Current Research

My research is primarily aimed at understanding the genetic basis of how plants are adapted to their environments. Current research is focused on exploring responses of Douglas-fir populations from a wide range of source environments planted in a reciprocal transplant study using a wide range of test site environments. Results from this study will be valuable for understanding responses to climate change and exploring management options for adapting to future climates. In addition, I am developing Web-based tools that will help managers choose appropriate seed sources given different climate change scenarios. One of those tools is an archive for data from earlier provenance studies that will help prevent loss of this valuable information and promote collaboration to look at the data in new ways. Another major research focus are studies of geographic genetic variation in several grass species and implications for restoration after disturbances.

Research Interests

My research interests are primarily concerned with describing and understanding geographic variation in how plants are adapted to their environments and the implications for management including reforestation, restoration, tree improvement, gene conservation, and responses to climate change. Species of interest include forest trees as well as grasses and forbs used in restoration projects. This research has contributed to guidelines for the movement of plant populations, genetic conservation needs, and natural and managed responses to climate change.

Past Research

My past research has focused on geographic genetic variation of Douglas-fir and implications for choice of seed sources. This work indicates that Douglas-fir populations are unlikely to be well-adapted to future climates, and that populations adapted to climates at the end of the 21st century would come from considerably lower elevations and from much further south. Other past research has concerned the conservation of genetic resources, tree breeding strategies, intergenotypic competition, ideotype breeding, and realized genetic gains.

Why This Research is Important

Ensuring the productivity, health, and sustainability of forests and grasslands requires knowledge of how plants are adapted to past, current, and future environments.

Education

• Oregon State University, Ph.D. Forest Genetics 1989
• University of Wisconsin, M.S. Forest Genetics 1984
• University of California Berkeley, B.S. Forestry 1980

Featured Publications & Products

• Ye, Terrence Z.; Jayawickrama, Keith J.S.; St. Clair, J. Bradley. 2010. Realized gains from block-plot coastal Douglas-fir trials in the northern Oregon Cascades.
• St. Clair, Brad; Howe, Glenn. 2009. Genetic options for adapting forests to climate change.
• Krutovsky, Konstantin V.; St. Clair, John Bradley; Saich, Robert; Hipkins, Valerie D.; Neale, David B. 2009. Estimation of population structure in coastal Douglas-fir Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco var. menziesii using allozyme and microsatellite markers.

