Barb Thomas, PhD, MSc, BSc (Agr)

Professor, NSERC/Forest Industry Research Chair in Tree Improvement, Faculty of Agricultural, Life and Environmental Sci - Renewable Resources Dept

Contact Overview Announcements Courses Publications Links

Contact

Professor, NSERC/Forest Industry Research Chair in Tree Improvement, Faculty of Agricultural, Life and Environmental Sci - Renewable Resources Dept

Email: bthomas@ualberta.ca
Phone: (780) 492-8016
Address: 442 Earth Sciences Building
11223 Saskatchewan Drive NW

Edmonton AB

T6G 2E3

Overview

Area of Study / Keywords

tree improvement forest genetics ecophysiology climate resilience

About

Job/Research Area: Applied tree improvement and ecophysiology.

Awards/Board Membership:

2014-2024– Associate NSERC Industrial Research Chair in Tree Improvement
2014-present: Member of the Technical Review & Steering Committees for the 5-year review of the Alberta Forest Genetic Resource Management & Conservation Standards.
2012-present: Elected member of the Executive Committee, International Poplar Commission (FAO). Rome, Italy.
2012-present: Founding Board member of Tree Improvement Alberta.
2009-present: Member & writer of the technical review committee: AB Afforestation Carbon Credit Protocol.
2009-present: Member of the Genetics Working Group, Poplar & Willow Council of Canada.
2010-2014: Communications Chair of the Alberta Forest Genetic Resources Council (AFGRC).
2009-2014: Chair, Poplar & Willow Council of Canada.
2002-2014: Industrial Sector Member – Alberta Forest Genetics Resources Council.
2001-2009: Co-Chair of the Genetics Working Group for the Poplar Council of Canada.

Research

Thomas Tree Improvement Lab Website: https://people.ales.ualberta.ca/barbthomas/

Thomas RES-FOR Website: https://resfor.ualberta.ca/

Major Responsibilities/Research Interests: My interests include addressing both basic and applied questions to enhance conifer seed orchard productivity, assess the impact of elite breeding in white spruce on increasing gain, and understanding trade-offs in selection for growth versus wood quality and drought resistance. Additional interests include integrating genetic gain into growth and yield models and if growth increases can be achieved through disparate population breeding in balsam poplar. A more fundamental research interest is to understand mechanisms underlying the distribution of aspen clones in terms of size and gender on the landscape.

Students will be given exposure to industrial and government challenges and be expected to develop their research projects while considering both policy implications and industrial application. An evaluation of both the genetic value combined with the social and energy sector pressures on the landbase will also be undertaken through development of a model designed to evaluate tree improvement programs across the province.

Provincial Industrial & Government Partners: Alberta-Pacific Forest Industries Inc., Alberta Newsprint Timber Ltd., Canadian Forest Products Ltd., Millar Western Forest Products Ltd., Huallen Seed Orchard Company Ltd., West Fraser Mills Ltd. including: North Central Woodlands, Blue Ridge Lumber, Hinton Wood Products, Sundre Forest Products, and Weyerhaeuser Company Ltd. including: Grande Prairie Timberlands & Pembina Timberlands and Alberta Agriculture and Forestry.

Teaching

RenR 368/768 Management and Utilization of Forest Genetic Resources

Announcements

Current positions available for both PhDs and PDFs – Please contact me directly or visit: https://ales-ssl.ales.ualberta.ca/gradpositions

Courses

REN R 368 - Management and Utilization of Forest Genetic Resources

Basic principles in plant genetics and resource utilization including tree improvement and reclamation will be covered. Regular lectures will be supplemented with guest lectures and one lab exercise or field trip per month, an individual or group term report and a group report presentation/poster will be assigned. Lab exercises may include field trips, with times to be confirmed. Requires payment of additional student instructional support fees. Refer to the Tuition and Fees page in the University Regulations section of the Calendar. Prerequisite: *30.

Winter Term 2023

REN R 768 - Management and Utilization of Forest Genetic Resources

Basic principles in plant genetics and resource utilization including tree improvement and reclamation will be covered. Regular lectures will be supplemented with guest lectures and one lab exercise or field trip per month, an individual term report and presentation/discussion lead on a selected paper will be required. Lab exercises may include field trips, with times to be confirmed. Requires payment of additional student instructional support fees. Refer to the Tuition and Fees page in the University Regulations section of the Calendar. Not to be taken if credit received for REN R 368.

Winter Term 2023

Browse more courses taught by Barb Thomas

Publications

An analysis of age-age correlations in white spruce and lodgepole pine and how it applies to the growth and yield projection system (GYPSY) in Alberta

Author(s): Luo, D., and Thomas, B.R.

