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General Overview

The primary focus of SEEDSOURCE is to communicate, to people who use trees (e.g. foresters, farmers, conservationists), the necessary information on germplasm sourcing and utilisation to ensure that harvested systems use the best adapted material, that maximises production and profit, without eroding genetic diversity; and that regenerative projects adopt strategies that maximise the recruitment potential of natural systems to maintain ecosystem diversity and their long term adaptive potential. The project aims to provide sourcing and utilisation information for 50 of the most socio-economically important tree species in each of the Central and South American tropics (chosen based on extensive socio-economic survey and literature and after consultation with end users and stake holders during the initial startup phase of the project). These guidelines will be based on criteria and indicators developed from experimental project data of 12 study species for which studies on adaptive variation, genetic diversity, gene flow and regenerative capacity are combined with available background information and interpreted using meta-data analysis and simulation modelling procedures. Using this integrated approach, SEEDSOURCE will provide best practice policies for sourcing germplasm for reforestation within a range of degraded landscapes (logged forest, fragmented stands, degraded secondary forest and remnant trees isolated in abandoned farm land), and for trees with a range of lifestyles (pioneer or forest dependent) that are key components of a diverse ecosystem composition. This information will be individually tailored and targeted for uptake by different forestry and farming stakeholders (e.g. international and national policy makers, seed banks, forest management certifiers, conservationists, educators and extension workers dealing directly with farmers).

Project Objectives

The overall objective of SEEDSOURCE is to provide best practice policies for sourcing tree germplasm for use within a range of degraded landscapes to ensure the use of best adapted material, that maximises production, without eroding genetic and ecosystem diversity and long term adaptive potential.

SEEDSOURCE will apply appropriate molecular and quantitative genetic tools to study both aspects of scale (populations and trees within them) in the sourcing of germplasm for varied use of widespread tree species of high socioeconomic importance in the neotropics.

The integration of climatic, topographic and substrate information with genetic differentiation and diversity estimates from non-coding and potentially coding genetic markers and adaptive performance from growth trials will produce appropriate translocation guidelines and seed source maps for each of 12 study species of the SEEDSOURCE project.

Appropriate application of hypervariable molecular markers will assess individual mating parameters and will be combined with quantitative assessment of the performance of seed sourced from a variety of forest landscapes (from continuous forest to remnant trees in farm land) and pollination conditions. Recommendations will be produced on the origin of germplasm to select for future tree establishment

A metapopulation model will be developed to test the sensitivity of defined seed source areas/restrictions to translocations.

The ECOGENE model will be developed and used as tool to study genetic impacts within agroecosystems landscapes and relevant to the local environment of individual trees.

A combined field derived data and modelling approach will facilitate the development of informed management strategies for planting and natural regeneration for each study species.

50 of the most socio-economically important tree species within each of the Central American and South American tropics will be classified for their genetic and flowering/reproductive syndromes, and the most appropriate seed sourcing strategies identified for each under a variety of management scenarios. Dissemination of this information in a practical and relevant format will target relevant forestry and agroforestry stakeholders across tropical Latin America (e.g. policy makers, seed banks, forest management certifiers and educators).

Detailed overview

The SEEDSOURCE project contains specific work areas devoted to researching the genetic and quantitative variation across the geographic range and at the landscape scale of 12 study species. At the range wide scale, molecular markers that allow phylogeographic reconstruction, assessment of neutral genetic diversity and screening of variation within candidate adaptive genes will be combined with analysis of quantitative performance of field material in provenance trials and from reciprocal transplant experiments to determine major genetic and quantitative discontinuities and centres of diversity and across of species range. At the landscape scale, hypervariable genetic markers will be used to assess breeding parameters and performance for trees of each study species growing within a range of landscape conditions in which they typically occur in the Latin American tropics (from continuous forest to remnant trees in farm land). Reproductive performance will be correlated with growth and survival performance of seedlings within these different landscapes and in reciprocal transplant experiments, at both local and regional scales. In addition, the ability of natural regeneration and assisted replanting methods will be quantitatively assessed for potential to regenerate species diverse and balanced forest from a range of degraded landscapes (e.g. logged sites or a range of farming systems and exploited landscapes with differing levels of tree cover).

New statistical procedures to describe genetic differentiation for the range of neutral, coding and quantitative variation will be explored to produce simple diagnostic methods for defining seed sourcing guidelines. For the 12 study species diversity, gene flow and quantitative performance data will be inputted from the experimental results of the project. For the 50 economically important trees in Central and South America, criteria and indicators developed by meta-analysis and simulation modelling of results from the study species will be used to identify typical responses for a range of species groups and to develop extended species guidelines.

