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[email protected] | WEB http://fourthcornernurseries.com NATIVE PLANTS OF NORTH AMERICA | WHOLESALE PRICE LIST Assisted Migration: What It Means to Nursery Managers and Tree Planters Mary I. Williams and R. Kasten Dumroese Postdoctoral Research Associate, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI, stationed at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Moscow, ID; Research Plant Physiologist, USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Moscow, ID Reprinted with permission: Williams, M. I. and R. K. Introduction Dumroese. 2014. Assisted migration: What it means to Although climate is always changing, and ecosys- nursery managers and tree planters. Tree Planters’ Notes tems have been adjusting to those changes (Davis 57: 21-26. 1990, Huntley 1991, Jansen and others 2007), the Abstract climate is now expected to change faster than trees can adapt or migrate naturally in some re- Projections indicate that natural plant adaptation Greetings! gions (Zhu and others 2012, Gray and Hamann and migration may not keep pace with climate That nervous looking bloke with his fingers stuck in 2013). As a consequence, foresters may need to changes. This mismatch in rates will pose significant the elephant’s trunk is me completing the final leg assist tree species in their migration to new loca- challenges for practitioners that select, grow, and of an elephant handling course in Hartbeespoort, tions to ensure the resilience and sustainability of outplant native tree species. Populations of native South Africa. I can’t say this is a skill that I think ecosystem services (e.g., wildlife habitat, timber tree species planted today must be able to meet every nurseryman should master, but it is par-for- production, recreation, and water and air quality) the climatic challenges they will face during this the-course for members of the International Plant (Aubin and others 2011).