CONFERENCE

First EVOLTREE Conference 2021
Genomics and Adaptation in Forest Ecosystems

From 14.09.2021 To 17.09.2021

The first EVOLTREE Conference took place 14-17 September 2021.The 4-day conference on the topic of “Genomics and Adaptation in Forest Ecosystems” brought together over 130 scientists to present and discuss the latest developments and findings in forest evolutionary research.

The meeting report is now published in Tree Genetics & Genomes. Download PDF here.

EVOLTREE is a European network of institutions engaged in studying the evolution and functioning of forest ecosystems, in particular trees as the foundation species in forest stands. A prime topic in the face of ongoing climate change is to elucidate how trees, together with their associated organisms such as mycorrhizal fungi, respond to rapid environmental changes.

Contributions were received that apply innovative approaches and consider the relevance of their research in the context of biodiversity conservation through natural dynamics or silvicultural interference.

You can find the list of oral presentations and posters below. 

All talks are available now in the EVOLTREE YouTube channel.

 

Sessions & Keynote

  • Book of abstracts

    You can download the PDF of the Book of abstracts here

  • Session 1: Climate change genomics

    Chair: Dr. Pascal Milesi, Uppsala University, SciLife Laboratory, Sweden

    Keynote speaker
    Prof. Dr. John Kelly, University of Kansas, USA
    Measuring the genome-wide response to natural selection in natural plant populations

    Animal and plant species undergo cycles of contractions and expansions as a result of global environmental changes. Genome diversity is therefore the result of the complex interplay between demographic history and adaptation. Population and quantitative genomic approaches aim at disentangling these two effects and allow to i) quantify genome-wide response to natural selection, ii) describe the genetic architecture of adaptations or, to some extent, iii) predict individual / population / species response to climate change. In this cession, we welcome studies investigating such question from -omics data (SNPs, structural variants, RNA, etc.) coupled or not with phenotypic or ecological data. Simulation or modelling-based studies are also welcome.

    Oral presentations

    Sekely, Jill Terese:
    Disentangling local adaptation drivers in the Andean Nothofagus pumilio

    Coq--Etchegaray, Domitille:
    Genome-wide association study of leaf specialized metabolites in sessile oak (Quercus petraea) provenances

    Singh, Pooja:
    Convergence in local adaptation to climate in conifers across North America and Europe in the integration of genomic and transcriptomic data for phenotype prediction.

    David-Schwartz, Rakefet:
    Hybridization and adaptation to environmental drought in Pinus

    Lind, Brandon:
    How off are genetic offset predictions? Lessons from common gardens and three clades of conifers

    Posters

    Meger, Joanna:
    Genomic signatures of natural selection at phenology-related genes in a widely distributed tree species Fagus sylvatica L.

    Rellstab, Christian:
    Range-wide signatures of genetic adaptation to drought in two widespread European tree species

    Roskilly, Beth:
    Rangewide patterns of climate adaptation in western larch

    Wehenkel, Christian:
    Genome-wide scans for detecting adaptation to local environment in Populus tremuloides, a keystone North American tree species

  • Session 2: Genomics of interactions

    Chair: Dr. Martina Peter, WSL Birmensdorf, Switzerland

    Keynote speaker
    Dr. Annegret Kohler, INRAE Nancy, France
    The evolution of mycorrhizal genomes and transcriptome

    In nature, organisms do not live and evolve in isolation, but interact with various living beings throughout their life histories. Long-lived trees provide a variety of resources and habitats for an enormous diversity of associated organisms including microbes, fungi, insects, and parasites whose interactions range from beneficial to detrimental. These complex interrelations vary in space and time and may range from gene-to-gene interactions that lead to co-adaptation to associations between partners that have little effect on each other. In this session we welcome studies that provide genomic insights into host-associate interactions in forest ecosystems, whether they are  experiments with single candidate gene studies, field studies investigating temporal and spatial patterns of associations with genome-wide scans, or comparative studies spanning millions of years of co-evolution.

