Forestry & Environmental Management

Master of Science in Forestry Thesis Defense | Clara Schortemeyer

Author: Ed Czerwinski

Posted on Apr 5, 2022

Category: Students , Research


Master of Science in Forestry - Thesis Defense - Clara Schortemeyer

MAXIMIZING WHITE SPRUCE (PICEA GLAUCA) PRODUCTIVITY IN A DRYING CLIMATE THROUGH TREE IMPROVEMENT

Date: April 20 – 1:00 pm
Location: FG Room 202 and MSTeams

Abstract: In this thesis, I quantified the genetic variation and drought response of three, 20-year-old white spruce (Picea glauca) varietal test sites in New Brunswick, Canada. The objectives were: 1) to test if volume breeding values could be used to predict drought vulnerability through tree-ring analysis of a recent multiyear drought; and 2) to quantify the within and between family variation for volume growth to determine the optimal ratio of varieties to families that need to be field tested to maximize genetic gains for growth traits.

Varieties with higher genetic volume growth rates exhibited higher drought resistance, which indicated breeding for volume growth also improved drought resistance.  In addition, there was more within family variation than between family variation, suggesting that more varieties per family and less families should be bred and tested to maximizing genetic volume gains.

Please contact foremprograms@unb.ca for additional information.


Supervisor:  Loïc D'Orangeville, PhD, Forestry and Environmental Management
Examining Board: René Malenfant, PhD, Biology, and Meng Gong, PhD, Forestry and Environmental Management