THEIS RESEARCH SEMINAR Genetic adaptation of aspen populations to spring risk environments: a novel remote sensing approach Haitao Li Department of Renewable Resources University of Alberta Feb 16 th, 2010

OUTLINE Background Background o Phenology & budbreak o Adaptation & genotype o Land surface phenology Methodology Methodology o Provenance trial o Remote sensing Results Results o Maps & graphs Discussion Discussion

Objective INVESTIGATIONINVESTIGATION Geographic patterns of genetic variation in the spring phenology of aspen INTERPRETATIONINTERPRETATION Adaptation of populations to climatic risk environments IMPLEMENTATIONIMPLEMENTATION Seed transfer EXPLORATIONEXPLORATION New method—remote sensing INVESTIGATIONINVESTIGATION Geographic patterns of genetic variation in the spring phenology of aspen INTERPRETATIONINTERPRETATION Adaptation of populations to climatic risk environments IMPLEMENTATIONIMPLEMENTATION Seed transfer EXPLORATIONEXPLORATION New method—remote sensing

PHENOLOGYPHENOLOGY recurring biological phases of species, biotic and abiotic causes, and the interrelation of phases within or among species ADAPTATIONADAPTATION survival adaptation capacity adaptation APPLICATIONAPPLICATION Forest management, seed transfer, climate modelling, … PHENOLOGYPHENOLOGY recurring biological phases of species, biotic and abiotic causes, and the interrelation of phases within or among species ADAPTATIONADAPTATION survival adaptation capacity adaptation APPLICATIONAPPLICATION Forest management, seed transfer, climate modelling, … Introduction

Temperature Threshold Time BUDBREAKBUDBREAK Spring phenology Adaptive trait Environmental contral HEATSUMHEATSUM the 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) BUDBREAKBUDBREAK Spring phenology Adaptive trait Environmental contral HEATSUMHEATSUM the 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 Heatsum

LAND SURFACE PHENOLOGYLAND SURFACE PHENOLOGY Forest canopy spectral reflectivity MODISMODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) a key instrument aboard on both Terra and Aqua satellites lunched by NASA LAND SURFACE PHENOLOGYLAND SURFACE PHENOLOGY Forest canopy spectral reflectivity MODISMODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) a key instrument aboard on both Terra and Aqua satellites lunched by NASA Introduction Resolution Spatial m Spectral µm temporal1-2 days

NDVINDVI Normalized Difference Vegetation Index EVIEVI Enhanced Vegetation Index NDVINDVI Normalized Difference Vegetation Index EVIEVI Enhanced Vegetation Index Introduction Source Data from NASA:

Workflow of thesis

Field observation PROVENANCE TRIALPROVENANCE TRIAL open pollinated bulked seed lots Randomized complete block design PROVENANCE TRIALPROVENANCE TRIAL 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 US o 1126 trees in command garden o observation from May 4 th to June 2 nd 2009

Field observation 7-level bud development scale7-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 7-level bud development scale7-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 Index of Bud-break Days

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 heatsum Plus 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 130 th day Average for five years

The distribution of Greenup date

Heatsum requirements from provenance trial and remote sensing data Aspen Parklands North High Elev

Validation Provenance trialsProvenance trials Similar spatial pattern for required heatsum Climate dataClimate data Storm-track from Rocky mountain to central Alberta

Correlation of heatsum with long-term climate conditions

PCA: PC1 & PC2 MAT MWMT AHM SHM MCMT EXT_Cold PAS MCMT SHM PCA (Red is high value and green is low) MCMT: mean coldest month temperature SHM: summer heat/moisture index

PCA: PC3 PAS MWMT AHM EXT_Cold MCMT SHM MWMT PCA (Red is high value and green is low) AHM: annual heat/moisture index MCMT: mean coldest month temperature MWMT: mean warmest month temperature PAS: 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 Survival adaptationvs. capacity adaptation capacity adaptation o North & high elevation short growing season break early o 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 Relatively early budbreak X

What’s new Environmental control 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.