Genetic and adaptive variation in beech (Fagus sylvatica): Which factors influence their spatial distribution patterns? (acronym: BEECHADAPT)

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Neutral genetic diversity is high within beech populations in the exploratories and elsewhere, but poorly structured. This suggests a high evolutionary potential for adaptation within populations, but also similar adaptation potentials of populations irrespective of population history and management status. However, relationships between patterns of ‘neutral’ genetic diversity, diversity in genes of putative adaptive significance, and variation patterns at adaptive traits are complex. Accordingly, we propose (i) to identify genes of putative adaptive significance by a combination of transcriptome analyses based on massive parallel sequencing and a review of earlier studies conducted on beech and other Fagaceae (Quercus spp.), (ii) to assess the diversity in these ‘candidate’ genes for the adaptive traits drought resistance and bud burst and to compare results with the variation observed at neutral markers, and (iii) to directly observe the adaptation of seedlings in the exploratories by the establishment of reciprocal translocation experiments. We expect stronger differentiation among exploratories at genes related to drought resistance or tolerance and bud burst in comparison to ‘neutral’ diversity, and we expect that local seedlings perform better with regard to survival and growth than translocated seedlings from distant exploratories. We will also test if different type of management intensities in beech forests had an impact on ‘adaptive’ variation in ‘candidate’ genes or at the growth traits observed in translocation experiments.