THEIS RESEARCH SEMINAR

Genetic adaptation of aspen populations to spring risk

environments: a novel remote sensing approach

Haitao Li

Department of Renewable ResourcesUniversity of Alberta

Feb 16th , 2010

OUTLINE • Background

o Phenology & budbreak o Adaptation & genotypeo Land surface phenology

• Methodologyo Provenance trialo Remote sensing

• Resultso Maps & graphs

• Discussion

Objective

• INVESTIGATIONGeographic patterns of genetic variation

in the spring phenology of aspen

• INTERPRETATIONAdaptation of populations to climatic

risk environments

• IMPLEMENTATIONSeed transfer

• EXPLORATION New method—remote sensing

• PHENOLOGYrecurring biological phases of

species, biotic and abiotic causes, and the

interrelation of phases within or among species

• ADAPTATIONsurvival adaptation

capacity adaptation

• APPLICATION

Forest management, seed transfer, climate modelling, …

Introduction

Tem

pera

ture

Threshold

Time

• BUDBREAK Spring phenology

Adaptive trait

Environmental contral

• HEATSUMthe thermal time, it is the

accumulation of degree-days leading to a phenological event

Degree-day :The average daily temperature above a certain threshold (0°C)

Introduction

1

1

1

0)(

)(1

0

Tbxif

Tbxif

TbxxGDD

xGDDHeatsum

t

t

tt

t

tt

Heatsum

• LAND SURFACE PHENOLOGY Forest canopy

spectral reflectivity

• MODIS

(Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer)

a key instrument aboard on both Terra and Aqua satellites lunched by NASA

Introduction Resolution

Spatial 250-1000 m

Spectral 0.62-14.38 µm

temporal 1-2 days

• NDVINormalized Difference Vegetation Index

• EVIEnhanced Vegetation Index

Introduction

Source Data from NASA: http://honeybeenet.gsfc.nasa.gov/Sites/ScaleHiveSite.php?SiteID=MD001

LCCGEVI

NDVI

bluerednir

rednir

rednir

rednir

)( 21

Workflow of thesis

Field observation

Remotely sensed data

Spatial pattern of genotypes

Climate data Spatial pattern

Adaptation

Spatial pattern of genotypes

Correlation test

No

Yes

Field observation

• PROVENANCE TRIAL1998

43 open pollinated bulked seed lots

Randomized complete block design

Location of provenance trial

Research area and location of provenances

o 43 provenances cover western Canada and Minnesota in USo 1126 trees in command garden o observation from May 4th to June 2nd 2009

Field observation

• 7-level bud development scale

0, dormant

1, buds swelling

2, buds breaking

3, extend to 1cm

4, extend to 2cm

5, extend to 3cm

6, fully extended 120 130 1400

1

2

3

4

5

6

Inde

x of

Bud

-bre

ak

Days

1

2

3

45

6

Results of Field Observation

Symbols represent different ecological regions: BC taiga plains, AB northern boreal plains, AB lower rocky mountain foothills, AB central boreal plains, SK central boreal plains, MN boreal shield.

Remote sensing methods

Climate data

Average required heatsumPlus standard error Heatsum maps from 2001 to 2005

EVI imageries Map of green up date From 2001 to 2005– MODIS EVI data from 2001 to 2005

– spatial resolution 500 meter – 16 days interval

Greenup date

Mean temperature in the 130th day

2001 2002 2003

Average for five years20052004

The distribution of Greenup date

2001 2002 2003

Five-year average20052004

The distribution of Greenup date

2001 2002 2003

Five-year average20052004

Heatsum requirements from provenance trial and remote sensing data

Aspen Parklands

NorthHigh Elev

Validation • Provenance trials

Similar spatial pattern for required heatsum• Climate data

Storm-track from Rocky mountain to central Alberta

Correlation of heatsum with long-term climate conditions

PCA: PC1 & PC2

-4 -2 0 2 4 6

-4-2

02

4

Prin1

Pri

n2

BC

CT FH

MN

NW

SK

MAT

MWMT

AHMSHM

MCMT

EXT_Cold

PAS

MCMT

SHM

PCA (Red is high value and green is low)

MCMT: mean coldest month temperatureSHM: summer heat/moisture index

PCA: PC3

-4 -2 0 2 4

-4-3

-2-1

01

Prin2

Prin

3

BC

CT

FH

MN

NW SK

PAS

MWMT

AHM

EXT_Cold MCMT

SHM

MWMT

PCA (Red is high value and green is low)

AHM: annual heat/moisture indexMCMT: mean coldest month temperatureMWMT: mean warmest month temperaturePAS: precipitation as snow

Correlation of heatsum with long-term climate conditions

Precipitation and dryness in winter and early spring affect the timing of budbreak

Interpretation • Survival adaptation

vs. • capacity adaptation

o North & high elevation

short growing season

break earlyo Dry areas

aspen parklands and other place

breaking bud in late spring

too dry to grow

Graphed by Tim Gylander

Growth traits: Height and DBH

Mapped by Pei-yu Chen

Growth traits: Productivity

Application

Later budbreak

Later budbreak

Relatively early budbreak

Relatively early budbreak

X

What’s new

Environmentalcontrol

• Budbreak delayed by doughtiness and frost damage

Technology• Detecting genotype by

remote sensing

Acknowledgement

• Andreas Hamann, Xianli Wang, Elisabeth Beubia, Pei-yu Chen, Nicholas Coops, Arthuro Sanche

• NSERC, Alberta-Pacific Forest Industries, Ainsworth Engineered Canada LP, Daishowa-Marubeni International Ltd., Western Boreal Aspen Corporation, Weyerhaeuser Company Ltd.

THANKS