Improving Sustainable Management of Southern Pine Forests: Optimizing Productivity-Resilience Trade-Offs Under Combined Drought, Fire, and Pathogen Stress

Global forests are increasingly at risk from multiple, synergistic stressors, threatening both timber production and ecosystem services. While trade-offs between productivity and resilience are well-documented, studies investigating belowground stress response mechanisms are limited, particularly for long-lived tree species. Furthermore, the genetic basis of these traits and the degree to which genetic co-associations may constrain adaptation and limit genomic selection in tree breeding programs is unknown. The goal of this project is to assess productivity-resilience tradeoffs under the combined effects of drought, fire, and pathogen stress across southern yellow pine species. We address these knowledge gaps with the following objectives. (1) Assess coordinated, whole tree productivity and functional trait responses to multiple stressors (drought, brown spot needle blight, and fire). (2) Identify genetic associations with stress response mechanisms, and test for evolutionary constraints between productivity and resilience traits using genetic co-association networks. (3) Develop multi-trait genomic prediction models to identify optimal targets for genomic selection and tree breeding programs. (4) Work with pine breeding cooperative partners to develop performance rating sheets to assist landowners, forestry and restoration practitioners in selecting seed stock that meets their goals along the productivity-resilience spectrum. This project is directly aligned with the program priorities of improving the sustainable management of forests under the threats of climate change, pathogens, and increased environmental pressures. Findings will provide critical information to optimize seed selection, enhance the success of forest restoration, and support tree breeding programs in improving forest sustainability in a rapidly changing world.

Funder: USDA NIFA

Amount: $749,038

PI: Helen Bothwell, Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources