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Oriental beech for assisted migration in Europe: risk assessment using existing plantations
Assisted migration (AM) is a strategy to mitigate maladaptation due to climate change in long-lived forest tree species. This project is aimed at performing a thorough risk assessment for AM of Oriental beech in Europe using >100 years old plantations and combining genetics and ecophysiology.
With the projected increase in droughts, forest management is faced with the challenge of maintaining stable forest ecosystems. Assisted migration (AM) has been suggested as a strategy to mitigate maladaptation due to climate change in long-lived forest tree species, thereby maintaining forest health and productivity. Oriental beech (Fagus orientalis) is one of the key species proposed for AM in Europe. It has been speculated that Oriental beech is a more drought tolerant alternative for European beech (Fagus sylvatica), however, no experimental evidence is supporting this. Further, Oriental beech is closely related to European beech, and the two species can hybridize in their zone of contact in the southern Balkans. Thus, they may also hybridize upon introduction of Oriental beech. First generation of hybrids often have a higher fitness, however, the following generations may experience a decline.
The future Masters student will join a collaborative project involving the WSL, the INRAE Nancy (France), the University of Freiburg (Germany). The project is aimed at performing a thorough risk assessment for AM of Oriental beech in Europe using >100 years old Oriental beech plantations and a combination of approaches:
1. using genetic markers to estimate the rate of hybridization between the two species in situ
2. comparing growth patterns between the two species in situ
3. comparing the drought tolerance of seedlings under controlled experimental conditions
With the projected increase in droughts, forest management is faced with the challenge of maintaining stable forest ecosystems. Assisted migration (AM) has been suggested as a strategy to mitigate maladaptation due to climate change in long-lived forest tree species, thereby maintaining forest health and productivity. Oriental beech (Fagus orientalis) is one of the key species proposed for AM in Europe. It has been speculated that Oriental beech is a more drought tolerant alternative for European beech (Fagus sylvatica), however, no experimental evidence is supporting this. Further, Oriental beech is closely related to European beech, and the two species can hybridize in their zone of contact in the southern Balkans. Thus, they may also hybridize upon introduction of Oriental beech. First generation of hybrids often have a higher fitness, however, the following generations may experience a decline.
The future Masters student will join a collaborative project involving the WSL, the INRAE Nancy (France), the University of Freiburg (Germany). The project is aimed at performing a thorough risk assessment for AM of Oriental beech in Europe using >100 years old Oriental beech plantations and a combination of approaches: 1. using genetic markers to estimate the rate of hybridization between the two species in situ 2. comparing growth patterns between the two species in situ 3. comparing the drought tolerance of seedlings under controlled experimental conditions
The future Master student will be principally involved in tasks 1 and 3. S/he will perform field work in Switzerland and France, microsatellite genotyping in the laboratory at the WSL, recording of eco-physiological traits at the INRAE Nancy in France (around 1-2 weeks), population genetic and spatial statistical analysis, and contribute to the redaction of a manuscript about the results. A strong interest in applied evolutionary and conservation biology is essential, as well as taste for learning and performing a wide variety of tasks from field and laboratory work to analyses and writing.
The future Master student will be principally involved in tasks 1 and 3. S/he will perform field work in Switzerland and France, microsatellite genotyping in the laboratory at the WSL, recording of eco-physiological traits at the INRAE Nancy in France (around 1-2 weeks), population genetic and spatial statistical analysis, and contribute to the redaction of a manuscript about the results. A strong interest in applied evolutionary and conservation biology is essential, as well as taste for learning and performing a wide variety of tasks from field and laboratory work to analyses and writing.
Advisers: Dr Katalin Csillery and Dr Christoph Sperisen (Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL)
Contact: katalin.csillery@wsl.ch
Advisers: Dr Katalin Csillery and Dr Christoph Sperisen (Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL) Contact: katalin.csillery@wsl.ch