Paul McLean
Research Scientist
Authors
J. A. Woolliams M. Janes H. Tumas J. J. Ilska Paul McLean J. E. Cottrell J. Mackay G. GorjancAbstract
Abstract Genomics is advancing estimation of breeding values for selective breeding. Traditional pedigree information used in the estimation of breeding values can still be competitive to genomic information when markers do not adequately capture genetic variance or genomic datasets are not sufficiently large. Using the UK Sitka spruce breeding population as a study system, we assessed the accuracy of estimated breeding values using pedigree or genomic information. Nine phenotypic traits associated with growth and wood quality were measured across 1295 individuals in 50 full-sib families replicated across two plantation sites. Pedigree-based estimation was compared to genome-based estimation using identity by state (IBS) or identity by descent (IBD) information from 4123 SNPs. Accuracy of estimated breeding values was assessed using model-based standard errors, which assumes the fitted model and parameters are correct, and more objective 12-fold cross-validation by withholding some phenotypes from the model fitting. Accuracies obtained directly from the model were very similar across different types of information, but cross-validation showed genomic information gave highest accuracies for all but one of the traits. No bias was observed for any of the trait- information combinations. Results demonstrate that the estimation of breeding values with genomic information in this study system is already competitive with the pedigree information, despite evidence that the marker panel did not capture the full genetic variance. Furthermore, accuracies with genomic information have the potential to significantly improve, unlike pedigree, by increasing the size of the training set and marker density.
Abstract
Rapporten presenterer resultater fra prosjektet «Demonstrasjon av omstilling til selektive hogster (DEMO)». Hovedmålet har vært å øke kunnskapen blant skogeiere, forvaltning og kunnskapsleverandører om omstilling av ensaldret skog til flersjiktet skog egnet for bledning. Metoden som har blitt testet er inspirert av forsøk i Nord-Amerika med omstilling av douglasgranplantasjer til skog med naturlig dynamikk. Der har man brukt ‘variable-density thinning’ (VDT) for å skape varierende tetthet som skal sette i gang foryngelsesprosesser på forskjellige tidspunkter og romlig spredt i bestandet. Metoden er her utviklet videre for å tilpasses omstilling til bledning i norsk skog med maskinell tynning. Det gis en beskrivelse av metoden, inkludert krav til egnede bestand. Det er gjennomført 15 praktiske drifter, samt etablert 4 feltforsøk hvor VDT testes ut. Erfaringene fra disse driftene utgjør grunnlaget for våre resultater og konklusjoner. Hovedfokuset har vært å teste metoden i grandominert skog. Det har imidlertid også vært interesse blant skogforvaltere for å teste metoden i furubestand. En tilpasning for å legge til rette for framtidig bledning i furudominert skog er derfor også beskrevet. De praktiske driftene og forsøksfeltene muliggjør undersøkelser av den videre utviklingen i bestandene de neste årtiene. Stikkord er etablering av foryngelse, vekstreaksjoner, stabilitet mot vindfelling, trærnes reaksjoner i tørkeperioder, og reaksjoner på skogbildet blant rekreasjonsbrukere.
Authors
Seija Tuulentie Therese Bjärstig Inger Hansen Unni Støbet Lande Paul McLean Jani Pellikka Rainer Peltola Jasmine ZhangAbstract
• Sustainable forest management approaches, regardless of whether they involve continuous cover forestry (CCF) or rotation forestry (RF), require a holistic landscape perspective that acknowledges the multiple interests, values, and uses that depend on the locally relevant economic, ecological, and socio-cultural circumstances. These must be considered alongside the use of forests and forest landscapes as a resource for rural development. • Forests provide a wide range of goods and services. Those addressed here (i.e. tourism, recreation, health, grazing, non-timber forest products, and societal protection from natural hazards) are a subset of all of those potential services that are already considered to be of special significance for the Nordic region. • Most recreational users consider variation in the forest landscape and longdistance views as visually attractive but think that clearcuttings and soil tilling are harmful. • In general, CCF favours bilberries, while lingonberries and some mushrooms benefit from even-aged forestry. • Owing to the many and varied demands relating to forests and forest landscapes in Norway, Sweden, and Finland, CCF-supported multiple-use strategies and planning will need to consider stakeholder requirements more, now and in the future, than is currently the case.
Division of Forest and Forest Resources
A Decision Support System for emerging forest management alternatives
This project aims to develop advanced tree growth models using LiDAR-derived, high-density point cloud data to improve the simulation of forest dynamics under close-to-nature silvicultural practices. By modeling tree-level growth in structurally complex and heterogeneous stands, these models will support more accurate, spatially explicit forest simulations and inform sustainable and diversified forest management decisions.
Division of Environment and Natural Resources
Precilience: Precision climate resilience for agriculture and forestry sectors in the European boreal regions
Precilience will develop precision solutions with farmers, foresters, landowners, and other actors to increase climate resilience in the Nordic-Baltic regions of Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Norway and Sweden.