Plant Endemism Centres and Biodiversity Hotspots in Greece

Abstract

Biodiversity hotspots (BH) cover a small fraction of the Earth’s surface, yet host numerous endemics. Human-induced biodiversity loss has been increasing worldwide, despite attempts to halt the extinction crisis. There is thus an urgent need to efficiently allocate the available conservation funds in an optimised conservation prioritization scheme. Identifying BH and endemism centres (EC) is therefore a valuable tool in conservation prioritization and planning. Even though Greece is one of the most plant species-rich European countries, few studies have dealt with the identification of BH or EC and none has ever incorporated phylogenetic information or extended to the national scale. Consequently, we are unaware of the extent that Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) of the Natura 2000 network efficiently protect Greek plant diversity. Here, we located for the first time at a national scale and in a phylogenetic framework, the areas serving as BH and EC, and assessed the effectiveness of the Greek SAC in safeguarding them. BH and EC are mainly located near mountainous areas, and in areas supposedly floristically impoverished, such as the central Aegean islands. A critical re-assessment of the Greek SAC might be needed to minimize the extinction risk of the Greek endemics, by focusing the conservation efforts also on the BH and EC that fall outside the established Greek SAC.

Allele Sorting as a Novel Approach to Resolving the Origin of Allotetraploids Using Hyb-Seq Data: A Case Study of the Balkan Mountain Endemic Cardamine barbaraeoides

“…With the present results, we provide additional support for the prominent role of Mediterranean mountains both as cradles and reservoirs of species and genetic diversity and, more specifically, for the contribution of polyploid speciation to the origin of biodiversity hotspots. Indeed, the Southern Pindos range, the area of C. barbaraeoides , is recognized as an important center of endemism and also a refugial area ( Stevanović et al, 2007 ; Médail and Diadema, 2009 ; Kougioumoutzis et al, 2021 ). Quaternary climatic oscillations have led to species range shifts, repeated range fragmentation, and reduction followed by expansion, and these processes have facilitated contacts between previously isolated lineages and brought opportunities for hybridization ( Nieto Feliner, 2014 ; Marques et al, 2018 ; see, e.g., Blanco-Pastor et al, 2012 ; Maguilla et al, 2017 ; Zozomová-Lihová et al, 2020 ).…”

Linking Taxonomic, Phylogenetic and Functional Plant Diversity with Ecosystem Services of Cliffs and Screes in Greece

“…The Life Integrated Project with the acronym “LIFE-IP 4 NATURA”, led by the Hellenic Ministry of Environment and Energy, incorporates MAES implementation Actions at the local and national level [ 10 ]. Following the ongoing progress on (a) drafting species’ and habitats’ action plans and area-prioritization efforts inside the Natura 2000 Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and (b) “LIFE-IP 4 NATURA” actions, the first national, fine-scale, and phylogenetically informed identification of biodiversity hotspots and endemism centers (ECs) has been recently accomplished in Greece [ 11 ]. Spatially explicit (i.e., georeferenced) biodiversity information has been obtained and contributed to the development of biodiversity-related indicators for the MAES implementation in Greece [ 3 ].…”

“…Spatial phylogenetics enable the identification of endemism centers and provide valuable insights regarding the ecoevolutionary and conservation value, and the biogeographical origin of a given area [ 18 ]. Therefore, identifying biodiversity hotspots and endemism centers and incorporating phylogenetic information is a valuable tool in conservation prioritization and planning [ 11 ].…”

An Orchid in Retrograde: Climate-Driven Range Shift Patterns of Ophrys helenae in Greece

“…Greece has been extensively floristically explored during the last two centuries [28,29]. Consequently, many studies exist dealing with the factors affecting the biogeographical and biodiversity patterns in Greece ( [30] and references therein). Nevertheless, very few studies have taken into consideration the impacts of climate change on plant distribution patterns [31][32][33][34][35] and none has yet assessed if the projected future distribution shifts constitute a physiological response previously experienced by the given taxon in question.…”