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 Quercus cerris conservation in Europe
Turkey oak has high genetic diversity and heterozygosity (Bertolasi et al., 2022). Turkish, Balkan, and Italian populations have all been shown to have high genetic diversity, with unique lineages found within the Balkans (Tümbilen Özer, 2014; Simeone, Zhelev, and Kandemir, 2019). Despite bottlenecking causing genetic differentiation in some populations, it does not appear that genetic drift has occurred to a major degree in Turkey oak (Bertolasi et al., 2022).
Genetic diversity within Turkey oak is not evenly distributed, with the most easterly populations having the greatest genetic diversity, probably because Turkey oak originated in Anatolian or close to the Middle East (Bagnoli et al., 2016). Genetic diversity of Turkey oak does not typically show a geographic trend, but the species does have some spatial genetic structuring (Bagnoli et al., 2016; Bertolasi et al., 2022). Geographically close populations are more genetically similar than those that are more widely separated (Tümbilen Özer, 2014). Three main genetic clusters are observed across Turkey oak’s European range, one in the Italian peninsula and north-western Balkan region, a second in the central and southern Balkans, and a third in Anatolia and the Middle East (Simeone, Zhelev, and Kandemir, 2019).
Within the Italian peninsula, populations showed significant genetic differentiation, with geographic structuring and evidence that differentiation was higher in the past (Bertolasi et al., 2022). This could be because of range expansion with a north-to-south colonization trend and increased gene flow reducing the genetic differences among populations (Bertolasi et al., 2022). Turkish populations of Turkey oak show greater genetic differentiation than other European populations due to the many geographic and physical barriers to gene flow in the Anatolian Peninsula (Tümbilen Özer, 2014; Bagnoli et al., 2016).
The bibliographic review was conducted by James Chaplin of the EUFORGEN Secretariat in August 2024.
There are two varieties of Tukey oak: Quercus cerris var. cerris and Quercus cerris var. austriaca (Tümbilen Özer, 2014). Many oak species are closely related to Turkey oak, and it can be mistaken for sessile oak (Quercus petraea), with which it often grows in mixed stands (Bertolasi et al., 2022). Turkey oak hybridizes with sessile oak, Lebanon oak (Quercus libani), and Mount Tabor oak (Quercus ithaburensis) (Tümbilen Özer, 2014). The false cork oak (Quercus crenata Lam.) is a hybrid between Turkey oak and the cork oak (Quercus suber) (Simeone, Zhelev, and Kandemir, 2019). Turkey oak shares many of its common haplotypes with cork oak, which indicates their close relation and/or introgression between the two (Bagnoli et al., 2016; Simeone, Zhelev, and Kandemir, 2019).
Turkey oak survived in eastern refugia before a westward colonization of the Mediterranean (Bagnoli et al., 2016). Turkey oak’s range and population sizes were reduced by varying magnitudes in the Middle Pleistocene, leading to separation of the Italian and Balkan populations (Bagnoli et al., 2016; Simeone, Zhelev, and Kandemir, 2019).
The bibliographic review was conducted by James Chaplin of the EUFORGEN Secretariat in August 2024.
The natural distribution of most oaks, including Turkey oak, has been reduced by human activities. Because of the species’ good resprouting ability, most existing forests have been managed for millenniums as coppiced systems (Simeone, Zhelev, and Kandemir, 2019). Currently, indiscriminate cuttings, inappropriate silvicultural management, fires, overgrazing, mining activities, and climatic changes are the main threats to the species (Simeone, Zhelev, and Kandemir, 2019).
Marginal populations and habitats of Turkey oak should be conserved along with genetic variants through the establishment of dynamic conservation units (Simeone, Zhelev, and Kandemir, 2019). Traditionally, Turkey oak has been grown in coppice systems with short rotation regimes. Altering management to longer rotation periods, encouraging high forest management – established from seedlings rather than coppice shoots – and natural regeneration of even-aged stands, and short periods dedicated to regeneration will help growth and regeneration of Turkey oak forests (Simeone, Zhelev, and Kandemir, 2019). Planting new seedlings, avoiding grazing, and removing understory growth will also encourage regeneration. Within these systems, special care should be taken regarding habitat conservation, soil protection, and water-regime management (Simeone, Zhelev, and Kandemir, 2019). When the transfer of genetic material is necessary, local material should be favoured and selected based on the detected species’ genetic structure (Simeone, Zhelev, and Kandemir, 2019).
The bibliographic review was conducted by James Chaplin of the EUFORGEN Secretariat in August 2024.
