A Look at the Future of Public Gardens

2020 ◽  
pp. 156-160
Author(s):  
Donald A. Rakow ◽  
Meghan Z. Gough ◽  
Sharon A. Lee
Keyword(s):  
In Situ Conservation ◽  
Ex Situ ◽  
Conservation Strategies ◽  
Easy Access ◽  
Solar Panels ◽  
Public Gardens ◽  
The Future ◽  
Public Garden ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Or Gene

The final chapter provides a detailed analysis of strategies for successful partnerships and how they can be evaluated. It talks about the American Public Gardens Association's vision to make public gardens an indispensable part of communities. The APGA defines public gardens as institutions that maintain “collections of plants for the purposes of public education and enjoyment, in addition to research, conservation, and higher learning.” Gardens can best lead the way by establishing and demonstrating effective biodiversity conservation strategies in the midst of rapidly changing natural landscapes. One strategy is to preserve locally, regionally, or globally endangered species in their native habitats, which is known as in situ conservation. A second strategy is for public gardens to establish ex situ seed banks or gene banks at their sites that will preserve the genetic identities of species threatened or extirpated in the wild. Public gardens also need to be paragons of sustainable behavior, whether through LEED-certified buildings, SITES-approved landscapes, the use of solar panels and windmills, reduction or elimination of pesticides, or the use of electric vehicles. The public garden of the future will need to partner with architects, urban planners, and progressive corporations to produce a new generation of green buildings and urban gardens, so that cities will become centers of clean air and renewable energy and provide all their residents with easy access to nature.

scholarly journals Ecology and conservation of a living fossil: Australia's Wollemi Pine (Wollemia nobilis)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Berin Dylan Ewing Mackenzie ◽  
Steve W. Clarke ◽  
Heidi C. Zimmer ◽  
Edward C. Y. Liew ◽  
Maureen T. Phelan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
In Situ Conservation ◽  
Public Support ◽  
Fire Regimes ◽  
Ex Situ ◽  
Conservation Strategies ◽  
Term Survival ◽  
Living Fossil ◽  
In The Wild

The iconic Wollemi Pine (Wollemia nobilis) is a critically endangered Australian conifer and one of the world’s rarest trees with only 46 mature individuals remaining in the wild. The species is regarded as a ‘living fossil’ and was discovered on the brink of extinction following a natural historical decline. While its discovery has enabled crucial intervention for its long-term conservation, it has also created novel threats. Wollemia nobilis is facing extinction in the wild due to its highly restricted distribution, extremely small population size, and ongoing impacts from exotic pathogens, inappropriate fire regimes, unauthorised site visitation, and anthropogenic climate change. A highly successful, collaborative program combining in situ management, ecological research and monitoring with public education and ex situ conservation strategies, such as translocation and commercial cultivation, is enhancing the species’ long-term survival. The extended longevity and slow growth and maturation of wild Wollemi Pine present unique challenges to effective in situ conservation, including the multidecadal timescales required to deliver certain conservation objectives. The continued success of the conservation program depends on strong forward planning, intergenerational commitment and collaboration, and ongoing public support.

scholarly journals Application of the MSAP Technique to Evaluate Epigenetic Changes in Plant Conservation

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (20) ◽  
pp. 7459
Author(s):  
María Elena González-Benito ◽  
Miguel Ángel Ibáñez ◽  
Michela Pirredda ◽  
Sara Mira ◽  
Carmen Martín
Keyword(s):  
Dna Methylation ◽  
In Situ Conservation ◽  
Plant Conservation ◽  
Ex Situ ◽  
Conservation Strategies ◽  
Regenerated Plants ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Methylation Patterns

Epigenetic variation, and particularly DNA methylation, is involved in plasticity and responses to changes in the environment. Conservation biology studies have focused on the measurement of this variation to establish demographic parameters, diversity levels and population structure to design the appropriate conservation strategies. However, in ex situ conservation approaches, the main objective is to guarantee the characteristics of the conserved material (phenotype and epi-genetic). We review the use of the Methylation Sensitive Amplified Polymorphism (MSAP) technique to detect changes in the DNA methylation patterns of plant material conserved by the main ex situ plant conservation methods: seed banks, in vitro slow growth and cryopreservation. Comparison of DNA methylation patterns before and after conservation is a useful tool to check the fidelity of the regenerated plants, and, at the same time, may be related with other genetic variations that might appear during the conservation process (i.e., somaclonal variation). Analyses of MSAP profiles can be useful in the management of ex situ plant conservation but differs in the approach used in the in situ conservation. Likewise, an easy-to-use methodology is necessary for a rapid interpretation of data, in order to be readily implemented by conservation managers.

