Genetics and Tree Improvement Research - Publications

 
     
 
 
 
The following technical research papers were developed by the Alberta Tree Improvement and Seed Centre (ATISC) to share research information about major trees in Alberta.

Optimal Tree Growth

The information contained in these documents focuses on provenance and progeny research for Alberta conifers, and is intended for educational institutions, foresters and tree breeders. A report on the genetics and growth potential of lodgepole pine in Alberta. A report on the genetics and growth potential of white spruce in Alberta. A report on the need for a seed zone map specifically adapted to shrub species.

Climate Change Adaptation

Climate change presents significant risks as well as opportunities to the health and productivity of forests and sustainability of the forestry industry in Alberta. In parts of Alberta where climate change is projected to cause drought stress, forests will experience higher seedling mortality at the stand establishment stage, lower annual growth, and overall decline in fibre production than in the current climate. Areas that currently have high precipitation but low heat and short growing seasons, a warmer climate presents an opportunity for extending the growing season and increasing fibre production if soil conditions support it. Through choice and use of tree seed, we can manage the risk and take advantage of the opportunities climate change poses. Alberta has many conifer genetics field experiments that were established beginning in the early 1980s to support development of guidelines for seed transfer when undertaking reforestation on public land. Some of these experiments are linked to tree breeding programs that produce seed for reforestation on public land in specific areas of the province. Because these experiments are replicated on many sites across Alberta and differ in their temperature and precipitation, they indirectly simulate tree response to climate change. By analyzing data from these experiments, we can assess the potential impact of climate change and mitigate the risks or take advantage of opportunities climate change poses by developing appropriate seed transfer guidelines.

The documents below are reports from the Tree Species Adaptation Risk Management project. This project was funded by the Climate Change and Emissions Management Corporation (CCEMC) and Alberta Government. It involved climate modeling, analysis of data from existing government and forest company field experiments, and climate change risk assessment for tree breeding regions. While the Alberta Government, University of Alberta and forest companies provided the data and/or coordinated implementation of the project, the interpretation of the results and conclusions are a sole responsibility of the document authors. Contents of these reports have been published in journals (white spruce & lodgepole pine).


 
 
 
 
For more information about the content of this document, contact Devon Belanger.
This information published to the web on March 22, 2016.
Last Reviewed/Revised on May 23, 2017.