Conservation genetics of high elevation five-needle white pines

Conference Paper

Justification

Conservation genetics examines the biophysical factors influencing genetic processes and uses that information to conserve and maintain the evolutionary potential of species and populations. Here we review published and unpublished literature on the conservation genetics of seven North American high-elevation five-needle pines. Although these species are widely distributed across much of western North America, many face considerable conservation challenges: they are not valued for timber, yet they have high ecological value; they are susceptible to the introduced disease white pine blister rust (caused by the fungus Cronartium ribicola ) and endemic-turned-epidemic pests; and some are affected by habitat fragmentation and successional replacement by other species. Potential range shifts resulting from global climate change pose additional threats to these high-elevation species, as suitable climates may no longer exist on the mountains where they grow. The combined impacts of these threats have necessitated active management and conservation activities. While several high-elevation five-needle pines have been well studied, large information gaps exist regarding the genetic diversity and population structure of others. This information is crucial for the development of conservation management strategies. In this report, information on genetic diversity, population structure, and strategies for gene conservation is presented and information gaps identified for North America’s high-elevation five-needle pines.