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Potential for evolutionary responses to climate change - evidence from tree populations
Florian J Alberto1, Sally N Aitken, Ricardo Alía
1Department of Biology and Biocenter Oulu, University of Oulu, FIN-90014, Oulu, Finland.
Global Change Biology
|March 19, 2013
Summary
Forest trees exhibit local adaptation to climate change through evolved quantitative traits. This adaptation is common, highlighting the need for further research into their evolutionary potential and genomic resources for climate change resilience.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Forestry
Background:
- Climate change necessitates evolutionary responses in tree populations.
- Local adaptation in forest trees is crucial for tracking environmental shifts.
- Common garden experiments reveal adaptive differentiation in quantitative traits.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the information needed for assessing tree population adaptive potential to climate change.
- To review genetic models of selection response and the genetic basis of adaptation-related traits.
- To identify research gaps, particularly for understudied species and range margins.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 250 years of common garden experiment data.
- Studying 19 adaptation-related quantitative traits across 59 tree species.
- Reviewing genetic models and existing genomic resources.
Main Results:
- Widespread local adaptation and adaptive differentiation in quantitative traits observed in most forest trees.
- Genetic differentiation between populations (90%) and clinal variation (78%) are common.
- Significant need for new experiments and enhanced genomic information for predictive modeling.
Conclusions:
- Forest trees commonly exhibit local adaptation, essential for responding to climate change.
- Further research, including new experiments and genomic data, is vital for predicting adaptive responses.
- Optimal adaptive response depends on population size, genetic variability, selection strength, and ecological opportunity.
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