
Sally Aitken
Professor
Forest Sciences Centre 3041
2424 Main Mall
Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4
Canada
Research Areas:
Our lab seeks to understand the population genetic structure of temperate and boreal trees, and the evolutionary dynamics that have resulted in that structure. We are particularly interested in the extent of local adaptation to climate in tree populations, the phenotypic traits and genes involved in local adaptation, and the capacity of those populations to adapt to new climates. To investigate this question we are using genomic tools as well as phenotypic data from common gardens and controlled environment experiments. We also infer the phylogeography, demographic history, and levels of gene flow of these populations using a variety of selectively neutral genetic markers. Finally, our work is applied to guide genetic conservation and management strategies for our forests. Our research is funded through Genome Canada, Genome BC, the Forest Genetics Council of BC, Alberta Innovates Bio Solutions, the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).
Projects
Please see the Centre for Forest Conservation Genetics website for detailed project information.
AdapTree: Assessing the adaptive portfolio of reforestation stocks for future climates Current
July 2011 – June 2014
The primary objective of this large-scale genomics project funded by Genome Canada, Genome BC, Alberta Innovates Bio Solutions and the Forest Genetics Council of BC is to improve provincial seed transfer policy and operational forest management response to climate change by: 1) comparing the adaptive portfolio of operational seedlots from tree breeding programs and seed orchards to the climatic distribution and landscape genomics of natural populations; 2) developing strategies for operational seed transfer that will reduce the risk of loss of forest productivity and health due to maladaptation in planted forests; and 3) evaluating ecological, economic, social, and legal implications of these results for forest-dependent communities and ecosystems. In the process of meeting these objectives, we are learning a great deal about the genomic basis of local adaptation in conifers, microevolutionary processes in conifer populations, and the capacity of these populations to respond to climate change through adaptation and through phenotypic plasticity.
Awards
Canadian Forestry Scientific Achievement Award, Canadian Institute of Forestry 2009
UBC Killam Teaching Prize 2010
IUFRO Scientific Achievement Award 2014
Wall Scholar, Peter Wall Institute for Advanced Studies 2014
Elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada 2017
Genome BC Award For Scientific Excellence, Life Sciences BC 2018
Selected Publications
Isabel, N Holliday, JA Aitken, SN (2020). Forest genomics: Advancing climate adaptation, forest health, productivity and conservation Evolutionary Applications 13:3-10
Aitken, SN (2020). Forests. In Earth 2020: An insider's guide to a rapidly changing climate (P. Tortell, Editor) OpenBook Publishers
Hanlon V, Otto SP, Aitken SN (2019). Somatic mutations substantially increase the per-generation mutation rate in the conifer Picea sitchensis Evolution Letters
Mahony CR, Mackenzie WH, Aitken SN (2018). Novel climates: Trajectories of climate change beyond the boundaries of British Columbia’s forest management knowledge system Forest Ecology and Management 410: 35-47
Flanagan SP, Forester BR, Latch EK, Aitken SN, Hoban S (2018). Guidelines for planning genomic assessment and monitoring of locally adaptive variation to inform species conservation Evolutionary Applications DOI: 10.1111/eva.12569. 11:1035-1052
Elleouet JS, Aitken SN (2018). Exploring approximate Bayesian Computation for inferring recent demographic history with genomic markers in nonmodel species Molecular Ecology Resources 18: 525-540
K Lotterhos, S Yeaman, J Degner, S Aitken, K Hodgins (2018). Modularity of genes involved in local adaptation to climate despite physical linkage Genome Biology 19: 157
Mathys, A. S.; Coops, N. C.; Simard, S. W.; et al. (2018). Diverging distribution of seedlings and mature trees reflects recent climate change in British Columbia Ecological Modelling 384: 145-153
Elleouet JS, Aitken SN (2018). Long‐distance pollen dispersal during recent colonization favors a rapid but partial recovery of genetic diversity in Picea sitchensis New Phytologist
Holliday JA, Aitken SN, Cooke JEK, Fady B, González‐Martínez SC, Heuertz M, Jaramillo‐Correa J-P, Lexer C, Staton M, Whetten RW, Plomion C (2017). Advances in ecological genomics in forest trees and applications to genetic resources conservation and breeding Molecular Ecology 26:706-717
C Potvin, D Sharma, I Creed, S Aitken, F Anctil, E Bennett, F Berkes, S Bernstein, Nathalie B, A Bourque, B Brown...S Simard...et al. (2017). Stimulating a Canadian narrative for climate Facets 2:131-149.
Conte GL, Hodgins KA, Yeaman S, Degner JC, Aitken SN, Rieseberg LH, Whitlock MC (2017). Bioinformatically predicted deleterious mutations reveal complementation in the interior spruce hybrid complex BMC Genomics 18: 970
MacLachlan IR Wang T Hamann A Smets P Aitken, Sally N. (2017). Selective breeding of lodgepole pine increases growth and maintains climatic adaptation Forest Ecology and Management 391:404-416
Mahony CR, Cannon AJ Wang T Aitken SN (2017). A closer look at novel climates: new methods and insights at continental to landscape scales Global Change Biology 23:3934-3955.
Nadeau S Meirmans PG Aitken SN Ritland K Isabel N (2016). The challenge of separating signatures of local adaptation from those of isolation by distance and colonization history: The case of two white pines Ecology and Evolution DOI: 10.1002/ece3.2550
Suren H Hodgins KA Yeaman S Nurkowski KA Smets P Rieseberg LH Aitken SN Holliday JA (2016). Exome capture from spruce and pine giga-genomes Molecular Ecology Resources 16:1136-1146.
