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Sally N Aitken

Department of Forest Sciences
Research Interests:
Current Research:

 

Current grad students Graduate students

 
 
 
  • Ian MacLachlan, PhD
  • C. Susannah Tysor , PhD

Awards:

Canadian Forestry Scientific Achievement Award 2009, Canadian Institute of Forestry

Courses Taught:

FRST 200 - Forest Biology I

CONS 451 - Integrated field school, alpine module

CONS 501 - Topics in conservation genetics

Links:

Centre for Forest Conservation Genetics www.genetics.forestry.ubc.ca/cfgc

 

Additional Info:
Current publications

Hamann, A. and S.N. Aitken (2013) Conservation planning under climate change: accounting for adaptive potential and migration capacity in species distribution models Diversity and Distributions 19: 268-280.

Hamilton, J.A., C. Lexer and S.N. Aitken (2013) Genomic and phenotypic architecture of a spruce hybrid zone (Picea sitchensis and P. glauca) Molecular Ecology 22: 827-841.

Hamilton, J.A., C. Lexer and S.N. Aitken. (2013) Differential introgression reveals candidate genes for selection across a spruce (Picea sitchensis x P. glauca) hybrid zone New Phytologist 197: 927-938.

Sork, V.L., S.N. Aitken, R.J. Dyer, A.J. Eckert, P. Legendre, D.B. Neale (2013) Putting the landscape into the genomics of trees: approaches for understanding local adaptation and population responses to changing climate Tree Genetics and Genomes DOI 10.1007/s11295-013-0596-x

Alberto, F.J., S.N. Aitken, R. Alia, S.C. Gonzalez-Martinez, H. Hanninen, A. Kremer, F. Lefevre, T. LeNormand, S. Yeaman, R. Whetten and O. Savolainen. (2013) Potential for evolutionary responses to climate change – evidence from tree populations Global Change Biology doi: 10.1111/gcb.12181

Aitken, S.N. and M.C. Whitlock (2013) Assisted gene flow to facilitate local adaptation to climate change Annual Review of Ecology Evolution and Systematics. In press.

Hamilton, J.A. and S.N. Aitken (2013) Genetic and morphological structure of a spruce (Picea sitchensis (Bong) Carr. x P. glauca Moensch Voss) hybrid zone along a climatic gradient American Journal of Botany. In press.

Franks, S.J., J. J. Weber and S.N. Aitken (2013) Evolutionary and plastic responses to climate change in terrestrial plant populations Evolutionary Applications

McLane, SC and SN Aitken (2012) Whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis) assisted migration potential: Testing establishment north of the species range Ecological Applications 22: 142-153.

Holliday, J.A., H. Suktan and S.N. Aitken (2012) Divergent selection and heterogeneous migration rates across the range of Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis) Proceedings of the Royal Society Series B 279: 1675-1683.

Dauwe, R., Holliday, J.A., Aitken, S.N., Mansfield, S.D. (2012) Metabolic dynamics during autumn cold acclimation within and among phenotypically divergent populations of Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis) New Phytologist. 194(1): 192-205.

Allendorf, F.W., G. Luikart and S.N. Aitken (2012) Conservation and the genetics of populations. Second Edition. Wiley-Blackwell.

Holliday, J.A., T. Wang and S.N. Aitken (2012) Predicting adaptive phenotypes from multilocus genotypes in Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis) using Random Forest G3 - Genes Genomes Genetics 2: 1085-1093.

Wang, T., E.M. Campbell, G.A. O'Neill and S.N. Aitken. (2012) Projecting future distributions of ecosystem climate niches: Uncertainties and management applications Forest Ecology and Management 279: 128-140.

Bower, A.D., S.C. McLane, A. Eckert, S. Jorgensen, A. Schoettle and S.N. Aitken (2011) Conservation of high elevation five-needle pines In Kean, R.E., D.F. Tomback, M.P. Murray and C.M. Smith, eds. The future of high-elevation, five-needle white pines in Western North America: Proceedings of the High Five Symposium 28-30 June 2010, Missoula, MT. Proceedings RMRS-P-63. For Collins, CO. US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 376 p.