Publications

• McDaniel, Josh ; Prevey, Janet S.; Harrington, Connie ; St. Clair, Brad . 2019. Nature and Nurture: Genetics and Climate Influence the Timing of Flowering in Trees.
• Baughman, Owen W.; Agneray, Alison C.; Forister, Matthew L.; Kilkenny, Francis F.; Espeland, Erin K.; Fiegener, Rob ; Horning, Matthew E.; Johnson, Richard C.; Kaye, Thomas N.; Ott, Jeff ; St. Clair, John Bradley; Leger, Elizabeth A. 2019. Strong patterns of intraspecific variation and local adaptation in Great Basin plants revealed through a review of 75 years of experiments.
• Castellanos-Acuña, Dante; Vance-Borland, Kenneth W.; St. Clair, J. Bradley; Hamann, Andreas; López-Upton, Javier; Gómez-Pineda, Erika; Ortega-Rodríguez, Juan Manuel; Sáenz-Romero, Cuauhtémoc. 2018. Climate-based seed zones for Mexico: guiding reforestation under observed and projected climate change.
• Mazza, Rhonda ; Harrington, Connie ; St. Clair, Brad ; Ford, Kevin . 2018. Done for the season: How do Douglas-fir know when to stop growing.
• Vangestel, Carl ; Eckert, Andrew J.; Wegrzyn, Jill L.; St. Clair, J. Bradley; Neale, David B. 2018. Linking phenotype, genotype and environment to unravel genetic components underlying cold hardiness in coastal Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii var. menziesii).
• Prevey, Janet S.; Harrington, Constance A.; St. Clair, J. Bradley. 2018. The timing of flowering in Douglas-fir is determined by cool-season temperatures and genetic variation.
• St. Clair, Brad; Howe, Glenn. 2017. Building on a century of forest genetics research.
• Wilhelmi, Nicholas P.; Shaw, David C.; Harrington, Constance A.; St. Clair, John Bradley; Ganio, Lisa M. 2017. Climate of seed source affects susceptibility of coastal Douglas-fir to foliage diseases.
• Frank, Aline; Sperisen, Christoph; Howe, Glenn Thomas; Brang, Peter; Walthert, Lorenz; St.Clair, John Bradley; Heiri, Caroline. 2017. Distinct genecological patterns in seedlings of Norway spruce and silver fir from a mountainous landscape.
• Ford, Kevin R.; Harrington, Constance A.; St. Clair, J. Bradley. 2017. Photoperiod cues and patterns of genetic variation limit phenological responses to climate change in warm parts of species range: Modeling diameter-growth cessation in coast Douglas-fir.
• St.Clair, J. Bradley; Bower, Andy; Erickson, Vicky; Howe, Glenn. 2017. Prioritization of gene conservation activities in the face of changing climates.
• Frank, Aline; Howe, Glenn T.; Sperisen, Christoph; Brang, Peter; St. Clair, Brad; Schmatz, Dirk R.; Heiri, Caroline. 2017. Risk of genetic maladaptation due to climate change in three major European tree species.
• Harrington, Constance A.; St. Clair, Brad. 2017. The Douglas-fir seed-source movement trial yields early results.
• Cronn, Richard; Dolan, Peter C.; Jogdeo, Sanjuro; Wegrzyn, Jill L.; Neale, David B.; St. Clair, J. Bradley; Denver, Dee R. 2017. Transcription through the eye of a needle: daily and annual cyclic gene expression variation in Douglas-fir needles.
• Sáenz-Romero, Cuauhtémoc; Lindig-Cisneros, Roberto A.; Joyce, Dennis G.; Beaulieu, Jean; St. Clair, J. Bradley; Jaquish, Barry C. 2016. Assisted migration of forest populations for adapting trees to climate change.
• Harrington, Connie; Ford, Kevin ; St. Clair, Brad. 2016. Phenology of Pacific Northwest tree species.
• Bansal, Sheel; Harrington, Connie; St. Clair, Brad. 2016. Tolerance to multiple climate stressors: a case study of Douglas-fir drought and cold hardiness.
• Ford, Kevin ; Harrington, Connie; Bansal, Sheel; Gould, Peter J.; St. Clair, Brad. 2016. Will changes in phenology track climate change A study of growth initiation timing in coast Douglas-fir.
• Dumroese, Kas; Williams, Mary I.; Stanturf, John A.; St. Clair, Brad. 2015. Considerations for restoring temperate forests of tomorrow: Forest restoration, assisted migration, and bioengineering.
• Boshier, David; Broadhurst, Linda; Cornelius, Jonathan; Gallo, Leonardo; Koskela, Jarkko; Loo, Judy; Petrokofsky, Gillian; St. Clair, Brad. 2015. Is local best Examining the evidence for local adaptation in trees and its scale.
• Koch, Geoff; St. Clair, Brad; Erickson, Vicky. 2015. No place like home: using seed zones to improve restoration of native grasses in the West.
• Rehfeldt, Gerald E.; Jaquish, Barry C.; Lopez-Upton, Javier; Saenz-Romero, Cuauhtemoc; St Clair, J. Bradley; Leites, Laura P.; Joyce, Dennis G. 2014. Comparative genetic responses to climate for the varieties of Pinus ponderosa and Pseudotsuga menziesii: realized climate niches.
• Rehfeldt, Gerald E.; Leites, Laura P.; St Clair, J. Bradley; Jaquish, Barry C.; Saenz-Romero, Cuauhtemoc; Lopez-Upton, Javier; Joyce, Dennis G. 2014. Comparative genetic responses to climate in the varieties of Pinus ponderosa and Pseudotsuga menziesii: clines in growth potential.
• Rehfeldt, Gerald E.; Jaquish, Barry C.; Saenz-Romero, Cuauhtemoc; Joyce, Dennis G.; Leites, Laura P.; St Clair, J. Bradley; Lopez-Upton, Javier. 2014. Comparative genetic responses to climate in the varieties of Pinus ponderosa and Pseudotsuga menziesii: reforestation.
• Bower, Andrew D.; St.Clair, J. Bradley; Erickson, Vicky. 2014. Generalized provisional seed zones for native plants.
• Kilkenny, Francis; St. Clair, Brad; Horning, Matt. 2013. Climate change and the future of seed zones.
• St. Clair, John Bradley; Kilkenny, Francis F.; Johnson, Richard C.; Shaw, Nancy L.; Weaver, George. 2013. Genetic variation in adaptive traits and seed transfer zones for Pseudoroegneria spicata (bluebunch wheatgrass) in the northwestern United States.
• Gerson, Elizabeth A.; Kelsey, Rick G.; St. Clair, Bradley J. 2012. Genetic variation of piperidine alkaloids in Pinus ponderosa from a common garden.
• Gould, Peter J.; Harrington, Constance A.; St. Clair, J. Bradley. 2012. Growth phenology of coast Douglas-fir seed sources planted in diverse environments.
• St. Clair, John Bradley; Howe, Glenn Thomas. 2011. Strategies for conserving forest genetic resources in the face of climate change.
• St. Clair, Brad; Howe, Glenn. 2010. Ensuring that forests are adapted to future climates.
• Johnson, R.C.; Erickson, Vicky J.; Mandel, Nancy L.; St. Clair, J. Bradley; Vance-Borland, Kenneth W. 2010. Mapping genetic variation and seed zones for Bromus carinatus in the Blue Mountains of eastern Oregon, USA.
• Harrington, Connie; Gould, Peter J.; St. Clair, Brad. 2010. Modeling the effects of winter environment on dormancy release of Douglas-fir.
• Parks, Noreen; Harrington, Connie; St. Clair, Brad; Gould,  Peter. . 2010. The future of spring bud burst: looking at the possibilities.
• St. Clair, Brad; Howe,  Glenn T. 2007. Genetic maladaptation of coastal Douglas-fir seedlings to future climates.