scholarly journals Conservation of threatened plant species in botanic garden reserves in Brazil

Oryx ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 52 (1) ◽  
pp. 108-115 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Lúcia M. N. da Costa ◽  
Peter Wyse Jackson ◽  
Ricardo Avancini Fernandes ◽  
Ariane Luna Peixoto
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Threatened Species ◽  
In Situ Conservation ◽  
Integrated Approach ◽  
Ex Situ ◽  
Conservation Strategies ◽  
Botanic Gardens ◽  
Threatened Plant Species ◽  
Integrated Conservation ◽  
Scientific Value

AbstractOver the last few decades botanic gardens worldwide have been encouraged to adopt complementary measures for the conservation of plant species from their own regions, combining in situ conservation efforts with ex situ methods, both in cultivation and in storage. This integrated approach is particularly important for botanic gardens in the tropics, which face the challenge of conserving a highly diverse and often threatened flora. We gathered information on the occurrence of threatened species in the natural vegetation reserves of 21 Brazilian botanic gardens. The data were collected from herbarium records in the database of the National Centre for Flora Conservation, and from the available plant inventories of these reserves. The results indicate that 148 species from the List of Threatened Species of Brazilian Flora are recorded as having been collected in the reserves. Of these, 51 species were maintained in the living collections of 18 botanic gardens and 83 species were recorded in federally protected areas. The occurrence of threatened species in the reserves of botanic gardens highlights the scientific value of these areas, as well as their biological, social and cultural importance for conservation. The results may be used to inform the planning of integrated conservation strategies for threatened species.

scholarly journals Botanic gardens, education, and orchid conservation strategies: the need for a coordinated approach

Lankesteriana ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Mirenda
Keyword(s):  
Plant Conservation ◽  
Global Strategy ◽  
Ex Situ ◽  
Conservation Strategies ◽  
Botanic Gardens ◽  
Botanic Garden ◽  
Orchid Conservation ◽  
Public Garden ◽  
Para Determinar

