Project: Linking genetic variability with ecological responses to environmental changes: forest trees as model systems
Forests cover approximately 25% of Europe and are a key reservoir of genetic diversity that can play a decisive role in climate change mitigation through adaptation. The response of forest trees to current and future environmental pressures depends on the levels of genetic variability (standing genetic diversity) that they carry. The LinkTree project investigated how trees adapt to new environments, by focusing on: 1. Identifying genes playing a role in tree adaptation to climate change or environmental hazards, for instance through drought/cold tolerance or response to fire; 2. Providing detailed understanding on how the genetic variability of forest trees may confront and respond to rapid environmental change and on the implications for forest functioning and dynamics; 3. Assessing how management of tree genetic variability by forest habitat managers can increase forests’ adaptation capacity to environmental changes.
| Acronym | LinkTree |
| Website | visit project website |
| Network | BIODIVERSA |
| Call | Biodiversity: Linking Scientific Advancement to Policy and Practice |
Project partner
| Number | Name | Role | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| French National Institute for Agricultural Research - Ecology of Mediterranean Forests Unit | Partner | France | |
| Joint Research Unit INRA / University of Bordeaux - Biodiversity, Genes and Communities Unit | Partner | France | |
| National Institute for Agriculture and Food Research and Technology - Forest research centre | Coordinator | Spain | |
| Philipps-University of Marburg - Faculty of Biology | Partner | Germany | |
| Spanish National Research Council & University of Valencia - Desertification Research Centre | Partner | Spain | |
| Uppsala University - Deptartment of Ecology and Genetics | Partner | Sweden |