Rarity types among plant species with high conservation priority in Switzerland

Abstract

Broennimann O., Vittoz P., Moser D. and Guisan A. 2005. Rarity types among plant species with high conservation priority in Switzerland. We investigated the ecogeographic characteristics of 118 Swiss plant species listed as those deserving highest conservation priority in a national conservation guide and classified them into the seven Rabinowitz' rarity types, taking geographic distribution, habitat rarity and local population size into account. Our analysis revealed that species with high conservation priority in Switzerland mostly have a very restricted geographic distribution in Switzerland and generally occur in rare habitats, but do not necessarily constitute small populations and are generally not endemics on a global scale. Moreover, species that are geographically very restricted on a regional scale are not generally restricted on a global scale. By analysing relationships between rarity and IUCN extinction risks for Switzerland, we demonstrated that species with the highest risk of extinction are those with the most restricted geographic distribution; whereas species with lower risk of extinction (but still high conservation priority) include many regional endemics. Habitat rarity and local population size appeared to be of minor importance for the assessment of extinction risk in Switzerland, but the total number of fulfilled rarity criteria still correlated positively with the severity of extinction risk. Our classification is the first preliminary assessment of the relative importance of each rarity type among endangered plant species of the Swiss flora and our results underline the need to distinguish between a regional and a global responsibility for the conservation of rare and endangered species.Key words: Rabinowitz' rarity types, conservation practice, extinction risk, geographic distribution, rarity assessment, vascular plants. IntroductonIn the effort to conserve biodiversity worldwide, resources are often directed toward protecting rare species since these are assumed to undergo the highest risk of 95 Bot. Helv. 115 (2005): 95-108

Evaluating population and community structure against climate and land-use determinants to improve the conservation of the rare <em>Narcissus pseudonarcissus</em> subsp. <em>nobilis</em>

“…Information on the factors which directly affect the structure of populations might not always be enough to support rare species monitoring, as changes in population dynamics may be recognised too late (Broennimann & al., 2005;Regnery & al., 2013). Accordingly, complementary focus on the habitat/community structure and determinants could allow the identification of early-indicators on potential threats to the rare species (Bilz & al., 2011;Halada & al., 2011;Lindborg & Ehrlén, 2002), as well as the accomplishment of further conservation goals such as those included in the "Habitats Directive" (E.U.…”

“…The persistence of rare plants has also been related to changes in the habitats in which they occur (Fontaine & al., 2007;Lomba & al., 2010). From a conservation perspective, effective planning and monitoring should consider not only the factors directly affecting the structure of rare plant populations, but also the determinants of their habitats (Broennimann & al., 2005;Regnery & al., 2013). In fact, several initiatives have adopted this approach in important policy instruments such as the EU Habitats Directive (Council Directive 92/43/EEC) and the IUCN European Red Data list (Bilz & al., 2011).…”

Espécies raras e comuns de Myrtaceae da Floresta Estacional Decidual de Santa Catarina, Brasil

“…2014 por base três variáveis compartilhadas entre as espécies: distribuição geográfica, especificidade por habitat e tamanho populacional. A metodologia proposta por Rabinowitz et al (1986) para análise de raridade tem sido utilizada mundialmente por vários pesquisadores, como Pitman et al (1999), que analisaram a raridade na floresta amazônica peruana, Broennimann et al (2005), que pesquisaram a raridade na Suíça e Drever et al (2010) o fizeram no nordeste de Ontário, Canadá. No Brasil existem até o presente momento os estudos realizados por Caiafa & Martins (2010) para a porção meridional da Floresta Ombrófila Densa e por Fontana (2012) para a Floresta Estacional Decidual de Santa Catarina.…”

Biomass production of the last remaining fen with Saxifraga hirculus in Switzerland is controlled by nitrogen availability

“…It occurs at only one site in Switzerland, a few sites in France, Ireland, England and Scotland, and has its main occurrence in Scandinavia, Poland, the Baltic countries and Russia (Vittoz et al 2006). The Swiss site is of international importance for conservation because of its isolated position in Central Europe and its relatively large population (Welch 2002;Broennimann et al 2005;Eggenberg and Landolt 2006;Vittoz et al 2006). Partly because it is so rare, we know little about the habitat requirements of this species, but sites where it is still found have a stable water table close to the soil surface and a neutral to slightly acid pH (Vittoz et al 2006).…”