Towards the Conservation of Monumental Taxus baccata L. Trees of Thasos Island: Genetic Insights

Abstract

Taxus baccata L. is a tertiary relict, long-lived, wind-pollinated dioecious tree species found throughout Europe. In the rocky mountains of Thasos island, monumental old trees create a unique area of natural beauty. In recent times, the need to implement conservation measures for key endangered species such as Taxus baccata has intensified. Exploring the genetic diversity of the species is a prerequisite for successful forest management decisions aimed at conservation. In this study, 28 monumental trees from two natural populations of Thasos were investigated using eight Simple Sequence Repeat markers in order to assess the levels of genetic diversity and genetic differentiation within the individuals, to estimate the degree of inbreeding and the effective population size of each population, and to discuss the impact this study has on conservation efforts for the species. Although the population size was small (14 individuals per population), the results showed moderate to high genetic diversity parameters. The mean expected heterozygosity was He = 0.649 and the number of effective alleles was Ne = 3.270 for both populations. Moreover, allelic richness (AR = 3.395) was high, indicating a variable genetic pool which is probably a result of a past established expansion of the species in the area. The results of the present study present a unique genetic pool harbored by specific trees, which is an important advantage for ensuring their conservation and resistance against biotic and abiotic threats. Our study paves the way towards conservation measures, which can be prioritized as follows: (a) in situ conservation, (b) seed bank establishment, and (c) in vitro propagation in order to secure future resilience and sustainability of the species.

Distribution pattern of large old Ginkgo biloba in China under climate change scenarios

“…The distribution area of a species denotes an important spatial characteristic closely related to some pertinent ecological processes, such as species extinction, ecological invasion, and niche amplitude. It is significant for studying species origin, diffusion, and evolution (Bradshaw, 2012 ; Malliarou et al., 2023 ). Under the global change background, simulating the potential distribution area of species and analyzing the dominant drivers can provide a scientific basis for effective protection and sustainable utilization of plant resources (Alavi et al., 2019 ; Girona et al., 2023 ).…”

“…The distribution area of a species denotes an important spatial characteristic closely related to some pertinent ecological processes, such as species extinction, ecological invasion, and niche amplitude. It is significant for studying species origin, diffusion, and evolution (Bradshaw, 2012;Malliarou et al, 2023).…”

“…To better understand and protect these irreplaceable and vulnerable resources, comprehensive LOT studies have been conducted worldwide to map distributions, assess threats, and develop conservation strategies (Le Roux et al., 2014 ; Lindenmayer & Laurance, 2017 ; Malliarou et al., 2023 ). Among various research methods, the species distribution model (SDM) has emerged as an essential tool with diverse applications in LOT studies and conservation planning (Xie et al., 2020 , 2022 ).…”