Transcript Promoting resilience of UK tree species to novel pests

Promoting resilience of UK
tree species to novel pests
and pathogens:
ecological and evolutionary
solutions
ProjectProject
consortium
consortium
Tree species
A tree species is….
Organisms on and in tree
Tree characteristics
All measurable traits
of a tree
Tree genes
Genetics of an
individual tree
varies with
genotype,
environment
varies with
genotype,
phenotype,
environment
Rationale
Rationale
Want to protect tree species, but:
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Many different known pests / diseases
Unknown threats
Changing conditions
So, to increase resilience:
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Reduce susceptibility:
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Understand threats & how our actions
may exacerbate problems
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Increase number of resistant genotypes
 allow adaptive change
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Reduce tree stress
 Understand local adaptation
 Match tree to environment
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Find management options
PROTREE
Objectives
Objectives
Using Scots pine as a case study
1. Measure variation in host tree species:
• Tree genes
• Tree characteristics
• Organisms on and in tree
2. Assess 3 key threat species:
• Present, widespread
• Present, localised
• Not present, potential
3. Find management options for
increasing resilience.
• Modelling
• Stakeholder engagement
• Extension to other species
VARIATION IN THE HOST
TREE SPECIES
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Tree genes
Tree characteristics
Organisms on and in tree
Experimental trial in Scots pine
21 source
populations
3 planting sites
INVEREWE
GLENSAUGH
YAIR
YAIR
Warm
Dry
Figure: Glenn Iason
Trial maintenance
& assessments
Trial maintenance
and assessments
Traits measured: x3 sites = 1848 trees
• Tree phenotype:
• Survival, Height, Diameter
• Bud flush date - multiple dates
• Flowering first occurrence & rates
• Needle collection - biochemistry
• Extended phenotype:
• Insect association / damage
• Endophytic fungi by metabarcoding (sequencing everything)
Budburst development stages, 2015
New DNA methods
Two new techniques:
1. Identification of needle
fungi
2. Fingerprinting Scots
pine
THE THREAT ORGANISMS
− Dothistroma Needle Blight (Dothistroma
septosporum)
− Pine tree Lappet moth (Dendrolimus pini)
− Pine pitch Canker (Fusarium circinatum_
Variation in resistance to Fusarium circinatum
Photo: Steve Woodward
Variation in resistance to Fusarium circinatum
• Trials of Scots pine
versus Fusarium
carried out in Spain
• Damping-off:
– Low spore densities:
55-80% damping off
– Variation in mortality
rate
– All died within 21 days
• 8-month old seedlings:
– (preliminary) :
symptoms developing
more slowly in some
provenances
Variation in resistance to Pinetree Lappet Moth
© Crown Copyright Forestry Commission
Lappet Lappet
moth feeding
trial trial
Moth feeding
• Lappet moth experimental population established in lab at
NRS
• Foliage from multiple provenances collected and supplied to
lab population
• Assessments ongoing to relate larval growth and fitness to
host tree variation:
 Phytochemical (terpenoids, oxidative phenolics, [alkaloids?])
 Needle morphology
 Needle toughness
 Use common garden experiment to tease apart how G
(Population/Family) and E influences variation in these, and
identify resistant trees.
FINDING MANAGEMENT
OPTIONS
−Modelling
−Stakeholder engagement
Modelling eco-evolutionary dynamics of tree communities
• Joint challenge of rapid climate change and increasing introduction of
novel pests and diseases
• Multi-species individual-based model:
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Status of environment varies from year to year
Trees compete to ensure gaps filled with their offspring
Winner is offspring who most closely matches current temperature
Allelic inheritance  selection to match the environment
After community equilibrates to a ‘burn-in’ environment, apply rapid
environmental change + pest outbreaks
• Can trees adapt quickly enough?
Science – Policy – Practitioner Interaction
• First SPPI meeting – CEH, 15th December
2014:
Attendance: Project team + 22 external
SPPI members
Workshop aims :
 Introduce project
 Project team and other stakeholder
interaction
 Discussion of key issues
Showcased communication media and
asked participants to complete a
questionnaire to best target future
communication in the project.
 Workshop report
Knowledge Exchange Strategy
Strategy developed based on the
questionnaire (stakeholder meeting)
and project communications team
discussions
Commissioned a short film on PROTREE
for wider dissemination
Developed stakeholder engagement
plan (smaller meetings, event diary)
 Site visits: a number of SPPI members
visited Alba Trees to better understand the
perspectives and challenges facing
nurseries.
Materials for travelling exhibit designed
Commissioned computer game for
education / dissemination
ProjectThanks
consortium
to all…..
Joan Cottrell, Mariella Marzano, Kath
Tubby, Roger Moore, Anna Brown, Martin
Mullet
Glenn Iason, Joan Beaton
Peter Hoebe, Marta
Piotrowska
Jo Taylor, Chris Ellis, Max
Coleman
Stephen Cavers, Annika Perry, Dan
Chapman, Kevin Donnelly, Witold
Wachowiak, Karsten Schonrogge,
Melanie Gibbs, Anna Oliver
Steve Woodward, Hazel
Davidson
Richard Ennos, Carolyn Riddell