Northern Research Station

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Forest Disturbance Processes

Effects of Climate Change on the Productivity and Ecological Genetics of White Pine

Research Issue

[photo:] White pine provenance trial in Manistique, Michigan.Millions of trees are distributed from Wisconsin state forest nurseries each year. The success of such regeneration programs depends upon the development of adaptation strategies for enhanced ecosystem sustainability under changing climates. There is a need to identify species and seed sources with enhanced adaptation to climate change pressures to ensure biologically and economically sustainable reforestation, afforestation, and gene conservation.

Our Research

We seek to understand 1) shifts in rank and magnitude of seed source productivity over time to enhance forest health and biodiversity as climatic stresses increase and 2) establishment and development potential of seed sources with elevated viability and resiliency under new climate regimes. To do so, we are combining densitometry and growth data with quantitative genetic analyses to examine genotypic variability in productivity and adaptation potential of 60-year-old white pine growing as far west as northern Minnesota and eastward to Orono, Maine.

Expected Outcomes

We will select specific species and seed sources for varying competition and climate conditions, based on climate-induced stresses and forces. We expect to acquire information for resource managers, land management agencies, and landowners describing species and seed source selection that enhances ecosystem health and sustainability under climate change.

Research Results

Zalesny, R.S., Jr.; Headlee, W.L. 2014. Comparing aboveground, stand-level carbon storage potential of intensively-managed poplar with plantation-grown eastern white pine in the North Central United States. In: International Poplar Symposium VI; July 20-23, 2014; Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Zalesny, R.S., Jr.; Headlee, W.L. 2014. Developing woody crops for the enhancement of ecosystem services under changing climates in the North Central United States. In: International Symposium on Tree Breeding Strategies to Cope with Climate Change; September 15-19, 2014; Suwon, Republic of Korea.

Zalesny, R.S., Jr.; Headlee, W.L.; Bauer, E.O.; Birr, B.A.; Hall, R.B.; Parker, B.; Wiese, A.H. 2014. Contrasting ecosystem services of hybrid poplar and white pine in the upper-Midwest, USA. In: 10th Biennial Conference of the Short Rotation Woody Crops Operations Working Group; July 17-19, 2014; Seattle, WA, USA.

Zalesny, R.S., Jr.; Bauer, E.O.; Birr, B.A.; Brissette, J.; Colombo, S.; Froese, R.E.; Groom, L.; Hall, R.B.; Headlee WL, et al. 2012. Assessing the environmental sustainability of plantation Populus and Pinus in North America. In: 9th Biennial Conference of the Short Rotation Woody Crops Operations Group; November 5-8, 2012; Oak Ridge, TN, USA. pp 33-34.

Zalesny, R.S., Jr.; Bauer, E.O.; Birr, B.A.; Brissette, J.; Colombo, S.; et al. 2012. Ecosystem services associated with purpose-grown Populus and Pinus in North America. In: 9th Conference of the International Phytotechnology Society: Phytotechnologies – Plant-based Strategies to Clean Water, Soil, Air and Provide Ecosystem Services; September 11-14, 2012; Hasselt, University, Diepenbeek, Belgium.

Research Participants

Principal Investigators

  • Ronald S. Zalesny, Jr., US Forest Service Northern Research Station- Team Leader, Research Plant Geneticist
  • Sophan Chhin, Michigan State University, Department of Forestry, East Lansing, MI
  • Steve Colombo, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Ontario Forest Research Institute, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
  • Pengxin Lu, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Ontario Forest Research Institute, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
  • Bill Parker, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Ontario Forest Research Institute, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
  • John Brissette, US Forest Service Northern Research Station- Assistant Director (Research)

Research Partner

  • Les Groom, US Forest Service Southern Research Station, Utilization of Southern Forest Resources, Pineville, LA

Last Modified: October 3, 2016