Session: Climate Change: Implications for Restoration and Plant Materials
Wednesday 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Ballroom 1
Kayri Havens, Moderator
10:00 a.m.
Plant responses to climate change: phenology, adaptation, migration
Kayri Havens
Presentation (PDF)
Faced with a changing climate, plants may respond via plasticity, such as by altering flowering phenology. Over time, plants may either adapt to the new climatic conditions, migrate to regions where climatic conditions are more suitable, or go extinct locally or globally. Phenological shifts are well documented in many plant species, with most of the species studied exhibiting earlier leaf break and flowering in response to warming temperatures. Some studies have suggested that phenology changes in plants are better explained by temperature than in animals, suggesting there may be phenological mismatches between plants and their animal mutualists (pollinators and seed dispersal agents) as the climate warms, thereby limiting reproductive success. During past changes in climate, plant species were able to respond by adaptive evolution and/or shifting latitude or elevation. However, the potential to respond to today’s rapid climate change is limited by the speed of climate change and land use changes that curtail gene flow and migratory routes. These novel selective forces will favor species with quick generation times and long dispersal distances, including the ability to disperse over habitat gaps. Therefore weedy species are expected to fare much better under climate change than conservative or rare taxa.
Kayri Havens holds a B.S. and an M.A. in Botany from Southern Illinois University and a Ph.D. in Biology from Indiana University. She spent three years as the Conservation Biologist at Missouri Botanical Garden before joining the Chicago Botanic Garden in April 1997. She is currently the Garden’s Director of the Division of Plant Science and Conservation and Senior Scientist. Her research interests include the effects of climate change on plant species, restoration genetics, the biology of plant rarity and invasiveness. She is on the adjunct faculty of Loyola University, Northwestern University and the University of Illinois-Chicago and collaborates with a variety of academic institutions and stewardship organizations to help improve conservation efforts for plants. She serves on the boards of Midwest Invasive Plant Network and Botanic Gardens Conservation International and on the IUCN Species Survival Commission Plants Committee.
10:30 a.m.
How will native plant populations adapt to climate change?
Julie Etterson
Presentation (PDF)
Climate change will alter the environment that plants experience across their ranges. For a species with a broad geographic distribution, one might expect that the climate will be ameliorated at the northern fringe of the range with global warming. However, this depends critically upon the extent to which populations are locally adapted to northern conditions. If populations are locally adapted, northern genotypes may remain within the band of suitable climate through dispersal and spread into higher latitudes. If, however, the rate of climate changes exceeds the rate of migration, the persistence of populations may depend more heavily upon adaptive evolution in situ. I present results from a study that examined the potential for adaptive evolution to hotter and drier climates of a native prairie legume, Chamaecrista fasciculata, at its northern range limit in Minnesota, USA. To mimic predicted temporal change in climate, MN genotypes produced from formal crosses were planted in progressively more arid sites down the Great Plains. The Minnesota population was found to be locally adapted to the northern climate as indicated by severe reductions in seed output when grown in more southerly sites. These results will be compared to provenance trials of tree species. Collectively, these studies suggest that if climate changes as predicted, northern populations will face a severe evolutionary challenge due to genetic constraints and demographic instability due to lower seed production in hotter and drier climates. I will also discuss a new initiative, called ?Projet Baseline,? whose goal is to collect and store seeds now for future studies of evolution in response to anthropogenic change using a resurrection approach.
Julie has been Associate Professor at UMD since fall 2002. The goal of her research is to understand genetic and ecological factors that influence the rate of adaptive evolution in natural plant populations. Julie uses the tools of quantitative genetics to explore the underlying genetic architecture of populations and to elucidate patterns of natural selection. She is currently studying whether the rate of adaptive evolution differs among ploidy levels in the native goldenrod, Solidago altissima, using artificial selection in response to drought. Students in her lab have examined different ecological genetic questions including the impact on native populations of invasive species and genotypes using both quantitative and molecular approaches.
11:00 a.m.
Is assisted migration a viable adaptation strategy in the face of climate change?
Pati Vitt
Presentation (PDF)
Rapid climate change has the potential to alter the climatic regime of many plant species globally. Plant species will respond variously via phenotypic plasticity, evolutionary adaptation, migration, or extinction. Using Species Distribution Model to predict how the bioclimatic envelopes for individual species might shift can provide insight into conservation strategies, including seed banking. When fragmentation limits the migration potential or when natural migration rates are outstripped by the pace of climate change, some propose purposeful, human-mediated migration (assisted migration or manage relocation) as a solution. We present a strategy to collect and bank seeds of plant species at risk of extinction in the face of rapid climate change to ensure that emerging habitats are as species-diverse as possible.
