Mountains are plant biodiversity hotspots considered particularly vulnerable to multiple environmental changes. Here, we quantify population changes and range-shift dynamics along elevational gradients over the last three decades for c. two-thirds of the orchid species of the European Alps. Local extinctions were more likely for small populations, after habitat alteration, and predominated at the rear edge of species’ ranges. Except for the most thermophilic species and wetland specialists, population density decreased over time. Declines were more pronounced for rear-edge populations, possibly due to multiple pressures such as climate warming, habitat alteration, and mismatched ecological interactions. Besides these demographic trends, different species exhibited idiosyncratic range shifts with more than 50% of the species lagging behind climate warming. Our study highlights the importance of long-term monitoring of populations and range distributions at fine spatial resolution to be able to fully understand the consequences of global change for orchids.

The split between conservation science and real-world application is an ongoing issue despite several calls for unification. Researchers are empowered to partially bridge the research-implementation gap by making their findings more accessible. Cypripedium calceolus is the most recognizable orchid of the European flora, and is currently facing habitat change and fragmentation, in addition to threats from collectors and illegal traders. Although several studies have focused on the ecological and genetic features of the species, a comprehensive account of how such aspects can be translated into concrete conservation recommendations is still missing. In this study, we describe microsatellite genetic variation in 188 individuals from different Italian populations of C. calceolus. Our results indicate the need for immediate conservation action for the most isolated populations in the Central Apennines and north-western Italy. Although our genetic findings are specific to the Italian populations, our aim is to review ecological and population genetic aspects in C. calceolus and

The study reports data from a long-term monitoring (2007)(2008)(2009)(2010)(2011)(2012)(2013)(2014)(2015)(2016)(2017)(2018)(2019)(2020)) of a Cypripedium calceolus population (Orchidaceae) in the Adamello-Brenta Natural Park (Trentino, North Italy). In the first four years, there was a gradual increase in the number of flowering stems. In 2010, a forest cut was performed and branches were left in place for three years. Number of orchid individuals decreased rapidly just after the cut, while after the removal of the branches in 2013 a recovery began. The proportion of stems with two flowers varied between 8.8% and 17.6%. Reproductive success was studied only in the first three years, varying between 5.2% and 19.7%. Several plants did not bloom because they were grazed by wild ungulates. As we observed that hikers and tourists collected some plants, we also recommend the surveillance of Cypripedium calceolus population during flowering period. Despite these multiple impacts, the studied population look to be viable. However, more attention should be implemented to future forest interventions.

Members of the orchid genus Nigritella are widespread in European mountains, but species circumscriptions and evolutionary patterns in the genus are subjects to conflicting opinions. We analyzed a representative material of Nigritella for differentiation at nuclear and plastid marker loci. In agreement with predictions from embryological studies, diploid members of Nigritella are sexual and mostly out‐crossing, whereas triploid, tetraploid and pentaploid members are apomicts. The diploid taxa were poorly differentiated in the investigated molecular markers, except for the western N. gabasiana, which was separated in plastid haplotypes. Polyploid Nigritella aggregate into three groups and within each of these groups apomictic polyploids have given rise to new species. Within the N. nigra group, the tetraploid N. nigra subsp. austriaca is somewhat differentiated from the triploid subsp. nigra at nuclear as well as plastid loci. Fusion of an unreduced egg cell from subsp. nigra with a haploid microgamete from Gymnadenia conopsea gave rise to Gymnigritella runei. Within the N. widderi group, N. archiducis‐joannis is poorly separated from N. widderi in molecular markers, and the pentaploid N. buschmanniae has evolved by fusion of an unreduced egg cell from N. widderi with a haploid microgamete from a diploid Nigritella. Within the N. miniata group, N. stiriaca is somewhat differentiated from N. miniata at nuclear loci, but no other segregates of N. miniata are supported at species level. Polyploid Nigritella species accumulate genetic diversity by somatic mutations. In the widespread N. nigra subsp. austriaca and N. miniata this diversity is correlated to geography. Although some polyploids may be of recent origins, each polyploid contain genetic markers no longer encountered in diploid members of the genus. According to plastid marker data, Nigritella and Gymnadenia may constitute monophyletic sister genera.

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