Since genetic processes are usually not directly observable, and methods for assessing those parameters that are most precise and informative are often expensive to develop and to use, two problems exist that can be relieved by further research. One problem is the relationships between demographic and genetic processes, and the other is on critical levels of the parameters. Research to better predict the relationships between ecological or demographic factors and genetic processes would allow us to predict what types and intensities of forest level events portend significant changes in genetic parameters. Better understanding of those relationships would also allow us to predict the ecological effects that changes in the genetic system would be reasonable to infer. The relationships described by the matrices in Tables 1, 2, and 3, are very crude and their refinement to include levels of intensity would be very useful in a decision support system. Furthermore, with more precise information on the ecological-genetic interface, more precise surrogate measures could be identified and more efficient measures of the characteristics to be monitored could be developed. Opportunities for incorporating additional elements of genetic research should be sought in areas where ecological assessments are already planned. This would provide the forest manager with more options for choosing measures that are appropriate and available for specific forest conditions.
A third type of problem requiring research is the general lack of understanding of the joint effects that simultaneous changes in all of the parameters has on the structure of genetic variation and on the evolution of adaptability in affected populations. We have had to assume independence among the factors influencing genetic variation and hence have had to set conservative, independent critical levels for acceptability of changes in indicator species. It is perceivable that factors interact, and that high levels of acceptability in one variable can compensate for low levels of another; on the other hand, there is also a possibility that acceptable levels of change in two variables may render a population more susceptible to extinction than either one alone. The joint factor evaluation of risk and interpretation of information from multiple indicators need to be developed.
Specific research areas in need of attention
1. Effect of environmental, biotic, demographic changes on genetic processes and parameters, and their effects on the reliability of different types of gene markers.
2. Effect of increasing distance between mating pairs to map pollination dynamics.
3. Seed migration distances and dynamics.
4. Effects of genetic variables on demographic and ecological processes.
5. Predictive indicators for species that are vulnerable to genetic change.
6. Defining critical levels of genetic verifiers that call for active interventions to counter negative effects.
7. Methods for estimating phenotypic genetic variation in situ.
8. Determining utility of surrogate measures, such as changes in pollinator guilds that in effect change outcrossing rates.
9. Develop indirect assessment tools for genetic parameters that are more easily measured in the field.
10.Generate generally applicable base-line genetic data on population structure and levels of variation and genetic processes for tropical tree species that exist in different successional or dispersal states.
11. Develop a joint risk function for simultaneous evaluation of critical levels of all indicators.
