Göte Turesson
Encyclopedia
Göte Wilhelm Turesson was a Swedish evolutionary botanist who made significant contributions to ecological genetics, and coined the terms ecotype
and agamospecies. He conducted extensive work to demonstrate that there is a genetic basis to the differentiation of plant populations. This work stood in sharp contrast to most researchers at the time, who believed that the differentiation of plant populations was due to phenotypic plasticity. Further, Turesson came to the conclusion that differentiation of plant populations was largely driven by natural selection. His work on locally adapted plant populations led him to coin the term "ecotype
" in 1922.
to schoolmaster Jöns Turesson and wife Sofie née Nilsson. He completed his initial science studies in the United States at the Washington State University
, obtaining his B.S.
in 1914 and M.S.
in 1915. He returned to Sweden, receiving his PhD from Lund University
in 1923. He was a lecturer at Lund
until 1927, eventually taking a position as professor
of systematic botany
and genetics
at the Agricultural College
at Ultuna
outside Uppsala
(since 1977 the main campus of the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
), where he remained from 1935 to 1958.
1939, the Royal Swedish Academy of Agriculture and Forestry
1945, the Royal Society of Sciences in Uppsala
1945 and doctor honoris cause
at Agricultural College
upon his retirement in 1957. He was awarded the honorary medal of Christian X of Denmark
. He was awarded the Linnean Society of London
's prestigious Darwin-Wallace Medal
in 1958.
of plants.
At the main campus of the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
in Ultuna
, one may still see a long row of birch trees of provenances ranging from Scania
to Lappland
, planted by Turesson. Spectacularly, bud burst in spring starts in the end of the southern provenances and proceeds 'northwards', while autumn leaf colouring and senescence starts in the northern provenances and proceeds 'southwards'. Thus, Turesson continues to remind SLU
students that phenology
has a genetic basis
and that local adaption may be revealed in common garden experiments.
Ecotype
In evolutionary ecology, an ecotype,Greek: οίκος = home and τύπος = type, coined by Göte Turesson in 1922 sometimes called ecospecies, describes a genetically distinct geographic variety, population or race within species , which is adapted to specific environmental conditions.Typically, ecotypes...
and agamospecies. He conducted extensive work to demonstrate that there is a genetic basis to the differentiation of plant populations. This work stood in sharp contrast to most researchers at the time, who believed that the differentiation of plant populations was due to phenotypic plasticity. Further, Turesson came to the conclusion that differentiation of plant populations was largely driven by natural selection. His work on locally adapted plant populations led him to coin the term "ecotype
Ecotype
In evolutionary ecology, an ecotype,Greek: οίκος = home and τύπος = type, coined by Göte Turesson in 1922 sometimes called ecospecies, describes a genetically distinct geographic variety, population or race within species , which is adapted to specific environmental conditions.Typically, ecotypes...
" in 1922.
Life
Turesson was born in MalmöMalmö
Malmö , in the southernmost province of Scania, is the third most populous city in Sweden, after Stockholm and Gothenburg.Malmö is the seat of Malmö Municipality and the capital of Skåne County...
to schoolmaster Jöns Turesson and wife Sofie née Nilsson. He completed his initial science studies in the United States at the Washington State University
Washington State University
Washington State University is a public research university based in Pullman, Washington, in the Palouse region of the Pacific Northwest. Founded in 1890, WSU is the state's original and largest land-grant university...
, obtaining his B.S.
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in 1914 and M.S.
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
in 1915. He returned to Sweden, receiving his PhD from Lund University
Lund University
Lund University , located in the city of Lund in the province of Scania, Sweden, is one of northern Europe's most prestigious universities and one of Scandinavia's largest institutions for education and research, frequently ranked among the world's top 100 universities...
in 1923. He was a lecturer at Lund
Lund University
Lund University , located in the city of Lund in the province of Scania, Sweden, is one of northern Europe's most prestigious universities and one of Scandinavia's largest institutions for education and research, frequently ranked among the world's top 100 universities...
until 1927, eventually taking a position as professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of systematic botany
Botany
Botany, plant science, or plant biology is a branch of biology that involves the scientific study of plant life. Traditionally, botany also included the study of fungi, algae and viruses...
and genetics
Genetics
Genetics , a discipline of biology, is the science of genes, heredity, and variation in living organisms....
at the Agricultural College
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences or Sveriges Lantbruksuniversitet is a university in Sweden. Although its head office is located in Ultuna, Uppsala, the university has several campuses in different parts of Sweden, the other main facilities being Alnarp in Lomma Municipality, Skara,...
at Ultuna
Ultuna
Ultuna is the location of the headquarters and main campus of the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences in southern Uppsala, Sweden....
outside Uppsala
Uppsala
- Economy :Today Uppsala is well established in medical research and recognized for its leading position in biotechnology.*Abbott Medical Optics *GE Healthcare*Pfizer *Phadia, an offshoot of Pharmacia*Fresenius*Q-Med...
(since 1977 the main campus of the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences or Sveriges Lantbruksuniversitet is a university in Sweden. Although its head office is located in Ultuna, Uppsala, the university has several campuses in different parts of Sweden, the other main facilities being Alnarp in Lomma Municipality, Skara,...
