Allozyme and mating-system variation in balsam fir (Abies balsamea) across a continuous elevational transect

1985 ◽  
Vol 63 (12) ◽  
pp. 2448-2453 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. B. Neale ◽  
W. T. Adams

Genetic structure and the mating system of a continuous balsam fir (Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.) population spanning a 610-m elevational gradient on the southeast slope of Mt. Moosilauke, New Hampshire, were investigated by assaying eight polymorphic isozyme loci. In contrast to steep elevational clines for seedling quantitative traits found in an earlier study on the same slope, no significant differences (P > 0.05) in allelic frequencies were found among four subpopulations sampled at 854, 1159, 1312, and 1464 m above sea level. Estimates of the proportion of progeny due to outcrossing [Formula: see text] ranged from 0.78 to 0.99 (mean = 0.89) and were significantly different (P < 0.05) from [Formula: see text] in three of the four subpopulations. At timberline (1464 m), [Formula: see text] was lowest, yet the mean fixation index among adult trees was −0.149, suggesting that selection favors heterozygotes in this marginal environment. Despite the potential for extensive pollen dispersion along the slope, gene flow appears somewhat restricted because of substantial self-fertilization in some subpopulations, localized outcrossing within stands, and asynchrony of flower production among adjacent stands.

1975 ◽  
Vol 23 (6) ◽  
pp. 931 ◽  
Author(s):  
AHD Brown ◽  
AC Matheson ◽  
KG Eldridge

Seeds from four populations of E. obliqua were assayed for their allozyme genotype at three loci (alcohol dehydrogenase, malate dehydrogenase and acid phosphatase) as members of open-pollinated arrays to obtain quantitative estimates of three mating system parameters. These were (i) the pro- portion of seed derived from self-pollination as distinct from the proportion randomly outcrossed, (ii) the allele frequency in the pollen, and (iii) the within-population heterogeneity for the frequency of detectable outcrosses. The rate of selfing varied between loci and populations, but overall suggested that up to 24% of viable seed may derive from self-fertilization. This level of partial self-fertilization, together with local variation in the mating system, yielded an observed average inbreeding coefficient (Wright's fixation index) of 0.123 for these loci. In addition, the populations showed substantial differences in gene frequency at each locus. The statistical techniques appropriate for the analysis of open-pollinated progeny arrays are given in an appendix.


1961 ◽  
Vol 93 (2) ◽  
pp. 118-123 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. G. Pilon ◽  
J. R. Blais

Nearly all forest regions in the Province of Quebec where balsam fir (Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.) is an important tree component have been subjected to severe defoliation by the spruce budworm, Choristoneura fumiferana (Clem.), during the past 20 years. These outbreaks have followed an easterly direction beginning near the Ontario-Quebec border in 1939 and ending in the Gaspé Peninsula in 1958.


Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 248
Author(s):  
Tyler Searls ◽  
James Steenberg ◽  
Xinbiao Zhu ◽  
Charles P.-A. Bourque ◽  
Fan-Rui Meng

Models of forest growth and yield (G&Y) are a key component in long-term strategic forest management plans. Models leveraging the industry-standard “empirical” approach to G&Y are frequently underpinned by an assumption of historical consistency in climatic growing conditions. This assumption is problematic as forest managers look to obtain reliable growth predictions under the changing climate of the 21st century. Consequently, there is a pressing need for G&Y modelling approaches that can be more robustly applied under the influence of climate change. In this study we utilized an established forest gap model (JABOWA-3) to simulate G&Y between 2020 and 2100 under Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP) 2.6, 4.5, and 8.5 in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador (NL). Simulations were completed using the province’s permanent sample plot data and surface-fitted climatic datasets. Through model validation, we found simulated basal area (BA) aligned with observed BA for the major conifer species components of NL’s forests, including black spruce [Picea mariana (Mill.) Britton et al.] and balsam fir [Abies balsamea (L.) Mill]. Model validation was not as robust for the less abundant species components of NL (e.g., Acer rubrum L. 1753, Populus tremuloides Michx., and Picea glauca (Moench) Voss). Our simulations generally indicate that projected climatic changes may modestly increase black spruce and balsam fir productivity in the more northerly growing environments within NL. In contrast, we found productivity of these same species to only be maintained, and in some instances even decline, toward NL’s southerly extents. These generalizations are moderated by species, RCP, and geographic parameters. Growth modifiers were also prepared to render empirical G&Y projections more robust for use under periods of climate change.