Pati Vitt is the Roger and Susan Stone Curator of the Dixon National Tallgrass Prairie Seed Bank at the Chicago Botanic Garden. She has worked at CBG for ten years, and is interested in the reproductive ecology and demography of rare plants. She earned her PhD in 1997 from the University of Connecticut, where she studied local differentiation of size at gender change in Jack-in-the-Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum), and a Master’s degree from the University of Maine, where she looked at the effects of reproduction on the demography of the Federally Endangered Small Whorled Pogonia (Isotria medeoloides). She has learned over the past few years that every aspect of biology and ecology needs to be taken into consideration when creating a strategy to collect and bank seeds. That’s what makes the task both fascinating and daunting.
11:30 a.m.
Assessing candidate Seeds of Success species for vulnerability to climate change
Bruce E. Young
Presentation (PDF)
For many years, Seeds of Success has targeted species for seed collection to support high-priority conservation, research, and restoration objectives. However, the threat of climate change suggests an additional important selection criterion: considering species’ potential climate change vulnerability so that appropriate species and genetic diversity can be safeguarded. We will use NatureServe’s recently developed Climate Change Vulnerability Index to assess hundreds of seed collection candidate species, determining the relative risk posed by climate change to each. The Index uses the degree of predicted temperature and moisture change across the range of a species (= direct climate change exposure) to weight how the species scores against four indirect exposure and sixteen species-specific sensitivity factors (= climate change sensitivity), yielding an overall vulnerability score. The results will highlight particularly vulnerable species as well as their risk factors. Seeds of Success can use this information to ensure that diverse and ecologically appropriate native plant materials continue to be available as managers evolve their strategies to facilitate ecosystem adaptation to climate change.
As Director of Species Science, Bruce Young coordinates NatureServe’s Botany and Zoology programs, the premier source for conservation status information for over 20,000 North American species. He has a Ph.D. from the University of Washington and 20 years of professional experience in biodiversity conservation throughout the Americas. He coauthored NatureServe’s climate change strategy and led the development of a Climate Change Vulnerability Index as a means of rapidly assessing the relative vulnerability of plants and animals to climate change. In addition, he has led analyses of the vulnerability of Andean ecosystems to climate change.
1:30 p.m.
Seed movement and climate change from a Forest Service Prespective
Randy Johnson
Presentation (PDF)
The USDA Forest Service (USFS) Native plant restoration policy calls for use of “genetically appropriate” native plant material on USFS lands. This is typically accomplished by delineating seed zones to restrict seed movement to ensure locally-adapted plant material is used in restoration / reforestation / rehabilitation efforts. Given that the climate is changing more rapidly than any time in the recent past, our starting point of “local is best” may not be the optimal option given that local climates have changed over the last few decades and even more change is forecasted in the future. While the USFS policy has not changed, USFS Regional Geneticists, along with USFS researchers, came together for a 3-day workshop to discuss seed movement options in light of climate change (a paper is forthcoming). The workshop centered on forest trees, not smaller native plants. Discussions acknowledged that climate has already changed in the last few decades (surface temperature has warmed about 1°F) and that certain forest tree species have migrated in some places. Both genetic theory and species migration models suggest that climate change will impact species differently. The impact of climate change on a species will be function of lifespan, mating system, dispersal capabilities, habitat specialization, genetic variation, population size, pest/pathogen interactions, etc. Key points coming out of the meeting included: (1) The importance of deploying genetically diverse populations in our restoration efforts. (2) Local sources still appear to be appropriate choices at present, but including additional sources from adjacent seed zones could provide the variation needed for the future. (3) At least one region is moving seed up one elevation or “north” one cold hardiness band. (4) We will take minimal risks over large scales and larger risks at smaller scales (i.e., only do assisted migration studies over large distances on experimental scales). (5) The need for gene conservation programs is increasing in light of climate change. (6) For most species, we have no genetic data (common garden / provenance trials) to assist with making seed movement guidelines and research is needed.