Publication Date: 2/15/2021

Publication: Forest Ecology and Management

Volume: 482

External Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2020.118865

Best of both worlds: hybrids of two commercially important pines (Pinus contorta x P. banksiana) combine increased growth potential and high drought tolerance

Author(s): Bockstette, S.W., de la Mata, R., and Thomas, B.R.

Publication Date: 1/7/2021

Publication: Canadian Journal of Forest Research

External Link: https://cdnsciencepub.com/doi/abs/10.1139/cjfr-2020-0420

Reforestation policy has constrained options for managing risks on public forests

Author(s): Lieffers, V.J., Pinno, B.D., Beverly, J.L., Thomas, B.R., Nock, C.

Publication Date: 4/30/2020

Publication: Canadian Journal of Forest Research

Page Numbers: 1-7

External Link: https://doi.org/10.1139/cjfr-2019-0422

Growth parameters and resistance to Sphaerulina musiva-induced canker are more important than wood density for increasing genetic gain from selection of Populus spp. hybrids for northern climates

Author(s): Niemczyk, M., Thomas, B.R.

Publication Date: 3/19/2020

Publication: Annals of Forest Science

Volume: 77

Issue: 26

Page Numbers: 1-14

External Link: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13595-020-0931-y

Increment coring induced traumatic resin ducts in white spruce but not in lodgepole pine

Author(s): Klutsch, J., Kee, C., Cappa, E., Ratcliffe, B., Thomas, B.R., & Erbilgin, N.

Publication Date: 1/21/2020

Publication: Tree-Ring Research

Volume: 76

Issue: 1

Page Numbers: 54-58

External Link: https://doi.org/10.3959/TRR2019-5

Selection of poplar genotypes for adapting to climate change

Author(s): Niemczyk, M., Hu, Y. & Thomas, B.R.

Publication Date: 11/16/2019

Publication: Forests

Volume: 10

Issue: 11

Page Numbers: 1041

External Link: https://doi.org/10.3390/f10111041

Impact of genotype and parent origin on the efficacy and optimal timingof GA4/7 stem injections in a lodgepole pine seed orchard

Author(s): Bockstette, S. & Thomas, B.R.

Publication Date: 8/21/2019

Publication: New Forests

Volume: 51

Page Numbers: 421–434

External Link: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11056-019-09733-w

Differences in drought tolerance revealed in nine North American hybrid poplars

Author(s): Arshad, M., Biswas, K., Bisgrove, S., Schroeder, W., Thomas, B.R., Mansfield, S., Mattson, J. & Plant, A.

Publication Date: 4/5/2019

Publication: Trees

Volume: 33

Page Numbers: 1111–1128

External Link: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-019-01846-1

A financial analysis of using improved planting stock or white spruce and lodgepole pine in Alberta, Canada: Genomic selection versus traditional breeding

Author(s): Chang, W-Y, Gaston, C., Cool, J., & Thomas, B.R.

Publication Date: 3/30/2019

Publication: Forestry: An International J of For Res.

Volume: 92

Issue: 3

Page Numbers: 297-310

External Link: https://doi.org/10.1093/forestry/cpz011

Hormones and heterosis in hybrid balsam poplar (Populus balsamifera L.)

Author(s): Hu, Y. & Thomas, B.R.

Publication Date: 2/10/2019

Publication: Forests

Volume: 10

Issue: 2

Page Numbers: 143

External Link: https://doi.org/10.3390/f10020143

Economic evaluations of tree improvement for planted forests: a systematic review

Author(s): Chang, W-Y., Wang, S., Gaston, C., Cool, J., An, H., & Thomas, B.R.

Publication Date: 2/1/2019

Publication: BioProducts Business

Volume: 4

Issue: 1

Page Numbers: 1-14

External Link: http://biobus.swst.org/index.php/bpbj/article/view/41

Spatial partitioning of competitive effects from neighbouring herbaceous vegetation on establishing hybrid poplars in plantations

Author(s): Goehing, J., Henkel-Johnson, D., Macdonald, E.S., Bork, E.W., & Thomas, B.R.

Publication Date: 1/8/2019

Publication: Canadian Journal of Forest Research

Volume: 49

Issue: 6

Page Numbers: 595-605

External Link: https://doi.org/10.1139/cjfr-2018-0410

Variation in aquaporin and physiological responses among Pinus contorta families under different moisture conditions

Author(s): Khan, S., Thomas, B.R., de la Mata, R., Randall, M.J., Zhang, W. & Zwiazek, J.J.

