Climate Change and Seed Transfer Research

Overview

The growth, form, wood quality, and health of British Columbia's managed forests are dependent on tree seedlings being adapted to the range of climates present at their planting location. British Columbia’s seed transfer system ensures that plantations receive seedlots adapted to their climatic environment and is described in the Chief Forester’s Standards (CFS) for Seed Use. 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 (GISs), 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 and of seedlots 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.Top

Research Highlights

  • 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.
  • Refining reforestation strategies to ensure that our forests are well adapted to future climates, and also to capitalize on potential climate changes. Strategies being explored include: identifying optimum seed migration distances and assessing the potential for multi-seedlot mixes at the cutblock and landscape level to increase the adaptive diversity in plantation forestry.
  • 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.Top

Extension and Consultations

  • 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.Top

Recent Publications

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., 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. 

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.

Ministry Contacts

Greg O’Neill, Research Scientist (Kalamalka)
Michael Carlson, Research Scientist (Kalamalka)
Vicky Berger, Research Technician (Kalamalka)
Nicholas Ukrainetz, 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 May 2009