    Oral presentations

    Dauphin, Benjamin:
    Genomic determinants of ectomycorrhiza formation in a basidiomycete with poplar

    Tiret, Mathieu:
    Implementing group selection in forest tree breeding

    Gaudet, Muriel:
    Genomic insight into the variable resistance of Castanea sativa Mill. to Dryocosmus kuriphilus Yasumatsu

    Heinzelmann, Renate:
    Genome-wide analyses of climate change and anthropogenic impacts on the Dothistroma needle blight pathogen of pines

  • Session 3: Past demography and post-glacial recolonization

    Chair: Prof. Dr. Tanja Pyhäjärvi, University of Helsinki, Finland

    Keynote speaker
    Dr. Parul Johri, Indiana University, USA
    The role of non-adaptive evolutionary processes in shaping genomic variation

    The amount and distribution of molecular variation along the genome is a result of both historic demographic events and adaptive changes. Analysis of both is required for understanding the underlying processes. Many forest trees and associated species have experienced drastic changes in the past both in terms of geographical location and amount of breeding individuals. In this session, we will delve into inferring pre- and post-glacial demographic changes from genomic and genetic data. We welcome studies on demographic inference, phylogeography, population structure, and joint inference of adaptive and demographic factors. Also studies integrating demographic analysis with e.g. pollen or climate records are welcome.

    Oral presentations

    Ojeda, Dario:
    The impact of rainforest area reduction in the Guineo-Congolian region on the tempo of diversification and habitat shifts in the Berlinia clade (Leguminosae)

    Giles Pérez, Gustavo Ibrahim:
    Unravelling the mechanisms driving pre-zygotic isolation in a fir species-complex from central Mexico

    Kastally, Chedly:
    Genomic assessment of Scots pine expansion in Europe

    Gugerli, Felix:
    Highlights from two decades of Swiss stone pine (Pinus cembra) research on the distribution of genetic diversity in response to multi-facetted evolutionary forces

    Posters:
    Danusevicius, Darius:
    Prospects of ancient DNA genotyping: an example with 11000 years old pines from the bottom of the Baltic sea

    Lazic, Desanka:
    Detecting genomic signatures of ecological speciation and parallel evolution in oaks

    Degen, Bernd:
    Targeted sequencing reveals large scale genetic structure of pedunculate oak at both nuclear and plastid genome in Europe

    Bruxaux, Jade:
    Large distribution but low differentiation: how can we explain the Scots pines paradox?

    Niskanen, Alina K:
    Fine-scale genetic structure in the Scots pine

    Leunda, Maria:
    Ancient DNA can provide insights into past and future genetic diversity of forests

    Coşgun, Sevil:
    Exploring cryptic Mediterranean Abies alba stands to check a genetic climate impact hypothesis and vegetation model projections

  • Session 4: Innovative methods and approaches

    Chair: Dr. Katrin Heer, Philipps University Marburg, Germany

    Keynote speaker
    Prof. Dr. Katie Lotterhos, Northeastern University, USA
    Adaptation and climate change: what are we missing?

    Studying the genomic basis of adaptation and understanding the dynamics of adaptation in times of climate change is a challenging task. Even more so, if the study organisms are large and long-lived organisms such as trees for which approaches such as multigeneration experiments cannot be realized. In this session, we will discuss innovative and creative research methods designed to overcome these limitations. Such approaches include, for example, the joint analysis of genetic data and data stored in the temporal archive of trees – their tree rings, modelling approaches that integrate genomic information or an in-depth analysis of the genetic architecture of trees.

     

    Oral presentations

    Oral presentations:
    Karunarathne, Piyal:
    An improved and more sensitive detection of copy number variants (CNVs) from SNPs: An R package for detecting paralogs

    Cervantes, Sandra:
    Haploid selection in predominantly diploid Pinus sylvestris

    Abdou Rahmane:
    eQTLs are key players in the integration of genomic and transcriptomic data for phenotype prediction.