Publication Date: 1/6/2019

Publication: Plants

Volume: 8

Issue: 13

External Link: https://doi.org/10.3390/plants8010013

Accelerating the selection process for Populus and Salix clones using short-term photosynthetic acclimation responses under greenhouse conditions

Author(s): Mamashita, T., Larocque, G. R., DesRochers, A., Beaulieu, J., Thomas, B. R., Mosseler, A., Major, J. and Sidders, D.

Publication Date: 8/11/2017

Publication: Écoscience

Volume: 24

Issue: 1-2

Page Numbers: 59-73

External Link: https://doi.org/10.1080/11956860.2017.1361508

Forest industry investment in tree improvement–a wise business decision or a bottomless pit? Answers from a new tree improvement valuation model for Alberta, Canada

Author(s): Schreiber, S. G., & Thomas, B. R.

Publication Date: 3/14/2017

Publication: The Forestry Chronicle

Volume: 93

Issue: 1

Page Numbers: 38-43

External Link: https://doi.org/10.5558/tfc2017-009

Effects of alternative establishment systems on resource availability, understorey, composition, and tree performance in juvenile hybrid poplar plantations

Author(s): Goehing, J., Thomas, B.R., Macdonald, and S.E., Bork, E.W.

Publication Date: 3/7/2017

Publication: Forestry

Volume: 90

Issue: 4

Page Numbers: 515-529

External Link: https://doi.org/10.1093/forestry/cpx005

Biomass from young hardwood stands on marginal lands: Allometric equations and sampling methods

Author(s): Lupi, C., Larocque, G. R., DesRochers, A., Labrecque, M., Mosseler, A., Major, J., Beaulieu, J., Tremblay, F., Gordon, A. M., Thomas, B. R., Vézina, A., Bouafif, H., Cormier, D., Sidders, D., Krygier, R.

Publication Date: 1/24/2017

Publication: Biomass and Bioenergy

Volume: 98

Page Numbers: 172-181

External Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biombioe.2017.01.023

Relationships between understory vegetation and hybrid poplar growth and size in an operational plantation

Author(s): Grenke, J. S., Macdonald, S. E., Thomas, B. R., Moore, C. A., & Bork, E. W.

Publication Date: 12/9/2016

Publication: The Forestry Chronicle

Volume: 92

Issue: 4

Page Numbers: 469-476

External Link: https://doi.org/10.5558/tfc2016-083

Impact of planting container type on growth and survival of three hybrid poplar clones in central Alberta, Canada

Author(s): Thomas, B.R., Schreiber S.G., Kamelchuk, D.P.

Publication Date: 7/15/2016

Publication: New Forests

Volume: 47

Page Numbers: 815-827

External Link: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11056-016-9546-4

Climate change risk management in tree improvement programs:selection and movement of genotypes

Author(s): Gray L.K., Hamann A., John S., Rweyongeza D., Barnhardt L., Thomas B.R.

Publication Date: 3/14/2016

Publication: Tree Genetics & Genomes

Volume: 12

Page Numbers: 23

External Link: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11295-016-0983-1

Influence of weed composition, abundance, and spatial proximity on growth in young hybrid poplar plantations

Author(s): Henkel-Johnson, D., Macdonald, S. E., Bork, E. W., & Thomas, B. R.

Publication Date: 2/15/2016

Publication: Forest Ecology and Management

Volume: 362

Page Numbers: 55-68

External Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2015.11.010

Evaluating sampling designs and deriving biomass equations for young plantations of poplar and willow clones

Author(s): Lupi, C., Larocque, G., DesRochers, A., Labrecque, M., Mosseler, A., Major, J., Beaulieu, J., Tremblay, F., Gordon, A.M., Thomas, B.R., Vézina, A., Bouafif, H., Cormier, D., Sidders, D., Krygier, R., Thevathasan, N., Riopel, M., Ferland-Raymond, B.

Publication Date: 12/1/2015

Publication: Biomass and Bioenergy

Volume: 83

Page Numbers: 196-205

External Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biombioe.2015.09.019

Short-term growth and morphological responses to nitrogen availability and plant density in hybrid poplars and willows

Author(s): Mamashita, T., Larocque, G.R., DesRochers, A., Beaulieu, J., Thomas, B.R., Mosseler, A., Major, J., Sidders, D.

Publication Date: 10/1/2015

Publication: Biomass and Bioenergy

Volume: 81

Page Numbers: 88-97

External Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biombioe.2015.06.003

Leaf size serves as a proxy for xylem vulnerability to cavitation in plantation trees

Author(s): Schreiber, S.G., Hacke, U.G., Chamberland, S., Lowe, C.W., Kamelchuk, D., Bräutigam, K., Campbell, M.M., Thomas, B.R.

