Populus nigra
European black poplar

Josh S Jackson/Flickr
G.Bernetti/EUFORGEN
G.Bernetti/EUFORGEN
G.Bernetti/EUFORGEN
G.Bernetti/EUFORGEN
Bodow/Wikimedia
Bodow/Wikimedia

The European black poplar (Populus nigra) is a large deciduous tree found throughout Europe, northern Africa and in central and west Asia. It is used as a parent pool for breeding programmes in several parts of the world. As a result, many poplar cultivars descend from it. The tree is renowned for its vegetative regeneration and its rapid growth, which makes it a suitable crop for bioenergy and for pulp and paper production. Owing to its environmental plasticity, it is used for soil protection and afforestation in polluted industrial zones.

Ecologically, the tree is important given the large number of insects and animals associated with or depending on it. The species also provides forforest ecosystem services, including soil stabilization and watershed protection.

The European black poplar is tolerant to high water levels and is a good pioneer tree, especially in riparian woodlands. Nevertheless, it is one of the most threatened tree species in Europe as a result of habitat degradation, demographic pressure and lack of genetic diversity.

Access the European database on poplar clones

in situ genetic conservation unit
ex situ genetic conservation unit
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EUFORGEN’s publications on Abies alba

Technical guidelines for genetic conservation and use

Populus nigra - Technical guidelines for genetic conservation and use for black poplar

Publication Year: 2003
Author: Vanden Broeck, A.

As a general objective, the conservation of genetic resources should maintain the adaptation potential of species and populations. Static ex situ conservation is a widely applied strategy for short-term conservation to preserve genotypes in ex situ collections or genebanks. When the objective is long-term gene conservation and maximization of the adaptive potential of a species, dynamic in situ conservation is preferable. This can be achieved through in situ conservation of native stands (including restoration of stands), long-term breeding programmes or both. Successful in situ conservation of black poplar in Europe primarily depends on the location and protection of its natural habitats.

The conservation units should be distributed throughout the distribution range of the species, preferably including more than one conservation site per river system. A preliminary assessment of the genetic diversity among adult trees in the candidate populations is recommended to conserve a high amount of diversity and a low number of clonal duplicates. Particular attention must be paid to all practices that have an impact on flowering habit and the regeneration process, which determine the effective population size. Conditions for seed-set and seedling establishment should be optimized.

For restored populations, introgression can be limited by creating a “buffer zone” around the population consisting of local male trees. Active management and evaluation of the restored populations are highly recommended and should include replacement of poorly flowering individuals, corrective thinning, new additions to and from the genebanks, and removal of unsuitable individuals to avert the threat of introgression or poor adaptation.

As a general objective, the conservation of genetic resources should maintain the adaptation potential of species and populations. Static ex situ conservation is a widely applied strategy for short-term conservation to preserve genotypes in ex situ collections or genebanks. When the objective is long-term gene conservation and maximization of the adaptive potential of a species,...
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Technical bullettin

In situ conservation of Populus nigra

Publication Year: 2001
Author: Lefèvre, F.; Barsoum, N.; Heinze, B.; Kajba, D.; Rotach, P.; de Vries, S.M.G.; Turok, J.

P. nigra is a typical pioneer tree species of the riparian forest ecosystem. Therefore, the in situ gene conservation strategies and methods developed for other forest tree species are not always suitable. In fact, successful in situ conservation strategies for black poplar need to consider the current status and management of existing populations as well as the physical dynamics of the natural habitat formed by the river. Furthermore, conservation relies heavily on the potential to restore entire floodplain ecosystems, as well as the development of appropriate strategies for the management of restored sites. These factors not only determine the objectives of designated in situ conservation units, but also the methods and costs of the approach that is ultimately adopted. 

P. nigra is a typical pioneer tree species of the riparian forest ecosystem. Therefore, the in situ gene conservation strategies and methods developed for other forest tree species are not always suitable. In fact, successful in situ conservation strategies for black poplar need to consider the current status and management of existing populations as well...

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Leaflet

Identification sheet for black poplar

This identification sheet was prepared by members of the EUFORGEN Populus nigra Network, in order to facilitate the simplest possible identification of the species from cultivated hybrids and possible introgressive forms. The morphological traits common to different species of the genus Populus are not referred to.