Randy Johnson is the National Program Leader for climate change (acting) and genetics research with the USDA Forest Service in Washington DC. This work involves issues of climate change, biofuels, biotechnology, breeding, genomics, gene conservation and forest health. Previous to this position he was a research geneticist with the Forest Service in Corvallis OR where his areas of interest were restoration genetics, genetics of disease resistance and wood quality, genecology, gene conservation and improving the efficiency of tree breeding programs. Other past positions include, research geneticist with the ARS (1992-94), geneticist and director of the New Zealand radiate pine breeding cooperative at the Forest Research Institute in Rotorua NZ (1986-89), and tree improvement forester with JARI Florestal in Brazil (1980-81). He has a BS in forestry from the University of Illinois, a MS in forest soils from North Carolina State University and a Ph.D. in forest genetics from NSCU.
2:00 p.m.
What Do We Think? Results of an International Survey on Restoration and Climate Change
Tom Kaye
Presentation (PDF)
Climate change may be the defining challenge to the field of restoration ecology this century. How does the wider restoration community currently approach the challenges of habitat and species restoration, and how is this approach likely to shift if the climate changes locally and globally? Understanding how people conduct or support restoration is crucial to engaging in discussions that move our field forward in the face of changing environments. We conducted an international survey of over 1000 restoration practitioners and ecologists to gather information on their perspectives about these issues. We asked a series of twenty questions focused on the restoration process and obtaining organisms for restoration, climate change, and moving species in response to climate change. Survey results suggest that practitioners are somewhat split in their preferences around sources of organisms; 55% prefer native source material from close sources and 32% prefer them from similar habitats, not necessarily the closest source. A majority prefer organisms from a mix of populations (71%) compared to single sources (10%). Regarding genetic issues during captive production, practitioners ranked loss of genetic diversity above domestication selection or outbreeding depression. A strong majority (89%) of respondents were convinced that climate change is underway, and many (75%) believed that the practice of restoration should be modified to anticipate it. For example, the practice of setting restoration goals to match historic conditions may become infrequent or no longer used by many (65%) if climate changes. Many practitioners were cautious about moving species in response to climate change. For example, moving species beyond their historic range was unpopular (10% said ‘yes’ while 30% chose ‘maybe’) unless the species faces extinction. In contrast, moving species within their historic range but between watersheds was acceptable to many (56% said ‘yes’ and 22% said ‘maybe’). Also, respondents were somewhat (42%) or very (55%) concerned that species moved in response to climate change could become invasive in a new area. These survey results suggest many commonalities among restorationists regarding the major issues they face while conducting restoration, obtaining organisms, and responding to climate change. In particular, there is widespread agreement that restoration should respond to shifting climates but exactly how to respond remains controversial.
Tom Kaye is Executive Director of the Institute for Applied Ecology (IAE), a non-profit organization dedicated to conservation of native species and habitats through restoration, research and education. He is also a Courtesy Assistant Professor at Oregon State University. Tom has a BS from The Evergreen State College (1980), and MSc (1989) and PhD (2001) from Oregon State University. After working for Olympic National Park (1984-1987), he joined the Oregon Department of Agriculture’s Plant Conservation Biology Program (1988-2000) where he conducted research and contributed to policy for management of threatened and endangered plant species. He has served on the IUCN Species Survival Commission, Re-introduction Specialist Group. Tom’s current area of research includes endangered species reintroduction and response to climate change, exotic species invasion dynamics, prairie restoration, and population viability analyses. Much of his recent work has focused on conservation planning in Oregon.
2:30 p.m.
Implications of Climate Change for Selection and Use of Native Plant Materials: Synthesis and Discussion
Cara R. Nelson
Presentation (PDF)
There is increasing recognition that restoration efforts will only succeed in the long-term if native plant materials are competitive under novel environmental conditions expected to result from climate change, and against highly aggressive invasive plants. Despite this recognition, existing policies emphasize the use of locally adapted genetic material rather than material that is most likely to be resilient to future bio-physical conditions. Similarly, there are few examples of restoration projects that successfully incorporate changing climate into the selection and use of native plant materials for restoration. This presentation will synthesize key research and management needs related to selection of native plant materials given anticipated climate change, and will include audience discussion of cutting-edge approaches and ideas.
Cara R. Nelson is an Assistant Professor of Restoration Ecology and chair of the Wildland Restoration Curriculum at University of Montana’s College of Forestry and Conservation. Her research focuses on two main areas: the effects of large-scale disturbance, management activities, and environmental stress on forest vegetation; and strategies for restoring native plant communities after disturbance. She received Master of Science degrees in Conservation Biology and in Forestry from the University of Wisconsin, and a Ph.D. in Forest Ecosystem Analysis from the University of Washington. Cara serves on the Executive Committee of the Society for Ecological Restoration and is currently helping the Society to develop a professional certification program for restoration practitioners.
