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Principles of Tree Adaptation

Course developer

Course abstract

Aim of the course is to provide students with basic information on the achievements, newest results and perspectives of forest tree breeding to improve parameters of forest stands. Master students will gain information about the prognosis of climate changes in Latvia, expected negative influence to forests and adaptation possibilities with emphasize on role of genetic factors.

Learning outcomes and their assessment

During the course students gain knowledge about predicted changes in climatic conditions and there potential negative influence on forest stands in territory of Latvia. After the accomplishment of the course student are competent to recommend ways of forest management aiming at improvement of adaptation capacity of forest stand. Students are skilled to evaluate and quantify effect of various forest management decisions on carbon balance and stability of stands.

Course Content(Calendar)

1. Tree breeding strategy, selection of traits for the index. 1 week.
2 Realized genetic gain and factors affecting it. 2 h.
3 Economic assessment of tree breeding. 1 week.
4 Potential and practice to use genetic markers to increase genetic gain. 2 h.
5 Potential to use vegetative propagation for increased realized genetic gain. 2 h.
6 Protection of forest genetic resources. 1 ned.
7 Climate changes in Latvia: long-term phenology observations and meteorological data. 3 h.
8 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports. 3 h.
9 Regionalized climate change models: Europe. 2 h.
10 Probability of storm, its impact and potential to increase tree (stand) wind resistance. 2 h.
11 Changes of frequency of drought period their potential impact on forest regeneration and increment. 2 h.
12 Changes of length of vegetation period: direct and indirect negative impact. 2 h.
13 Changes of length of vegetation period: methods to increase adaptation capacity of stands. 2 h.
14 Rise of winter temperature and its potential influence to forest ecosystem. 2 h
15 Increase of CO2 concentration: short and long term effects. 2 h.

Requirements for awarding credit points

Completion of individual assignment and written test.

Description of the organization and tasks of students’ independent work

Presentation (7-10 min.) and analysis of the scientific study in foreign language based on provided key words. Student understands the kay message of the study and can explain it to the pairs. Understands the topicality of the study in context of forestry of Latvia.

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

Cumulative grade from evaluation of individual assignment and written test.

Compulsory reading

1. Eriksson G. Pinus sylvestris: Recent Genetic Research. Uppsala: SLU, 2008. 98 lpp.
2. Falconer D.S., Mackay T.F.C. Introduction to Quantitative Genetics. London: Longman Group Ltd, 1996. 456 lpp.
3. Ferrière R., Dieckmann U., Couvet D. Evolutionary Conservation Biology. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2004. 415 lpp.
4. Seppälä R., Buck A., Katila P. Adaptation of Forests and People to Climate Change: A Global Assessment Report. Tampere: Esa-Print Oy, 2009. 224 lpp

Further reading

1. Koskela J., Buck A., Teissier E. Climate Change and Forest Genetic Diversity: Implications for Sustainable Forest Management in Europe. Rome: Euforgen, 2007. 211 lpp.
2. Mitton J.B. Selection in Natural Populations. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1997. 312 lpp.
3. Mohren G.M.J. Impacts of Global Change on Tree Physiology and Forest Ecosystems. Dordecht: Kluwer Academic Publishers, 1997. 196 lpp.

Periodicals and other sources

1. Global Change Biology ISSN 1365-2486
2. Trees ISSN 0931-1890
3. Canadian Journal of Forest Research ISSN 0045-5067