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Implications of the reproductive biology of the narrow endemic Naufraga balearica (Apiaceae) for its conservation status

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Abstract

Naufraga balearica is an endemic umbelliferous plant of Mallorca (Balearic Islands, Spain), considered Critically Endangered according IUCN categories. We present a study of its reproductive biology to look for the causes of its threatened status. It was carried out in natural populations at Cap de Catalunya and Coves Blanques and in ex-situ cultivated plants on the campus of the Universitat de les Illes Balears. We examined (1) the flowering and fruiting phenology, reproductive potential and reproductive success; (2) the pollen/ovule (P/O) ratio and mating system; (3) the identities and numbers of pollinators; (4) the germination potential and the effect of temperature on the germination process; and (5) the seedling performance of this species. The results indicated that under natural conditions, an average individual produced approximately 100 seeds and cross-pollination was the most effective mating system. Pollination was myrmecophilous, and the germination potential was high (76–97%), but seedling survival after the first summer was low (7–54%). We conclude that the major threats to this species are fundamentally extrinsic in character and are related to changing climatic conditions, soil erosion and alteration, and umbel predation. Given that cross-pollination yields greater reproductive success and that pollination is myrmecophilous, lower population densities would lead to lower reproductive success for the species. Therefore, conservation efforts should focus primarily on habitat conservation and on ex-situ conservation through the establishment of an ex-situ population and the maintenance of a seed bank.

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Acknowledgments

This research was funded by the Conselleria d’Economia, Hisenda i Innovació del Govern de les Illes Balears. We thank Dr. Xavier Espadaler (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain) for the taxonomic identification of ant specimens. We thank also José Mª Castro and Antoni Mateu for their collaboration in the fieldwork. We thank the editor and three anonymous reviewers for their useful suggestions.

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  1. Departamento de Biologia, Universitat de les Illes Balears, Palma, Spain

    Joana Cursach & Juan Rita

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  1. Joana Cursach
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  2. Juan Rita
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Correspondence to Joana Cursach.

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Cursach, J., Rita, J. Implications of the reproductive biology of the narrow endemic Naufraga balearica (Apiaceae) for its conservation status. Plant Syst Evol 298, 581–596 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00606-011-0568-2

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