Se ha escuchado a nivel mundial el llamado para la conservación de orquídeas, por parte de científicos, profesionales de horticultura, propagadores comerciales y los apasionados entusiastas privados, todos con diferentes opiniones sobre la manera para atacar este problema global. Las noticias han sido desalentadoras en relación al calentamiento global, destrucción de hábitat, desplazamiento de poblaciones nativas por parte de agresivas, exóticas e insostenibles depredaciones /cosechas de plantas y los esfuerzos impotentes para hacer cumplir las protecciones legales. Se han dedicado muchas ideas y esfuerzos para determinar estrategias específicas para la conservación de orquídeas, incluyendo la protección al hábitat, la compra y preservación de los “puntos calientes,” así como las tendencias hacia la creación de reservas hortícolas, tanto nativas (reservas de los Jardines de Lankester, Fundación EcoMinga, Ecuagenera) y ex situ (jardines de orquídeas en Hawái, colecciones bajo vidrio, etc.). Tácticas como un banco de semillas, tecnología ADN, esfuerzos de propagación ex situ, así como eventuales reintroducciones, inherentemente dependen de recursos y propiedades de jardines botánicos y cultivadores comerciales responsables. Es este tipo de trabajo de horticultura el que ha salvado a otros géneros que no corresponden a las orquídeas, tales como Franklinia, Torreya, Wollemia, y especies de orquídeas como Paphiopedilum vietnamense, Epidendrum ilense, y Angraecum longicalcar de la extinción. Los jardines botánicos unidos bajo ciertas organizaciones como la Asociación Americana de Jardines Públicos (American Public Garden Association - APGA) y Jardines Botánicos para la Conservación Internacional (Botanic Garden Conservation International - BGCI), necesitan de una mayor cooperación y coordinación para el éxito de sus esfuerzos para la conservación de plantas. Además, es un aspecto crítico que los jardines botánicos se conecten con la comunidad científica (y viceversa), especialmente aquellos que mejor pueden asesorar sobreaquellas especies más amenazadas. Si las colecciones van a ser utilizadas en forma óptima, las sociedades científicas y de horticultura deben estar más conscientes de sus respectivos activos y prioridades. En el Primer Congreso Internacional para la Conservación de Orquídeas (International Orchid Conservation Congress - IOCC), se adoptaron cuatro resoluciones de la Estrategia Global para la Conservación de Plantas (Global Strategy for Plant Conservation – GSPC en inglés): 1): el 90% de todas las orquídeas amenazadas deberían ser asegurada en colecciones ex situ; 2) el 50% debería constar en programas para su recuperación activa; 3) Se debe considerar que las orquídeas están amenazadas cuando su cosecha no es sostenible; y 4) Para el año 2010, cada niño y niña debe estar consciente de lo que es la diversidad de plantas (incluyendo a las orquídeas). ¿C.mo podemos evaluar si se está logrando el progreso hacia estos admirables objetivos sin que exista una entidad que unifique y que pueda recopilar el progreso, la información y el grado de éxitos alcanzado? Al ver el esfuerzo desplegado en tantos lugares separados, es indudable que se necesita urgentemente este tipo de entidad. Constituye la meta de muchos jardines botánicos y una meta específica del Instituto Smithsoniano, el promover la diseminación de conocimientos y comprensión. Con este fin en mente, el anterior objetivo #4 constituye una particular prioridad. A pesar de que alcanzar la meta del 100% de conciencia compartida en relación a la diversidad de plantas para el año 2010, hemos iniciado un proyecto que nos permita comprender y finalmente corregir el llamado síndrome de “Ceguera relativa a las Plantas,” bajo el cual la persona promedio no considera que las plantas son seres vivientes (en el mismo sentido de los animales). Mediante el uso de encuestas y entrevistas personales, se está analizando este síndrome generalizado y penetrante para determinar sus caracter.sticas demográficas, hombre/ mujer, urbano/rural, jóvenes/ viejos, etc. Es imperativo para los educadores que identifiquen la edad en la cual dichas actitudes empiezan a introducirse en la psiquis de los jóvenes. Es necesario aplicar ciertas técnicas que permitan elevar el grado de conciencia de los individuos de todas las edades en relación a la importancia de la diversidad de las plantas y su conservación. Esto puede tomar la forma de presentaciones, exposición a especies representativas, paseos de campo y otras oportunidades educativas, que permitan cultivar un enfoque mental que comprenda y a la final proteja el mundo natural. 

scholarly journals Designing conservation strategies to preserve the genetic diversity of Astragalus edulis Bunge, an endangered species from western Mediterranean region

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julio Peñas ◽  
Sara Barrios ◽  
Javier Bobo-Pinilla ◽  
Juan Lorite ◽  
M. Montserrat Martínez-Ortega
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Iberian Peninsula ◽  
Mediterranean Region ◽  
In Situ Conservation ◽  
Western Mediterranean ◽  
Ex Situ ◽  
Conservation Strategies ◽  
Distribution Area ◽  
Ecological Data

Astragalus edulis (Fabaceae) is an endangered annual species from western Mediterranean region that colonized SE Iberian Peninsula, NE and SW Morocco, and the easternmost Macaronesian islands (Lanzarote and Fuerteventura). Although in Spain some conservation measures have been adopted, it is still necessary to develop an appropriate management plan to preserve genetic diversity across the entire distribution area of the species. Our main objective was to use population genetics as well as ecological and phylogeographic data to select Relevant Genetic Units for Conservation (RGUCs) as the first step in designing conservation plans for A. edulis. We identified six RGUCs for in situ conservation, based on estimations of population genetic structure and probabilities of the loss of rare alleles. Additionally, further population parameters, i.e. occupation area, population size, vulnerability, legal status of the population areas, and the historical haplotype distribution, were considered in order to establish which populations deserve conservation priority. Three populations from the Iberian Peninsula, two from Morocco, and one from the Canary Islands represent the total genetic diversity of the species and the rarest allelic variation. Ex situ conservation is recommended to complement the preservation of A. edulis, given that effective in situ population protection is not feasible in all cases. The consideration of complementary phylogeographic and ecological data is useful for management efforts to preserve the evolutionary potential of the species.

scholarly journals Designing conservation strategies to preserve the genetic diversity ofAstragalus edulisBunge, an endangered species from western Mediterranean region

PeerJ ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. e1474 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julio Peñas ◽  
Sara Barrios ◽  
Javier Bobo-Pinilla ◽  
Juan Lorite ◽  
M. Montserrat Martínez-Ortega
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Iberian Peninsula ◽  
Mediterranean Region ◽  
In Situ Conservation ◽  
Western Mediterranean ◽  
Ex Situ ◽  
Conservation Strategies ◽  
Distribution Area ◽  
Ecological Data

Astragalus edulis(Fabaceae) is an endangered annual species from the western Mediterranean region that colonized the SE Iberian Peninsula, NE and SW Morocco, and the easternmost Macaronesian islands (Lanzarote and Fuerteventura). Although in Spain some conservation measures have been adopted, it is still necessary to develop an appropriate management plan to preserve genetic diversity across the entire distribution area of the species. Our main objective was to use population genetics as well as ecological and phylogeographic data to select Relevant Genetic Units for Conservation (RGUCs) as the first step in designing conservation plans forA. edulis. We identified six RGUCs for in situ conservation, based on estimations of population genetic structure and probabilities of loss of rare alleles. Additionally, further population parameters, i.e. occupation area, population size, vulnerability, legal status of the population areas, and the historical haplotype distribution, were considered in order to establish which populations deserve conservation priority. Three populations from the Iberian Peninsula, two from Morocco, and one from the Canary Islands represent the total genetic diversity of the species and the rarest allelic variation. Ex situ conservation is recommended to complement the preservation ofA. edulis, given that effective in situ population protection is not feasible in all cases. The consideration of complementary phylogeographic and ecological data is useful for management efforts to preserve the evolutionary potential of the species.

scholarly journals Integrated conservation for Parakmeria omeiensis (Magnoliaceae), a Critically Endangered plant species endemic to south-west China

Oryx ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 54 (4) ◽  
pp. 460-465
Author(s):  
Daoping Yu ◽  
Xiangying Wen ◽  
Cehong Li ◽  
Tieyi Xiong ◽  
Qixin Peng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
In Situ Conservation ◽  
Habitat Destruction ◽  
Habitat Characteristics ◽  
Critically Endangered ◽  
Ex Situ ◽  
West China ◽  
South West ◽  
The Family ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Integrated Conservation

AbstractParakmeria omeiensis is a Critically Endangered tree species in the family Magnoliaceae, endemic to south-west China. The tree is functionally dioecious, but little is known about the species’ status in the wild. We investigated the range, population size, age structure, habitat characteristics and threats to P. omeiensis. We located a total of 74 individuals in two populations on the steep slopes of Mount Emei, Sichuan province, growing under the canopy of evergreen broadleaved forest in well-drained gravel soil. A male-biased sex ratio, lack of effective pollinating insects, and habitat destruction result in low seed set and poor seedling survival in the wild. We have adopted an integrated conservation approach, including strengthening in situ conservation, cultivation of saplings, ex situ conservation and reintroduction, to protect this species. The successful conservation of P. omeiensis has important implications for the conservation of the genus Parakmeria and the family Magnoliaceae.

scholarly journals In-Situ and Ex-Situ Biodiversity Conservation in Ecuador: A Review of Policies, Actions and Challenges

Diversity ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 315 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos Mestanza-Ramón ◽  
Sujan M. Henkanaththegedara ◽  
Paola Vásconez Duchicela ◽  
Yadira Vargas Tierras ◽  
Maritza Sánchez Capa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protected Areas ◽  
Biodiversity Conservation ◽  
Ex Situ Conservation ◽  
In Situ Conservation ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Ex Situ ◽  
Policy Framework ◽  
Conservation Strategies ◽  
Small Scale

