Skip to Main Content
-
Macro-scale assessment of demographic and environmental variation within genetically derived evolutionary lineages of eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis), an imperiled conifer of the eastern United States
Author(s): Anantha M. Prasad; Kevin M. Potter
Date: 2017
Source: Biodiversity and Conservation
Publication Series: Scientific Journal (JRNL)
Station: Southern Research Station
PDF: Download Publication (1.0 MB)Description
Eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) occupies a large swath of eastern North America and has historically undergone range expansion and contraction resulting in several genetically separate lineages. This conifer is currently experiencing mortality across most of its range following infestation of a non-native insect. With the goal of better understanding the current and future conservation potential of the species, we evaluate ecological differences among populations within these genetically defined clusters, which were previously inferred using nuclear microsatellite molecular markers from 58 eastern hemlock populations. We sub-divide these clusters into four genetic zones to differentiate putative north-central, north-east and southeast (SE) and southwest evolutionary lineages in eastern hemlock. We use demographic data (relative abundance, mortality, and seedling regeneration) from the Forest Inventory Analysis program in conjunction with environmental data to model how these lineages respond to current and future climatic gradients. Ecologically meaningful relationships are explored in the intraspecific context of hemlock abundance distribution and then related to genetic variation. We also assess hemlock's colonization likelihood via a long distance dispersal model and explore its future genetic and ecological conservation potential by combining the future suitable habitats with colonization likelihoods. Results show that future habitats under climate change will markedlyPublication Notes
- You may send email to pubrequest@fs.fed.us to request a hard copy of this publication.
- (Please specify exactly which publication you are requesting and your mailing address.)
- We recommend that you also print this page and attach it to the printout of the article, to retain the full citation information.
- This article was written and prepared by U.S. Government employees on official time, and is therefore in the public domain.
Citation
Prasad, Anantha M.; Potter, Kevin M. 2017. Macro-scale assessment of demographic and environmental variation within genetically derived evolutionary lineages of eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis), an imperiled conifer of the eastern United States. Biodiversity and Conservation. 26: 2223-2249. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-017-1354-4.Cited
Keywords
Genetic variation, Environmental variation, Intraspecific variation, Genetic zones, Evolutionary lineages, Climate changeRelated Search
- Silvical characteristics of eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis)
- Growth and stocking of eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) in New England
- Eastern hemlock: a market perspective
XML: View XML
Show More
Show Fewer
https://www.fs.usda.gov/treesearch/pubs/54092