1986 ◽  
Vol 62 (2) ◽  
pp. 96-100 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. J. McRae

Recent spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana [Clem.]) infestations have resulted in widespread areas of balsam fir (Abies balsamea [L.] Mill.) mortality in Ontario, and there is growing interest in reestablishing these areas quickly as productive forests. One technique being used is prescribed fire after a salvage and bulldozer tramping operation. A 445-ha prescribed burn was carried out under moderate fire danger conditions in northern Ontario. The site, which was covered by balsam fir fuel that had been killed by spruce budworm, was tramped to improve fire spread. Weather, fuel consumption, and fire effects are reported. The burn effectively reduced heavy surface fuel loadings and consequently planting on the site was easier. Key words: Prescribed burning, fire, spruce budworm. Choristoneura fumiferana, balsam fir, Abies balsamea, fuel consumption, site preparation, tramping, stand conversion.


1977 ◽  
Vol 109 (9) ◽  
pp. 1239-1248 ◽  
Author(s):  
O. N. Morris

AbstractBacillus thuringiensis (Dipel® 36B) mixed with a sublethal concentration of acephate (Orthene®) (O, S-dimethyl acetylphosphoramidothioate), an organophosphorous insecticide, was applied at 2.35–14 l./ha to white spruce (Picea glauca) and balsam fir (Abies balsamea) trees infested with spruce budworm, Choristoneura fumiferana (Clem.). The treatment rate was 20 Billion International Units of B. thuringiensis (B.t.) activity with or without 42 g of active ingredient of acephate/ha.The ground deposit of the standard Dipel wettable powder formulation was 12% of emitted volume compared with 21–32% for the Dipel 36B flowable. The viability of B.t. spores was drastically reduced after 1 day of weathering but a high level of biological activity by the spore–crystal complex persisted for up to 20 days post-spray due probably to crystal activity.The addition of about 10% of the recommended operational rate of acephate to the B.t. suspension increased larval mortality by 34% when applied at 4.7 l./ha. Reductions in budworm populations were 97–99% in B.t. + acephate plots and 86–90% in B.t. alone plots.Plots with moderate budworm densities of up to 27 larvae/100 buds on white spruce and 36/100 on balsam fir were satisfactorily protected from excessive defoliation in the year of spray by B.t. with or without acephate. Plots with higher population densities were not satisfactorily protected based on the branch sample examination but aerial color photographs indicated good protection to the top third of the trees. Population declines were greater and defoliation and oviposition were lower in the treated plots than in the untreated checks 1 year later without further treatment. Two years later the larval population densities in all plots were low but the density was twice as high in the untreated check as in the treated plots, indicating long term suppression by the treatments. Defoliation was negligible in all plots.The treatments had no deleterious effect on spruce budworm parasitism. The data indicate that the integrated approach using Bacillus thuringiensis – chemical pesticide combinations is a viable alternative to the use of chemical pesticides alone in spruce budworm control. Large scale testing is now warranted.


2015 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 337-344 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lia Maris Orth Ritter Antiqueira ◽  
Paulo Yoshio Kageyama

This study analyzed the reproductive system and the pollen dispersion pattern of Qualea grandiflora progenies. This is a typical species from the Brazilian Cerrado about which there are not too many studies from the genetics point of view. The study was conducted in an area of 2.2 hectares located in the Conservation Unit managed by the Forest Institute of the state of São Paulo, Brazil (Assis State Forest). Total genomic DNA of 300 seeds from 25 plants (12 seeds from each plant) was extracted and amplified using specific primers to obtain microsatellite markers. Results showed that selfing is frequent among adults and progenies, and the species reproduces by outcrossing between related and unrelated individuals (0.913). The single-locus outcrossing rate was 0.632, which indicates that mating between unrelated individuals is more frequent than between related plants. The selfing rate was low (0.087), that is, the species is allogamous and self-fertilization is reduced. About 35% of the plants in the progenies were full-sibs, and about 57%, half-sibs. Besides, about 8% of the progenies were selfing siblings. The genetic differentiation coefficient within progenies was 0.139, whereas the fixation rate was about 27%. The estimate of the effective size revealed that the genetic representativeness of descent was lower than expected in random mating progenies: The analyzed samples corresponded to only 13.2 individuals of an ideal panmictic population. In environmental recovery programs, seeds, preferably from different fruits, should be collected from 95 trees to preserve the genetic diversity of the species.


