Molecular tools provide a range of powerful options for the conservationist's toolbox

Lagoons and saltwater wetlands getting more diversity: A molecular approach reveals cryptic lineages of a euryhaline submerged macrophyte (Ruppia)

“…Conservation of the dynamics of populations under genetic divergence, should be safeguarded for the future because local adaptation could be involved in Ruppia populations experiencing a wide variety of saline habitat conditions. As long as there remains a problem of undetected rare species, conservationists and managers might not be aware of the need to implement management measures from a conservation perspective (Jackson, ).…”

“…Ruppia species are low abundance species because several taxa are coastal whereas others are inland with scattered occurrence, though locally common. Basically, inventories of low abundance species are the focus of conservation efforts (Jackson, ). To achieve a change in perception, awareness must be raised at the level of local responsible nature managers and practitioners by paying attention when identifying Ruppia for their reports (to the responsible administrations) and require updated confirmation about taxon identity, thereby referring to recent scientific progress, instead of putative outdated flora.…”

“…The identity of ESUs and OTUs provided in this and other studies should be considered when conducting trait analysis, growth measurements, reproductive mode determination, functional adaptive physiology to low oxygen sediments and salinity changes and hence these OTUs deserve independent management attention. Molecular information, with reference to each ESU or OTU could then become incorporated in adaptive management (Jackson, ), which refers in the case of Ruppia to various saltwater lagoon and brackish wetland types, including human‐altered environments such as saltwork areas and surrounding water infrastructure.…”

“…Genetic breaks might occur owing to barriers in landscapes and seascapes (Triest et al, ). The option to conserve species depends on the suitable habitats which populations can move to (Jackson, ). Mediterranean coastal populations are especially threatened by habitat degradation (Carreno, Esteve, Martinez, Palazon, & Pardo, ; Nicholls, Hoozemans, & Marchand, ).…”

“… Standard protocols for molecular marker screening should be shared between a few labs, at least one, preferably a few on each continent. A continuing challenge in the future will be posed by advancement of genomic research despite the increasing user‐friendliness of extracting information from large data sets (Jackson, ). Standard methods (as prepared for SeagrassNet: Short, McKenzie, Coles, Vidler and Gaeckle ()) should be worked out to use live materials and mature seeds for growth and germination experiments according to an experimental design (even chromosome counting can be done on these materials). Collection of herbarium samples should be made for complete morphological measurements of all relevant leaf, and developing inflorescence and fruit characters (as was recently done by Yu and den Hartog () and den Hartog et al ()). Habitat features of accompanying submerged aquatic vegetation, sediment characteristics, salinity, water level changes and hydroperiod data will allow insight into the relationship between different Ruppia species and their environment. …”