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To learn more about the map elements, please download the "Pan-European strategy for genetic conservation of forest trees"
This distribution map has been developed by the European Commission Joint Research Centre (partly based on the EUFORGEN map) and released under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC-BY 4.0)
Caudullo, Giovanni; Welk, Erik; San-Miguel-Ayanz, Jesús (2017). Chorological maps and data for the main European woody species. figshare. Collection. https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.2918528
The following experts have contributed to the development of the EUFORGEN distribution maps:
Fazia Krouchi (Algeria), Hasmik Ghalachyan (Armenia), Thomas Geburek (Austria), Berthold Heinze (Austria), Rudi Litschauer (Austria), Rudolf Litschauer (Austria), Michael Mengl (Austria), Ferdinand Müller (Austria), Franz Starlinger (Austria), Valida Ali-zade (Azerbaijan), Vahid Djalal Hajiyev (Azerbaijan), Karen Cox (Belgium), Bart De Cuyper (Belgium), Olivier Desteucq (Belgium), Patrick Mertens (Belgium), Jos Van Slycken (Belgium), An Vanden Broeck (Belgium), Kristine Vander Mijnsbrugge (Belgium), Dalibor Ballian (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Alexander H. Alexandrov (Bulgaria), Alexander Delkov (Bulgaria), Ivanova Denitsa Pandeva (Bulgaria), Peter Zhelev Stoyanov (Bulgaria), Joso Gracan (Croatia), Marilena Idzojtic (Croatia), Mladen Ivankovic (Croatia), Željka Ivanović (Croatia), Davorin Kajba (Croatia), Hrvoje Marjanovic (Croatia), Sanja Peric (Croatia), Andreas Christou (Cyprus), Xenophon Hadjikyriacou (Cyprus), Václav Buriánek (Czech Republic), Jan Chládek (Czech Republic), Josef Frýdl (Czech Republic), Petr Novotný (Czech Republic), Martin Slovacek (Czech Republic), Zdenek Špišek (Czech Republic), Karel Vancura (Czech Republic), Ulrik Bräuner (Denmark), Bjerne Ditlevsen (Denmark), Jon Kehlet Hansen (Denmark), Jan Svejgaard Jensen (Denmark), Kalev Jðgiste (Estonia), Tiit Maaten (Estonia), Raul Pihu (Estonia), Ülo Tamm (Estonia), Arvo Tullus (Estonia), Aivo Vares (Estonia), Teijo Nikkanen (Finland), Sanna Paanukoski (Finland), Mari Rusanen (Finland), Pekka Vakkari (Finland), Leena Yrjänä (Finland), Daniel Cambon (France), Eric Collin (France), Alexis Ducousso (France), Bruno Fady (France), François Lefèvre (France), Brigitte Musch (France), Sylvie Oddou-Muratorio (France), Luc E. 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Pridnya (Russian Federation), Andrey Prokazin (Russian Federation), Srdjan Bojovic (Serbia) , Vasilije Isajev (Serbia), Saša Orlovic (Serbia), Rudolf Bruchánik (Slovakia), Roman Longauer (Slovakia), Ladislav Paule (Slovakia), Gregor Bozič (Slovenia), Robert Brus (Slovenia), Katarina Celič (Slovenia), Hojka Kraigher (Slovenia), Andrej Verlič (Slovenia), Marjana Westergren (Slovenia), Ricardo Alía (Spain), Josefa Fernández-López (Spain), Luis Gil Sanchez (Spain), Pablo Gonzalez Goicoechea (Spain), Santiago C. González-Martínez (Spain), Sonia Martin Albertos (Spain), Eduardo Notivol Paino (Spain), María Arantxa Prada (Spain), Alvaro Soto de Viana (Spain), Lennart Ackzell (Sweden), Jonas Bergquist (Sweden), Sanna Black-Samuelsson (Sweden), Jonas Cedergren (Sweden), Gösta Eriksson (Sweden), Markus Bolliger (Switzerland), Felix Gugerli (Switzerland), Rolf Holderegger (Switzerland), Peter Rotach (Switzerland), Marcus Ulber (Switzerland), Sven M.G. de Vries (The Netherlands), Khouja Mohamed Larbi (Tunisia), Murat Alan (Turkey), Gaye Kandemir (Turkey), Gursel Karagöz (Turkey), Zeki Kaya (Turkey), Hasan Özer (Turkey), Hacer Semerci (Turkey), Ferit Toplu (Turkey), Mykola M. Vedmid (Ukraine), Roman T. Volosyanchuk (Ukraine), Stuart A'Hara (United Kingdom), Joan Cottrell (United Kingdom), Colin Edwards (United Kingdom), Michael Frankis (United Kingdom), Jason Hubert (United Kingdom), Karen Russell (United Kingdom), C.J.A. Samuel (United Kingdom).
Status of Alnus orientalis conservation in Europe
No detailed studies on the genetics of oriental alder appear to be available, and research is needed to understand these aspects. Studies covering Alnus as a genus have been carried out that include oriental alder. However, these only confirm that oriental alder can be genetically distinguished from other alder species, and that hybridization between oriental alder and common alder (Alnus glutinosa) occur, indicating genetic compatibility and potential introgression (Ren, Xiang, and Chen, 2010; Keet, Robertson, and Richardson, 2020).
Oriental alder has wind-dispersed pollen and seeds, allowing long-distance dispersal and promoting genetic connectivity. While wind disperses seeds short distances from the parent tree, seeds can be carried downstream along rivers and streams, enhancing local and downstream gene flow. These methods of gene flow maintain moderate to high genetic connectivity between populations, reducing inbreeding and promoting genetic diversity within populations.
The bibliographic review was conducted by James Chaplin of the EUFORGEN Secretariat in August 2025.
NA
The bibliographic review was conducted by James Chaplin of the EUFORGEN Secretariat in August 2025.
There is very little literature on genetic threats to oriental alder. Habitat loss and fragmentation are the main threats to the species in Europe, which can isolate riparian populations, reduce gene flow, and reduce population sizes, increasing the risk of inbreeding and allele loss.
Conservation and management approaches include protecting and restoring riparian habitats, maintaining connectivity between populations to facilitate gene flow, and, where appropriate, monitoring and managing population sizes to preserve genetic variation. However, further research into the genetic diversity and genetic conservation of the species is needed to inform conservation efforts.
The bibliographic review was conducted by James Chaplin of the EUFORGEN Secretariat in August 2025.
Genetic Characterisation of Alnus orientalis and its GCUs
Availability of FRM
Further reading
NA
References
Keet, J.H., Robertson, M.P., and Richardson, D.M. 2020. Alnus glutinosa (Betulaceae) in South Africa: Invasive potential and management options. South African Journal of Botany, 135: 280–293. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sajb.2020.09.009
Kurdali, F. 2000. Seasonal nitrogen changes in Alnus orientalis and Populus nigra and N2 fixation by exotic alder species in Syria. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis, 31(15–16): 2509–2522. https://doi.org/10.1080/00103620009370605
Ren, B.Q., Xiang, X.G., and Chen, Z.D. 2010. Species identification of Alnus (Betulaceae) using nrDNA and cpDNA genetic markers. Molecular Ecology Resources, 10(4): 594–605. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1755-0998.2009.02815.x
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