Siberian fir ( Abies sibirica Ledeb . ) pollen viability at the V . N . Sukachev institute of forest arboretum

Adaptation of woody plants in changing environment is a key issue of forest ecology. Monitoring of plants ontogenesis during introduction to non-native climatic environment facilitates identification of mechanisms by which these plants respond to rapidly changing climatic regimes. Our observation shows that Siberian fir pollination in the arboretum occurs earlier than in its stands found near Krasnoyarsk town. The pollen sampled from fifteen trees growing in the arboretum varied in viability (in vitro % germination and pollen tube length) and size among the years of observation depending on individual tree characteristics and on a specific annual weather conditions. Observed Siberian fir responses to the changed environment (i.e. to the conditions at the Forest Arboretum) can be considered as a more general model of species adaptation to climate changes.