Bower, A.D. and S.N. Aitken (2011) Changes in genetic diversity of whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis Engelm.) associated with inbreeding and white pine blister rust Silvae Genetica 60: 113-123.

McLane, S.C., V.M. LeMay, and S.N. Aitken (2011) Modeling lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) radial growth relative to climate and genetics using universal growth-trend response functions. Ecological Applications 21: 776-788., Ecological Society of America

McLane, S.C., Daniels, L.D., and S.N. Aitken (2011) Climate impacts on lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) radial growth in a provenance experiment Forest Ecology and Management 262: 115-123.

Keir, KR, JB Bemmels and SN Aitken (2011) Low genetic diversity, moderate local adaptation, and phylogeographic insights in Cornus nuttallii (Cornaceae) American Journal of Botany 98: 1327-1336.

Bower, A.D., D. Kolotelo and S.N. Aitken (2011) Effects of length of storage and stratification on germination of whitebark pine seeds Western Journal of Applied Forestry 26: 24-29.

Wang, T., G.A. O'Neill and S.N. Aitken (2010) Integrating environmental and genetic effects to predict responses of tree populations to climate Ecological Applications 20: 153-163.

Mimura, M. and S.N.Aitken (2010) Local adaptation at the range peripheries of Sitka spruce Journal of Evolutionary Biology 23: 249-258.

Holliday, J.A., M. Yuen, K.Ritland and S.N. Aitken (2010) Postglacial history of a widespread conifer produces inverse clines in selective neutrality tests Molecular Ecology 18: 3857-3864.

Holliday, J.A., K. Ritland and S.N. Aitken (2010) Widespread ecologically-relevant genetic markers developed from association mapping of climate-related traits in Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis) New Phytologist 188: 501-514.

Chourmouzis C, A Hamann, AD Yanchuk, P. Smets and SN Aitken. (2009) Forest Tree Genetic Conservation Status Report 1: In Situ Conservation Status of All Indigenous B.C. Species. Technical Report 053. 71 p., BC Ministry of Forests

Krakowski J, C Chourmouzis, AD Yanchuk, D Kolotelo, A Hamann, and SN Aitken (2009) Forest Tree Genetic Conservation Status Report 2: Genetic Conservation Status of Operational Tree Species Technical Report 054. 45 p., BC Ministry of Forests and Range Forest Science Program

Holliday J.A., Ralph S., White R., Bohlmann J. and Aitken, S.N. (2008) Global monitoring of gene expression during autumn cold acclimation among rangewide populations of Sitka spruce [Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carr.] New Phytologist 178: 103-122.

Bower, A.D. and S.N. Aitken. (2008) Genetic Diversity and Geographic Differentiation in Quantitative Traits, and Seed Transfer Guidelines for Pinus albicaulis (Pinaceae). American Journal of Botany 95: 66-76.

Aitken, S.N., S. Yeaman, J.A. Holliday, T. Wang and S. Curtis-McLane. (2008) Adaptation, migration or extirpation: Climate change outcomes for tree populations. Evolutionary Applications 1: 95-111.

Ukrainetz, N. K., Kang, K.-Y., Aitken, S.N., Stoehr, M., Mansfield, S.D. (2008) Heritability, phenotypic and genetic correlations of coastal Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) wood quality traits. Canadian Journal of Forest Research. 38:1536-1546.

Bower, A.D. and S.N. Aitken. (2007) Mating System and Inbreeding Depression in Whitebark Pine (Pinus albicaulis Engelm.). Tree Genetics and Genomes. 3: 379-388.

Mimura, M. and S.N. Aitken (2007) Adaptive gradients and isolation by distance with postglacial migration in Picea sitchensis. Heredity 99: 224-232.

Mimura, M. and S.N. Aitken (2007) Increased selfing and decreased effective pollen donor number in peripheral relative to central populations in Picea sitchensis (Pinaceae). American Journal of Botany 94: 991-998.

Gapare, W.J., A.D. Yanchuk and S.N. Aitken (2007) Optimal sampling strategies for capture of genetic diversity differ between core and peripheral populations of Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carr. Conservation Genetics. DOI 10.1007/s10592-007-9353-8.

