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Updated: Jun 26, 2026

Field Collection and Laboratory Maintenance of Canopy-Forming Giant Kelp to Facilitate Restoration

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Published on: June 7, 2024

Prioritizing Conservation of Trailing-Edge Populations for Future Climate-Resilient Forests.

Nicholas Boyce¹, Andreas Hamann¹, Genevieve Dorrell¹

¹Department of Renewable Resources, Faculty of Agricultural, Life, and Environmental Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Global Change Biology

|June 25, 2026

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Trailing-edge tree populations, vital for climate adaptation, are at high risk from climate change. Conservation and assisted migration are crucial to preserve their unique genetic traits for future forests.

Keywords:

adaptive management assisted migration climate change conservation planning forest management genetic conservation

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Watershed Planning within a Quantitative Scenario Analysis Framework

Watershed Planning within a Quantitative Scenario Analysis Framework

Published on: July 24, 2016

Area of Science:

Ecology
Conservation Biology
Forestry

Background:

Trailing-edge populations at species' range margins possess unique adaptations to marginal environments.
These populations are highly vulnerable to climate change, risking the loss of valuable adaptive traits.

Purpose of the Study:

To identify trailing-edge populations for 100 common North American tree species.
To prioritize conservation actions based on climate change projections and species richness.
To inform assisted migration strategies for maintaining genetic diversity.

Main Methods:

Utilized spatially explicit climate and forest inventory data.
Assessed projected forest cover loss and climate velocity.
Mapped species richness to identify conservation priorities.

Main Results:

Trailing-edge populations are concentrated in the Appalachian region, Midwest, and southern boreal forests.
Areas near the central plains show high projected forest cover loss and climate velocity.
The Great Lakes basin and eastern Canada are identified as suitable recipient regions for assisted migration.

Conclusions:

Targeted conservation and assisted migration are essential for preserving genetic diversity and enhancing forest resilience.
Maintaining valuable genotypes ensures the persistence of adaptive traits in future forest ecosystems.
An online tool is available to support climate-informed seed collection and conservation planning.