9:30 am - 10:30 am
760 General Services Building, University of Alberta, Edmonton AB
Event details: A graduate exam seminar is a presentation of the student’s final research project for their degree.
This is an ALES MSc Final Exam Seminar by Benjamin Panes. This seminar is open to the general public to attend.
Zoom Link: https://ualberta-ca.zoom.us/j/94235824372?pwd=ejdvRjNYcFV3ODFidnhyTVFYajZvQT09
MSc with Drs. Charles Nock and Andreas Hamann.
Thesis Topic: Drought tolerance of western Canadian forests tree species inferred from dendrochronology
Abstract:
Western Canadian forests have been subject to periods of drought stress due to climate change, resulting in growth reductions and dieback. To contribute to adaptive forest management, this study compares drought vulnerabilities of eight common western Canadian tree species based on 392 tree-ring chronologies, which were assessed for drought resistance, resilience and recovery. The results show that the most severe drought impacts occurred in white spruce and jack pine in the north, rather than at the southern fringe of the boreal forest, suggesting lack of adaptive traits in northern populations. Also, interior Douglas-fir was most vulnerable to drought at the northern edge of its distribution and should not be planted beyond its northern subboreal range limitations despite significant regional warming trends. In moister submontane ecosystems, Douglas-fir and limber pine showed the least drought resistance, but all species recovered well from drought events, providing regional climate change refugia.
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