), where he remained from 1935 to 1958.
Awards
Honorary member of the Botanical Society of Edinburgh 1934, Lund Botanical Society 1953, Genetics Society of Japan 1958 and the Mendelian Society in Lund 1960. Corresponding member of the Societas zoologica-botanica Fennica Vanamo 1945. He was elected member of the Royal Physiographic Society in LundRoyal Physiographic Society in Lund
The Royal Physiographic Society in Lund or Kungl. Fysiografiska Sällskapet i Lund, is one of the Royal Academies in Sweden. It was founded in Lund, on December 2, 1772, and received a Royal Charter by Gustav III, on March 6, 1778.- External links :*...
1939, the Royal Swedish Academy of Agriculture and Forestry
Royal Swedish Academy of Agriculture and Forestry
The Royal Swedish Academy of Agriculture and Forestry , formerly the Royal Swedish Academy of Agriculture , founded in 1813 at the initiative of Crown Prince Charles, is one of the Royal Academies in Sweden...
1945, the Royal Society of Sciences in Uppsala
Royal Society of Sciences in Uppsala
The Royal Society of Sciences in Uppsala , is the oldest of the royal academies in Sweden. The society has, by royal decree of 1906, 50 Swedish fellows and 100 foreign....
1945 and doctor honoris cause
Honorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
at Agricultural College
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences or Sveriges Lantbruksuniversitet is a university in Sweden. Although its head office is located in Ultuna, Uppsala, the university has several campuses in different parts of Sweden, the other main facilities being Alnarp in Lomma Municipality, Skara,...
upon his retirement in 1957. He was awarded the honorary medal of Christian X of Denmark
Christian X of Denmark
Christian X was King of Denmark from 1912 to 1947 and the only King of Iceland between 1918 and 1944....
. He was awarded the Linnean Society of London
Linnean Society of London
The Linnean Society of London is the world's premier society for the study and dissemination of taxonomy and natural history. It publishes a zoological journal, as well as botanical and biological journals...
's prestigious Darwin-Wallace Medal
Darwin-Wallace Medal
The Darwin–Wallace Medal is a medal awarded by the Linnean Society of London for "major advances in evolutionary biology". Historically, the medals have been awarded every 50 years, beginning in 1908...
in 1958.
Legacy
Turesson's ideas and findings have had a lasting effect on evolutionary biologyEvolution
Evolution is any change across successive generations in the heritable characteristics of biological populations. Evolutionary processes give rise to diversity at every level of biological organisation, including species, individual organisms and molecules such as DNA and proteins.Life on Earth...
of plants.
At the main campus of the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences or Sveriges Lantbruksuniversitet is a university in Sweden. Although its head office is located in Ultuna, Uppsala, the university has several campuses in different parts of Sweden, the other main facilities being Alnarp in Lomma Municipality, Skara,...
in Ultuna
Ultuna
Ultuna is the location of the headquarters and main campus of the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences in southern Uppsala, Sweden....
, one may still see a long row of birch trees of provenances ranging from Scania
Scania
Scania is the southernmost of the 25 traditional non-administrative provinces of Sweden, constituting a peninsula on the southern tip of the Scandinavian peninsula, and some adjacent islands. The modern administrative subdivision Skåne County is almost, but not totally, congruent with the...
to Lappland
Lappland
Lappland can refer to:*Lapland, geographic region in Northern Fennoscandia* Lappland, Sweden* Lapland, FinlandUnlike the English word "Lapland", the Swedish word is not used to indicate the area specifically inhabited by the Sami people. An old Swedish word for the Sami area under Swedish control...
, planted by Turesson. Spectacularly, bud burst in spring starts in the end of the southern provenances and proceeds 'northwards', while autumn leaf colouring and senescence starts in the northern provenances and proceeds 'southwards'. Thus, Turesson continues to remind SLU
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences or Sveriges Lantbruksuniversitet is a university in Sweden. Although its head office is located in Ultuna, Uppsala, the university has several campuses in different parts of Sweden, the other main facilities being Alnarp in Lomma Municipality, Skara,...
students that phenology
Phenology
Phenology is the study of periodic plant and animal life cycle events and how these are influenced by seasonal and interannual variations in climate...
has a genetic basis
Genetics
Genetics , a discipline of biology, is the science of genes, heredity, and variation in living organisms....
and that local adaption may be revealed in common garden experiments.
Selected bibliography
- Turesson, G. (1914). Slope exposure as a factor in the distribution of Pseudotsuga taxifolia in arid parts of Washington. Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club 41 (6): 337-345.
- Turesson, G. (1922a). The species and variety as ecological units. HereditasHereditasHereditas is a scientific journal concerning genetics. It has been published since 1920 by Mendelska sällskapet i Lund ....
3: 100-113. - Turesson, G. (1922b). The genotypical response of the plant species to the habitat. HereditasHereditasHereditas is a scientific journal concerning genetics. It has been published since 1920 by Mendelska sällskapet i Lund ....
3: 211-350. - Turesson, G. (1925). The plant species in relation to habitat and climate. HereditasHereditasHereditas is a scientific journal concerning genetics. It has been published since 1920 by Mendelska sällskapet i Lund ....
6: 147-236.