Wang, T., A. Hamann, D. Spittlehouse and S.N. Aitken. (2006) Development of scale-free climate data for western Canada for use in resource management International Journal of Climatology 26: 383-397.

Chuine, I., G.E. Rehfeldt and S.N. Aitken (2006) Height growth determinants in pines: a case study of Pinus contorta and Pinus monticola Can. J. For. Res. 36: 1059-1066.

Bower, A.D. and S.N. Aitken. (2006) Genetics of cold hardiness in whitebark pine Can. J. For. Res. 36: 1842-1850.

Wang, T., A. Hamann, A. Yanchuk, G.A. O’Neill and S.N. Aitken (2006) Use of response functions in estimating current and future forest productivity of lodgepole pine Global Change Biology 12: 1-13.

Wheeler, N.C., K.D. Jermstad, K.V. Krutovskii, S.N. Aitken, G.T. Howe, J. Krakowski and D.B. Neale. (2005) Mapping of quantitative trait loci controlling adaptive traits in coastal Douglas-fir. IV. Cold hardiness QTL verification and candidate gene mapping. Molecular Breeding 15: 145-156.

Gapare, W.J., S.N. Aitken and C. Ritland (2005) Genetic diversity of core and peripheral Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carr) populations: implications for conservation of widespread species. Biological Conservation 123: 113-123.

Gapare, W.J. and S.N. Aitken (2005) Strong spatial genetic structure in peripheral but not core populations of Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carr.) Molecular Ecology 14: 2659-2667.

Hamann, A., P. Smets, A.D. Yanchuk and S.N. Aitken (2005) An ecogeographic framework for in situ conservation of forest trees in British Columbia. Can. J. For. Res. 35: 2553-2561.

El-Kassaby Y.A., K. Ritland, C.E. Ritland, S.N. Aitken, J. Bohlmann, and J. Krakowski. (2005) Forest genetics. -In: Forestry handbook (S.B. Watts and L. Tolland, eds.), 5th ed. Faculty of Forestry, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC. 474-486pp.

Bennuah, S.Y., T. Wang and S.N. Aitken (2004) Genetic analysis of the Picea sitchensis x glauca introgression zone in British Columbia Forest Ecology and Management 197: 65-77.

O’Neill, G.A. and S.N. Aitken (2004) Area-based breeding zones to minimize maladaptation Can. J. For. Res. 34: 695-704

Aitken, S.N. (2004) Genecology and adaptation of forest trees. Encyclopedia of Forest Sciences Article 86, pp. 197-2004., Elsevier

Wang, T., S.N. Aitken, J.H. Woods, K. Polsson and S. Magnussen (2004) Effects of inbreeding on coastal Douglas-fir growth and yield in operational plantations: A model-based approach Theoretical and Applied Genetics 108(6): 1162-1171.

Hamann, A., S. N. Aitken, A. D. Yanchuk (2004) Cataloguing in situ protection of genetic resources for major commercial forest trees in British Columbia Forest Ecology and Management 197: 295-305.

Wang, T.L., S.N. Aitken and K.L. Kavanagh. (2003) Selection for improved growth and wood quality in lodgepole pine: effects on phenology, hydraulic architecture and growth of seedlings. Trees Structure and Function 17:269-277.

Howe, G.T., S.N. Aitken, D.B. Neale, K.D. Jermstad, N.C. Wheeler and T.H.H. Chen (2003) From genotype to phenotype: Unraveling the complexities of cold adaptation in forest trees Can. J. Bot. 81: 1247-1266.

O'Neill, G.A., S.N. Aitken, J.N. King and R. Alfaro. (2002) Geographic variation in resin canal defenses in seedlings from the Sitka x white spruce introgression zone. Can. J. For. Res. 32: 390-400.

Anekonda, T.S., C. Lomax, W.T. Adams, K. L. Kavanagh and S.N. Aitken. (2002) Genetic variation in drought hardiness of coastal Douglas-fir seedlings from British Columbia. Can. J. For. Res. 32: 1701-1716.

Woods, J., Wang, T. and Aitken, S.N. (2002) Effects of inbreeding on coastal Douglas-fir: nursery performance. Silvae Genetica 51(4): 163-170.

O'Neill, G.A., W.T. Adams and S.N. Aitken. (2001) Quantitative Genetics of Spring and Fall Cold Hardiness in Seedlings from Two Oregon Populations of Coastal Douglas-fir. For. Ecol. Manage. 149:305-318.

Jermstad, K.D., D.L. Bassoni, N.C. Wheeler, T.S. Anekonda, S.N. Aitken, W.T. Adams and D.B. Neale. (2001) Mapping of quantitative trait loci controlling adaptive traits in Douglas-fir. II. Spring and fall cold hardiness. Theoretical and Applied Genetics 102:1142-1151.

Chuine, I., S.N. Aitken and C. Ying. (2001) Temperature-dependent growth in provenances of Pinus contorta. Can. J. For. Res. 31(8):1444-1455.

Wang, T. and S.N. Aitken. (2001) Selection for improved growth and wood quality in lodgepole pine: effects on xylem anatomy of tree stems. Can. J. For. Res. 31: 2049-2057.

Hannerz, M., S.N. Aitken, T. Ericsson and C. C. Ying. (2001) Variation in strobili production within and among provenances of lodgepole pine. Forest Genetics 8(4):325-331.

Adams, W.T., S.N. Aitken, D.G. Joyce, G.T. Howe and J. Vargas-Hernandez. (2001) Evaluating efficacy of early testing for stem growth in coastal Douglas-fir. Silvae Genetica 50(3-4): 167-175.

Adams, W.T., S.N. Aitken, D.G. Joyce, G.T. Howe and J. Vargas-Hernandez (2001) Evaluating efficacy of early testing for stem growth in coastal Douglas-fir Silvae Genetica 50(3-4): 167-175.

Aitken, S.N. and M. Hannerz (2001) Genecology and gene resource management strategies for conifer cold hardiness Chapter 2 in “Conifer Cold Hardiness”, F. Bigras and S. Columbo, Eds., Kluwer Academic Press, NY.

Anekonda, T.S., Adams, W.T., and Aitken, S.N. (2000) Cold hardiness testing for Douglas-fir tree improvement programs: Guidelines for a simple, robust, and inexpensive screening method West. J. Appl. For. 15(3):129—136.

Anekonda, T.S., W.T. Adams, S.N. Aitken, D.B. Neale, K. D. Jermstad, N.C. Wheeler et al. (2000) Genetics of cold hardiness in a cloned full-sib family of coastal Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii var. menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) Can. J. For. Res. 30(5): 837-840

Wang, T.L., S.N. Aitken, P. Rozenberg, and F. Millier. (2000) Selection for improved growth and wood density in lodgepole pine: Effects on radial patterns of wood formation. Wood & Fiber Sci. 32(4):391-403.

O’Neill, G.A., S.N. Aitken and W.T. Adams. (2000) Genetic selection for cold hardiness in coastal Douglas-fir seedlings and saplings. Can. J. For. Res. 30:1799-1807.

Anekonda, T.S., W.T. Adams and S.N. Aitken. (2000) Cold hardiness testing for Douglas-fir tree improvement programs: Guidelines for a simple, robust, and inexpensive screening method. West. J. Appl. For. 15(3):129-136.

Bennuah, S.Y. and S.N. Aitken (2000) Admixture estimation for introgression between Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis) and white spruce (Picea glauca) in northwestern British Columbia. In: "Hybrid breeding and genetics of forest trees" Proceedings of QFRI/CRC-SPF Symposium 9-14 April 2000, Noosa, Queensland, Australia. Dungley, H.S., Dieters, M.J. and Nikles, D.G. (eds.). Pp 147-152., Department of Primary Industries, Brisbane, Australia.

Wang, T., S.N. Aitken, P. Rozenberg, and M.R. Carlson (1999) Selection for height growth and pilodyn pin penetration in lodgepole pine: effects on growth traits, wood properties, and their relationships. Can. J. For. Res. 29(4):434-445.

