Relating genetic variation and stability of forest genetic reseourches: A metapopulation approach

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Martin Ziehe
• Subject Area: Forestry
• Term: from 2008 to 2013
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 63383208

Forest gene conservation efforts aim to maintain the genetic diversity that enables a species to persist under variable environmental conditions. Due to the dynamics and spatial structuring inherent in populations conserved in situ and ex situ, resource managers must be aware of relationships between the distribution of genetic variation and resource stability and how these are affected by determinants of population dynamics. During the current initial grant period, emphasis has been shifted away from the previous more conceptual approach towards a more practice-oriented investigation of the measurement of genetic variation and its role in the persistence of forest genetic resources, many of which are divided into more or less isolated subpopulations that together form a metapopulation. The objective of this renewal proposal is thus to analyze and develop descriptors of genetic variation suitable for revealing relationships between genetic variation and stability of forest genetic resources using a metapopulation approach. The work schedule comprises further development of our stochastic metapopulation model, analysis and development of descriptors of metapopulation stability and genetic variation, investigation of the effects of various determinants of population dynamics on genetic variation and metapopulation stability, interpretation of descriptors in special cases of the metapopulation model, and formulation of recommendations for the design and monitoring of conservation measures. Software and a Workshop will aid in the dissemination of our results.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants