Development of an informational resource to inform global prioritization of efforts to conserve threatened, exceptional plant taxa
Date
2015
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
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Publisher
University of Delaware
Abstract
Plant taxa that are threatened toward extinction are often a priority for
conservation research. While many threatened, vascular, seed-bearing taxa can be
conserved ex situ in seed banks, others cannot be seed-banked. These non seedbankable
taxa are known as "exceptional." There is currently no comprehensive
resource available to plant conservation researchers that identifies threatened,
exceptional plant taxa and their storage needs.
This research refined the definition of "exceptional," and then compiled and
analyzed data about the seed storage behavior of threatened, vascular plant taxa in the
U.S. and Canada. Researchers in the field of plant conservation were surveyed to
obtain their opinion of the best parameters for the definition of "exceptional" as it
pertains to threatened, vascular, seed-bearing plant taxa. A list of 5,923 threatened
plant taxa of the U.S. and Canada was then sent to many of the survey's respondents
requesting information regarding the seed storage behavior of the taxa. The
information contributed by the researchers was compiled and standardized for
analysis.
Based on the responses from researchers representing 147 institutions, the
definition of exceptional is: An exceptional plant taxon is a species, subspecies, or
variety of vascular, seed-bearing plant which cannot be seed-banked because the seed
biology or availability satisfies one or more of the following conditions: produces
recalcitrant seeds, produces few or no seeds, cannot be easily propagated by seed,
produces poor-quality or non-viable seeds, seeds are not easily accessible for
collection when mature (or at all), or produces seeds infrequently.
Information provided by 22 researchers resulted in further knowledge of the
seed storage behavior of 2,090 threatened, vascular seed-bearing plant taxa of the U.S.
and Canada. Of the 156 exceptional taxa, 53% are trees and 27% are shrubs. Hawaii
and Florida account for 90% of the exceptional taxa. In addition, those with seed
storage behaviors of exceptional tend to be from the more evolutionarily advanced
orders.
The list and corresponding seed storage behavior information generated from
this study will help researchers identify priorities for effective and efficient
conservation of threatened, exceptional plants and their ecosystems. Furthermore, the
list will facilitate communication, target conservation efforts, and support funding for
the research of these taxa. Lastly, this list can serve as a model for the generation of a
global list.
Six Supplemental Spreadsheet Files Included in Electronic Version: Appendix G
Known Status, Appendix H Unknown Status, Appendix J Suggested Additions,
Appendix K Pteridophytes, Appendix M Seed Storage Behavior List, Appendix N
Threatened List