Landscape Genomics: Genetic Tools to Inform Seed Source Decisions
Nicholas Wheeler, Molecular Tree Breeding Services, Centralia, WA
Assisted migration offers a means to maintain forest productivity and
ecological function by expediting species movements. Identifying which
seed sources to move to optimize goals will not be trivial task. With
respect to reforestation, decisions regarding seed source have typically
relied on natural seeding in, seed zone collections, or in special
cases, information gleamed from common garden or provenance trials.
Neither of the first two methods is guaranteed to produce a standing
crop adapted to the future environment. Good provenance trials can
significantly improve those chances, but offer a number of fiscal and
logistical hurdles. Genomic studies, conducted at the landscape level,
may potentially offer a suite of complementary, precision tools for
guiding seed source selection assisted migration or other reforestation
needs. This talk outlines the scientific basis of landscape genomics,
reviews results of early studies in the field and discusses potential
applications.
Presentation Video