The drawings should be considered as having an indicative value in the field and can not represent strict taxonomic criteria. All illustrations were drawn by Mr Filip Coopman of the Institute for Forestry and Game Management in Geraardsbergen, Belgium. The original drawings were kindly provided as Belgium's contribution in kind to the Network.

This identification sheet is available in English, French, Italian, German, Dutch and Russian. Copies can be obtained from the EUFORGEN Secretariat.

This identification sheet was prepared by members of the EUFORGEN Populus nigra Network, in order to facilitate the simplest possible identification of the species from cultivated hybrids and possible introgressive forms. The morphological traits common to different species of the genus Populus are not referred to.

The drawings should be considered as...

Download the distribution map
SHAPEFILE JPG
Related resources
Access the genetic conservation units in the EUFGIS information system
Download modelling, data and information on Populus nigra from the European Atlas of Forest Tree Species
About map elements

To learn more about the map elements, please download the "Pan-European strategy for genetic conservation of forest trees"

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Acknowledgements

This distribution map has been developed by the European Commission Joint Research Centre (partly based on the EUFORGEN map) and released under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC-BY 4.0)

Caudullo, G., Welk, E., San-Miguel-Ayanz, J., 2017. Chorological maps for the main European woody species. Data in Brief 12, 662-666. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dib.2017.05.007

The following experts have contributed to the development of the EUFORGEN distribution maps:

Fazia Krouchi (Algeria), Hasmik Ghalachyan (Armenia), Thomas Geburek (Austria), Berthold Heinze (Austria), Rudi Litschauer (Austria), Rudolf Litschauer (Austria), Michael Mengl (Austria), Ferdinand Müller (Austria), Franz Starlinger (Austria), Valida Ali-zade (Azerbaijan), Vahid Djalal Hajiyev (Azerbaijan), Karen Cox (Belgium), Bart De Cuyper (Belgium), Olivier Desteucq (Belgium), Patrick Mertens (Belgium), Jos Van Slycken (Belgium), An Vanden Broeck (Belgium), Kristine Vander Mijnsbrugge (Belgium), Dalibor Ballian (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Alexander H. Alexandrov (Bulgaria), Alexander Delkov (Bulgaria), Ivanova Denitsa Pandeva (Bulgaria), Peter Zhelev Stoyanov (Bulgaria), Joso Gracan (Croatia), Marilena Idzojtic (Croatia), Mladen Ivankovic (Croatia), Željka Ivanović (Croatia), Davorin Kajba (Croatia), Hrvoje Marjanovic (Croatia), Sanja Peric (Croatia), Andreas Christou (Cyprus), Xenophon Hadjikyriacou (Cyprus), Václav Buriánek (Czech Republic), Jan Chládek (Czech Republic), Josef Frýdl (Czech Republic), Petr Novotný (Czech Republic), Martin Slovacek (Czech Republic), Zdenek Špišek (Czech Republic), Karel Vancura (Czech Republic), Ulrik Bräuner (Denmark), Bjerne Ditlevsen (Denmark), Jon Kehlet Hansen (Denmark), Jan Svejgaard Jensen (Denmark), Kalev Jðgiste (Estonia), Tiit Maaten (Estonia), Raul Pihu (Estonia), Ülo Tamm (Estonia), Arvo Tullus (Estonia), Aivo Vares (Estonia), Teijo Nikkanen (Finland), Sanna Paanukoski (Finland), Mari Rusanen (Finland), Pekka Vakkari (Finland), Leena Yrjänä (Finland), Daniel Cambon (France), Eric Collin (France), Alexis Ducousso (France), Bruno Fady (France), François Lefèvre (France), Brigitte Musch (France), Sylvie Oddou-Muratorio (France), Luc E. Pâques (France), Julien Saudubray (France), Marc Villar (France), Vlatko Andonovski (FYR Macedonia), Dragi Pop-Stojanov (FYR Macedonia), Merab Machavariani (Georgia), Irina Tvauri (Georgia), Alexander Urushadze (Georgia), Bernd Degen (Germany), Jochen Kleinschmit (Germany), Armin König (Germany), Armin König (Germany), Volker Schneck (Germany), Richard Stephan (Germany), H. H. Kausch-Blecken Von Schmeling (Germany), Georg von Wühlisch (Germany), Iris Wagner (Germany), Heino Wolf (Germany), Paraskevi Alizoti (Greece), Filippos Aravanopoulos (Greece), Andreas Drouzas (Greece), Despina Paitaridou (Greece), Aristotelis C. Papageorgiou (Greece), Kostas Thanos (Greece), Sándor Bordács (Hungary), Csaba Mátyás (Hungary), László Nagy (Hungary), Thröstur Eysteinsson (Iceland), Adalsteinn Sigurgeirsson (Iceland), Halldór Sverrisson (Iceland), John Fennessy (Ireland), Ellen O'Connor (Ireland), Fulvio Ducci (Italy), Silvia Fineschi (Italy), Bartolomeo Schirone (Italy), Marco Cosimo Simeone (Italy), Giovanni Giuseppe Vendramin (Italy), Lorenzo Vietto (Italy), Janis Birgelis (Latvia), Virgilijus Baliuckas (Lithuania), Kestutis Cesnavicius (Lithuania), Darius Danusevicius (Lithuania), Valmantas Kundrotas (Lithuania), Alfas Pliûra (Lithuania), Darius Raudonius (Lithuania), Robert du Fays (Luxembourg), Myriam Heuertz (Luxembourg), Claude Parini (Luxembourg), Fred Trossen (Luxembourg), Frank Wolter (Luxembourg), Joseph Buhagiar (Malta), Eman Calleja (Malta), Ion Palancean (Moldova), Dragos Postolache (Moldova), Gheorghe Postolache (Moldova), Hassan Sbay (Morocco), Tor Myking (Norway), Tore Skrøppa (Norway), Anna Gugala (Poland), Jan Kowalczyk (Poland), Czeslaw Koziol (Poland), Jan Matras (Poland), Zbigniew Sobierajski (Poland), Maria Helena Almeida (Portugal), Filipe Costa e Silva (Portugal), Luís Reis (Portugal), Maria Carolina Varela (Portugal), Ioan Blada (Romania), Alexandru-Lucian Curtu (Romania), Lucian Dinca (Romania), Georgeta Mihai (Romania), Mihai Olaru (Romania), Gheorghe Parnuta (Romania), Natalia Demidova (Russian Federation), Mikhail V. Pridnya (Russian Federation), Andrey Prokazin (Russian Federation), Srdjan Bojovic (Serbia) , Vasilije Isajev (Serbia), Saša Orlovic (Serbia), Rudolf Bruchánik (Slovakia), Roman Longauer (Slovakia), Ladislav Paule (Slovakia), Gregor Bozič (Slovenia), Robert Brus (Slovenia), Katarina Celič (Slovenia), Hojka Kraigher (Slovenia), Andrej Verlič (Slovenia), Marjana Westergren (Slovenia), Ricardo Alía (Spain), Josefa Fernández-López (Spain), Luis Gil Sanchez (Spain), Pablo Gonzalez Goicoechea (Spain), Santiago C. González-Martínez (Spain), Sonia Martin Albertos (Spain), Eduardo Notivol Paino (Spain), María Arantxa Prada (Spain), Alvaro Soto de Viana (Spain), Lennart Ackzell (Sweden), Jonas Bergquist (Sweden), Sanna Black-Samuelsson (Sweden), Jonas Cedergren (Sweden), Gösta Eriksson (Sweden), Markus Bolliger (Switzerland), Felix Gugerli (Switzerland), Rolf Holderegger (Switzerland), Peter Rotach (Switzerland), Marcus Ulber (Switzerland), Sven M.G. de Vries (The Netherlands), Khouja Mohamed Larbi (Tunisia), Murat Alan (Turkey), Gaye Kandemir (Turkey), Gursel Karagöz (Turkey), Zeki Kaya (Turkey), Hasan Özer (Turkey), Hacer Semerci (Turkey), Ferit Toplu (Turkey), Mykola M. Vedmid (Ukraine), Roman T. Volosyanchuk (Ukraine), Stuart A'Hara (United Kingdom), Joan Cottrell (United Kingdom), Colin Edwards (United Kingdom), Michael Frankis (United Kingdom), Jason Hubert (United Kingdom), Karen Russell (United Kingdom), C.J.A. Samuel (United Kingdom).
 

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