1977 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 337 ◽  
Author(s):  
MA Phillips ◽  
AHD Brown

Allozyme polymorphisms at four loci expressed in seeds, and three other loci expressed in seedlings, were used to determine the outcrossing rate in three natural subalpine populations of snow gum (E. paucijlora). Based on the seed loci data, an estimated 37 % of seed was derived from self-fertilization and 63 % from random outcrossing. In the most elevated population the estimate after germination was similar. However, at lower elevations the frequency of effective self-fertilization estimated at the seedling stage was only 16 %. The less elevated populations also showed a greater average heterozygosity and a larger increase in heterozygosity in the adult over the progeny stages. Heterosis apparently operated differentially in these populations-it was more intense at the lower altitudes. Selection in favour of outcrossed individuals may be an important factor in checking the spread through the population of genes which promote self-fertilization, and which would otherwise enjoy an evolutionary advantage.


1996 ◽  
Vol 128 (6) ◽  
pp. 1109-1113 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harald Piene

AbstractDetailed estimates of defoliation caused by spruce budworm [Choristoneura fumiferana (Clem.)] over the crown length of young balsam fir [Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.] were made throughout a spruce budworm outbreak from 1976 to 1984 in the Cape Breton Highlands, Nova Scotia. The results show no clear tendency for a particular level of the crown to be damaged more heavily than any other. Thus, there is no reason to continue the common practice of taking samples from the mid-crown level on the assumption that they represent an ‘average’ level of defoliation either for high or low populations. Sampling from the bottom of the crown should provide a more convenient and cost-effective approach for estimating defoliation.


2002 ◽  
Vol 134 (6) ◽  
pp. 825-845 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. van Frankenhuyzen ◽  
P. Ebling ◽  
G. Thurston ◽  
C. Lucarotti ◽  
T. Royama ◽  
...  

AbstractIn Nova Scotia, the whitemarked tussock moth, Orgyia leucostigma Fitch, periodically erupts in outbreaks that typically last 3–5 years. Population changes during a recent outbreak were monitored by means of aerial defoliation surveys and fall egg-mass surveys that were conducted between 1997 and 2001. Severe defoliation was first recorded on approximately 250 ha in 1996. The defoliated area increased rapidly to hundreds of thousands hectares in 1998, after which it sharply declined to about 4700 ha in 2000 and 0 ha in 2001. The total infested area [>0.01 egg masses per three branches of Abies balsamea L. (Pinaceae)] decreased from about 1.4 million ha in 1997 to about 13 500 ha in 2001. Between 1996 and 2001, the infestation involved a cumulative total of 2.4 million ha, covering most of the province. The collapse of larval populations during 1998 was associated with widespread prevalence of a singly embedded nucleopolyhedrovirus (NPV) and Entomophaga aulicae (Reichardt in Bail) Humber (Zygomycetes: Entomophthorales). Sampling of larval populations in late July and August 1998 revealed a widespread and virtually sympatric occurrence of those pathogens in areas that were under defoliation pressure, with infection levels by each pathogen exceeding 75% in many sample sites. Pathogen impacts on larval survival were studied in 1999 in a persisting pocket of severe infestation in Hants County. Larvae were collected every 3 d from balsam fir branch samples between 17 June and 21 July and reared to determine cause of death. The two pathogens together accounted for at least 50% of cohort mortality, calculated as marginal mortality rates according to Royama (2001). Although cohort mortality due to disease on balsam fir was significantly correlated with between-generation reduction in mean egg-mass density, overall pathogen-induced mortality was not high enough to drive the populations into an endemic state, and a moderate infestation persisted into 2000.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document