Publication Date: 7/15/2015

Publication: Plant, Cell and Environment

Volume: 39

Page Numbers: 272–281

External Link: https://doi.org/10.1111/pce.12611

Testing the ‘hybrid susceptibility’ and ‘phenological sink’ hypotheses using the P. balsamifera – P. deltoides hybrid zone and Septoria leaf spot [Septoria musiva]

Author(s): LeBoldus, J. M., Isabel, N., Floate, K.D., Blenis, P., and Thomas, B.R.

Publication Date: 12/27/2013

Publication: PLOS ONE

Volume: 18

Issue: 12

Page Numbers: e84437

External Link: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0084437

Wood quality and growth characterization across intra- and inter-specific hybrid aspen clones

Author(s): Hart, J.F., deAraujo, F. Thomas, B.R., and Mansfield, S.D.

Publication Date: 9/30/2013

Publication: Forests

Volume: 4

Issue: 4

Page Numbers: 786-807

External Link: https://doi.org/10.3390/f4040786

Frost hardiness vs. growth performance in trembling aspen: an experimental test of assisted migration

Author(s): Schreiber, S.G., Ding, C., Hamann, D, Hacke, W.G., Thomas, B.R., and Brouard, J.S.

Publication Date: 5/9/2013

Publication: Journal of Applied Ecology

Volume: 50

Page Numbers: 939-949

External Link: https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.12102

Research on hybrid poplars and willow species for fast-growing tree plantations: its importance for growth and yield, silviculture, policy making and industrial applications

Author(s): Larocque, G.R., Desrochers, A., Lacheveque, M., Tremblay, F., Beaulieu, J., Mosseler, A., Major, J., Gaussiran, S., Thomas, B.R., Sidders, D., Perinet, P., Kort, J., Labrecque, M., Savoie, P., Masse, S., Bouman, O.T., Kamelchuk, D., Benomar, L., Mamashita, T., Gagne, P.

Publication Date: 2/1/2013

Publication: Forestry Chronicle

Volume: 89

Issue: 1

Page Numbers: 32-41

External Link: https://doi.org/10.5558/tfc2013-009

From the Arctic Circle to the prairies – a case study of silver birch acclimation capacity

Author(s): Rousi, M, Possen, B.J.H.M., Hagqvist, R., & Thomas, B.R.

Publication Date: 12/31/2012

Publication: Silva Fennica

Volume: 46

Issue: 3

Page Numbers: 355-364

External Link: https://doi.org/10.14214/sf.46

The potential of aspen clonal forestry in Alberta: breeding regions and estimates of genetic gain from selection

Author(s): Gylander, T., Hamann, A., Brouard, J.S., and Thomas, B.R.

Publication Date: 8/30/2012

Publication: PLoSONE

Volume: 7

Issue: 8

Page Numbers: e44303

External Link: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0044303

Sixteen years of winter stress: An assessment of cold hardiness, growth performance and survival of hybrid poplar clones at a boreal planting site

Author(s): Schreiber, S.G., Hamann, A., Hacke, U.G., Thomas, B.R.

Publication Date: 8/16/2012

Publication: Plant, Cell and Environment

Volume: 36

Issue: 2

Page Numbers: 419-428

External Link: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3040.2012.02583.x

Drought induces alterations in the stomatal development program in Populus

Author(s): Hamanishi, E., Thomas, B.R., & Campbell, M.M.

Publication Date: 7/6/2012

Publication: Journal of Experimental Botany

Volume: 63

Issue: 13

Page Numbers: 4959-4971

External Link: https://doi.org/10.1093/jxb/ers177

Clone history shapes Populus drought responses

Author(s): Raj, S., Bräutigam, K., Hamanishi, E., Wilkins, O., Thomas, B.R., Schroeder, W., Mansfield, S.D., Plant, A.L., & Campbell, M.M.

Publication Date: 7/26/2011

Publication: PNAS

Volume: 108

Issue: 30

Page Numbers: 12521-12526

External Link: https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1103341108

Stomatal factors and vulnerability of stem xylem to cavitation in poplars

Author(s): Arango-Velez, A., Zwiazek, J.J., Thomas, B.R., & Tyree, M.T.

Publication Date: 5/30/2011

Publication: Physiologia Plantarum

Volume: 143

Issue: 2

Page Numbers: 154-165

External Link: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1399-3054.2011.01489.x

Carbon, water, and energy exchanges of a hybrid poplar plantation during the first five years following planting

Author(s): Cai, T., Price, D., Orchansky, A., & Thomas, B.R.