    Robledo-Arnuncio, Juan Jose:
    Genomic scans of selection from prospective cohort mortality studies in trees

    Zacharias, Melanie:
    Genetic signatures of drought stress tolerance in contrasting treeline ecotones of a widespread conifer in Alaska

    Posters:
    Maghuly, Fatemeh:
    Proteomic profiles of middle and late stage of Jatropha curcas seed reveal key pathways operating maturation process

    Ulaszewski, Bartosz:
    Complete chloroplast genomes of Fagus sylvatica L. reveal sequence conservation in the inverted repeat and the presence of allelic variation in NUPTs

    Kesälahti, Robert Sebastian:
    Optimising exome capture of Pinus sylvestris using species-specific repetitive DNA blocker

    Booker, Tom R.:
    Methods for identifying the gene

  • Session 5: Conservation strategies

    Chair: Dr. Marjana Westergren, Slovenian Forestry Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia

    Keynote speaker
    Prof. Dr. Jelena Aleksić, Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, Belgrad, Serbia
    Tailoring conservation to suit Serbian spruce

    This session looks at the link between genetic, genomic and environmental data and forest genetic resource conservation. We seek examples of how genetic, genomic, and environmental data can help develop in situ and ex situ conservation strategies, how these strategies are or could be applied locally and regionally, and how breeding could be used to conserve genetic resources and support their adaptation to biotic and abiotic stressors. We welcome oral and poster presentations of concepts and case studies, especially applied ones from around the world.

    Oral presentations

    Fussi, Barbara:
    Genetic markers support the selection of conservation units and seed stands for rare tree species – white elm, field maple, yew and service tree

    Arenas Jiménez, Sebastian:
    Contribution of regional and local soil variation to genetic differentiation in a Mexican fir

    Jiménez Ramírez, Azucena:
    Spatial versus temporal genetic variation in early fitness traits of Pinus sylvestris from contrasting edaphic environments

    Semizer-Cuming, Devrim:
    In the search for climate resilient oaks (Quercus spp.) to better conserve forests

    Rudow, Andreas:
    Swiss genetic conservation units project—a pragmatic approach towards a long-term perspective of the conservation of forest genetic resources

    Posters:
    Geue, Julia C.:
    Landscape genomics of Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst): a range-wide investigation of local adaptation

    Belton, Samuel Patrick:
    GeneNet: Mapping the genetics of Ireland’s native forests in a European context

    Ribeiro-Barros, Ana I.:
    Biodiversity dynamics in the Miombo-Mopane woodlands: the case of the Niassa Special Reserve and Limpopo National Park, Mozambique

    Rathore, Dheeraj Singh:
    Studying the genetic diversity and resilience of four commercially important broadleaved tree species in Ireland

  • Session 6: Towards climate-smart forests

    Chair: Dr. Charalambos Neophytou, BOKU, Vienna, Austria

    Keynote speaker
    Dr. Santiago González-Martínez, INRAE Pierroton, France
    Using genomics to improve predictions of population responses of forest trees in the face of climate change

    Thus far, a body of genetic and genomic studies have dealt with predicting adaptive responses of forest tree species to climate change. In practice, however, seed transfer guidelines are rather focused on local seed sources which are still commonly used to regenerate forests. In this session, we focus on the contribution of genetic and genomic research towards adaptation of forest management to the needs of climate change. We are particularly interested in studies serving as a basis to inform seed transfer guidelines. Moreover, we welcome application-oriented contributions focusing on the genetic diversity and adaptive capacity of forest reproductive material, as well as on genetic and genomic aspects in silviculture under a changing climate.

    Oral presentations

    Candido Ribeiro, Rafael:
    Adaptive genetic variation associated with drought hardiness in coastal and interior Douglas-fir and its interplay with cold hardiness

    Lachmuth, Susanne:
    Using standardized genomic offsets to inform climate-smart seed transfer in North American red spruce conservation

    Olsson, Sanna:
    Diagnostic genetic markers to ascertain the origin of forest reproductive material: a case study with Pinus pinaster

    Reutimann, Oliver:
    Abiotic factors predict taxonomic composition and genetic admixture in closely located populations of hybridizing oak (Quercus spp.) species

    Curtu, Alexandru-Lucian:
    Conservation of genetic resources of oak species more adapted to a drier and hotter climate – Quercus pedunculiflora in Romania

    Posters:
    Jiménez Ramírez, Azucena:
    Measuring recent effective gene flow among large populations in Pinus sylvestris: local pollen shedding does not preclude substantial long-distance pollen immigration

