Aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) is the dominant deciduous tree species in the boreal forest and has both high ecosystem value (Mitton & Grant 1996) and commercial value (Alberta International Trade Review 2005, Carnus 2006, and The State of Canada’s Forests 2006). In Alberta the species is primarily utilized for pulp and oriented strandboard (OSB) production. Although currently aspen is only extensively managed, several companies have started a cooperative tree breeding program and also started research on hybrid performance and clonal propagation for a maximum-yield plantation forestry system (Ceulemanns & Deraedt, 1999, Lester 1995, Rosvall 1999, Sedjo 1999, and Weih 2004 ).
Cheliak and Dancik (1982), Yeh et al. (1995), and Thomas et al. (1997) have found that there is little among population variation and significant within population variation with aspen.
Studies by Jelinski & Cheliak (1992) estimate that clones in Alberta may have established in the holocene paleoclimactic period (11, 500 to 9,300 years before present). Recombination in aspen may not readily occur due to the vegetative nature of aspen (Cheliak 1980). With predicted future climate change (Houghton et al. 2001), and assumption that aspen has not evolved with the changing climate due to its clonal nature (lack of recombination), it might not be unreasonable to think that the aspen growing today may be more suited to climate of the early holocene.
With significant within population variation and assumed adaptation lag genotype by environment analysis of the selected aspen population with cooperative tree improvement is needed. The selected population will be tested to identify best group of trees to use for operational deployment in a high yield plantations system. Determine the population boundaries for deployment and opportunities of tree movement in response to climate change is essential to both achieve the maximum yield and protect against mal- adaptation or suboptimal performance.