scholarly journals Ten Years of Provenance Trials and Application of Multivariate Random Forests Predicted the Most Preferable Seed Source for Silviculture of Abies sachalinensis in Hokkaido, Japan

Forests ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 1058
Author(s):  
Ikutaro Tsuyama ◽  
Wataru Ishizuka ◽  
Keiko Kitamura ◽  
Haruhiko Taneda ◽  
Susumu Goto

Research highlights: Using 10-year tree height data obtained after planting from the range-wide provenance trials of Abies sachalinensis, we constructed multivariate random forests (MRF), a machine learning algorithm, with climatic variables. The constructed MRF enabled prediction of the optimum seed source to achieve good performance in terms of height growth at every planting site on a fine scale. Background and objectives: Because forest tree species are adapted to the local environment, local seeds are empirically considered as the best sources for planting. However, in some cases, local seed sources show lower performance in height growth than that showed by non-local seed sources. Tree improvement programs aim to identify seed sources for obtaining high-quality timber products by performing provenance trials. Materials and methods: Range-wide provenance trials for one of the most important silvicultural species, Abies sachalinensis, were established in 1980 at nine transplanting experimental sites. We constructed an MRF to estimate the responses of tree height at 10 years after planting at eight climatic variables at 1 km × 1 km resolution. The model was applied for prediction of tree height throughout Hokkaido Island. Results: Our model showed that four environmental variables were major factors affecting height growth—winter solar radiation, warmth index, maximum snow depth, and spring solar radiation. A tree height prediction map revealed that local seeds showed the best performance except in the southernmost region and several parts of northern regions. Moreover, the map of optimum seed provenance suggested that deployment of distant seed sources can outperform local sources in the southernmost and northern regions. Conclusions: We predicted that local seeds showed optimum growth, whereas non-local seeds had the potential to outperform local seeds in some regions. Several deployment options were proposed to improve tree growth.

2009 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 143-153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashley M. Thomson ◽  
Claire L. Riddell ◽  
William H. Parker

Height, diameter, and survival data were obtained from 20 range-wide black spruce ( Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP) provenance trials established from 1973 to 1977. Population response functions based on February minimum temperatures were developed for 23 Ontario and Great Lakes states provenances to predict climate values maximizing height growth for individual seed sources. Site transfer functions based on February maximum temperatures and May maximum temperatures were developed for five test sites to predict climate values maximizing height growth for test locations. Contour lines representing optimal performance were fitted to current (1961–1990) and future (2041–2070) climate grids. For black spruce seed sources from the east of Lake Superior and Lake Huron, optimal height growth was achieved between 45° and 47°N; for the western sources optimal performance moved north between 46° and 48°N. In eastern Ontario, height growth of northern sources may increase with transfer to warmer environments and with future temperature increases. Central sources are currently growing at or close to optimum and will be negatively affected by increased future temperatures. Southern sources may currently benefit from transfer to cooler environments, and the effects of global warming may cause significant height growth loss and the potential extirpation of local populations.


2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 12
Author(s):  
José Marcos Torres-Valverde ◽  
José Ciro Hernández-Díaz ◽  
Artemio Carrillo-Parra ◽  
Eduardo Mendoza-Maya ◽  
Christian Wehenkel

The three Mexican spruces’ distributions are fragmented, which could lead to phenological, morphological and genetic differentiation, partially caused by local adaptation. In this study, we examined the effect that climatic variables had on the survival and growth of 5641 Picea seedlings, coming from eight seed provenances of three species and produced in identical nursery conditions. The respective responses of each species and provenance can be considered as a proxy of the genetic differentiation and adaptation of each population. A cluster analysis revealed: (i) significant differences in genetic quantitative traits among the three Picea species and (ii) significant correlations between genetic quantitative traits and climatic factors.


