Adaptation of Lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) provenances to extreme climate events

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Heinrich Spiecker
• Subject Area: Forestry
• Term: from 2014 to 2016
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 245783481

Long-term provenance trials allow assessing climate-growth relationships of different genotypes of a tree species. This knowledge is crucial in efforts to mitigate impacts of climate change on forest ecosystems. This project is taking advantage of a unique opportunity to study climate growth relations based on destructive whole-tree analysis in provenance trials of Lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Dougl. ex. Loud.). By combining annual height increment, radial growth, intra-annual high resolution wood density and carbon isotope profiles, this approach will allow for a comprehensive assessment of climate change impacts on carbon sequestration, wood production and wood characteristics. It as well will allow identifying resilient and productive genotypes for reforestation in a changing climate.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants