Cryostorage of Somatic Tissues of Endangered Australian Species

Abstract

The flora of southwest Western Australia is remarkably rich in species and is recognized as one of the top ten most botanically diverse regions in the world (Brown et al. 1998). There are over 8000 plant taxa within the region (32% of the Australian flora) with 70% of species endemic to the region (Hopper et al. 1996). In common with other biodiverse regions, threatening processes, such as land clearing for agricultural, mining and urban development, as well as the spread of plant diseases and pests, have resulted in major habitat reduction and disturbance. The number of rare and threatened species has increased from 238 to 327 over the past 10 years within Western Australia, with 1959 plant species currently classified as in need of conservation action (Hopper et al. 1990; Brown et al. 1998). With little or no foreseeable changes in the mitigating factors accompanying the increase in endangered plant species, conservation agencies must turn towards ex situ methods in order to compliment in situ conservation programs for the increasing number of threatened plant species.