Will climate change affect the optimal choice of Pinus sylvestris provenances?

Abstract

Persson, B. 1998. Will climate change affect the optimal choice of Pinus sylvestris provenances? Silva Fennica 32(2): 121-128.Provenance experiments with Pinus sylvestris (L.) were evaluated in Sweden north of latitude 60°N. Survival and yield were determined as functions of temperature sum of the site and latitudinal origin of the provenance. Altitudinal origin was of negligible importance. The effects of latitudinal transfer were influenced by temperature sum at the growing site. At the harshest situated sites southward transfer longer than 3° was optimal for survival and yield, whereas transfer effects in a mild climate were weak. Climatic warming would reduce demands of hardiness. However, moderate differences in productivity are expected between formerly optimal seed sources and the ones adapted to changed climatic conditions. Since mortality usually was low in plantations older than 20 years or higher than 2 m, established stands are expected to be robust against adverse effects of climate change.

Natural regeneration of Scots pine and Norway spruce close to the timberline in northern Finland

“…This was common for both pine and spruce seedlings. The result agrees with a number of studies stating that mortality declines in relation to seedling size (Kullman 1981, Junttila and Skaret 1990, Persson 1998. Kullman (1981) suggested that an increased mortality occurs at the height interval of 80-150 cm, when seedlings project above the maximum wintertime snow-cover and that once a height of 150-200 cm is exceeded mortality declines considerably.…”

Effects of Temperature and Light Conditions on Growth of Current-Year Seedlings of Warm-Temperate Evergreen Tree Species and Cool-Temperate Deciduous Tree Species

“…japonica) was greater at T2 and T3 conditions than T1 (the optimal temperature conditions). Many studies showed that tree growth is greater nearer the southern and lower distribution limits along latitudinal and altitudinal gradients, respectively (Persson, 1998;Mäkinen et al, 2000;Li et al, 2003;Takahashi & Yoshida, 2009). Although the results of the previous studies were conducted in natural distribution ranges, the result of this study showed that tree growth increases in the temperature conditions warmer than the natural distribution range.…”

Genetic variation in cessation of growth and frost hardiness and consequences for adaptation of Pinus sylvestris to climatic changes

“…Further, introducing artificial seed migration by planting more southern genotypes in open areas would speed up the response even more (Persson, 1998). The effects of natural selection can be rapid, as seen in the genetic changes of introduced trees after just one generation in the new environment (e.g.…”