Activities to explore the best methods to disseminate the research from the project will also integrate the vast array of information produced. Meta analysis of data will be undertaken to identify overriding trends that can be disseminated, while appropriate data will be input into databases and made accessible through the project website. The key outputs from the project will be: a) the generation of basic ecological, evolutionary, mating system, gene flow and genetic structure data, and b) recommendations for seed sourcing of 50 socio-economically important trees within each of Central and South America, within a range of natural and exploited landscapes, to establish diverse and balanced forest ecosystems by natural regeneration and supplemented planting methods. Seed sourcing and reforestation guidelines will be disseminated to a range of end users and stakeholders in the forestry and agroforestry community (including extension workers, foresters, national and international policy makers, NGOs, GOs, international forestry, conservation and certification organisations) through a range of appropriate extension methods (workshops, books, pamphlets, briefing notes, produced in a range of local and indigenous languages). Biological data will be disseminated to the academic community through journal and book publications, via oral and poster presentations at conferences and over the internet.

To maximise project coherence the 12 work packages of SEEDSOURCE are organised into 4 core areas, reflecting the focus and balance of importance of subjects. Each core area is managed separately to ensure timely production of outputs and effective communication between core areas. Such communication is essential if the project is to achieve its broader developmental goals.
The core areas are:
CA1: Adaptive variation and genetic differentiation at a range-wide scale (WP1-3)
CA2: Diversity, reproductive performance and recruitment at the landscape scale (WP4-6)
CA3: Analysis and prioritisation of regional and local sourcing strategies (WP7-9)
CA4: Knowledge gathering, integration and dissemination of priorities (WP10-11)

CA1: Adaptive variation and genetic differentiation at a range-wide scale

(WORK PACKAGES WP1 – WP3)
For case study species, Core Area 1 will evaluate a range of populations for levels of genetic diversity and differentiation, as well as for a range of quantitative traits related to performance/selection. It will also estimate the scale of “home-site advantage” (localised adaptation) among populations of 2 species through establishment of a network of trials. Local populations are seen as desirable for both conservation and genetic improvement efforts, although defining the limits of “local” is problematic. An additional issue associated with a current shift towards planting for environmental objectives is that germplasm selection for production forestry is generally based on growth, form and other commercial criteria. In contrast, planting/regeneration under more natural conditions (e.g. for ecological restoration) requires an emphasis on different traits such as reproductive vigour, seed and seedling survival, ability to compete with other species, and long-term adaptation. Furthermore, domestication and selection for plantation forestry may compromise adaptive capacity, either through inadvertent selection against such traits, or simply through loss of genetic diversity. A principal aim of Core Area 1 is to relate the scale of adaptation and quantitative variation to existing seed sourcing practices (examined under CA4) to provide recommendations on seed source selection for plantation and natural regeneration/ecological restoration of case study species.

CA2: Diversity, reproductive performance and recruitment at the landscape scale

(WORK PACKAGES WP4 – WP6)
Recent research shows that trees in a range of agroforestry systems may play an important, but varied, role in the long term genetic viability of many native tree species (facilitation of gene flow between reserves, conservation of particular genotypes not found in reserves and/or maintenance of minimum viable populations). However, the benefits and effects are more complex than at first might be predicted and appear to vary from species to species. Most forest tree seed for planting is collected from trees within disturbed agroecosystem landscapes, rather than in natural forest. Questions have been raised about the suitability of such material, with suggestions that the local environment surrounding a tree can have a significant impact on the vigour of progeny produced. Evidence on the quantity and quality of seed produced is however contradictory and currently insufficient to draw more general conclusions. There is an urgent need for studies that can facilitate the development of clear and practical guidelines specifying under what circumstances and for which types of species collection of such germplasm is inadvisable and what alternative sources are feasible. Similarly the use of non native provenances of native species may impact on both the conservation and ultimate vigour and adaptation of native populations through outbreeding depression.

The characteristics of the landscape in which trees are located can have a dramatic affect on the reproductive dynamics of species. The work done on this subject to date has not gone much beyond the demonstration of these effects, and little work has concentrated on the consequences for seed selection and natural regeneration. It is now crucial to determine the broader, medium and long-term implications for the management of tree species populations and forest landscape restoration in the neotropics, emphasizing species replicated within biological or ecological groups such as regeneration guilds in order to generate management recommendations at the group level.

CA3: Analysis and prioritisation of regional and landscape sourcing and management

(WORK PACKAGES WP7 – WP9)
The full interpretation of data is a prerequisite for a successful project. Issues of data compatibility, analysis techniques and simulating biological response from known and even unknown landscape changes are key to the process of data interpretation. This core area tackles the issues around data compatibility, the questions and methods to undertake successful meta-analysis, and the simulation modelling approaches to be adopted to help identify and prioritise the key management recommendations (identified by core area 4), that can be advised from the wealth of biological and economically important data generated by the first 2 core areas.