Hodgins KA Yeaman S Nurkowski K Rieseberg LH Aitken SN (2016). Expression divergence is correlated with sequence evolution but not positive selection in conifers Molecular Biology and Evolution 33:1502-1516
Aitken SN, JB Bemmels (2016). Time to get moving: Assisted gene flow of forest trees Evolutionary Applications (: 271-290. DOI: 10.1111/eva.12293
Liepe KJ, A Hamann, P Smets, CR Fitzpatrick, SN Aitken. (2016). Adaptation of lodgepole pine and interior spruce to climate: Implications for reforestation in a warming world Evolutionary Applications 9: 409-419.
Yeaman S, Hodgins KA, Lotterhos KE Suren H, Nadeau S, Degner JC, Nurkowski KA, Smets P, Wang T, Gray LK, Liepe KJ, Hamann A, Holliday JA, Whitlock MC, Rieseberg LH, Aitken SN (2016). Convergent local adaptation to climate in distantly related conifers Science, 353: 1431-1433
Potvin C, S Aitken, F Antil, E Bennett, F Berkes, J Byrne, I Creed, A Cunsolo Willox, A Dale, D de Lange, M Entz, L. Fraser, G Hoberg and 46 other Canadian academics (2015). Acting on climate change: Solutions from Canadian scholars UNESCO Chair for dialogues on Sustainability, Trottier Institute for Science and Public Policy, and Sustainable Canada Dialogues.
De La Torre A, PK Ingvarsson, SN Aitken (2015). Genetic architecture and genomic patterns of gene flow between hybridizing species of Picea Heredity doi: 10.1038/hdy.2015.19
Hamilton JA, AR De La Torre, SN Aitken (2015). Fine-scale environmental variation contributes to introgression in a three-species spruce hybrid complex Tree Genetics and Genomes 11: 1-14.
Wang H, F Cao, G Li, W Yu, SN Aitken (2015). The transcript profiles of a putative early light-induced protein (ELIP) encoding gene in Ginkgo biloba L. under various stress conditions Acta Physiologiae Plantarum 37: 1-12
Aitken S, Simard S (2015). Restoring forests Alternatives Journal 41: 30-33.
De La Torre, A.R., T. Wang, B. Jaquish. S.N. Aitken (2014). Adaptation and exogenous selection in the Picea glauca x P. engelmannii hybrid zone: Implications for forests under climate change New Phytologist 201:687-699
AR De La Torre, DR Roberts, SN Aitken (2014). Genome‐wide admixture and ecological niche modeling reveal the maintenance of species boundaries despite long history of interspecific gene flow Molecular Ecology. doi: 10.1111/mec.12710
AR De La Torre, T Wang, B Jaquish, SN Aitken (2014). Adaptation and exogenous selection in a Picea glauca× Picea engelmannii hybrid zone: implications for forest management under climate change New Phytologist 201: 687-699
Yeaman, S; Hodgins, KA; Suren, H.; Nurkowski, KA; Rieseberg, LH; Holliday, JA; Aitken, SN (2014). Conservation and divergence of gene expression plasticity following ~140 million years of evolution in lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) and interior spruce (Picea glauca x P. engelmannii) New Phytologist 203: 578-591
Franks, S.J., J. J. Weber and S.N. Aitken (2014). Evolutionary and plastic responses to climate change in terrestrial plant populations Evolutionary Applications 7: 123-139.
Reid, K.E., J.A. Holliday, M. Yuen, A. Nguyen, S.N. Aitken, J. Bohlmann. (2013). Sequencing of Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis) cDNA libraries constructed from autumn buds and foliage reveals autumn-specific spruce transcripts Tree Genetics and Genomes 9: 683-691.
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). Genetic 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 9: 901-911.
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 19:1645-1661.
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.
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 100:1651-1662.
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.
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.
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 Society of America Ecological Applications 21: 776-788.
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.
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.
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.
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 BC Ministry of Forests and Range Forest Science Program Technical Report 054. 45 p.
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.
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.
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.
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). 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 WJ, Yanchuk AD, Aitken SN (2007). Optimal sampling strategies for capture of genetic diversity differ between core and peripheral populations of Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carr. Conservation Genetics 9: 411-418 Conservation Genetics. DOI 10.1007/s10592-007-9353-8.
Mimura, M. and S.N. Aitken (2007). Adaptive gradients and isolation by distance with postglacial migration in Picea sitchensis. Heredity 99: 224-232.
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.
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.
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.
Aitken, S.N. (2004). Genecology and adaptation of forest trees. Elsevier Encyclopedia of Forest Sciences Article 86, pp. 197-2004.
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.
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
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.
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.
Woods, J., Wang, T. and Aitken, S.N. (2002). Effects of inbreeding on coastal Douglas-fir: nursery performance. Silvae Genetica 51(4): 163-170.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 Kluwer Academic Press, NY. Chapter 2 in “Conifer Cold Hardiness”, F. Bigras and S. Columbo, Eds.
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
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. Department of Primary Industries, Brisbane, Australia. 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.
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.
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.
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.
Aitken, S.N. (1999). Conserving adaptive variation in forest ecosystems. J. Sust. For.8(7/8):1-10.
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.
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.
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.
Namkoong, G., M.P. Koshy and S. Aitken. (1999). Selection. CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne, Australia. Pp 101-110 in Andrew Young, Tim Boyle and D. H. Boshier (eds.), Forest Conservation Genetics: Principles and Practice.
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.
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., 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.
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., 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.