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The effect of tending and commercial thinning on the genetic diversity of Scots pine stands

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Abstract

The objective of this study was to estimate the effect of pre-commercial tending and commercial thinning on the genetic diversity parameters, especially rare allele loss and diameter–heterozygosity associations, in Scots pine stands by retrospectively modelling the removal of inferior/superior trees. Modelling was based on empirical data of DNA polymorphism in (a) a 60-year-old natural stand and (b) a 20-year-old young stand planted with seeds collected in a seed orchard. Within each of these stands, approximately 400 trees were systematically sampled within 1-ha plots (800 trees in total) and genotyped at 5 neutral and 7 EST-derived nuclear microsatellite markers. There was no significant association between heterozygosity, common allele number and tree diameter in either stand. Even at a high intensity, both simulated tending and commercial thinning had minor effects on the heterozygosity and allelic diversity but caused a significant loss of rare alleles. However, there was a nonlinear relationship between the loss of rare alleles and the thinning intensity in the young stand, such that below 30 % thinning intensity, the rare alleles were lost at a markedly lower rate. In conclusion, the association between commercial value and genetic diversity is weak in Scots pine. Thinning causes loss of rare alleles; however, for specific cases, it could be possible to identify the margins for a slow rate of rare allele loss.

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Acknowledgments

This study was conducted within the framework of the Ministry of Science and Education of the Lithuanian research project No. VP1-3.1-ŠMM-08-K-01-025 entitled “Specific, genetic diversity and sustainable development of Scots pine forest to mitigate the negative effects of increased human pressure and climate change”, which was supported by the EU Social Fund.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Forest Biology and Silviculture, Faculty of Forest and Ecology, Aleksandras Stulginskis University, Studentų str. 11, Akademija, 53361, Kaunas Distr., Lithuania

    Darius Danusevicius, Vilma Kerpauskaite & Darius Kavaliauskas

  2. Bavarian Office for Forest Seeding and Planting, Am Forstamtsplatz 1, 83317, Teisendorf, Germany

    Barbara Fussi & Monika Konnert

  3. Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry, Institute of Forestry, Liepų str. 1, Girionys, 53101, Kaunas Distr., Lithuania

    Darius Danusevicius & Virgilijus Baliuckas

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  1. Darius Danusevicius
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  2. Vilma Kerpauskaite
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  3. Darius Kavaliauskas
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  4. Barbara Fussi
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  5. Monika Konnert
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  6. Virgilijus Baliuckas
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Correspondence to Darius Danusevicius.

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Danusevicius, D., Kerpauskaite, V., Kavaliauskas, D. et al. The effect of tending and commercial thinning on the genetic diversity of Scots pine stands. Eur J Forest Res 135, 1159–1174 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10342-016-1002-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10342-016-1002-7

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