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Tree Genetics – Concepts and Applications
Last Updated: 2026-02-05 15:34:13
Abstract
Trees are important elements and drivers of ecosystem processes in forests and landscapes. Tree species diversity and intraspecific genetic diversity are relevant factors for continuous adaptation, required for a sustainable maintenance of forest products and services. Sustainable forest and landscape management under climate change has to take forest genetic resources into consideration.
Objective
The educational goals of the course are: To know basic concepts of evolution and molecular and quantitative methods of genetics. To understand the most relevant processes of gene flow, adaptation and species interactions, on the basis of ecological theories and case studies on forest tree species. To know management principles and instruments for the promotion and the conservation of forest genetic resources, with a view on application in practice.
Content
The course provides a comprehensive overview on concepts and applications of tree genetics and complements basic knowledge of biology, dendrology, forest ecology and forest management in the frame of forest and landscape management topics. It introduces concepts of evolution and genetic methods as foundations, explains the most important processes and drivers of gene flow and adaptation, including coevolutionary aspects of associated organisms, and shows relevant topics of the management of genetic resources from reproduction to conservation and monitoring. Theories and their application into practice are illustrated on behalf of case studies on forest tree species. Two full-day excursions illustrate the contents with exemplary objects, actors and applications in Switzerland.
Resources
Lecture Notes
Script: modular slide script, 2020 (parts by each lecturer).Textbook: collection of accompanying or background articles according to detailed contents (to be defined).
Literature
Groover & Cronk (eds.), 2017: Comparative and Evolutionary Genomics of Angiosperm Trees. Springer. 366 p. Neale & Wheeler, 2019: The Conifers: Genomes, Variation and Evolution. Springer. 590 p. Hattemer & Ziehe, 2019: Erhaltung forstgenetischer Ressourcen. Grundlagen und Beispiele. Universitätsverlag Göttingen. 553 p. Holderegger & Segelbacher (eds.), 2016: Naturschutzgenetik. Haupt. 247 p. Pluess, Augustin & Brang (eds.), 2016: Wald im Klimawandel. Grundlagen für Adaptationsstrategien. (selected chapters 3.2, 5.2)
General Information
- Language
- English
- Levels
- MSC
- Frequency
- Yearly recurring
Examination
- Type
- session examination
- Mode
- written 90 minutes
- Aids
- keine
Course Components
| Type | Title | Time & Place | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| lecture with exercise |
Tree Genetics – Concepts and Applications
online teaching starting Nov 3rd.
The planned excursions will be replaced by group work.
|
|
2 h weekly |