Advances in plant ecology and evolutionary biology have clear applications to plant materials choices for ecosystem management that may have long-term impacts on ecosystem resilience. Rapid changes in environmental and biotic conditions are leading to unprecedented changes in selective pressures faced by plant populations. There is a need to balance the preservation of locally adapted genes with the desire to develop native plant materials that are genetically diverse and can respond to ecosystem changes. However, there is often a disconnect between the types of research being conducted and that which is needed for application to ecosystem management. How do we develop knowledge surrounding topics like gene flow and local adaptation in a way that can inform native plant materials selection?

This workshop will focus on five emerging issues related to the ecological underpinnings of native plant materials selection and use: (1) rapid evolution, (2) risks and benefits of combining multiple populations, (3) methodological concerns surrounding local adaptation research, (4) effects of agricultural selection, and (5) appropriateness of using locally adapted materials in an era of rapid change. The workshop will include brief presentations on each topic to stimulate discussion, after which participants will break into groups for in-depth discussion on their topic of choice. The objectives of the workshop are to connect researchers interested in applying concepts of ecology and evolution to plant materials selection for restoration and ecosystem management; to facilitate sharing of recent research initiatives and findings on these topics; and generating new directions for research.