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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Geneva, New York » Plant Genetic Resources Unit (PGRU) » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #415272
Research Project: Conservation, Characterization, Evaluation, and Utilization of Hemp Genetic Resources and Associated Descriptive Information

Location: Plant Genetic Resources Unit (PGRU)

Title: Utilizing Digitized Occurrence Records of Midwestern Feral Cannabis sativa to Develop Ecological Niche Models

Author
item FORD, TORI - US Department Of Agriculture (USDA)
item Gordon, Tyler
item ELLISON, SHELBY - University Of Wisconsin
item AINU, ADEMOLA - University Of Wisconsin
item Stansell, Zachary

Submitted to: Ecology and Evolution
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/8/2024
Publication Date: 7/11/2024
Citation: Ford, T., Gordon, T.C., Ellison, S., Ainu, A., Stansell, Z.J. 2024. Utilizing digitized occurrence records of midwestern feral Cannabis sativa to develop ecological niche models. Ecology and Evolution. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.11325.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.11325

Interpretive Summary: USDA-ARS researchers in collaboration with University of Wisconsin Madison researchers collected feral hemp occurrence records from populations occurring across the American Midwest. These populations may have important implications for breeding locally adapted hemp cultivars suitable for fiber and grain in the United States. The researchers study the ecological niche that these population inhabit and determined critical environmental variables that are linked with higher occurrences of feral populations. Using an ecological niche model approach, the researchers were able to determine characteristics of suitable habitat for these populations and then run that model under several potential climate change scenarios. This work will support conservation of critical genetic resources and provide new tools to plant breeders developing locally adapted hemp varieties.

Technical Abstract: Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) has historically played a vital role in agriculture across the globe. Feral and wild populations have served as genetic resources for breeding, conservation, and adaptation to changing environmental conditions. However, feral populations of Cannabis, specifically in the Midwestern United States, remain poorly understood. This study aims to characterize the abiotic tolerances of these populations, estimate suitable areas, identify regions at risk of abiotic suitability change, and highlight the utility of ecological niche models (ENMs) in germplasm conservation. The Maxent algorithm was used to construct a series of ENMs. Validation metrics and a MOP (Mobility-oriented Parity) analysis were used to assess extrapolation risk and model performance. We also projected the final projected under current and future climate scenarios (2021-2040, 2061-2080) to assess how abiotic suitability changes with time. Climate change scenarios indicated an expansion of suitable habitat, with priority areas for germplasm collection in Indiana, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska. This study demonstrates the application of ENMs for characterizing feral Cannabis populations and highlights their value in germplasm conservation and breeding efforts. Populations of feral C. sativa in the Midwest are of high interest, and future research should focus on utilizing tools to aid the collection of materials for the characterization of genetic diversity and adaptation to a changing climate.