    Liepe, Katharina Julie:
    European hornbeam – not only a servant, but rather future candidate to add value

    Jansen, Simon:
    Is the grass always greener on the other side? Identifying seed sources for oak forests in a changing climate

    Kastally, Chedly:
    Studying the impacts of tree improvement on adaptation at the phenotypic and genomic level on Scots pine

    Kurz, Mirjam:
    Tracing the origin of Oriental beech plantations across Western Europe and reporting hybridization with European beech

Dates & Venue

Important dates & Registration

April 19: Registration for online conference and abstract submission open

June 1: Registration for on-site attendance open, if possible, subject to government guidance on travel

June 15: Abstract submission deadline

July 15: Final program online

August 15: Registration for on-site attendance closes

September 1: Registration for online attendance closes

 

Venue

WSL Birmensdorf is located just outside of Zürich in the countryside and can be reached by bus or train within 30 mins from Zürich downtown. Click here for a description on how to get there.

The offical WSL hotel suggestions can be found here.

Other inexpensive options:

Alexander Guesthouse (Zürich Downtown)

Organization

Organizing committee (contact us if you have questions, evoltree@wsl.ch):

Felix Gugerli, WSL

Christian Rellstab, WSL

Susanne Senn-Raschle, WSL

Scientific committee:

Dr. Felix Gugerli, WSL Birmensdorf, Switzerland

Dr. Katrin Heer, Philipps University Marburg, Germany

Dr. Pascal Milesi, Uppsala University, SciLife Laboratory, Sweden

Dr. Charalambos Neophytou, BOKU, Vienna, Austria

Dr. Martina Peter, WSL Birmensdorf, Switzerland

Prof. Dr. Tanja Pyhäjärvi, University of Helsinki, Finland

Dr. Christian Rellstab, WSL Birmensdorf, Switzerland

Dr. Marjana Westergren, Slovenian Forestry Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Evoltree Working Group "Biannual Evoltree Conference"

Dr. Lucian Curtu, University of Brasov, Romania

Dr. Felix Gugerli, WSL Birmensdorf, Switzerland (head)

Dr. Katrin Heer, Philipps University Marburg, Germany

Dr. Miran Lanšćak, Croatian Forest Research Institute, Jastrebarsko, Croatia

Dr. Sanna Olsson, INIA Madrid, Spain

Dr. Annika Perry, UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Edinburgh, UK

Prof. Dr. Tanja Pyhäjärvi, University of Helsinki, Finland

Dr. Christian Rellstab, WSL Birmensdorf, Switzerland

Dr. Nataša Šibanc, Slovenian Forestry Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Dr. Giovanni Giuseppe Vendramin, CNR-IBBR, Florence, Italy

Other Information

Conference format

The main program – keynotes, presentations, and poster sessions – will take place each afternoon (ca. 13:00 to 19:00 CEST). Additional activities such as training lectures, workshops, networking and an excursion are planned for the mornings.

Due to the improved situation concerning the pandemic in many countries, the conference will be held in hybrid format (on-site and online). This will be one of the first opportunities to physically meet and talk about science and increase your network!

At the registration site, you have the possibility to either register for the online and on-site conference. The conference fee is 350 CHF for on-site participation (200 CHF for students including PhD students, certificate needed) including lunches, coffee breaks, conference grill party, and excursion. The fee for online participation is 150 CHF (100 CHF for students). Students from EVOLTREE member organizations are eligible for financial support to attend the conference.

 

Important information

You can now register for either the on-site or on-line version of the conference. If you already registered and/or paid for the online version, you can now also update to the on-site version.

Registration for the on-site conference can be done until 15th of August 2021, but currently our capacity is limited to 60 participants including local organizers, scientific committee, and keynote speakers. So first come, first serve!

Note that the on-site participation is subject to government travel restrictions that may change at short notice. To enter Switzerland, for certain countries and regions, special rules apply at the moment (i.e., a 10-day quarantine). More details (including the list of risk countries/regions) can be found on this continuously updated webpage of the Swiss government.

If you registered for the on-site conference and are not allowed to travel due to issues directly related to the pandemic, we will refund your (on-site, but not online) registration fee. All other reasons do not qualify for a refund.

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