The orchids of the Natural Reserve of Vendicari (SE Sicily):
an example of ex situ conservation supporting in situ intervention.
Cataldo, Rosario Galesi, & Pietro Minissale
Dipartimento di Scienze Biologiche, Geologiche e Ambientali
Università di Catania
Daniela
ENSURING THE SURVIVAL OF ENDANGERED
PLANTS IN THE MEDITERRANEAN
International Workshop 18 th - 20th April 2013 Catania Italy
Natural Reserve of
Vendicari:
Total area :1512 ha
575 ha A zone (green line)
937 ha B zone (green line)
B
A
Natura 2000 network (blue line):
SCI ITA090002 Vendicari
SCI ITA090027 Fondali di Vendicari
SPA ITA090029 Pantani della Sicilia sud-orientale,
Morghella di Marzamemi, di Punta Pilieri e
Vendicari
A
Vendicari - vegetation and landscape
Sarcocornietea fruticosae
Juncetea maritimi
Arthrocnemo-Juncetum subulati
Inulo-Juncetum maritimi
Schoeno-Plantaginetum crassifoliae
Crithmo-Limonietea
Limonietum syracusani
Ammophiletea
Juniperion turbinatae
Ephedro-Juniperetum macrocarpa
Quercetalia calliprini
Myrto-Pistacietum lentisci
Cisto-Micromerietea
Chamaeropo-Sarcopoterietum spinosi
The orchids of Vendicari
The orchids flora of south-eastern Sicily is fairly
well known; there are also specific surveys on
the distribution of species in protected areas,
such as for Vendicari. Many of these orchids,
some of which are Sicilian endemic, are rare
species and in some cases they are included in
the regional or national red lists.
In Sicily there are no known
specific
conservation
actions
regarding orchids, aimed primarily
at the reinforcement of the
populations, based on a detailed
knowledge of the distribution and
consistency of populations.
Therefore, in collaboration with
the Regional Department of State
Forests, the managing authority of
the reserve, a research and
conservation project of this
particular taxonomic group was
developed.
The first phase of the research has focused on
the accurate mapping and census of
populations. The positions of sub-populations
have been georeferenced to points.
The data is useful for the precise location, the
monitoring of populations and the collection of
germplasm,
The
data
collected
allow
highlighting the species with the greatest
probability of local extinction on which to focus
conservation efforts.
The survey enabled highlighting for all entities
identified (23 taxa) more or less fragmented
distributions, despite the presence of suitable
habitats, and considerable variability in the
consistency of the populations of each species. In
particular, Orchis papilionacea L. ssp. grandiflora
(Boiss.) Baumann, Serapias parviflora Parl., Ophrys
bombyliflora Link, O. sicula Tineo were fairly
common. At the other extreme, only very few
specimens of Ophrys lunulata Parl. and O.
oxyrrhinchos (Tod.) Soo, were found and not
previously reported for the area.
The need to collect the
germplasm
to
develop the second
part of the project,
immediately indicated
the
considerable
uncertainty of the
pollination of orchids
under observation.
Therefore, for most late-flowering species
such as Ophrys calliantha Bartolo &
Pulvirenti, we proceeded to perform the
manual crossed pollination that has been
successful since each intervention has had
the next fruiting.
The collection of the capsules, completed at the beginning of the
summer 2012, allowed keeping sufficient germplasm to start the testing
of the propagation for most of the orchids present in the reserve.
Particular attention was given to endemic Ophrys biancae (Tod.)
Macchiati, O. calliantha Bartolo & Pulvirenti and O. lunulata Parl.
The second part of the project
In vitro techniques
Asymbiotic reproduction of Orchidaceae on the basis
of the protocol developed by Pierce et al. (2010)
S owing diary
Date
12.02.2013
14.02.2013
7.02.2013
11.02.2013
20.02.2013
20.02.2013
22.02.2013
28.02.2013
1.03.2013
12.03.2013
S pec ies
O phrys tenthredinifera
O phrys fus ca
O phrys garganica
O phrys incubacea
O phrys tenthredinifera
O phrys incubacea
O rchis lactea
O phrys calliantha
O rchis paplionacea
O phrys s peculum
Number of P etri
dis hes
49
48
48
47
40
10
48
50
48
12
14.03.2013
O phrys lunulata
14
petri 10 cm, H 2 O 2
15.03.2013
S erapias orinetalis s s p. s iciliens is (Nis cemi)
14
petri 10 cm, H 2 O 3
19.03.2013
S erapias parviflora
16
petri 10 cm, H 2 O 4
20.03.2013
S erapias bergonii
16
petri 10 cm, H 2 O 5
21.03.2013
16
petri 10 cm, H 2 O 6
26.03.2013
O rchis collina
O phrys apifera
18
petri 10 cm, H 2 O 7
27.03.2013
O phrys oxyrrinchos
4
petri 10 cm, H 2 O 8
27.03.2013
B arlia robertiana
12
petri 10 cm, H 2 O 9
Notes
s teril s eeds
s ome s teril s eeds
petri 10 cm, H 2 O 2
Ophrys speculum
Ophrys lunulata
Serapias orientalis ssp. siciliensis
Ophrys calliantha
Sowing - results
C O NT R O L L O S E MINE
s pec ie
O phrys tenthredinifera
O phrys fus ca
O phrys garganica
O phrys incubacea
O phrys tenthredinifera
O phrys incubacea
O rchis lactea
O phrys calliantha
O rchis palionacea
O phrys s peculum
O phrys lunulata
S erapias orinetalis s s p. s iciliens is (Nis cemi)
S erapias parviflora
S erapias bergonii
O rchis collina
O phrys apifera
O phrys oxyrrinchos
B arlia robertiana
data s emina
12.02.2013
14.02.2013
7.02.2013
20.02.2013
20.02.2013
11.02.2013
22.02.2013
28.02.2013
1.03.2013
12.03.2013
14.03.2013
15.03.2013
data controllo I
4.04.2013
3.04.2013
3.04.2013
4.04.2013
4.04.2013
4.04.2013
26.03.2013
26.03.2013
4.04.2013
17.04.2013
11.04.2013
11.04.2013
data di controllo II
4.04.2013
17.04.2013
contaminazione
5s u49
5s u47
6s u48
1s u10
10s u40
2s u47
4s u48
0
3s u48
0
3s u14
5s u14
cont.II
4s u44
0
germinazione
res tanti
…………………………………………
44
s cars a
42
germinazione 100%
42
germinazione 100%
9
s cars a
30
germinazione 100%
45
nes s una-ma s emi gonfi I&II cont.
40
s cars a-s emi privi di embrione
50
ottima
45
iniziale
12
ottima
11
buona
9
The next step
Conclusions
• In situ conservation is well supported by this study (precise
localization, knowledge of the consistence of populations)
• Pollination do not always occur (it must be helped in order to
obtain a lot of capsules)
• Ex situ conservation
• High rate of seed germinations by in vitro asymbiotic
techniques
• Growth rate very slow
SO, WE ARE LOOKING FOR
(probably more than three years
to obtain plants for
reintroductions)
NEW FINANCIAL SUPPORT
TO CONTINUE THE PROJECT!
A special thanks to:
Renata Turco (field data collection)
Roberto Lo Turco (GIS cartography )
Dipartimento Regionale Azienda Foreste Demaniali
Office of Siracusa (financial and logistic support)
All the photos of orchids were shooted in the Vendicari Reserve
References:
Bartolo, G., Pulvirenti, S., 1997.- Ophrys calliantha
(Orchidaceae): una nuova specie dalla Sicilia.
Cesiana 9, 41-47.
Thank you for
your attention !
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