CA4: Knowledge gathering, integration and dissemination of priorities

(WORK PACKAGES WP10 – WP12)
Communication between researchers and the ultimate end-users of the research is often the weakest link in the whole RTD process, particularly where the use of advanced technologies makes access to and interpretation of the results difficult for non-specialists. Recent research on neotropical trees (some from previous EU and other projects) has created a wealth of information with implications for seed collecting, but these are usually cast in impractical terms which are irrelevant to day-to-day resource management. Central to this project, therefore, is the awareness that researchers must take a proactive role in ensuring that the technical outputs of the project are translated into practical recommendations for more rational and sustainable use of genetic resources. Messages need to be simple, but many of the issues are complex and require scientists to work closely with dissemination experts to ensure the development, of clear, relevant and practical materials.

The aim of this core area is to ensure, through effective dissemination, that the research findings have a direct influence on policies and result in practitioners using and conserving genetic resources more effectively and sustainably. The activities within this core area will draw on the results of all the other core areas. Communication between researchers and end-users will be established and maintained through a number of activities.

Workpackage and Partner Summary

Role of partners

CEH (Partner 1) will take on the managerial role for Core Area 1 and assume responsibility for WP1. CEH has extensive experience, gained over many years of tropical research and management of tropical projects, of practices and processes involved in successful collation and dissemination of methods and materials, particularly in the area of genetic analysis. CEH have obtained considerable experience including with many of the current collaborators, in synthesising data from studies of genetic variation in tropical trees and will also assume management of WP8.

OFI (Partner 2) will be responsible for Core Area 4 and WP10 and WP11. Under this Core Area, data generated from previous research will be brought together with that obtained by SEEDSOURCE and put into context through integration with background data on individual species. The result will be practical, user friendly information which will be disseminated during and at the end of the project and that will have specific relevance to the targeted end user. OFI and CATIE have wide experience of working directly with extension agencies in the elaboration of materials at levels appropriate to a range of end users. INPA and PUCE also have wide experience in this area and the project will use these existing extension and dissemination networks to distribute results in a practical way. In this way a close link between the research and extension activities will be ensured.

INRA (Partner 3) will manage Core Area 3 and assume responsibility for WP3, using their background as the world leaders in analysis of evolutionary history in tree species (gained through successive, pioneering analyses of European Oaks as well as numerous tropical tree species) to maintain scientific focus in this area. Over the past decade INRA has coordinated some of the most influential and wide-ranging studies of genetic variation and processes in forest trees undertaken anywhere in the world. Their skills in this area ideally suit them for management of Core Area 3 covering analysis and modelling. In addition they have developed considerable knowledge of computer modelling of population genetic parameters in forest ecosystems and, in particular, a clear understanding of how to coordinate the collection of data to facilitate this. They will use the latter skills in managing WP9.

CNR (Partner 4), who have participated in many EU and international projects, will assume responsibility for WP5 and will significantly contribute to several other work packages. CNR is experienced in developing and using molecular markers in several forest species. Investigations have been carried out through interdisciplinary research on relevant aspects of population and conservation genetics of forest species. Analyses have been conducted on genetic variability using DNA markers for describing reproductive processes, geographic variation, spatial genetic structure, and for understanding migration history in the post-glacial period. Expertise is also available on genetic data analysis and statistics.

INPA (Partner 5) have extensive knowledge and understanding of mating systems in tropical tree species and their analysis using genetic markers, conservation and management of genetic resources in the tropics and ecological aspects of restoration of degraded lands in the Amazon. INPA will assume responsibility (with input from CATIE and PUCE ) for WP6 and will oversee the collection of data and its analysis.  INPA will also be involved in WP3, WP4 and WP8 working in close collaboration with the partners responsible for these workpackages.

CATIE (Partner 6) will manage Core Area 2 and be responsible for WP2 and WP4, employing their experience of quantitative analysis of forest species and understanding of forestry itself and will be assisted by OFI (Partner 2). CATIE has important links within the Latin American region and will also contribute advice in this area. CATIE’s years of experience in conducting trials of tree provenance and progeny material will also be essential in maintaining consistency and comparability during the practical stages of quantitative and genetic analyses.

PUCE (Partner 7) will be involved in WP1 and WP2, employing their deep understanding if the Ecuadorian forests and experience of forest species and the Catholic University Herbarium to assist collection and establish RTE sites.  PUCE will also be committed to WP6 in conducting experiments for assessment of seed performance characteristics and using wide experience in species-rich tropical rainforests to understand mating and pollination systems. PUCE will also make a significant contribution to the dissemination WP10-12 using their strong ethnobotanical knowledge.

UFRJ (Partner 8) The UFRJ team has been involved in plant molecular biology for more than 15 years and in population genetic analysis for 8 years. The group has extensive experience of collaborative projects (many of them EU funded), working in consortia with different countries from Latin America and the European Community since 1990. All this experience has culminated in the development of a good infrastructure and formation of human resources, with strong capacity in plant molecular genetic research. In Core Areas 1 and 2, UFRJ will add particular understanding of plant molecular biology, the nature of the genes underlying adaptive traits and accessing these loci in studies of genetic variation.