scholarly journals A conservation framework for the Critically Endangered endemic species of the Caribbean palmCoccothrinax

Oryx ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 52 (3) ◽  
pp. 452-463
Author(s):  
Brett Jestrow ◽  
Brígido Peguero ◽  
Francisco Jiménez ◽  
Raúl Verdecia ◽  
Lisbet González-Oliva ◽  
...  

AbstractWith 30 threatened species (14 categorized as Critically Endangered and 16 as Endangered, sensu IUCN),Coccothrinax(c. 54 species) is the flagship palm genus for conservation in the Caribbean Island Biodiversity Hotspot.Coccothrinaxhas its centre of taxonomic diversity in these islands, with c. 51 endemic species. We present a conservation framework for the 14 Critically Endangered species, found in Cuba, Haiti or the Dominican Republic. Only two species (C. jimenezii,C. montana) occur in more than one country (Haiti and the Dominican Republic). Immediate threats include oil drilling and nickel mining, intrusion of saline water into soil, urban and agricultural development, low population recruitment, uncontrolled fires, interspecific hybridization, and unsustainable ethnobotanical practices.Coccothrinax bermudezii,C. borhidiana,C. crinitassp.crinita,C. leonisandC. spissaare not conserved in protected areas.Coccothrinax bermudezii,C. jimenezii,C. leonisandC. nipensisare not part of ex situ collections. Based on results from a conservation project targetingC. jimenezii, we recommend international cooperation between the three range states to implement integrative conservation management plans, plant exploration initiatives, taxonomic revisions, outreach, and fundraising. The ultimate aim of this review is to provide baseline information that will develop conservation synergy among relevant parties working onCoccothrinaxconservation in Cuba, Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Such collaborations could also benefit through partnerships with botanists working in other countries.

Zootaxa ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 4446 (1) ◽  
pp. 125
Author(s):  
SARAH C. CREWS

Two new species of Selenops, S. anacaona sp. nov. (♀) and S. caonabo sp. nov. (♀), are described from the Dominican Republic on the Caribbean island of Hispaniola. These two new species increase the number of endemic Selenops on Hispaniola to 13, surpassing Cuba, which currently has 11 endemic species. Additionally, the male of S. pensilis Muma, 1953 from Hispaniola is described, as well as the male of S. petrunkevitchi Alayón, 2003 from Jamaica. Full distribution records are given for the new species and the newly described males, and new records are provided for the following species: S. aequalis Franganillo, 1935, S. bocacandensis Crews, 2011, S. candidus Muma, 1953, S. micropalpus Muma, 1953, S. morro Crews, 2011, S. simius Muma, 1953, S. souliga Crews, 2011, and S. submaculosus Bryant, 1940. 


Phytotaxa ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 460 (1) ◽  
pp. 89-96
Author(s):  
LUCAS F. BACCI ◽  
DIEGO TAVARES IGLESIAS ◽  
RENATO GOLDENBERG

We describe here Bertolonia lucernula, a new endemic species from the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil. It is only known from one locality, the “Área de Proteção Ambiental Mestre Álvaro”, in the municipality of Serra. The new species can be recognized by the branches and petioles covered with sessile and short-stalked glands and scattered unbranched trichomes, flat leaf blade surfaces covered only with sessile and short-stalked glands, small flowers with a widely campanulate hypanthium covered with the same trichomes as the petioles, calyx with membranaceous, truncate sepals, and short, triangular external teeth, asymmetric and obovate petals, with the apex covered with sessile and short-stalked glands on the adaxial surface. According to IUCN criteria, Bertolonia lucernula should be classified as Critically Endangered (CR).


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Keren R. Sadanandan ◽  
Gabriel W. Low ◽  
Sheeraja Sridharan ◽  
Chyi Yin Gwee ◽  
Elize Y. X. Ng ◽  
...  

