Factors determining the distribution of orchids – a review with examples from the Czech Republic

Abstract

The natural environment has been significantly altered by human activity over the past few decades. There is evidence we are now experiencing the sixth mass extinction, as many species of plants and animals are declining in abundance. We focused on the Orchidaceae because this plant family has experienced one of the biggest reductions in distribution. We investigated patterns in species richness and distribution of orchids, the rate and causes of their decrease and extinction, and factors influencing their occurrence in the Czech Republic and Greece. The key findings are: (i) Method of pollination and type of rooting system are associated with their distributions and they are different in the two countries. We assume that these differences might be due to the difference in the orography, distribution of suitable habitats and types of bedrock in these two countries. (ii) The greatest reduction in distribution was recorded for critically endangered taxa of orchids. The number of sites suitable for orchids in the Czech Republic declined by 8-92%. The most threatened orchid species are Spiranthes spiralis, Anacamptis palustris, Epipogium aphyllum and Goodyera repens. The distribution of orchids in the Czech Republic is mainly determined by the distribution of their habitats. (iii) The most important factor affecting the distribution of Czech orchids in South Bohemia is land cover. And the most important types of habitats (types in KVES) are oak and oak-hornbeam forests and agricultural meadows. Based on this information, it should be possible to improve the management that is crucial for maintaining orchid localities.

Geographical Distribution and Relationship with Environmental Factors of Paphiopedilum Subgenus Brachypetalum Hallier (Orchidaceae) Taxa in Southwest China

“…The results indicated that ecological preferences and niche breadth vary among species, which is consistent with Tsiftsis et al [51], possibly because orchid germination niches are complex [71]. A better understanding of how niche breadth is associated with environmental gradients is crucial to species conservation, especially when considering the distribution of orchids [72]. These results revealed the niche breadth and the amplitude of geographical distribution of different Brachypetalum orchid species, which would be beneficial to set conservation priorities for the Brachypetalum orchid species in southwest China.…”

Exploring Effective Conservation of Charismatic Flora: Orchids in Armenia as a Case Study

“…Therefore, conservation measures could include increasing the protection and effective management of existing wetland areas and/or restoring degraded marshland areas within the north of the country. The limitation for our model is the exclusion of variables related to habitat, which is commonly used in other modeling studies [82,83]. However, due to the wide temporal range of occurrence data used, some from the 1990s, and the rapidly changing landscape in Armenia due to economic crises, illegal logging and the rise of mining activities, the use of habitat variables could reduce the overall accuracy of predictions.…”

How Effective Is Environmental Protection for Ensuring the Vitality of Wild Orchid Species? A Case Study of a Protected Area in Italy

“…The flowering and survival of many European orchid species is closely related to the resource status of plants, which is, in turn, influenced by appropriate site management [ 8 ]. Moreover, these species are expected to be at a greater risk of extinction as they are dependent on interactions with mycorrhizal fungi and pollinators, which are also being affected by habitat loss and climate change [ 9 , 10 ]. Orchids are particularly sensitive to environmental changes and are often amongst the first plant species to disappear in response to anthropogenic disturbances, making orchids relevant bioindicators of the ecological quality of ecosystems [ 11 , 12 ].…”