Key skills for future aquatic scientists in Latin America: academic capacity building through the CORRIENTE XXI project

Abstract

occupancy of the species in these sites is c. , m . This suggests that it should be categorized as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List on the basis of criterion Bab(i,ii,iii,v). Also, because of its restricted distribution, small population size and the degradation of its habitat, the species should be included in the list of Plant Species with Extremely Small Populations in China (Sun et al., , Trends in Plant Science, , -). Our survey and information obtained from interviews with local people indicated that the main threats to this species are its small population size, the high frequency of destruction by grazing, and habitat loss as a result of road construction. Urgent and effective measures need to be taken to protect this species. The Kunming Institute of Botany is now carrying out studies on the phylogeography of M. smithiana and its genetic relationships to other Meconopsis species of the southern Hengduan Mountains, to obtain a better understanding of the microevolution of this species. With the collaboration of the staff of nature reserves, we are planning to collect seeds of M. smithiana for ex situ propagation and potential future restoration of the species in the wild. Using species distribution models we also plan to identify and explore other sites in China where the species could potentially occur.