Abstract In today’s environmental crisis, conservationists are increasingly confronted with terminally endangered species whose last few surviving populations may be affected by allelic introgression from closely related species. Yet there is a worrying lack of evidence-based recommendations and solutions for this emerging problem. We analyzed genome-wide DNA markers and plumage variability in a critically endangered insular songbird, the Black-winged Myna (BWM, Acridotheres melanopterus). This species is highly threatened by the illegal wildlife trade, with its wild population numbering in the low hundreds, and its continued survival urgently depending on ex-situ breeding. Its three subspecies occur along a geographic gradient of melanism and are variably interpreted as three species. However, our integrative approach revealed that melanism poorly reflects the pattern of limited genomic differentiation across BWM subspecies. We also uncovered allelic introgression into the most melanistic subspecies, tertius, from the all-black congeneric Javan Myna (A. javanicus), which is native to the same islands. Based on our results, we recommend the establishment of three separate breeding programs to maintain subspecific traits that may confer local adaptation, but with the option of occasional cross-breeding between insurance populations in order to boost genetic diversity and increase overall viability prospects of each breeding program. Our results underscore the importance of evidence-based integrative approaches when determining appropriate conservation units. Given the rapid increase of terminally endangered organisms in need of ex-situ conservation, this study provides an important blueprint for similar programs dealing with phenotypically variable species.


2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 303-314 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaanika Edesi ◽  
Jonne Tolonen ◽  
Anna Liisa Ruotsalainen ◽  
Jouni Aspi ◽  
Hely Häggman

Abstract Ex situ storage plays an important role in the conservation of plant biodiversity. Cryopreservation at ultra-low temperatures (−  196 °C) is the only long-term ex situ preservation method for plant species that cannot be stored in seed banks. In the present study, we developed a cryopreservation protocol for micropropagated Rubus humulifolius (Rosaceae) plants representing currently critically endangered population of the species in Finland. Abscisic acid (ABA) has been found to increase the freezing tolerance of several plant species. Thus, we studied the effect of a 10-day pretreatment with 0, 2 or 4 mg/l ABA in comparison to freshly dissected buds. We also studied how the duration of in vitro subculture affects cryopreservation result. The ABA pretreatment had divergent effect on control and cryopreserved buds: the regeneration of non-cryopreserved control buds increased from 51% to 70%, 90% or 87% while the regeneration of cryopreserved buds decreased from 52% to 35%, 6% or 9% after 0, 2 or 4 mg/l ABA pre-treatments, respectively. Buds from plants subcultured for 1 month had 63% survival, which, however, decreased to 29% or nil% after 2 or 4 months subculture. The regenerated plants were successfully transferred from in vitro to in vivo conditions in common garden. Growing in garden is needed for future restoration of the species in wild. Cryostorage and other ex situ conservation actions carried out in botanical gardens may be of increasing importance as a tool to maintain plant biodiversity in the future.


Oryx ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 180-186 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giuseppe Fenu ◽  
Efisio Mattana ◽  
Gianluigi Bacchetta

AbstractThe aims of this work were to verify the distribution and population size of Lamyropsis microcephala (Asteraceae), characterize its habitat, assess its conservation status and initiate conservation measures for this Critically Endangered species. Distribution was determined by field surveys and mapping. To estimate population size and density 81 permanent monitoring plots were randomly established. Ex situ conservation measures were activated by harvesting and appropriate storage of seed. We confirmed the presence of L. microcephala at two previously known sites and found it in two previously unknown localities. The areas in which the species occur vary from 200 to 240,000 m2, at altitudes of 1,450–1,820 m, on slopes of 15–45° with aspects from north to west. The estimated number of ramets per population varied from c. 2,000 to c. 2,000,000, with a mean density of 8.29 ± SD 14.3 to 10.33 ± SD 10.05 ramets m-2. Our findings confirmed the Critically Endangered status of this species, although with different criteria. This study is an example of an integrated approach for the conservation of an extremely narrow endemic plant species and may be useful for other little-known threatened species for which urgent conservation measures are needed.