Publication Date: 4/12/2011

Publication: Ecosystems

Volume: 14

Page Numbers: 658-671

External Link: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10021-011-9436-8

Genetic variation of hydraulic and wood anatomical traits in hybrid poplar and trembling aspen

Author(s): Schreiber, S., Hacke, U., Hamann, A., & Thomas, B.R.

Publication Date: 1/11/2011

Publication: New Phytologist

Volume: 190

Issue: 1

Page Numbers: 150-160

External Link: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8137.2010.03594.x

A method for successfully inoculating unwounded Populus clones with Septoria musiva

Author(s): LeBoldus, J., Blenis, P. & Thomas, B.R.

Publication Date: 2010

Publication: Plant Disease

Volume: 94

Issue: 10

Page Numbers: 1238-1242

Predicting the productivity of a young hybrid poplar clone under intensive plantation management in northern Alberta, Canada using soil and site characteristics

Author(s): Pinno, B.D., Thomas, B.R. & Bélanger, N.

Publication Date: 2010

Publication: New Forests

Volume: 39

Page Numbers: 89-103

Intraspecific variation in the Populus balsamifera drought transcriptome

Author(s): Hamanishi, E., Raj, S., Wilkins, O., Thomas, B.R., Mansfield, S.D., Plant, A.L., & Campbell, M.M.

Publication Date: 2010

Publication: Plant, Cell & Environment

Susceptibility of Populus balsamifera to Septoria musiva: A field study and greenhouse experiment

Author(s): LeBoldus, J., Blenis, P., Thomas, B., Feau, N., & Bernier, L.

Publication Date: 2009

Publication: Plant Disease

Volume: 93

Page Numbers: 1146-1150

Land-use conversion effects on CO2 emissions: from agricultural to hybrid poplar plantation

Author(s): Saurette, D.D., Chang, S.X., & Thomas, B.R.

Publication Date: 2008

Publication: Ecological Research

Volume: 23

Page Numbers: 623-633

Effects of N, NP, & NPKS fertilizers applied to four-year old hybrid poplar plantations

Author(s): van den Driessche, R., Thomas, B.R., & Kamelchuk, D

Publication Date: 2008

Publication: New Forests

Volume: 35

Page Numbers: 221-233

Clone by isolate interaction in the hybrid poplar-Septoria musiva pathosystem

Author(s): LeBoldus, J., Blenis, P. & Thomas, B.R.

Publication Date: 2008

Publication: Can. J. For. Res.

Volume: 38

Page Numbers: 1888-1896

Autotrophic and heterotrophic respiration rates across a chronosequence of hybrid poplar plantations in northern Alberta

Author(s): Saurette, D.D., Chang, S.X., & Thomas, B.R.

Publication Date: 2008

Publication: CJSS

Volume: 88

Page Numbers: 261-272

The interaction between nitrogen source, soil pH and drought in the growth and physiology of three poplar clones

Author(s): DesRochers, A., van den Driessche, R., and Thomas, B.R.

Publication Date: 2007

Publication: Special Issue Can. J. Bot.

Volume: 85

Page Numbers: 1046-1057

Public perceptions of hybrid poplar plantations: Trees as an alternative crop

Author(s): Neumann, P., Krogman, N., & Thomas, B.R.

Publication Date: 2007

Publication: International Journal of Biotechnology

Volume: 9

Page Numbers: 468-483

Poplar research in Canada – a historical perspective with a view to the future

Author(s): Richardson, J., Cooke, J.E.K., Isebrands, J.G., Thomas, B.R., & Van Rees, K.C.J.

Publication Date: 2007

Publication: Special Issue Can. J. Bot.

Volume: 85

Page Numbers: 1136-1146

My Grandfather would roll over in his grave: Public perceptions of poplar plantations

Author(s): Neumann, P. Krahn, H., Krogman, N., & Thomas, B.R.

Publication Date: 2007

Publication: Rural Sociology

Volume: 72

Issue: 1

Page Numbers: 111-135

Flowering phenology and seed viability of native and non-native poplars in north-central Alberta

Author(s): Huybregts, A., Thomas, B.R., & Dancik, B.

Publication Date: 2007

Publication: Forestry Chronicle

Volume: 83

Issue: 2

Page Numbers: 239-246

Evaluating the interaction between genotype and water stress in the hybrid poplar-Septoria musiva pathosystem

Author(s): LeBoldus, J., Blenis, P. & Thomas, B.R.

Publication Date: 2007

Publication: Can. J. Bot.

Volume: 85

Page Numbers: 1098-1102