Utilization and management of red alder genetic resources in British Columbia

Abstract

During the last two decades, the value of red alder wood products has substantially increased and several initiatives have been launched in the United States to use red alder for reforestation. Nonetheless, red alder is a'largely neglected resource in British Columbia. This review paper examines the reasons behind the under-utilization of red alder in British Columbia and investigates whether changes in red alder management practices could improve the value of the resource. Red alder's potential for plantation forestry and genetic tree improvement are discussed, and possible breeding objectives were evaluated with consideration for the species biology, growth, product value and market demand. Seed transfer rules and the possibility of gains from selection are summarized in the light of new research results in genecology and quantitative genetics for red alder populations in British Columbia.Key words: red alder, Alnus rubra, tree improvement, quantitative genetics, genecology, resource management Au cours des deux defnitres dkennies, la valeur des produits de bois d'aulne rouge a considkrablement augment6 et plusieurs initiatives ont Ct C entreprises aux Etats-Unis pour utiliser l'aulne rouge en reboisement. NCanrnoins, I'aulne rouge demeure une ressource passablement nCgligCe en Colombie-Britannique. Cet article synthtse passe en revue les raisons de cette sous-utilisation de l'aulne rouge en Colombie-Britannique et cherche 2I dCterminer si des modifications aux pratiques d'amtnagement de l'aulne rouge pourraient accroitre la valeur de la ressource. Le potentiel de l'aulne rouge en plantation forestitre et l'amklioration gCnCtique sont abordCs, ainsi que les objectifs potentiels d'amClioration qui ont Ct C CvaluC selon la biologie de l'espkce, la croissance, la valeur des produits et la demande du march6. Les r&gles de transferts de semence et les possibilitk de gains i % partir de sClections sont rCsum6es 2I la lumikre des nouveaux rksultats de recherche en gCnCcologie et en gCnCtique quantitative pour les populations d'aulne rouge de la ColombieBritannique.Mots-~16s: aulne rouge, Alnus rubra, amklioration gCnCtique, gCnCtique quantitative, gCnCcologie, ambnagement de la ressource

Climate effects on red alder growth in the Pacific Northwest of North America

“…In addition, since the results presented here are based on local populations the potential of using provenance effects to adapt to climate change revealed in other studies (Griesbauer et al, 2011;Wang et al, 2012) is not explored in this study. Given the substantial genetic variation in growth and adaptive traits across red alder's range, other research suggests that maladaptation of red alder provenances may be problematic when climatic changes are of sufficient magnitude (as predicted by these models) (Hamann, 2001). Thus, a comprehensive set of environmental and geographic predictors should be considered before transferring seed to a different area (Hamann et al, 2011).…”

Genetic Response of Forest Systems to Changing Environmental Conditions

“…2). Leaf abscission has been shown to be a reliable indicator for growth cessation in red alder, being highly correlated with growth late in the season (Hamann 1999). Leaf abscission has been shown to be a reliable indicator for growth cessation in red alder, being highly correlated with growth late in the season (Hamann 1999).…”

“…Poor success in generating offspring in the selection experiment did not allow precise estimates of realized gains from selection (reported in Hamann 1999). I and 2).…”