Intra and interspecific geneflow in oaks (OAKFLOW)

 

Summary

The OAKFLOW project aimed to determine the amount of intra- and inter-specific gene flow which occurs in oaks in a range of woodland sites throughout Europe. In order to do this all the adult oaks in an intensively studied plot (ISP) are fingerprinted using at least five microsatellite loci. Acorns collected from a range of mother trees are also fingerprinted and their paternity is determined using the software program Famoz. Forest services and conservation agencies were closely involved in testing various implications of gene flow in management and conservation issues.

The programme was organised in three main steps:

1. Detecting and quantify gene flow
2. Evaluating genetic and ecological consequences of gene transfer and also seeking to identify the main genomic regions that are affected by hybridisation
3. Addressing management consequences of gene flow and hybridisation.

Research objectives

• Trace and quantify gene flow and hybridisation in terms of distances and rates
• Evaluate genetic and ecological consequences of gene flow and hybridisation on the adaptation of oak stands
• Evaluate impacts of gene flow on management rules and silvicultural regimes of oak stands.

Funders and partners

This programme was funded by the European Union - Framework Programme FP5
EU OAKFLOW project description

OAKFLOW comprised partners in ten countries: Austria, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and UK.

Forest Research involvement

Forest Research was a full partner in the Oakflow project.

Our ISP was the oakwood at Dalkeith in southeast Scotland which consists largely of Quercus robur with a minority of Q. petraea interspersed through the wood. This ISP provided data on the level of interspecific hybridisation occurring in a wood in which Q. robur and Q. petraea are not equally represented.

Status

Programme completed in December 2004.

Contact

Joan Cottrell
Forest Research
Northern Research Station
Roslin
Midlothian EH25 9SY

Tel: 0131 445 2176
Fax: 0131 445 5124
Email: joan.cottrell@forestry.gsi.gov.uk

EU contract details

Co-ordinator: Antoine Kremer, INRA, France.
Contract: QLK5-CT-2000-00960, Multifunctional management of forests, FP5