Research Highlights

Highlight	Title	Year
PNW-2018-92	Climate of seed source affects susceptibility of Douglas-fir to foliage diseases Douglas-fir at higher elevations and in more continental conditions in the Pacific Northwest could experience more foliar diseases as local envi ...	2018
PNW-2015-69	New Seed Zones for Bluebunch Wheatgrass Tested New seed zones for bluebunch wheatgrass will help local, state, and federal land managers in the Interior Northwest to determine sources of blue ...	2015
PNW-2017-231	New tool puts the right seed in the right place for the coming climate The web-based Seedlot Selection Tool helps forest and restoration managers match seedlots with planting sites based on climate information.	2017
PNW-2014-196	Provisional Seed Zones Developed to Guide Seed Source Decisions for Restoration of Native Species Forest Service scientists developed generalized provisional seed zones that can be applied to any plant species in the United States to help gui ...	2014
PNW-2016-218	The Douglas-fir Seed-Source Movement Trial Sheds Light on Responses of Adaptive Traits to Changing Climates This multi-site Forest Service study, encompassing a range of climate and soil conditions, is providing some very specific results on tree growt ...	2016
PNW-2018-7	Timing of flowering in Douglas-fir is determined by cool-season temperatures and genetic variation New model predicts Douglas-fir flowering to within an average of 5 days of observed flowering date. Warmer temperatures in the future will likel ...	2018