EUROPEAN ASPEN (POPULUS-TREMULA L) - A REVIEW WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO SCOTLAND .1. DISTRIBUTION, ECOLOGY AND GENETIC-VARIATION

European aspen (Populus tremula L.) has attracted relatively little re search attention in Britain. Interest in the species has increased in recent years because of efforts to restore and extend native woodland, of which aspen is an infrequent but important component species. This paper draws together information from British, European and Russian l iterature on the ecology and genetics of aspen. The species is distrib uted throughout Britain in many different types of woodland. It is par ticularly common in the Scottish Highlands and Islands where it occurs on a diverse range of sites from sea cliffs to near the treeline. It is associated with a distinct insect fauna, several species of which a re considered endangered. Information is lacking on several fundamenta l aspects of the ecology and genetics of aspen in Scotland including s eed production, growth rates, genetic variation and its conservation v alue and status in native forest ecosystems. Some useful information o n these topics is presented from studies of aspen elsewhere in Norther n Europe, particularly Norway.