Population ecology of yew (Taxus baccata L.) in the Central Apennines: spatial patterns and their relevance for conservation strategies

Piovesan, Gianluca; Saba, Emanuele Presutti; Biondi, Franco; Alessandrini, Alfredo; Filippo, Alfredo Di; Schirone, Bartolomeo

doi:10.1007/s11258-009-9596-1

Cited by 54 publications

(66 citation statements)

References 52 publications

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“…Dhar et al, 2007;Piovesan et al, 2009) but where should the priorities lie? The exact order of priority will, of course vary depending upon geographical location and dominant environmental stressors, and upon local management objectives, but we offer the following recommendations in approximate order of effectiveness weighed against cost.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Response of European yews to climate change: a review

Thomas

Garcia-Martí²

2015

For. syst.

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Aim of study: Being the longest-lived of all European trees, capable of living significantly over 2,000 years, yew is highly likely to be negatively affected by climate change; this paper explores the changes in distribution and abundance. Main results: Yew is unlikely to migrate north due to its slow rate of invasion, its disjunct soil needs and an inability to cope with the expected rate of climate change. It will, however, retreat from the southern end of its range in Spain due to increased evapotranspiration allied to reduced rainfall. In the south, increased drought will be exacerbated by extreme drought and increased fire frequency. In drier areas at the northern edge of its range, yew will decline where growing on well-drained limestone outcrops with little shelter from the sun (increased evaporation) and reduced water availability due to limited root spread. On wetter northern sites, yew should find better climatic conditions but will be slow to invade new areas due to poorer reproduction affected by reduced pollen production, population fragmentation and limited seed movement. Overall, without our intervention, yew will survive by inertia in the short-term but eventual become extinct in most areas. Of equal concern will be the loss of old veteran individuals and associated biodiversity. Research highlights: There is an urgent need for interventionist management for both old and young trees, relieving the stress on old veteran trees, and planting and maintaining seedlings through vulnerable young age. A list of management priorities is given.Keywords: Yew; Taxus baccata; Temperature; Precipitation; Seedlings; Bioclimate envelope; Species range.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Ideally, yew populations should have an area of at least 0.5-3.0 ha to be self-perpetuating (Piovesan et al, 2009) together with a minimum number of 40 individuals with more or less equal proportions of males and females (Iszkuło et al, 2009). Irrigation of seedlings in dry seasons is also crucial to their survival.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Response of European yews to climate change: a review

Thomas

Garcia-Martí²

2015

For. syst.

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“…Negative allelopathic effects of yew and fir on the germination and growth of seedlings have been demonstrated in several studies (Del Moral and Cates 1971;Pelliser and Souto 1999;Thomas and Polwart 2003;Piovesan et al 2009). However, the allelopathic effects of yew saplings were not evident with the coexistence of fir seedlings.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

“…It is often the result of larger or smaller natural gaps in the canopy of the stand (Leemans 1991). Geostatistical analysis in the Central Apennines found that yew occurred in patches and high density of mature yews suppressed regeneration (Piovesan et al 2009). The presence of gaps leads to a change in ecological conditions under the canopy.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Weak competitive ability may explain decline of Taxus baccata

Iszkuło

Didukh

Giertych

et al. 2012

Annals of Forest Science

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Context Taxus woodlands suffer from a lack of natural regeneration across its whole distribution range. Aims In Knyazhdvir Reserve in Ukraine Taxus baccata primarily competes with Abies alba. It has been assumed that in the conditions of deep shade, yews have a greater competitive advantage than firs. Methods To verify this hypothesis, a plot with both species growing under the canopy was established. Wood samples were taken from 20 trees of T. baccata and 20 trees of A. alba. Results There were no differences in the mean tree-ring width, height and age between both species. Due to a lack of spatial separation of both species, yews and firs inhabited the same area in the analysed plot. Fir seedlings (up to 0.5 m) were recorded to grow under yew saplings (above 0.5 m), but the inverse situation of yew seedlings growing under fir saplings was not seen. Conclusion Seedling distribution, tree-ring growth rate, possibility of growth of fir seedlings under yew saplings and greater potential growth suggested that fir was predisposed to having the competitive edge over yew. Our results may confirm the hypothesis that T. baccata has a restricted distribution because of weak competitive abilities and can exist only in habitats where faster growing species are absent. The results call into question the prevailing opinion that human influences are the principal cause for the decline of T. baccata.

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“…In fact, habitat fragmentation which is a typical consequence of human activities negatively impacts yew pollination and fitness because formation of viable seeds requires that individuals of both sexes co-exist on the landscape (yew is a dioeceous species). Land use changes are also likely to have contributed to shrinking yew habitat, through logging of oldgrowth stands, often in combination with grazing and burning [27]. Such activities have transformed the forest landscape and affected vegetation dynamics, especially of shade-tolerant and late-successional species such as yew [28,29].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Conservation Efforts of an Important Medicinal Plant (Taxus baccata Linn.) in West Kameng District of Arunachal Pradesh (India)

Nimasow¹

2015

EARTH

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Abstract:Taxus is a small to medium sized tree, with red 'berries' (seed covered by arils), valuable for taxol or paclitaxel extraction used in the preparation of anti-cancer drugs (breast cancer and ovarian cancer), kaposi's sarcoma (an AIDS related cancer) and over 20 such other indications. It is an evergreen tree found in the temperate forests with an altitude ranging between 1500 m to 3000 m. The worldwide demand of the taxol is 800-1000 kg annually. Around 2 to 3 million kg of biomass is harvested annually where as the sustainable rate of harvesting is estimated to be 0.6 million kg per year. Although, the endophytes isolated from the Taxus when cultured in the medium are found to grow taxol, but the rate is very low. The maximum occurrence and high exploitation of Taxus has been reported from West Kameng district of Arunahal Pradesh, until the prohibition on its export through listing under Negative Lists of Exports by Government of India in 1996. Random linear transacts in the deep forests recorded a total of 145 Taxus plants. Out of which, 105 are dead trees and only 38 are live plants. Among the 38 live plants 20 are seedlings, 14 are saplings and 4 are full grown trees -one each near Sanglem and New Bomdila and another two between Ramda and Palizi. Therefore, conservation efforts like workshops, seminars, talks, distribution of pamphlets, pasting of posters and mass plantation has been organized by involving the villagers. The study attempts to explore the current status of Taxus in the aftermath of large scale trade occurred during 1990s and generate community awareness for conservation and regeneration of the important medicinal plant.

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Population ecology of yew (Taxus baccata L.) in the Central Apennines: spatial patterns and their relevance for conservation strategies

Cited by 54 publications

References 52 publications

Response of European yews to climate change: a review

Response of European yews to climate change: a review

Weak competitive ability may explain decline of Taxus baccata

Conservation Efforts of an Important Medicinal Plant (Taxus baccata Linn.) in West Kameng District of Arunachal Pradesh (India)

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