To learn more about the map elements, please download the "Pan-European strategy for genetic conservation of forest trees"
This distribution map has been developed by the European Commission Joint Research Centre (partly based on the EUFORGEN map) and released under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC-BY 4.0)
Caudullo, G., Welk, E., San-Miguel-Ayanz, J., 2017. Chorological maps for the main European woody species. Data in Brief 12, 662-666. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dib.2017.05.007
The following experts have contributed to the development of the EUFORGEN distribution maps:
Fazia Krouchi (Algeria), Hasmik Ghalachyan (Armenia), Thomas Geburek (Austria), Berthold Heinze (Austria), Rudi Litschauer (Austria), Rudolf Litschauer (Austria), Michael Mengl (Austria), Ferdinand Müller (Austria), Franz Starlinger (Austria), Valida Ali-zade (Azerbaijan), Vahid Djalal Hajiyev (Azerbaijan), Karen Cox (Belgium), Bart De Cuyper (Belgium), Olivier Desteucq (Belgium), Patrick Mertens (Belgium), Jos Van Slycken (Belgium), An Vanden Broeck (Belgium), Kristine Vander Mijnsbrugge (Belgium), Dalibor Ballian (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Alexander H. Alexandrov (Bulgaria), Alexander Delkov (Bulgaria), Ivanova Denitsa Pandeva (Bulgaria), Peter Zhelev Stoyanov (Bulgaria), Joso Gracan (Croatia), Marilena Idzojtic (Croatia), Mladen Ivankovic (Croatia), Željka Ivanović (Croatia), Davorin Kajba (Croatia), Hrvoje Marjanovic (Croatia), Sanja Peric (Croatia), Andreas Christou (Cyprus), Xenophon Hadjikyriacou (Cyprus), Václav Buriánek (Czech Republic), Jan Chládek (Czech Republic), Josef Frýdl (Czech Republic), Petr Novotný (Czech Republic), Martin Slovacek (Czech Republic), Zdenek Špišek (Czech Republic), Karel Vancura (Czech Republic), Ulrik Bräuner (Denmark), Bjerne Ditlevsen (Denmark), Jon Kehlet Hansen (Denmark), Jan Svejgaard Jensen (Denmark), Kalev Jðgiste (Estonia), Tiit Maaten (Estonia), Raul Pihu (Estonia), Ülo Tamm (Estonia), Arvo Tullus (Estonia), Aivo Vares (Estonia), Teijo Nikkanen (Finland), Sanna Paanukoski (Finland), Mari Rusanen (Finland), Pekka Vakkari (Finland), Leena Yrjänä (Finland), Daniel Cambon (France), Eric Collin (France), Alexis Ducousso (France), Bruno Fady (France), François Lefèvre (France), Brigitte Musch (France), Sylvie Oddou-Muratorio (France), Luc E. Pâques (France), Julien Saudubray (France), Marc Villar (France), Vlatko Andonovski (FYR Macedonia), Dragi Pop-Stojanov (FYR Macedonia), Merab Machavariani (Georgia), Irina Tvauri (Georgia), Alexander Urushadze (Georgia), Bernd Degen (Germany), Jochen Kleinschmit (Germany), Armin König (Germany), Armin König (Germany), Volker Schneck (Germany), Richard Stephan (Germany), H. H. Kausch-Blecken Von Schmeling (Germany), Georg von Wühlisch (Germany), Iris Wagner (Germany), Heino Wolf (Germany), Paraskevi Alizoti (Greece), Filippos Aravanopoulos (Greece), Andreas Drouzas (Greece), Despina Paitaridou (Greece), Aristotelis C. Papageorgiou (Greece), Kostas Thanos (Greece), Sándor Bordács (Hungary), Csaba Mátyás (Hungary), László Nagy (Hungary), Thröstur Eysteinsson (Iceland), Adalsteinn Sigurgeirsson (Iceland), Halldór Sverrisson (Iceland), John Fennessy (Ireland), Ellen O'Connor (Ireland), Fulvio Ducci (Italy), Silvia Fineschi (Italy), Bartolomeo Schirone (Italy), Marco Cosimo Simeone (Italy), Giovanni Giuseppe Vendramin (Italy), Lorenzo Vietto (Italy), Janis Birgelis (Latvia), Virgilijus Baliuckas (Lithuania), Kestutis Cesnavicius (Lithuania), Darius Danusevicius (Lithuania), Valmantas Kundrotas (Lithuania), Alfas Pliûra (Lithuania), Darius Raudonius (Lithuania), Robert du Fays (Luxembourg), Myriam Heuertz (Luxembourg), Claude Parini (Luxembourg), Fred Trossen (Luxembourg), Frank Wolter (Luxembourg), Joseph Buhagiar (Malta), Eman Calleja (Malta), Ion Palancean (Moldova), Dragos Postolache (Moldova), Gheorghe Postolache (Moldova), Hassan Sbay (Morocco), Tor Myking (Norway), Tore Skrøppa (Norway), Anna Gugala (Poland), Jan Kowalczyk (Poland), Czeslaw Koziol (Poland), Jan Matras (Poland), Zbigniew Sobierajski (Poland), Maria Helena Almeida (Portugal), Filipe Costa e Silva (Portugal), Luís Reis (Portugal), Maria Carolina Varela (Portugal), Ioan Blada (Romania), Alexandru-Lucian Curtu (Romania), Lucian Dinca (Romania), Georgeta Mihai (Romania), Mihai Olaru (Romania), Gheorghe Parnuta (Romania), Natalia Demidova (Russian Federation), Mikhail V. Pridnya (Russian Federation), Andrey Prokazin (Russian Federation), Srdjan Bojovic (Serbia) , Vasilije Isajev (Serbia), Saša Orlovic (Serbia), Rudolf Bruchánik (Slovakia), Roman Longauer (Slovakia), Ladislav Paule (Slovakia), Gregor Bozič (Slovenia), Robert Brus (Slovenia), Katarina Celič (Slovenia), Hojka Kraigher (Slovenia), Andrej Verlič (Slovenia), Marjana Westergren (Slovenia), Ricardo Alía (Spain), Josefa Fernández-López (Spain), Luis Gil Sanchez (Spain), Pablo Gonzalez Goicoechea (Spain), Santiago C. González-Martínez (Spain), Sonia Martin Albertos (Spain), Eduardo Notivol Paino (Spain), María Arantxa Prada (Spain), Alvaro Soto de Viana (Spain), Lennart Ackzell (Sweden), Jonas Bergquist (Sweden), Sanna Black-Samuelsson (Sweden), Jonas Cedergren (Sweden), Gösta Eriksson (Sweden), Markus Bolliger (Switzerland), Felix Gugerli (Switzerland), Rolf Holderegger (Switzerland), Peter Rotach (Switzerland), Marcus Ulber (Switzerland), Sven M.G. de Vries (The Netherlands), Khouja Mohamed Larbi (Tunisia), Murat Alan (Turkey), Gaye Kandemir (Turkey), Gursel Karagöz (Turkey), Zeki Kaya (Turkey), Hasan Özer (Turkey), Hacer Semerci (Turkey), Ferit Toplu (Turkey), Mykola M. Vedmid (Ukraine), Roman T. Volosyanchuk (Ukraine), Stuart A'Hara (United Kingdom), Joan Cottrell (United Kingdom), Colin Edwards (United Kingdom), Michael Frankis (United Kingdom), Jason Hubert (United Kingdom), Karen Russell (United Kingdom), C.J.A. Samuel (United Kingdom).
Status of Alnus cordata conservation in Europe
Italian alder populations have high genetic diversity, with low genetic variation between populations (King and Ferris, 2000; Ducci and Tani, 2009). The species has only minor variation in morphological traits such as leaf size and shape (Ducci and Tani, 2009). Genetic differentiation is low because there are no natural barriers to its pollen, facilitating gene flow. Self-pollination is low, and the species range in Italy is also small (Ducci and Tani, 2009). However, Corsican populations differ morphologically and genetically from Italian populations, and are more resistant to drought (Ducci and Tani, 2009). Italian alder has lower genetic diversity than black alder (Alnus glutinosa), making it more vulnerable to genetic erosion (Villani et al., 2021).
The bibliographic review was conducted by James Chaplin of the EUFORGEN Secretariat in August 2024.
Italian alder shares its natural range with black alder (Alnus glutinosa) and they share phenotypic similarities, hybridizing naturally and creating an interspecific hybrid, Alnus elliptica (Villani et al., 2021). However, despite their similarities there are many morphological differences between the two species, and Italian alder possesses haplotypes different from other alder (Alnus) species, allowing them to be distinguished (King and Ferris, 2000).
Favourable conditions for hybridization between Italian and black alder are rare so hybrids are not common, despite historical introgression (King and Ferris, 2000; Villani et al., 2021). Hybridization between Italian and black alder is more common in areas affected by climate change, as climate fluctuations may alter the flowering times of the two species so that they overlap, facilitating hybridization (Villani et al., 2021). Differing levels of hybridization may even be responsible for the creation of genetic clusters in the species (Villani et al., 2021).
The bibliographic review was conducted by James Chaplin of the EUFORGEN Secretariat in August 2024.
Italian alder is not considered an endangered species; despite, having a small geographical range, as human intervention has had a limited impact on the species and it grows rapidly over a wide range of environments (Ducci and Tani, 2009). Natural regeneration in Italian alder is widespread (Ducci and Tani, 2009). However, the species does face threats because of its limited natural range, and from the reduction of clear cutting in mixed forests and protected areas, unauthorized grazing, and climate change (Ducci and Tani, 2009; Villani et al., 2021). Climate change could force Italian alder to move to higher elevations, further limiting the species’ current range and causing a reduction in genetic diversity through loss of suitable habitats (Ducci and Tani, 2009). Other threats include competition with other species such as beech (Fagus sylvatica) and reduced geneflow between populations because of isolation (Villani et al., 2021).