Biodiversity is vital for the stability of the planet; its ecosystem services provide essential elements for our survival and well-being. This review analyzes the national biodiversity policies and describes the main strategies for biodiversity conservation in Ecuador, one of the “mega-diverse” countries in the world with the highest species density. It deepens an analysis of in-situ and ex-situ conservation processes. Ecuador has six clear policies for biodiversity conservation. These policies strengthen biodiversity conservation through mechanisms that improve the well-being of wildlife by ensuring human, wildlife and ecosystem health. It promotes actions for the welfare of wildlife, through technical, administrative and legal tools. The National System of Protected Areas, with 60 protected areas, is the most effective in-situ conservation instrument at the country level. Several ex-situ conservation and management means for the conservation of wild species are being utilized, including nurseries, botanical gardens, zoos, germplasm banks, aquariums, species reproduction and rehabilitation centers. Ecuador is making slow progress on ex-situ conservation despite the availability of a sound policy framework, possibly due to financial, infrastructural, and/or technological challenges, and knowledge gaps. We propose fostering international research collaborations and establishing fully funded small-scale captive breeding programs at zoos, aquariums and university research facilities to help recovery of at-risk species of reptiles, amphibians, fish and species beyond Galapagos region. We recommend utilizing citizen science programs to fill the gaps of biodiversity information and increasing efforts to revive the ex-situ conservation strategies in protecting the unique biodiversity of Ecuador.

scholarly journals Conservation and behavior of Africa’s “Big Five”

2014 ◽  
Vol 60 (4) ◽  
pp. 486-499 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tim Caro ◽  
Jason Riggio
Keyword(s):  
Big Five ◽  
Captive Breeding ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
In Situ Conservation ◽  
Animal Husbandry ◽  
Ex Situ ◽  
Flagship Species ◽  
African Species ◽  
In The Wild

Abstract We examine the conservation status of Africa’s “Big Five”: lion, leopard, buffalo, black and white rhinoceros and elephant, and the role of behavioral knowledge in their conservation. Efforts to conserve these flagship species consist of in situ conservation, captive breeding and reintroductions. With a few exceptions, we find limited evidence that knowledge of behavior informs conservation programs targeted at these species. For management in the wild, knowledge of infanticide and ranging can provide guidelines for realistic hunting quotas and corridors between protected areas, respectively. For ex situ and reintroduction programs, behavioral knowledge is chiefly focused on improved animal husbandry. Despite a formidable understanding of these species’ behavior, the practicalities of using such knowledge may be diminished because exploitation of these species is so forceful and the bulk of efforts aimed at conserving these species (and indeed most other African species) are primarily in situ where behaviorally driven interventions are limited. Our comparative findings suggest that behavior has been of rather narrow use in the conservation of these flagship species [Current Zoology 60 (4): 486–499, 2014].

scholarly journals Genetic diversity and selection signatures in maize landraces compared across 50 years of in situ and ex situ conservation

Heredity ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francis Denisse McLean-Rodríguez ◽  
Denise Elston Costich ◽  
Tania Carolina Camacho-Villa ◽  
Mario Enrico Pè ◽  
Matteo Dell’Acqua
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Selection Criteria ◽  
Sampling Site ◽  
In Situ Conservation ◽  
Genetic Distances ◽  
Ex Situ ◽  
Conservation Strategies ◽  
Genome Wide ◽  
Agrobiodiversity Conservation

AbstractGenomics-based, longitudinal comparisons between ex situ and in situ agrobiodiversity conservation strategies can contribute to a better understanding of their underlying effects. However, landrace designations, ambiguous common names, and gaps in sampling information complicate the identification of matching ex situ and in situ seed lots. Here we report a 50-year longitudinal comparison of the genetic diversity of a set of 13 accessions from the state of Morelos, Mexico, conserved ex situ since 1967 and retrieved in situ from the same donor families in 2017. We interviewed farmer families who donated in situ landraces to understand their germplasm selection criteria. Samples were genotyped by sequencing, producing 74,739 SNPs. Comparing the two sample groups, we show that ex situ and in situ genome-wide diversity was similar. In situ samples had 3.1% fewer SNPs and lower pairwise genetic distances (Fst 0.008–0.113) than ex situ samples (Fst 0.031–0.128), but displayed the same heterozygosity. Despite genome-wide similarities across samples, we could identify several loci under selection when comparing in situ and ex situ seed lots, suggesting ongoing evolution in farmer fields. Eight loci in chromosomes 3, 5, 6, and 10 showed evidence of selection in situ that could be related with farmers’ selection criteria surveyed with focus groups and interviews at the sampling site in 2017, including wider kernels and larger ear size. Our results have implications for ex situ collection resampling strategies and the in situ conservation of threatened landraces.

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