Grant: Canada Research Chairs

This renewed CRC will evaluate the impacts on ecosystem functioning of introducing several types of novel tree species in local temperate forests (i.e., assisted tree species migration) as an approach aimed at diversifying the functional responses of forests to promote forest resilience to global change. The program will differentiate among various types of novel tree species: i) non-local from the same continent or region but from the same genera as local ones, ii) non-local from the same continent or region but from different genera, iii) exotic from another continent but from the same genera as local ones and finally iv) exotic from another continent but from different genera. The program has three themes or broad objectives. First, it will establish an international network of researchers and forest plots to study how introducing novel tree species affects forest ecosystem functioning. This network will organize new data collection and perform some novel meta-analyses from already published data to address specific novel questions about assisted tree species migration. Second, it will reanalyze the existing rich dataset and collect new data from both the TreeDivNet platform (31 experimental sites from 26 countries) that was set up to investigate the relationship between tree diversity and ecosystem functioning, but with the filter of assisted tree migration. Third, it will set up a new large experimental plantation in Quebec and foster others in the world to evaluate never-tested-before hypoteses about the effects on ecosystem functioning of introducing novel tree species with different geographical, taxonomical, and functional closeness with local native ones. To achieve this, we will compare the effects of 14 types of novel tree species and 4 local native ones grown in monospecific plots (18 different plots x 4 reps) as well as in 2,3, and 4 pluri-specific plots, mixing both local and novel tree species (another 38 plots x 4 reps) on key ecosystem processes and functions. In total, 224 homogenous plots of 12 x 12 trees (>32,000 trees will be planted) with 1 m spacing (to accelerate interactions) will be established. The research conducted within these three themes will test novel hypotheses and provide crucial information to policy makers, forest stakeholders, and the public about the potential advantages and drawbacks of assisted tree species migration as a way to increase forest resilience and adaptability to global change stressors.