Quasi in situ: a bridge between ex situ and in situ conservation of plants

Abstract

Plant conservation urgently needs a concept that would unify different aspects of population viability as parts of conservation methodology. Such unification is especially lacking for ex situ conservation. We introduce a novel conservation approach in which ex situ collections maintained in natural or semi-natural environment and preserving both neutral and adaptive genetic diversity are a part of a complementary ex situ-in situ conservation strategy. Our approach is the first that explicitly takes into account ecologically significant (i.e. adaptive) variation of plants in both ex situ and in situ conservation actions. Using this approach we provide detailed guidelines for (1) representative sampling of the populations; (2) collection maintenance; and (3) utilization for in situ actions.

Analysis of genetic structure of Ranunculus baudotii in a Mediterranean wetland. Implications for selection of seeds and seedlings for conservation

“…Thus, when ecological restorations are planned, we recommend to considere the possible negative effects of germinating seeds under laboratory environments which may select a different range of genotypes than those expressed under a natural environment. Since it may not always be possible to have genetic data, an additional recommendation for ex-situ handling is to undertake both cultivation and propagation in a near-natural environment (Volis and Blecher, 2010). In line with the view of Smith et al (2011), our results highlight the importance of considering ex-situ conservation as a complemen-tary approach to in-situ conservation, additionally supported by the genetic monitoring.…”

Impact of Population Structure, Growth Habit and Seedling Ecology on Regeneration of <i>Embelia ribes</i> Burm. f. —Approaches toward a Quasi <i>in Situ</i> Conservation Strategy

“…An endangered species is usually represented by small and isolated populations that already underwent strong effects of genetic drift and/or inbreeding [31]. Therefore, for an endangered species, creation of ex-situ collections and decisions about suitable material for relocation/reintroduction should take into account the potential risks of inbreeding depression, in addition to local adaptation and spatial structure of adaptive variation [32]. In species that lack local adaptation, low genetic diversity and self-incompatibility, a slightly modified approach of "forest gene bank" was suggested [33][34][35].…”

Paleoecology as a guide to landscape conservation and restoration in the neotropical Gran Sabana

“…An alternative solution, at least in theory, would be the joint recreation of present and former ecological states (i, ii and iii) in different parts of the Gran sabana. this option has been called conservation quasi in situ or inter situ (Burney and Burney 2007;Volis and Blecher 2010); its main drawbacks are that large investments are required to create and maintain such structures and that it would imply intervention into indigenous land-use practices, which is very problematic under the current socio-political circumstances (Rull et al 2016). …”