployment will substantially improve adaptation of planted trees,
thereby maximizing growth and pest resistance.
-
Future Forest
Ecosystems Initiative, Technical Advisor—Ministry initiative to
develop a provincial strategy to ensure that British Columbia’s forests are
resilient in the face of climate change. Activities include improving our
understanding of future climate scenarios and their impacts on genetic
diversity, adaptation of British Columbia’s planted forests, and ecosystem
resilience.
- Gene Conservation Technical Advisory Committee,
Forest Genetics Council of B.C.—A
steering committee that makes business, funding, and management decisions
related to the Forest Investment Account component of Council funding.
- Genetic Resource Management Decision System Strategy,
Technical Advisor—A committee of Ministry of Forests and Range staff
helping guide the formulation of a Gene Resource Management strategy for the
Tree Improvement Branch.
Forest geneticists participate in a variety of conferences and
extension activities, including:
- Field tours and presentations on
The impacts and opportunities of climate change to forestry to
university and college students including: Forestry Technician and Resource
Management Programs-BCIT; Biology students-Okanagan College, Silviculture
class; and Ecosystem Science and Management Department-UNBC.
- Southern and Northern
Silviculture Committee Meetings. O’Neill, G.A. Migration of tree seed
reduces climate change impacts to plantations. Naramata, April 2007 and
Prince George, January 2008.
- Inland Empire Tree Improvement
Cooperative Annual Meeting in Idaho, February 2008. O’Neill, G.A.
Climate change and reforestation.
- Forest Genetics Ontario.
O’Neill, G.A. Brave new breeding zones. Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.
November 14-15, 2007.
- Alberta Forest Products
Association. O’Neill, G.A. Adapting silviculture to address climate
change. Jasper, Alberta, September 27-29, 2006.
- Forest Nursery Association of
BC. O’Neill, G.A. Seed transfer and climate change. Penticton, B.C.
September 18-20, 2006.
- Western Forest Genetics
Association. O’Neill, G.A. A brief history of genecology.
Anchorage, Alaska. June 26-29, 2006.
- Northwest Tree Improvement
community. O’Neill, G.A. Strategies and research to address climate
change in BC. Climate change adaptation strategies workshop for
Pacific. Field tour and presentations. Harrison Hot Springs, B.C. August
13-14, 2007.
- Tree Seed Centre. O’Neill, G.A.
Implications of climate change for the tree seed stakeholders.
Surrey, B.C. March 22, 2006.
Johnston, M., S. Webber, T. Williamson, K. Hirsch, and G.A.
O'Neill. 12-15 May 2009. Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation Strategies for
the Forest Sector in Canada. In 2nd Climate Change Technology Conference, 2009,
Hamilton, ON. Engineering Institute of Canada
McKenney, D.W., J.H. Pedlar, and
G.A. O'Neill. 2009. Seed zones. Forestry Chronicle 85: 258-266.
Ukrainetz, N.K. and G.A. O'Neill. 2009. Adapting to
adaptation: assisted migration addresses climate change.
BC Forest Professional
16: 16-17. [pdf]
Knox, R. 2008. Project grows forests' future. In Vernon Morning Star, pp. 1,
Vernon. [pdf]
O’Neill, G.A., M. Carlson, V. Berger, and N.K. Ukrainetz. 2008. Assisted
Migration Adaptation Trial. TICtalk 9:3-4. [pdf]
O'Neill, G.A., M. Carlson, A. Yanchuk, and V.
Berger. [2008]. Multi-species adaptation trial to guide future seedlot
selection. TICtalk 8. In press.
O'Neill, G.A., A. Hamann and T. Wang, [2008].
Accounting for population variation improves estimates of climate change impacts
on species' growth and distribution. J. Appl. Ecol. Submitted.
O'Neill, G.A. and N.K. Ukrainetz. 2008. Climate-based seed
transfer. Tree Seed Bulletin 47. Fredericton, NB. Canadian Tree Improvement
Association, Tree Seed Working Group. pp. 8-11.
O'Neill, G.A. 2007. Seed
transfer 101. Canadian tree improvement association: tree seed working group:
news bulletin 46: 4-8.
O'Neill, G.A. and N. Ukrainetz.
2008. Climate-based Seed Transfer. Tree Seed Bulletin. 47: 8-12.
O'Neill, G.A., A. Hamann, and T. Wang. 2008. Accounting for population variation
improves estimates of climate change impacts on species' growth and
distribution. J. Appl. Ecol. 45(4): 1040-1049.
O'Neill, G.A. 2007. Seed transfer 101.
Canadian tree improvement association: tree seed working group: news bulletin
46: 4-8.
O'Neill, G.A., G.D. Nigh, T. Wang and P.K. Ott. 2007. Growth response functions
improved by accounting for nonclimatic site effects. Can. J. For. Res. 37: 2724-2730.
O'Neill, G.A., M. Carlson, V. Berger, and A. Yanchuk. 2007. Responding to
Climate Change: Assisting seedlot migration to maximize adaptation of future
forest plantations. TICtalk. 8(1): 9-12.
O'Neill, G.A., N.K. Ukrainetz, M. Carlson, C.V. Cartwright, B.C. Jaquish, J.N.
King, J. Krakowski, J.H. Russell, M.U. Stoehr, C-Y. Xie, and A.D. Yanchuk. 2008.
Assisted migration to address climate change in
British Columbia: Recommendations for interim seed
transfer standards. B.C. Min. For. Range, Res. Br., Victoria, B.C.
Tech. Rep. 048.
http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hfd/pubs/Docs/Tr/Tr048.htm
Wang, T., A. Hamann, A. Yanchuk, G. A. O'Neill, S.N. and Aitken, 2006. Use of
response functions in selecting lodgepole pine populations for future climates.
Global Change Biol. 12: 2404-2416.
Woods, A. and G.A. O'Neill. 2006. What effects will a changing climate have on
lodgepole pine in British Columbia? In
Proc. 54th Annual Western International
Forest Disease Work Conf., 2006,
Smithers, B.C., Canada.
M.B. Jackson.(editor). U.S.
Dept. of Agric., For. Serv.
Forest Health Protection.
Missula, Muit. pp. 67-76.
Yanchuk, A.D. and G.A. O'Neill. 2006. Seed source selection and deployment to
address adaptation to future climates for interior spruce in western Canada. Final report to the Climate
Change Impacts and Adaptation Directorate Project A644. Res. Br., B.C. Min. For.
Range. Victoria,
B.C. pp. 1-8.
Ying, C.C. and A.D. Yanchuk. 2006. The development of
British Columbia’s tree seed transfer guidelines:
Purpose, concept, methodology, and implementation. For. Ecol. and Manage.
227:1–13.
For a complete list of publications click
here.
Greg O’Neill, Research Scientist (Kalamalka)
Alvin Yanchuk, Manager, Forest Genetics Section (Victoria)
Ministry contact:
Alvin Yanchuk
Please direct questions regarding webpage to For.Prodres@gov.bc.ca
Updated
June 2009 |
