Adaptive variation among whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis) populations from the interior northwestern United States in relation to climate

Abstract

Provenance tests of 49 populations of whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis) revealed moderate genetic differentiation for growth potential (growth under conditions approaching physiological optimum). Moderate genetic differentiation was also detected for survival after more than 10 years under warm-dry climate in the field but not for unconditional expected height, which was considered the best available predictor of fitness. Height was considered unconditional because survival over multiple years was explicitly included in the analysis. Genetic divergence for growth potential and survival was found to correspond with climatic clines. Population differentiation for growth potential was estimated to require a separation of about ±7.4 Julian days for timing of spring warming (D100) between climate of seed sources (≈ ±210 m elevation). Differentiation for survival was estimated to require about ±2.66 cm annual spring precipitation between climate of population origin. These results inform seed transfer and may provide insight into the genetic response of populations under a warming climate, particularly during early growth.

Parent Publication

• Proceedings of the IUFRO joint conference: Genetics of five-needle pines, rusts of forest trees, and Strobusphere; 2014 June 15–20; Fort Collins, CO

Citation

Warwell, Marcus V. 2018. Adaptive variation among whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis) populations from the interior northwestern United States in relation to climate. In: Schoettle, Anna W.; Sniezko, Richard A.; Kliejunas, John T., eds. Proceedings of the IUFRO joint conference: Genetics of five-needle pines, rusts of forest trees, and Strobusphere; 2014 June 15-20; Fort Collins, CO. Proc. RMRS-P-76. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. p. 54-58.