Italian alder has high economic value, grows rapidly, and can fix nitrogen. It has thus been of special interest since the 1980s and has been managed for genetic improvement (Villani et al., 2021). The species is also managed for bioremediation, promoting the growth of other species, and ecosystem development (Villani et al., 2021). It is an important genetic resource in breeding programmes because its favourable characteristics could be transferred to other alder species through hybridization (Villani et al., 2021).
In situ conservation of existing populations needs to be maintained according to dynamic gene conservation criteria (Ducci and Tani, 2009). Italian alder is adaptable and can be managed in high forests with mature trees and a closed canopy, in pure or mixed stands, or in coppice systems. Italian alder can regenerate naturally even in mixed stands, but seed collection should rotate among several populations and subpopulations (Ducci and Tani, 2009). Seedlings used for artificial regeneration should be planted on a site that matches the requirements of the species (Ducci and Tani, 2009). Problems of inbreeding can be reduced in single-population seed orchards by the inclusion of adequate numbers of clones (Ducci and Tani, 2009).
The bibliographic review was conducted by James Chaplin of the EUFORGEN Secretariat in August 2024.
Genetic Characterisation of Alnus cordata and its GCUs
Availability of FRM
FOREMATIS
Alnus cordata - Technical guidelines for genetic conservation and use for Italian alder
Publication Year: 2009The first long-term action is to ensure the in situ conservation of existing populations according to dynamic gene conservation criteria. Italian alder can be managed in high forest or coppice systems. High forest management can be applied to mixed or pure stands. In both cases the best regeneration method for Italian alder is the creation of small clear cuts or strips (e.g. 20 x 200 m). The best results for regeneration are achieved where mineral soil is exposed, i.e. when top soil layers are for some reason disturbed by erosion or ‘ploughed’ by animals or by humans. A typical situation is represented on slopes along roads where light is plentiful and mineral soil is accessible. Especially in mixed stands, small subpopulations or 10-20 trees should be used as seed trees on clear cuts and strips.
In mixed beech-alder coppices, standards of Italian alder are usually allowed to develop to provide seed for growing natural regenaration, by taking advantage of suitable light conditions, of the more rapid partial mineralization of the litter and of the soil mineral layers made accessible by harvesting.
Seed should be collected from 30-40 well scattered trees per seed stand. Nearly ripe pseudo-cones should be collected in mid-October and early November to ensure that viable seeds material is obtained. The pseudo-cones should be dried at 38-40°C for 15-18 hours and between 5 and 6% air humidity.
Seeds can be stored up to about 2-3 years at 5-7°C and 5-6% air humidity. Indeed, concerning the seed preparation and pre-treatments, precise temperature and moisture requirements during the seed extraction and conservation should be met (temperature between -3° and +3°C and moisture of the seed-bed between 5 and 7%), as well as chilling conditions (±5°C and 70-80% moisture) should be carefully supplied. This process should induce a prompt, complete and quick germination of all seeds. In this way, possible selective micro-environmental effects will be reduced and most of the genetic variation present in the seed lots will be maintained. A similar strategy should be followed in the nursery, where the micro-site factors should be appropriate for maximum seedling survival and development. Extreme conditions for the range required by seedlings should be avoided (pH, minerals, temperatures, light, water supply, etc.) as these may impose selection pressures which only allow those that are best adapted to these conditions to survive.
Seed collection should be regularly rotated among several stands, so that different populations or subpopulations are sampled. Similarly, different groups of trees within a stand should be used for successive collections. Stands should be selected across a range of altitudes to ensure that the full range of genetic variation is captured.
Seedlings should be planted on a site that matches the requirements of the species. This will help ensure seedling survival. Seedlings should be carefully labelled to ensure that their origin can be traced, and should be the species included in the official list of species of the European directive on forest reproductive material trade.
Results of several controlled pollination experiments showed that seed orchards should not be based on mixtures of populations. Seedlings from within-population crosses performed better than those from between-population crosses. Possible problems of inbreeding can be reduced in single-population seed orchards by the inclusion of adequate numbers of clones.
Contacts of experts
NA
Further reading
Tani, A. and Tognetti, R. 1990. A progeny test of Alnus cordata. Annali – Accademia Italiana di Scienze Forestali, 39: 221–224.
References
Ducci F. and A. Tani 2009. EUFORGEN Technical Guidelines for genetic conservation and use of Italian alder (Alnus cordata). Rome, Bioversity International. 6 pp.
King, R.A. and Ferris, C. 2000. Chloroplast DNA and nuclear DNA variation in the sympatric alder species, Alnus cordata (Lois.) Duby and A. glutinosa (L.) Gaertn. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 70(1): 147–160.
Villani, F., Castellana, S., Beritognolo, I., Cherubini, M., Chiocchini, F., Battistelli, A., and Mattioni, C. 2021. Genetic variability of Alnus cordata (Loisel.) Duby populations and introgressive hybridization with A. glutinosa (L.) Gaertn. in southern Italy: Implication for conservation and management of genetic resources. Forests, 12(6): 655. https://doi.org/10.3390/f12060655
See details
Designed by Newtvision
