Genetic conservation strategies of endemic plants from edaphic habitat islands: The case of Jacobaea auricula (Asteraceae)

This work was partially supported by the Spanish Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad through the projects CGL2010-16357 and CGL201232574. E. SalmeronSanchez was supported by the University of Almeria, through the projects 'Assessment, Monitoring and Applied Scientific Research for Ecological Restoration of Gypsum Mining Concessions (Majadas Viejas and Marylen) and Spreading of Results (ECORESGYP) ' sponsored by the company EXPLOTACIONES RIO DE AGUAS S.L. (TORRALBA GROUP) ; 'Provision of services, monitoring and evaluation of the environmental restoration of the mining concessions Los Yesares, Maria Morales and El Cigarron' sponsored by the company Saint Gobain Placo Iberica S. We would like to thank M. Montserrat MartinezOrtega helped with field work and initial analyses.The authors would like to thank M. Montserrat Martínez-Ortega, Luz M. Mu˜noz-Centeno, Fabi´an Martínez-Hern´andez, Sara Barrios and Teresa Malvar for their participation in DNA extractions, molecular analyses and in general for the help provided. We also thank Sara Barrios, María Santos, Santiago Andr´es, Blas Benito and Antonio Abad for the help provided in the collection of plant material. Finally, we are thankful to Francisco J. P´erez-García for his valuable comments concerning halogypsophyte species.Conservation genetics is a well-established and essential scientific field in the toolkit of conservation planning, management, and decision-making. Within its framework, phylogeography allows the definition of conservation strategies, especially in threatened endemic plants. Gypsum and salt-rich outcrops constitute a model example of an edaphic island-like habitat and contain rare and endemic species, many of them threatened. This is the case of Jacobaea auricula, an Iberian gypsohalophytic species with biological, ecological, and conservation interest. Genetic-based criteria were used to preserve the highest possible percentage of the species' genetic pool as well as to dispose of a set of genotypes for translocation and/or reinforcement planning of degraded populations. Relevant Genetics Units for Conservation (RGUCs) were selected as in situ conservation planning. As a complementary ex situ measure, the optimal contribution for the populations to maximize the genetic pool within each genetic cluster was calculated. To preserve the maximum genetic diversity and the highest percentage of rare AFLP bands possible, eight RGUCs were selected; the ex situ conservation design included twenty-one populations, gathering all haplotypes and ribotypes. Our genetic conservation proposal of J. auricula would improve the implementation of future genetic conservation measures, as a species model of endemic plants from edaphic habitat islands.Spanish Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad CGL2010-16357 CGL2012-32574University of Almeria - company EXPLOTACIONES RIO DE AGUAS S.L. (TORRALBA GROUP)company Saint Gobain Placo Iberica

Plant conservation in Mediterranean-type ecosystems

This study has been made possible by the long-time experiences of the many research projects awarded to the authors. Especially, the projects 'Assessment, Monitoring and Applied Scientific Research for Ecological Restoration of Gypsum Mining Concessions (Majadas Viejas and Marylen) and Spreading of Results (ECORESGYP) ' sponsoredby the company EXPLOTACIONES RiO DE AGUAS S.L. (TORRALBA GROUP) ; 'Provision of services, monitoring and evaluation of the environmental restoration of the mining concessions Los Yesares, Maria Morales and El Cigarron' sponsored by the company Saint Gobain Placo Iberica S.A.; and 'CEIJ-009 Integrated study of coastal sands vegetation (AREVEG II) ' sponsored by CEI.MAR. We are very grateful to the three reviewers for their comments and suggestions, which have been very helpful in improving the manuscript.The present paper is an overview of state of the art in plant conservation in Mediterranean-type Ecosystems (MTEs), highlighting current studies and neglected topics. A review of the literature dealing with this issue and a general analysis of the results was performed, delving into relevant plant conservation biology topics. The main topics considered were: 1) reproductive biology and genetic conservation, 2) threat factors and effects of global change, and 3) evaluation of conservation status and protected areas selection. This study illustrates differences in the number of documents published in northern countries of the Mediterranean Basin concerning southern and eastern countries and compared with other MTEs. It also highlights the paramount importance of public organizations as funding entities. Additionally, it points to a decrease in traditional subject categories related to plant conservation and increased multidisciplinary conservation research and novel methodologies (e.g., phylogenomics, SDM). To overcome existing biases among the different MTE regions, integrating actions at a transnational level would be necessary, with standard conservation policies and strategies. Moreover, research should be supported with more important participation and funding from private entities, with a clear focus on specific conservation proposals. In contrast, certain weaknesses were detected, some related to the limited information available about threatened plant species and the scarce use of the available data from genetic conservation research in management plans. Consequently, the authors consider that future conservation efforts should be addressed to improve the knowledge of threatened MTEs’ flora and implement a manual of good practices, which would make use of the available research information to put forward more direct proposals for management and conservation.company Saint Gobain Placo Iberica S.A.CEI.MARcompany EXPLOTACIONES RiO DE AGUAS S.L. (TORRALBA GROUP

