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Cold adaptation recorded in tree rings highlights risks associated with climate change and assisted migration

Author

Listed:
  • David Montwé

    (University of Alberta)

  • Miriam Isaac-Renton

    (University of Alberta)

  • Andreas Hamann

    (University of Alberta)

  • Heinrich Spiecker

    (Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg)

Abstract

With lengthening growing seasons but increased temperature variability under climate change, frost damage to plants may remain a risk and could be exacerbated by poleward planting of warm-adapted seed sources. Here, we study cold adaptation of tree populations in a wide-ranging coniferous species in western North America to inform limits to seed transfer. Using tree-ring signatures of cold damage from common garden trials designed to study genetic population differentiation, we find opposing geographic clines for spring frost and fall frost damage. Provenances from northern regions are sensitive to spring frosts, while the more productive provenances from central and southern regions are more susceptible to fall frosts. Transferring the southern, warm-adapted genotypes northward causes a significant loss of growth and a permanent rank change after a spring frost event. We conclude that cold adaptation should remain an important consideration when implementing seed transfers designed to mitigate harmful effects of climate change.

Suggested Citation

  • David Montwé & Miriam Isaac-Renton & Andreas Hamann & Heinrich Spiecker, 2018. "Cold adaptation recorded in tree rings highlights risks associated with climate change and assisted migration," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 1-7, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:9:y:2018:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-018-04039-5
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-04039-5
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    Cited by:

    1. Debojyoti Chakraborty & Albert Ciceu & Dalibor Ballian & Marta Benito Garzón & Andreas Bolte & Gregor Bozic & Rafael Buchacher & Jaroslav Čepl & Eva Cremer & Alexis Ducousso & Julian Gaviria & Jan Pet, 2024. "Assisted tree migration can preserve the European forest carbon sink under climate change," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 14(8), pages 845-852, August.
    2. Liliana Siekacz & Charlotte Pearson & Matthew Salzer & Natalia Soja-Kukieła & Marcin Koprowski, 2024. "Blue rings in Bristlecone pine as a high resolution indicator of past cooling events," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 177(8), pages 1-20, August.
    3. Steffi Heinrichs & Veronika Öder & Adrian Indreica & Erwin Bergmeier & Christoph Leuschner & Helge Walentowski, 2021. "The Influence of Tilia tomentosa Moench on Plant Species Diversity and Composition in Mesophilic Forests of Western Romania–A Potential Tree Species for Warming Forests in Central Europe?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-23, July.

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