Orchid conservation: bridging the gap between science and practice

Gale, Stephan W.; Fischer, Gunter A.; Cribb, Phillip; Fay, Michael F.

doi:10.1093/botlinnean/boy003

Cited by 78 publications

(61 citation statements)

References 53 publications

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“…The IUCN 'vulnerable' status assigned to C. bentleyi is based entirely on census assessment from a single survey taken almost two decades ago (400 individuals counted in 2001). This does not consider genetic, mating-system, or symbiotic attributes of a species, which are of particular concern for orchid conservation (Fay, 2018;Gale et al, 2018). In contrast to other extremely restricted eastern North American plant species (Lackey, 2004;Fernando et al, 2015), repeated, census-based assessment of population size and stability of C. bentleyi has not been conducted.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Integrating genetics, morphology, and fungal host specificity in conservation studies of a vulnerable, selfing, mycoheterotrophic orchid

Fama

Sinn

Barrett

2020

Preprint

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Mycoheterotrophic plants derive most or all carbon and nutrients from fungal partners and represent poorly understood components of forest biodiversity. Many are rare or endangered yet can be ecological indicators of forest ecosystem function due to their often highly specific fungal host requirements. One such species is the IUCN red-listed (vulnerable), fully mycoheterotrophic orchid, Corallorhiza bentleyi. This recently described species is among the rarest plants in Appalachia, known from five counties in Virginia and West Virginia, USA. The species has a restricted range, small population size, and is self-pollinating. Here we take an integrative approach to conservation genetic assessment in C. bentleyi using floral morphometrics, simple-sequence repeats, and fungal host DNA to characterize variation within and among sampling localities. Morphology reveals some differentiation among individuals from six sampling localities. Surprisingly, most genetic variation is found within localities, contra to the expectation for a selfing species. Fungal host DNA reveals extreme specificity upon a few genotypes of a single ectomycorrhizal host species, Tomentella fuscocinerea, across all localities. We discuss the conservation implications of morphological, genetic, and symbiotic diversity in this vulnerable species, and recommend additional assessment of conservation status based on: an obligate reproductive mode of selfing, preventing benefits of outcrossing among genetically non-identical individuals; extreme host specificity, severely restricting niche space; and highly fragmented habitat under threat from anthropogenic disturbance. This study underscores the importance of integrative conservation assessment, analyzing multiple data sources, and reveals patterns not readily apparent from census-based assessments alone.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Integrating genetics, morphology, and fungal host specificity in conservation studies of a vulnerable, selfing, mycoheterotrophic orchid

Fama

Sinn

Barrett

2020

Preprint

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“…Novel technologies provide us with the opportunity to study species and their interactions in greater detail than ever before, but challenges associated with global change, habitat destruction, changing land use and unsustainable utilization of biodiversity make its conservation ever-more urgent, and the capacity to develop solutions at the species-level for more than a small proportion of species (e.g. those identified as being at the greatest risk) is likely be outstripped by the sheer scale and pace of change (Gale et al 2018 ). In response to these challenges, scientists and conservation practitioners must make difficult choices in prioritizing their work.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Orchid conservation: how can we meet the challenges in the twenty-first century?

2018

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With c. 28,000 species, orchids are one of the largest families of flowering plants, and they are also one of the most threatened, in part due to their complex life history strategies. Threats include habitat destruction and climate change, but many orchids are also threatened by unsustainable (often illegal and/or undocumented) harvest for horticulture, food or medicine. The level of these threats now outstrips our abilities to combat them at a species-by-species basis for all species in such a large group as Orchidaceae; if we are to be successful in conserving orchids for the future, we will need to develop approaches that allow us to address the threats on a broader scale to complement focused approaches for the species that are identified as being at the highest risk.

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“…Unfortunately, species distribution models are rarely used for research on the largest angiosperm plant family, the Orchidaceae. Orchids are one of the most threatened groups as their complex life history make them particularly vulnerable to the effects of global environmental change [9][10].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Is the lady's-slipper orchid (Cypripedium calceolus) likely to shortly become extinct in Europe?—Insights based on ecological niche modelling

Kolanowska

Jakubska-Busse

2020

PLoS ONE

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Lady's-slipper orchid (Cypripedium calceolus) is considered an endangered species in most countries within its geographical range. The main reason for the decline in the number of populations of this species in Europe is habitat destruction. In this paper the ecological niche modelling approach was used to estimate the effect of future climate change on the area of niches suitable for C. calceolus. Predictions of the extent of the potential range of this species in 2070 were made using climate projections obtained from the Community Climate System Model for four representative concentration pathways: rcp2.6, rcp4.5, rcp6.0 and rcp8.5. According to these analyses all the scenarios of future climate change will result in the total area of niches suitable for C. calceolus decreasing. Considering areas characterized by a suitability of at least 0.4 the loss of habitat will vary between ca. 30% and 63%. The highest habitat loss of ca. 63% is predicted to occur in scenario rcp 8.5. Surprisingly, in the most damaging rcp 8.5 prediction the highest overlap between potential range of C. calceolus and its pollinators will be observed and in all other scenarios some pollinators will be available for this species in various geographical regions. Based on these results at least two approaches should be implemented to improve the chances of survival of C. calceolus. In view of the unavoidable loss of suitable habitats in numerous European regions, conservation activities should be intensified in areas where this species will still have suitable niches in the next 50 years. In addition, for C. calceolus ex-situ activities should be greatly increased so that it can be reintroduced in the remaining suitable areas.

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Orchid conservation: bridging the gap between science and practice

Cited by 78 publications

References 53 publications

Integrating genetics, morphology, and fungal host specificity in conservation studies of a vulnerable, selfing, mycoheterotrophic orchid

Integrating genetics, morphology, and fungal host specificity in conservation studies of a vulnerable, selfing, mycoheterotrophic orchid

Orchid conservation: how can we meet the challenges in the twenty-first century?

Is the lady's-slipper orchid (Cypripedium calceolus) likely to shortly become extinct in Europe?—Insights based on ecological niche modelling

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