Namkoong, G., M.P. Koshy and S. Aitken. (1999) Selection. Pp 101-110 in Andrew Young, Tim Boyle and D. H. Boshier (eds.), Forest Conservation Genetics: Principles and Practice., CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne, Australia.

Kavanagh, K.L., B.J. Yoder, S.N. Aitken, B.L. Gartner, and S.A. Knowe. (1999) Vulnerability to xylem cavitation in Pseudotsuga menziesii var. menziesii and var. glauca. Tree Physiology 19(1):31-38.

Hannerz, M., S.N. Aitken, J.N. King, and S. Budge. (1999) Effects of genetic selection for growth on frost hardiness in western hemlock. Can. J. For. Res. 29(4):509-516.

Balduman, L.M., S.N. Aitken, M. Harmon, and W.T. Adams. (1999) Genetic variation in cold hardiness of Douglas-fir in relation to parent-tree environment. Can. J. For. Res. 29(1):62-72.

Aitken, S.N. (1999) Conserving adaptive variation in forest ecosystems. J. Sust. For.8(7/8):1-10.

Anekonda, T.S., W.T. Adams and S.N. Aitken. (1998) Influence of second flushing on genetic assessment of cold hardiness in coastal Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii var. menziesii (Mirb.) Franco). -For. Ecol. Manage. 111:119-126

Schermann, N., W.T. Adams, S.N. Aitken, and J.C. Bastien. (1997) Genetic parameters of stem form traits in a 9-year-old coastal Douglas-fir progeny test in Washington. Silvae Genetica 46(2-3):166-170.

Aitken, S.N. and W.T. Adams. (1997) Spring cold hardiness is under strong genetic control in Pseudotsuga menziesii var. menziesii. Can J. For. Res. 27(11):1773-1780.

O'Neill, G.A., W.T. Adams and S.N. Aitken. (1996) Susceptibility to autumn frost can be predicted by the timing of bud-set in Douglas-fir seedlings but not in saplings. pp. 208-209 in Proc. Tree Improvement for Sustainable Tropical Forestry. QFRI-IUFRO Conf., Caloundra, Australia.

Aitken, S.N., W.T. Adams, N. Schermann, and L.H. Fuchigami. (1996) Family variation for fall cold hardiness in two Washington populations of coastal Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii var. menziesii (Mirb.) Franco). -For. Ecol. Manage. 80:187-195.

Aitken, S.N. and W.T. Adams. (1996) Genetics of fall cold hardiness in coastal Douglas-fir in Oregon. Can. J. For. Res.26:1828-1837.

Aitken, S.N., K.L. Kavanagh and B.J. Yoder. (1995) Genetic variation in seedling water-use efficiency as estimated by carbon isotope ratios and its relationship to sapling growth in Douglas-fir Forest Genetics 2(4): 199-206

Aitken, S. N. and W. T. Adams (1995) Impacts of genetic selection for height growth on annual developmental cycle traits in coastal Douglas-fir AD-1 In ‘Evolution of breeding strategies for conifers from the Pacific Northwest. Proc., IUFRO Conference, 31 July - 4 Aug. Limoges, France.

Aitken, S.N. and W.J. Libby (1994) Evolution of the pygmy-forest edaphic subspecies of Pinus contorta across an ecological staircase Evolution 48(4): 1009-1019.

Unit associations Unit Associations 

  • Biodiversity Research Centre   
  • Centre for Applied Conservation Research CACR 
  • Centre for Forest Conservation Genetics   
  • Genetic Data Center GDC 
  • Professional Affilliations Professional Affiliations 

  • Canadian Tree Improvement Association CTIA 
  • Society for the Study of Evolution Evolution 
  • Western Forest Genetics Association WFGA 
  • Click for a large print-resolution photo of Sally N Aitken
    Sally N Aitken

    Forest Genetics

    B.Sc. (1984) Brit. Col., M.Sc. (1986), Ph.D. (1989) Berkeley

    Contact Info:
     Department of Forest Sciences Faculty of Forestry The University of British Columbia 3rd Floor, Forest Sciences Centre #3041 - 2424 Main Mall Vancouver, British Columbia Canada V6T 1Z4
    Phone: 604-822-6020
    Fax: 604-822-9102
    Email: