Abstract
Increased use of forest resources to meet increasing world demand for wood and other forest products threatens forest sustainability and highlights the importance of conservation and sustainable management of these resources. Maintaining well-adapted and productive forests, and conserving natural forest genetic resources are important for sustainable forest management. Over exploitation of species can lead to excessive forest fragmentation and reduction of population sizes to a point that threatens population viability and species existence. In many cases, restoration of genetic resources of threatened species is needed. Molecular genetic markers, combined with population genetic principles and concepts, can greatly facilitate programs in conservation, restoration and sustainable management of forest genetic resources. We have used various biochemical and molecular genetic markers, such as allozymes, microsatellite DNA, random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and sequence-tagged site markers, to examine effects of alternative silvicultural harvesting and regeneration systems, and forest fragmentation and small population size on genetic diversity, fine-scale population genetic structure, mating system and other population genetic parameters in white spruce (Picea glauca), eastern white pine (Pinus strobus), and red spruce (Picea rubens). The objectives of our studies are to provide genetic benchmarks and indicators for developing guidelines for genetically sustainable forest management practices and scientifically sound strategies for conservation and restoration of forest genetic resources. The results of these studies are discussed, particularly in the context of sustainable management, conservation and restoration of forest genetic resources.
Contribution FGB0002 (RCGB0002) from the Forest Genetics and Biotechnology Group of Dalhousie University
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsPreview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Bergmann, F., Gregorius, H.-R. and Larsen, J.B. 1990: Levels of genetic variation in European silver fir (Abies alba) - are they related to the species’ decline? Genetica 82: 1–10
Buchert, G.P. 1994: Genetics of white pine and implications for management and conservation. Forestry Chronicle 70: 427–434
Buchert, G.P. 1995: Genetic diversity - an indicator of sustainability. In Proceedings of the Workshop, Advancing Boreal Mixedwood Management in Ontario, October 17–18, 1995, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
Buchert, G.P., Rajora, O.P., Hood, J.V. and Dancik, B.P. 1997: Effects of harvesting on genetic diversity in old-growth eastern white pine (Pinus strobus L.) in Ontario, Canada. Conservation Biology 11: 747–758
Cheliak, W.M., Murray, G. and Pitel, J.A. 1988: Genetic effects of phenotypic selection in white spruce. For. Ecol. Manage. 24: 139–149
CSA 1996a: A Sustainable Forest Management System: Guidance Document. Z808–96
CSA 1996b: A Sustainable Forest Management System: Specification Document. Z809–96
Desponts, M., Plourde, A., Beaulieu, J. and Daoust, G. 1993: Impact de la selection sur la variabilite genetique de l’epinette blanche au Quebec. Can. J. For. Res. 23: 1196–1202
El-Kassaby, Y.A. 1995: Evaluation of the tree improvement delivery system: factors affecting genetic potential. Tree Physiol. 15: 545–550
Geburek, T. 1997: Isozymes and DNA markers in gene conservation of forest trees. Biodiversity and Conservation 6: 1639–1654
Gömöry, D. 1992: Effect of stand origin on the genetic diversity of Norway spruce (Picea abies Karst.) populations. For. Ecol. Manage. 54: 215–223
Gordon, A. G. 1996: The sweep of the boreal in time and space, from forest formation to genes, and implications for management. Forestry Chronicle 72: 19–30
Hamrick, J.L and Godt, M.J.W. 1990: Allozyme diversity in plant species. Pp. 43–63 in Brown, A.H.D., Clegg, M.T., Kahler, A.L., and Weir, B.S. (Eds.). Plant population genetics, breeding, and genetic resources. Sinauer Associates Inc., Sunderland, MA.
Hanski, I. and Gilpin, M. 1991: Metapopulation dynamics: brief history and conceptual domain. Biol. J. Linn. Soc. 42: 3–16
Leberg, P.L. 1992: Effects of population bottlenecks on genetic diversity as measured by allozyme electrophoresis. Evolution 46: 477–494
Marshall, D.R. and Brown, A.H.D. 1975: Optimum sampling strategies in genetic conservation. Pp. 53–80 in Frankel, O.H., and Hawkes, J.G. (Eds.) Crop genetic resources for today and tomorrow. Cambridge University Press, London
Millar, C.I. and Westfall, R.D. 1992: Allozyme markers in forest genetic conservation. New Forests 6: 347–371
Mosseler, A. and Rajora, O.P. 1998: Monitoring population viability in declining tree species using indicators of genetic diversity and reproductive success. Pp. 333–344 in Sassa K (Ed) Environmental Forest Science. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, The Netherlands
Mosseler, A., Major, J.E., Simpson, D., Daigle, B., Lange, K., Park Y.-S., Johnsen, K.H. and Rajora, O.P. 2000: Indicators of population viability in red spruce, Picea rubens. I. Fecundity and reproductive traits. Can. J. Bot. 78: 928–940
Namkoong, G., Boyle, T., Gregorius, H.-R., Joly, H., Savolainen, O., Wickneswari, R. and Young, A. 1996: Testing criteria and indicators for assessing the sustainability of forest management: Genetic criteria and indicators. In Proceedings of the Workshop Project: Assessing the Sustainability of Forest Management: Testing Criteria and Indicators, 8–12 April 1996, West Java, Indonesia
Natural Resources Canada 1999: The state of Canada’s forests 1998–1999. Natural Resources Canada, Ottawa
Neale, D.B. 1985: Genetic implications of shelterwood regeneration of Douglas-fir in southwestern Oregon. For Sci 31: 995–1005
Neale, D.B. and Adams, W.T. 1985: The mating system in natural and shelterwood stands of Douglas-fir. Theor. Appl. Genet. 71: 201–207
Oleksyn, J., Prus-Glowacki, W., Giertych, M. and Reich, P.B. 1994: Relation between genetic diversity and pollution impact in a 1912 experiment with east European Pinus sylvestres provenances. Can. J. For. Res. 24: 2390–2394
Petit, R.J., Al-Mousadik, A. and Pons, O. 1998: Identifying populations for conservation on the basis of genetic markers. Conservation Biology 12: 844–855
Raddi, S., Stefanini, F.M., Camussi, A. and Giannini, R. 1994: Forest decline index and genetic variability in Picea abies ( L.) Karst. Forest Genetics 1: 33–40
Rajora, O.P. 1999: Genetic biodiversity impacts of silvicultural practices and phenotypic selection in white spruce. Theor. Appl. Genet. 99: 954–961
Rajora, O.P., DeVerno, L., Mosseler, A. and Innes, D. 1998: Genetic diversity and population structure of disjunct Newfoundland and central Ontario populations of eastern white pine (Pinus strobus L.). Can. J. Bot. 76: 500–508
Rajora, O.P. and Mosseler, A. 2001: Conservation of forest genetic resources: challenges and opportunities. Euphytica 118 (2): 197–212
Rajora, O.P., Mosseler, A. and Major, J.E. 2000a: Indicators of population viability in red spruce, Picea rubens. II. Genetic diversity, population structure, and mating behaviour. Can. J. Bot. 78: 941–956
Rajora, O.P., Rahman, M.H., Buchert, G.P. and Dancik, B.P. 2000b: Microsatellite DNA analysis of genetic effects of harvesting in old-growth eastern white pine (Pinus strobus) in Ontario. Molecular Ecology 39: 339–348.
Savolainen, O. and Karkkainen, K. 1992: Effect of forest management on gene pools. New Forests 6: 329–345
Shaffer, M.L. 1981: Minimum viable population sizes for species conservation. BioSci. 31: 13 1134
Slatkin, M. 1985: Gene flow in natural populations. Ann. Rev. Ecol. Syst. 16: 393–430
Stoehr, M.U. and El-Kassaby, Y. 1997: Levels of genetic diversity at different stages of the domestication cycle of interior spruce in British Columbia. Theor. Appl. Genet. 94: 83–90
Williams, C.G., Hamrick J.L. and Lewis, P.O. 1995: Multiple-population versus hierarchical conifer breeding programs: a comparison of genetic diversity levels. Theor. Appl. Genet. 90: 584–594
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2001 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Rajora, O.P., Mosseler, A. (2001). Molecular markers in sustainable management, conservation, and restoration of forest genetic resources. In: Müller-Starck, G., Schubert, R. (eds) Genetic Response of Forest Systems to Changing Environmental Conditions. Forestry Sciences, vol 70. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-9839-2_16
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-9839-2_16
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-90-481-5928-4
Online ISBN: 978-94-015-9839-2
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive