78 research outputs found
Marginal/peripheral populations of forest tree species and their conservation status: report for Atlantic region
This report is a synthesis of information from the national reports, prepared as part of the COST Action FP1202 Strengthening conservation: a key issue for adaptation of marginal/peripheral populations of forest trees to climate change in Europe (MaPFGR). The individual national reports can be found as part of the supplemental data to the COST action. The data compiled in this report indicate that the Atlantic area has sufficient resources in terms of knowledge and capacity to assess the potential impact of climate change on marginal and peripheral (MaP) sites within the area. Maps of vegetation, soil, climate and climatic predictions are publicly available for most countries and often are of high quality and resolution. These can be utilized to help identify MaP sites and populations in the Atlantic area. In addition, some species have been characterized genetically and the genetic data can also be utilized to identify and characterize sites. However, genetic data is not universally available and in particular may be absent for peripheral sites. There are many data sources for phenotypic traits, such as data from provenance trials but these have not been assessed for MaP populations. There may not be sufficient legislative capacity for the conservation of MaP populations in comparison to, for example, annex habitats of the EU Habitats Directive. Although some of the MaP sites lie within Natura 2000 boundaries, many are not in protected areas. If MaP populations are not characterized and conserved there is a risk of losing traits that may be of potential in adaptation to climate change. A detailed spatial analysis incorporating all of the data is needed to give a comprehensive assessment of the potential threats to MaP populations in this area
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Ecology, growth and management of black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.), a nonânative species integrated into European forests
Black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.), a species native to the eastern North America, was introduced to Europe probably in 1601 and currently extends over 2.3âĂâ106 ha. It has become naturalized in all sub-Mediterranean and temperate regions rivaling Populus spp. as the second most planted broadleaved tree species worldwide after Eucalyptus spp. This wide-spreading planting is because black locust is an important multipurpose species, producing wood, fodder, and a source of honey as well as bio-oil and biomass. It is also important for carbon sequestration, soil stabilization and re-vegetation of landfills, mining areas and wastelands, in biotherapy and landscaping. In Europe, black locust is drought tolerant so grows in areas with annual precipitation as low as 500â550 mm. It tolerates dry, nutrient poor soils but grows best on deep, nutrient-rich, well-drained soils. It is a fast-growing tree and the height, diameter and volume growth peak before the age of 20. It mostly regenerates vegetatively by root suckers under a simple coppice system, which is considered the most cost-effective management system. It also regenerates, but less frequently, by stool sprouts. Its early silviculture in production forests includes release cutting to promote root suckers rather than stool shoots, and cleaning-respacing to remove low-quality stems, reduce the number of shoots per stool, and adjust spacing between root suckers. In addition, early, moderate and frequent thinning as well as limited pruning are carried out focusing on crop trees. The species is regarded as invasive in several European countries and its range here is expected to expand under predicted climate changes
Adaptive and plastic responses of Quercus petraea populations to climate across Europe
How temperate forests will respond to climate change is uncertain; projections range from severe decline to increased growth. We conducted field tests of sessile oak (Quercus petraea), a widespread keystone European forest tree species, including more than 150,000 trees sourced from 116 geographically diverse populations. The tests were planted on 23 field sites in six European countries, in order to expose them to a wide range of climates, including sites reflecting future warmer and drier climates. By assessing tree height and survival, our objectives were twofold: (1) to identify the source of differential population responses to climate (genetic differentiation due to past divergent climatic selection versus plastic responses to ongoing climate change), (2) to explore which climatic variables (temperature or precipitation) trigger the population responses. Tree growth and survival were modeled for contemporary climate and then projected using data from four regional climate models for years 2071-2100, using two greenhouse gas concentration trajectory scenarios each. Overall results indicated a moderate response of tree height and survival to climate variation, with changes in dryness (either annual or during the growing season) explaining the major part of the response. Whilst, on average, populations exhibited local adaptation, there was significant clinal population differentiation for height growth with winter temperature at the site of origin. The most moderate climate model (HIRHAM5-EC; rcp4.5) predicted minor decreases in height and survival, whilst the most extreme model (CCLM4-GEM2-ES; rcp8.5) predicted large decreases in survival and growth for southern and southeastern edge populations. Other non-marginal populations with continental climates were predicted to be severely and negatively affected, while populations at the contemporary northern limit (colder and humid maritime regions) will probably not show large changes in growth and survival in response to climate change
Comment choisir les espÚces et provenances à expérimenter, pour l'avenir ?
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Comment les dispositifs Ăźlots d'avenir peuvent faciliter les processus Ă©volutifs ?
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More than a century of human impact on gene flows of French mountain pines rnd fir trees
Ă la fin du XIXe siĂšcle, pour reconstituer les forĂȘts alors en ruine, de considĂ©rables transferts de graines (donc de gĂšnes) ont eu lieu Ă partir de sĂ©cheries ou d'achats Ă l'Ă©tranger. Les archives d'une sĂ©cherie des PyrĂ©nĂ©es-Orientales ayant, Ă cette Ă©poque, traitĂ© le Pin Ă crochets de Cerdagne et le Sapin de l'Aude montrent que ces flux ont Ă©tĂ© tels qu'ils pourraient dĂ©former la diversitĂ© gĂ©nĂ©tique des populations des sites d'accueil. Elles montrent surtout que nombre de Sapins actuellement dans le Massif central ou en Normandie sont d'origine audoise, ce qui conforte les analyses de variabilitĂ© gĂ©nĂ©tique faites par ailleurs. De mĂȘme, une trĂšs forte proportion des Pins Ă crochets prĂ©sents dans les Alpes du Sud est de provenance pyrĂ©nĂ©o-orientale
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