Intensive Habitat Loss in South Spain: Arborescent Scrubs with <em>Ziziphus</em> (5220*)

The habitat arborescent matorral with Ziziphus (5220*) was included in the Habitats Directive of the European Commission. These plant formations represent the maximum potential vegetation in a very restrictive arid environment, since it encompasses endemic, tropical, or Maghrebian floristic elements, and from other areas of the ancient Thetis Sea. In fact, the version of this community with Gymnosporia senegalensis (Lam.) Loes. [=Maytenus senegalensis (Lam.) Exell] constitutes extraordinarily singular flora formations in the Iberian southeast. These are unique communities in Europe and ecologically extremely valuable and, however, have been included among the Europe’s most endangered habitats. The vast economic development experienced in South Spain based on the remarkable transformation of traditional farming patterns into a highly profitable agriculture that uses industrial production methods and the groundwater intensively (agriculture intensification and land-use change), in addition to urbanization without sustainable land planning, determines that European G. senegalensis populations are seriously threatened by severe habitat destruction and fragmentation

Sobre el grado de aceptación de la teoría evolutiva de los alumnos de Enseñanza Secundaria Obligatoria

La Teoría de la Evolución (TE) es una teoría unificadora en la Biología y su comprensión es fundamental para entender la naturaleza y nuestro lugar en ella. En este trabajo se ha evaluado si 137 alumnos de Enseñanza Secundaria Obligatoria (E.S.O.) en Almería aceptan la TE. Para esto se ha utilizado el cuestionario MATE y los datos han sido analizados mediante una prueba t de Student. De esta manera se pudo concluir que los alumnos de cursos superiores presentan un mayor grado de aceptación de la TE. Por otra parte, aquellos con una orientación científica tuvieron una aceptación muy alta si los comparamos con los que tenían una orientación de ciencias sociales cuya aceptación fue moderada. Los alumnos cuyo padre tiene una formación superior, mostraron también un mayor grado de aceptación de la TE, mientras que en el caso de la madre la diferencia no llegó a ser significativa

Sensopíldora chicles Orbit : uso de sensores para promover prácticas científicas de indagación con modelos

Presentamos una secuencia de actividades para la formación permanente de docentes sobre el uso de sensores en el aula con la reflexión sobre cómo usarlos para promover prácticas científicas de indagación basada en modelos. La secuencia elegida utiliza los ácido-base como contexto, en concreto la variación del pH de la boca al masticar chicles Orbit. Esta secuencia diseñada para estudiantes de 16 años, ha sido vivenciada por docentes en activo en varios cursos de formación docente del proyecto Sensociencia destacándose la facilidad de los docentes para plantear nuevos contextos y sus dificultades para utilizar modelos que sean explicativos o predictivos con su alumnado

Conservation and Phylogeography of Plants: From the Mediterranean to the Rest of the World

During the last decades, phylogeography has transformed the ways to analyze and understand plant diversity and biogeography. The repeated and increasingly detailed articles made from DNA data with phylogeographical procedures and algorithms have revolutionized biodiversity research, particularly on biodiversity conservation. This paper presents a systematic literature review of the different ways in which phylogeography has been applied to plants in Mediterranean-type ecosystems (MTEs), especially to rare, threatened, and endemic plants. Studies ranged from basic research to how phylogeography is actually contributing to management conservation of Mediterranean plants. Finally, new and future phylogeography perspectives with integrative scientific arguments and conceptual bases applied to plant conservation biology are discussed

Elementome of Endemic Dolomitic Flora: Pterocephalus spathulatus (Lag.) Coult

Unusual dolomite substrates present a phenomenon known as dolomitophily, which refers to the specificity of the flora that grows on them. Within the dolomitic flora, one of the most widespread plants in Spain is the characteristic species Pterocephalus spathulatus (Lag.) Coult., which forms whitish prostrate thymes. The present study focused on the knowledge about the ionome (or elementome) of a characteristic dolomite species and some of its applications, both in terms of its nutritional behaviour and in determining the factors that favour the rich and rare flora growing on dolomitic soils. Soil, foliar, stem and root samples of the species studied were collected from different locations in the south of Spain. The samples were analysed to determine their mineral composition. The Bioconcentration Factor (BCF) and the Translocation Factor (TF) were calculated, relating the values of the mineral contents in the soil, both total and phytoavailable, to the values from the foliar, root and stem samples. It was found that this species was able to accumulate some elements, including B, Cr, Cu, Ni, Ti, Tl and Zn, which can be phytotoxic in high concentrations, and are considered to be some of the main toxic metals in soils. In addition, it was observed that the plant can accumulate metals in the stem and leaves (TF), thus proving that it is capable of transporting them from the root to the aerial part of the plant. The data obtained may indicate that other species in the plant community may possess this bioindicator or even phytoremediation capacity

Tracking gypsophily across the phylogeny: 3 study cases

To gain an evolutionary understanding of plant gypsophily, is essential to incorporate phylogeny in the analyses. Here we present an overview of three different approaches that we are currently undertaking to tackle this issue. (I) we have selected 5 Iberian genera with gysophite or gypsovag species in which a fairly complete and reliable phylogeny is published (Ononis, Helianthemum, Chaenorrhinum, Reseda and Teucrium). In each of these 5 lineages we plan to explore the events of gypsophily and to evaluate the existence of preadaptations along the clades in terms of ionome. (II) Within the Ononis tridentata-fruticosa-rotundifolia clade, we intend to carry out Hyb-Seq taking the leaf and soil chemical composition into account. Among other biogegraphic and phylogenetic inferences, we are particularly interested on the comparison of the ionome of O. fruticosa populations growing in and out gypsum. (III)We plan to reconstruct the phylogeny of the genus Frankenia based on HybSeq, which comprises a relevant amount of halophyte, gypso-halophyte and gypsum species, particularly in Australia. This worldwide distributed genus is crucial for the understanding of chemical adaptations of gypso-halophytes, a poorly described functional group, but requires a taxonomic and phylogenetic clarification before further analysis. Approaches II and III will use the Angiosperms-353 kit (myBaits), which will allow integrating the results in further studies beyond our current particular purposes

Plants on Rich-Magnesium Dolomite Barrens: A Global Phenomenon

For botanists and ecologists, the close link between some plants and substrates, such as serpentine or gypsum, is well known. However, the relationship between dolomite and its flora has been much less studied, due to various causes. Its diffuse separation from limestone and the use of a vague approach and terminology that, until now, no one has tried to harmonize are among these reasons. After carrying out an extensive review, completed with data on the distribution of plants linked to dolomite, the territories in which this type of flora appears at a global level were mapped using a geographic information system software. In addition, data on soils were collected, as well as on their influence on the ionomic profile of the flora. These data were completed with the authors’ own information from previous research, which also served to assess these communities’ degree of conservation and the genetic diversity of some of their characteristic species. The results showed that the so-called “dolomite phenomenon” is widely represented and is clearly manifested in the appearance of a peculiar flora, very rich in endemisms, on dry soils, poor in nutrients, and with a high Mg level. Although dolomite habitats cause adaptations in plants which are even more recognizable than those of other rock types, they have not been widely studied from an ecological, evolutionary, and conservation point of view because, so far, neither their characteristics nor their universal demarcation have been precisely defined

Spontaneous primary succession and vascular plant recovery in the Iberian gypsum quarries: insights for ecological restoration in an EU priority habitat

Gypsum covers a vast area of the Iberian Peninsula, making Spain a leader in its production. Gypsum is a fundamental raw material for modern societies. However, gypsum quarries have an obvious impact on the landscape and biodiversity. Gypsum outcrops host a high percentage of endemic plants and unique vegetation, considered a priority by the EU. Restoring gypsum areas after mining is a key strategy to prevent biodiversity loss. For the implementation of restoration approaches, understanding vegetation’s successional processes can be of invaluable help. To fully document the spontaneous succession in gypsum quarries and to evaluate its interest for restoration, 10 permanent plots of 20 × 50 m were proposed, with nested subplots, in which vegetation change was recorded for 13 years in Almeria (Spain). Through Species-Area Relationships (SARs), these plots’ floristic changes were monitored and compared to others in which an active restoration was carried out, as well as others with natural vegetation. Furthermore, the successional pattern found was compared to those recorded in 28 quarries distributed throughout the Spanish territory. The results show that an ecological pattern of spontaneous primary auto-succession is widely recurring in Iberian gypsum quarries, which is capable of regenerating the pre-existing natural vegetation