Linking genetic variability with ecological responses to environmental changes: forest trees as model systems (LinkTree) BiodivERsA ERANET

Transcription

1 Linking genetic variability with ecological responses to environmental changes: forest trees as model systems (LinkTree) BiodivERsA ERANET Consortium of seven partners from Spain (CIFOR-INIA & CIDE-CSIC), Italy (CNR- Firenze), France (INRA-BIOGECO & INRA-URFM), Germany (Philipps-University of Marburg) and Sweden (Uppsala University), with 35 researchers and a total project cost of 1,956,790 The researchers The forest 1

2 Very extensive stakeholders engagement and dissemination program 2

3 To migrate Plas-city IPCC 2007 report To adapt locally (standing genetic variation) Underestimating the potential for rapid adaptation could lead to unnecessary if not damageable recommendations, for example the use of non-native provenances or species for restoration plantations. Overestimating this process would be equally problematic, if no mitigating measures are taken and tree populations decline massively and prove unable to regenerate. 3

4 Our goals: i) To identify genes of ecological importance related to forest trees responses to climate change, targeting traits such as drought, fire and cold tolerance. This sequencing effort will increase our understanding of the role of biodiversity (at the intraspecific scale) in ecosystem functioning and management. ii) To provide detailed studies of the effects of natural selection on allelic polymorphism at candidate genes, quantitative genetic parameters for adaptive traits (obtained from progeny testing) and phenotypes (measured in the field) in model forest systems and how standing genetic variation in a forest may confront rapid environmental change. iii) To evaluate the putative impact of environmental change on trees and forests at the stand level. To achieve this objective, modeling platforms parameterized for the specific model forests under study will be developed and statistical models based on stand processes (natural regeneration, gene flow, etc) will be constructed. These models will be able to simulate genetic and biodiversity changes under future scenarios, and provide valuable insights to ecosystem dynamics. 4

5 From the wide range to the local scale 5

6 Taking advantage of genomic tools a) Molecular Inversion Probe; b) Golden Gate Assay Syvänen 2005 Nature Genetics 6

7 A general approach based on model forests and intraspecific variation CG sequencing Common gardens Modeling 7

8 Population genomics The simultaneous study of numerous loci or genome regions to better understand the roles of evolutionary processes that influence variation across genomes or populations (Luikart et al Nature Reviews Genetics ) 8

9 Modeling platforms (1/2) CAPSIS METAPOP First, integration and adaptation (to include relationship between phenotype and demography) of current models (work started in Evoltree) 9

10 Modeling platforms (2/2) Then, (i) use quantitative estimates of selection acquired in the project to parameterize our model; (ii) implement realistic climate change scenarios, by modelling the impact of temporal heterogeneity in environmental conditions on demographic rates and evolvability of traits; and (iii) run simulations in a sensitivity analysis framework in order to gauge the quantitative impact of selection, plasticity, migration and species life history traits on the evolutionary dynamics of tree populations under environmental change. 10

11 Stakeholder Group Scientific: the evolutionary biology, genetics, genomics and ecology research communities. Management: nature conservationists (e.g., WWF, IUCN) and national forest managers. Policy: National and European policy makers through MCPFE and National Ministries. General public and media. Workshops and training courses MSc and PhD programs in Universities from Spain, France, Italy, Germany and Sweden Newsletter (annual and special numbers) 11

12 In collaboration with international and national agencies European Forestry Institute Second Evoltree Stakeholder Group Meeting from September 16th - 17th, 2009 Eisenstadt in Austria. EFIMED progress meeting and Scientific seminar on Knowledge base management of Mediterranean forests under climate driven risks: the ways ahead from 14th - 16th, 2010 Antalya in Turkey. 12

13 In the long-term Scientific community a deeper understanding of the importance of tree genetic diversity for the sustainability of forest ecosystems and how this variation i) is structured in nature and ii) will respond to environmental change. Forest managers, nature conservationists and policy makers indicators and/or guidelines to manage forest ecosystems and resources that are under pressure from global change and effective tools for adaptive diversity monitoring using high-throughput genotyping techniques. Guidelines for the choice of appropriate minimum requirements to select forest ecosystems and stands that will be recognized and managed as conservation units at the European scale 13

14 Thank you for your attention Sierra Nevada National Park (Spain), home to the southernmost population of Scots pine 14