2019 ◽  
Vol 111 ◽  
pp. 02070
Author(s):  
Clélia Mendonça de Moraes ◽  
Edson Melanda ◽  
Nilson Roberto de Barros Carneiro

The article discusses the interface between the influence of the urban climate and the traffic accident, there are as reference the results of the research carried out for the Araraquara case, SP, Brazil. Initially presented a brief analysis of urban mobility, geoprocessing (GIS) and the climatic importance in relation to urban sustainability. The article analyzes the urban climate of Araraquara, especially with regard to solar radiation on city streets and green areas. It was based on the premise that there is a correlation between the urban microclimates and the variables related to the traffic accident. Thus, a georeferenced mapping of the urban geometry was carried out by associating the climatic variables such as solar radiation, temperature and humidity of the air, to three parameters related to the traffic accident were chosen from the a) traffic accident with victim, b) without victim and c) motorcycle. At the end, the article proposes how the results found can reduce traffic accident and contribute to urban planning


2015 ◽  
Vol 45 (8) ◽  
pp. 970-977 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y.H. Weng ◽  
P. Lu ◽  
Q.F. Meng ◽  
M. Krasowski

Developing resistance to western gall rust (WGR) is important for maintaining healthy and productive jack pine plantations. In this study, we estimated genetic parameters of resistance to WGR and its relationship with tree height growth, based on data collected from three second-generation full-sib progeny testing series of jack pine planted in New Brunswick, Canada. Results indicated that (i) resistance to WGR in jack pine was controlled by both additive and dominance gene effects, with the latter playing a greater role; (ii) narrow-sense heritability estimates for resistance to WGR were low (mean = 0.05; series range = 0.00∼0.09), and broad-sense heritability estimates were moderate on an individual-tree basis (mean = 0.53) and considerably higher on the full-sib family mean basis (mean = 0.87); (iii) additive genetic correlation between tree height growth and WGR incidence was low (≤0.06) in two series and only slightly higher and favorable (–0.19) in one series, suggesting that selection on growth traits would not negatively affect WGR resistance; and (iv) mid-parental additive genetic and dominance effects on WGR were empirically correlated (>0.65), indicating that incorporating breeding for WGR resistance into current jack pine tree improvement programs with a seed orchard approach could partly capture the benefit from dominance effects. Although genetic gains in WGR resistance could be realized through various breeding and deployment schemes, it appeared that rapid improvement could be achieved through backward selection on full-sib family means.


1988 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 180-184 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard F. Kopp ◽  
Wayne A. Geyer ◽  
William R. Lovett

Abstract Silver maple shows promise for use in short-rotation intensive culture energy plantings. A seed source study composed of trees from 26 midwest locations was established in south-central Nebraska in 1979 to determine where silver maple seed should be collected for use in the central Great Plains. Trees were evaluated for survival, height growth, and number of dominant stems per tree during their seventh growing season. Sources from eastern Nebraska, western Iowa, eastern Kansas, and northwest Missouri generally exhibited the greatest survival, height growth, and number of dominant stems. Height growth appears to be under stronger genetic control than stem number, suggesting that selection for height should take priority when selecting trees for biomass production. Geographic trends related to survival and height growth, but not stem number, were observed. Environmental or geographic factors that are strong predictors of seed source performance could not be identified. Planting the most locally produced seed is advisable for the central Plains. North. J. Appl. For. 5:180-184, Sept. 1988.


2005 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 54-58
Author(s):  
Wayne A. Geyer ◽  
Keith D. Lynch ◽  
John Row ◽  
Peter Schaeffer ◽  
Walter Bagley

Abstract Green ash trees from 10 seed sources were planted in a test in 1961 in four states of the Great Plains Region. After more than 20 years, height growth indicates a strong interaction between seed source and plantation location. Larger trees were from southerly sources within about three degrees of latitude of the plantation site. Beyond those limits, cold injury may result. Height and dbh age-age correlations were highly significant at 8 and 20+ years. Height and dbh correlated negatively with a decrease in latitude. North. J. Appl. For. 22(1):54–58.


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