Hacquetia ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 307-315
Author(s):  
Ümit Subaşı ◽  
Fatoş Şekerciler ◽  
Mecit Vural

AbstractLotus sanguineus is one of the endemic taxa from Mediterranean Region of Turkey. It has hitherto been known from type locality and was assessed under VU and EN categories despite the lack of information on the population size, number of location and habitat quality. This study aims to determine the global conservation status and conservation strategies of the narrow endemic species. We collected all available data and evaluated them with the field studies. We reported the sizes of populations, altitude, coordinates, habitat types and the threats it faces for each locality. GeoCAT analyses at global levels indicate the extent of occurrence 19.965 km2 and area of occupancy 9 km2 and there could be an inferred decline due to habitat loss and fragmentation of the original population, suggesting this species might be classified as Critically Endangered, based on criterium B1ab (i, ii, iii) + 2ab (i, ii, iii) in the Red List categorization. Conservation priorities include life history and ecology studies, in-situ conservation, population monitoring and ex-situ conservation to prevent the destruction of the existing gene pool.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huseyin Inceer ◽  
Mustafa Cuce ◽  
Kemal Vehbi Imamoglu ◽  
Tugba Ergin ◽  
Ali Omer Ucler

Abstract Tripleurospermum insularum Inceer & Hayirlioglu-Ayaz (Asteraceae) is a critically endangered endemic species in Turkey that is face the risk of extinction as a result of the fragmentation of its habitat as well as overgrazing and trampling of its natural population. However, the protocol for micropropagation of this threatened species has not been developed yet. Here, its regeneration ability on MS media supplemented with different plant growth regulators were evaluated using nodal segments. The higher number and length of shoot per explant was achieved with the addition 4.6 µM ZEA and 0.5 µM IAA to the culture medium. Besides, the highest node number of shoot per explant was obtained from MS medium supplemented with 4.6 µM ZEA and 0.5 µM IBA. Flow cytometric analysis also revealed that most of the in vitro developed shoots of T. insularum possessed similar nuclear DNA content as well as ploidy level as initial material and plants from natural population. In vitro rooting of shoots was achieved at 100 % efficiency containing 2.9 µM IAA. Rooted and well-developed plantlets were initially acclimatized under greenhouse conditions and then moved to the botanical garden, where they matured and flowered. Finally, 76% and 74% survivals were achieved during the acclimatization process, respectively. This is the first report of a successfully developed micropropagation protocol of threatened T. insularum for its ex situ conservation.


2018 ◽  
Vol 51 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Robina Kausar ◽  
Azhar Hussain Shah ◽  
Tabinda Jabeen ◽  
Jan Alam ◽  
Niaz Ali ◽  
...  

Phytotaxa ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 332 (1) ◽  
pp. 41
Author(s):  
JUAN JOSE CANTERO ◽  
GLORIA E. BARBOZA ◽  
GILBERTO OCAMPO

Portulaca ragonesei (Portulacaceae), an extreme holophyte species from Salina de Ambargasta, central Argentina, is here illustrated and re-described based on morphological evidence. In addition, molecular data shows that this endemic species is one of the earliest-divergent lineages of the Oleracea clade. This is a critically endangered species that can be morphologically distinguished by its sprouting geophytes habit, the linear leaves, and the presence of constriction at the apex of the pixidium where only one seed is found.


2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 205-210 ◽  
Author(s):  
Porter P. Lowry II ◽  
Chris Birkinshaw ◽  
George E. Schatz ◽  
Patrice Antilahimena

Melanophylla dianeae Lowry & G. E. Schatz (Torricelliaceae) is described as a new species from a remnant fragment of highly threatened humid forest in east-central Madagascar. Collected for the first time in 2016, just five adult trees are known from an area that has been heavily impacted by forest clearing for slash-and-burn agriculture. Mature fruits have been collected in an attempt to grow seedlings, and air-layering is being trialed on an adult tree to produce vegetative material for propagation, as part of an effort to ensure ex situ conservation of this rare species. An IUCN Red List risk of extinction assessment reveals that M. dianeae is Critically Endangered.


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