How Trees Adapt: Can We Predict Their Future?

Forest trees have a knack for adapting to their local climates. This ability has made scientists curious about how to use this knowledge for managing these trees. The idea is to use genetic data to predict how trees will respond to changes in their environment. A recent study looked at black cottonwood trees. These trees were studied in different places to see how they change based on their genes. The study found that most of the differences in how these trees grow and adapt come from where they are planted, not just their genes. The study used a lot of data from these trees. They looked at the genes and how the trees grew in different places. They found that using genes to predict how trees will do in the future is not as good as using climate data. This is because the genes that matter change from one place to another. The study also found that using genes to find specific traits in trees is tricky. Many of the connections they found were not real. This is because the genes that cause these traits are different in each place. So, what does this mean for managing forests? The study suggests that using climate data alone can be a good way to predict how trees will do in different places. This can help in deciding where to plant trees and how to move them to new areas. But, it's not all about the data. The study shows that understanding the local environment is key. Trees adapt to their local climate, and this needs to be considered when managing forests.