Genetic Characterisation of Quercus cerris and its GCUs
Availability of FRM
FOREMATIS
Quercus cerris - Technical guidelines for genetic conservation of Turkey oak
Publication Year: 2019Concerning Q. cerris wild populations, special care should be taken regarding habitat conservation, soil protection and water regime management. As for managed stands, Q. cerris grows well within a high forest system, which would in itself be a good measure for the species protection. To preserve soil fertility and increase stand biodiversity, traditional coppice systems, performed with short rotation regimes (20 years), should be replaced by longer rotation time periods of about 25–30 years, with 1000–2000 stumps/ha and preserving at least 80 seeding trees/ha. This practice is suggested especially to small private farms, and where the ecological conditions are not completely favourable. Coppice conversion to high forests requires a felling after 50–80 years’ delay, leaving 80–130 seed bearing trees/ha, if there are optimal conditions for natural regeneration (good soil fertility, low density of healthy standards), or 30-50 years and 170–200 seed bearing trees/ha in over-exploited stands or where natural regeneration is poor. In high forests for production, even-aged populations are preferred, in order to reduce competition among individuals of different sizes. Since Turkey oak wood is not valuable, high forest management, with shelter wood felling on small areas and short periods dedicated to regeneration, is the management system generally adopted. Where regeneration is naturally poor, working the soil (superficially), removing the understorey and plantation of new seedlings are good options. Grazing should in any case be avoided. For natural regeneration, 70–80 seed bearing trees/ha (80–150 with diameter < 50 cm), should be preserved at every felling. Thinning should be performed between 80 and 100 years. After 150 years, the only care suggested is to remove damaged and unhealthy individuals. Mixed forests with 150-200 individuals/ha and natural co-occurrence of native tree species should be pursued.
For Q. cerris, in situ conservation methods based on natural regeneration are generally preferred. If natural regeneration is not sufficient, the use of non-native reproductive material can be only exceptionally accepted, and it should be transferred only at a local scale, based on the detected species’ genetic structure. Transfers among provenance regions must be strictly avoided.
If in situ methods are not sufficient, an ex situ conservation programme should also be applied to preserve the endangered gene pool. Ex situ programmes should be adapted to local conditions, such as population structure; forestry practices; economic, political and social situations, etc.
In the case of intensive use of forest reproductive material (FRM)—acorns, seedlings raised or lifted—the rules and requirements of EC legislation for FRM and/or OECD Forestry Scheme shall be primarily applied or adapted.
Due to its adaptive potential, Turkey oak might have an increasing role in present and future sub-Mediterranean regions, which may be important in the context of climate change. Given the genetic information available, it is recommended that conservation programmes start with the following objectives: conservation of endangered, marginal populations and habitats of Q. cerris; protection of the identified genetic variants; establishment of Genetic Conservation Units based on long term autochthony, high biodiversity value and location in ecologically diverse regions of large populations
(> 1000 individuals).
Concerning Q. cerris wild populations, special care should be taken regarding habitat conservation, soil protection and water regime management. As for managed stands, Q. cerris grows well within a high forest system, which would in itself be a good measure for the species protection. To preserve soil fertility and increase stand biodiversity, traditional coppice systems,...
Mediterranean Oaks Network: Report of the first meeting
Social Broadleaves Network: Report of the fifth meeting (Temperate Oaks and Beech network)
Social Broadleaves Network: Report of the third meeting
Social Broadleaves Network: Report of the second meeting
Mediterranean Oaks Network: Report of the second meeting
Social Broadleaves Network: Report of the first meeting
Contacts of experts
NA
Further reading
No available research.
References
Bagnoli, F., Tsuda, Y., Fineschi, S., Bruschi, P., Magri, D., Zhelev, P., Paule, L., Simeone, M.C., González‐Martínez, S.C., and Vendramin, G.G. 2016. Combining molecular and fossil data to infer demographic history of Quercus cerris: insights on European eastern glacial refugia. Journal of Biogeography, 43(4): 679–690.
Bertolasi, B., Zago, L., Gui, L., Cossu, P., Vanetti, I., Rizzi, S., Cavallini, M., Lombardo, G., and Binelli, G. 2022. Genetic variability and admixture zones in the Italian populations of Turkey oak (Quercus cerris L.). Life, 13(1): 18. https://doi.org/10.3390/life13010018
Simeone M.C., Zhelev, P., and Kandemir, G. 2019. EUFORGEN Technical Guidelines for genetic conservation and use of Turkey oak (Quercus cerris). Barcelona, Spain, European Forest Genetic Resources Programme (EUFORGEN), European Forest Institute. 6 pages.
Tümbilen Özer, Y. 2014. Pattern of genetic diversity in Turkey oak (Quercus cerris L.) populations. PhD Thesis. Ankara, Middle East Technical University. http://etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/12617480/index.pdf
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