Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Reintroduction of the endangered fern species Woodsia ilvensis to Estonia: a long-term pilot study

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Biodiversity and Conservation Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Woodsia ilvensis has become extinct from its last known natural localities in Estonia and has not been rediscovered since 1977. This fern grew in northern and north-western Estonia in areas of suitable habitat. Considering that habitat conditions may have changed in previous localities, an experimental project was started to test if it would be possible to reintroduce W. ilvensis into new localities where suitable habitat conditions exist. Two experiments were performed, one on an old stone wall, constructed of stones collected from the surrounding fields, and another on two granite boulders in two localities, one where the surrounding soil was acidic, and the other where the soil was basic. The plants were grown from spores of wild provenance received from Finland via the seed and spore exchange system of botanical gardens. Results confirmed that individual plants can establish and persist for at least 10 years on stone walls without maintenance. The experiment on boulders failed, as plants did not establish there. Young, 2-year old mature individuals proved to be the best stage for planting out onto the stone walls in this case study. The best indicators for selecting suitable habitat were characteristic plant species of the natural community. Here I discuss the experimental methods used and first results of the experiment.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

TAA:

Estonian University of Life Sciences, Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, herbarium

TAM:

Estonian Museum of Natural History, botanical collections

TU:

University of Tartu, Museum of Natural History, herbarium

References

  • Åberg G (1934) Floristische Beobachtungen bei Baltischport und auf den Inseln Rågöarna in NW-Estland. Memo Soc pro Fauna et Flora Fennica 10:222–239

    Google Scholar 

  • Aguraiuja R (2001) Eesti kaitstavate sõnajalgade uurimine Tallinna Botaanikaias. Tallinna Botaanikaia uurimused 5. Taim ja keskkond, pp 85–98

  • Aguraiuja R (2005) Hawaiian endemic fern lineage Diellia (Aspleniaceae): distribution, population structure and ecology. Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Tartu

  • Aguraiuja R, Moora M, Zobel M (2004) Population stage structure of Hawaiian endemic fern taxa of Diellia (Aspleniaceae): implications for monitoring and regional dynamics. Can J Bot 82:1438–1445

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cousens MI (1988) Reproductive strategies of pteridophytes. In: Lovett-Doust J, Lovett-Doust L (eds) Plant reproductive ecology. Patterns and strategies, Oxford University Press, New York, pp 307–328

    Google Scholar 

  • Davis AS, Jacobs DF (2005) Quantifying root system quality of nursery seedlings and relationship to outplanting performance. New Forests 30:295–311

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dyer A, Lindsay S, Lusby P (2001) Woodsia ilvensis in Britain—last chance or lost cause? Pteridologist 3:137–145

    Google Scholar 

  • ERT (2004) The Riigi Teataja (Estonian State Gazette), 21.05.2004, 44, 313

  • Falk DA, Millar CI, Olwell M (eds) (1996) Restoring diversity: strategies for reintroduction of endangered plants. Island Press, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Glazkova (Krasnoschokova) EA (1996) On some rare plant species in the islands of eastern part of the Gulf of Finland. Bot Zhurn 81:111–114

    Google Scholar 

  • Gorbunov YN, Dzybov ZE, Kuzmin ZE, Smirnov IA (2008) Methodological recommendations for botanical gardens on the reintroduction of rare and threatened plants. Botanic Gardens Conservation International, Moscow

    Google Scholar 

  • Guerrant EO Jr. (1996) Designing populations: demographic, genetic, and horticultural dimensions. In: Falk DA, Millar CI, Olwell M (eds) Restoring diversity: strategies for reintroduction of endangered plants. Island Press, Washington, DC, pp 171–207

    Google Scholar 

  • Hegi G (1984) Illustrierte flora von mitteleuropa. band I. Teil 1. pteridophyta. Verlag Paul Parey, Berlin und Hamburg

    Google Scholar 

  • Hein V, Puusepp V (1962) Kahe haruldase sõnajalalise levikust Eestis. LUS-i aastaraamat 55. Tartu, pp 79–83

  • Hultén E (1971) Atlas över växternas utbredning in Norden. Generalstabens Litografiska Anstalt, Stockholm

    Google Scholar 

  • Hultén E, Fries M (1986) Atlas of north European vascular plants north of the tropic cancer. I. Koeltz Scientific Books in Königstein, Germany

    Google Scholar 

  • Ingelög T, Andersson R, Tjernberg M (1993) Red data book of the Baltic region. I. lists of threatened vascular plants and vertebrate. Swedish Threatened Species Unit, Uppsala

    Google Scholar 

  • IUCN/SSC Guidelines for reintroductions (1995) Approved by the 41st Meeting of the IUCN Council, Gland, Switzerland

  • Jacobs DF, Ross-Davis AL, Davis AS (2004) Establishment success of conservation tree plantations in relation to silvicultural practices in Indiana, USA. New Forests 28:23–36

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jones DL (1987) Encyclopedia of Ferns. Lothian Publishing Company Pty Ltd, Melbourne, Sydney, Auckland

    Google Scholar 

  • Kala E (1995) Geological map of Estonia. Geological Survey of Estonia, Tallinn

    Google Scholar 

  • Kukk T, Kull T (eds) (2005) Atlas of the Estonian flora. Estonian University of Life Sciences, Tartu

    Google Scholar 

  • Lilleleht V (ed) (1998) Red data book of Estonia. Comission for Nature Conservation of the Estonian Academy of Sciences, Tartu

    Google Scholar 

  • McHaffie H (2004) Woodsia ilvensis re-introduction programme. Pteridologist 4:67

    Google Scholar 

  • Mossberg B, Stenberg L (2007) Den nya nordiska floran. PDC Tangen, Norway

    Google Scholar 

  • Primack RB (1996) Lessons from ecological theory: dispersal, establishment, and population structure. In: Falk DA, Millar CI, Olwell M (eds) Restoring diversity: strategies for reintroduction of endangered plants. Island Press, Washington, DC, pp 209–233

    Google Scholar 

  • Tolmatšov AI (1974) Flora regionis boreali-orientalis territoriae Europaeae URSS. Tomus I. polypodiaceae-graminae. Nauka, Moscow

    Google Scholar 

  • Valee L, Hobgin T, Monks L, Makinson B, Matthes M, Rossetto M (2004) Guidelines for the translocation of threatened species in Australia, 2nd edn. Australian Network for Plant Conservation, Canberra

    Google Scholar 

  • Werth CR, Cousens MI (1990) Summary: the contributions of population studies on ferns. Am Fern J 80:183–190

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

I would you like to thank all reviewers for their critical notes, linguistic suggestions and valuable comments what helped to improve the manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Tallinn Botanic Garden, Kloostrimetsa Rd. 52, 11913, Tallinn, Estonia

    Ruth Aguraiuja

Authors
  1. Ruth Aguraiuja
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ruth Aguraiuja.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Aguraiuja, R. Reintroduction of the endangered fern species Woodsia ilvensis to Estonia: a long-term pilot study. Biodivers Conserv 20, 391–400 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-010-9970-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-010-9970-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation