Climate Change and Seed Transfer Research
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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. |
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Developing and testing tools for economically measuring wood density, an
important commercial trait for tree breeding.
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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.
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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.
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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:
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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.
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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.
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Inland Empire Tree Improvement Cooperative Annual Meeting in Idaho, February
2008. O’Neill, G.A. Climate change and reforestation.
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Forest Genetics Ontario. O’Neill, G.A. Brave new breeding zones.
Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. November 14-15, 2007.
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Alberta Forest Products
Association. O’Neill, G.A. Adapting silviculture to address climate
change. Jasper, Alberta, September 27-29, 2006.
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Forest Nursery Association of BC. O’Neill, G.A. Seed transfer and climate
change. Penticton, B.C. September 18-20, 2006.
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Western Forest Genetics Association. O’Neill, G.A. A brief history of
genecology. Anchorage, Alaska. June 26-29, 2006.
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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.
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Tree Seed Centre. O’Neill, G.A. Implications of climate change for the
tree seed stakeholders. Surrey, B.C. March 22, 2006.
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. 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.
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
March 2008 |
