极小种群野生植物的概念及其对我国野生植物保护的影响

近年来我国提出极小种群野生植物(plant species with extremely small populations,PSESP)的概念并启动实施了全国极小种群野生植物拯救保护工程规划,然而PSESP概念自提出后就不断受到质疑,认为不确切的概念及其引领的保护工程难以取得显著成效。为了更好地理解PSESP概念和相应的保护对策,本文在回顾我国野生植物保护进程的基础上,通过梳理珍稀濒危植物、重点保护植物和极小种群植物等概念,提出从物种选列标准和极小种群临界值等角度理解PSESP概念的途径;并通过比较各个时期采取的保护策略措施,指出基于种群管理的PSESP保护能体现物种以种群形式得以维持和延续的本质,但急需完善传统的资源调查、就地保护、迁地保护方法,探索种群调查分析、近地保护和种群恢复重建等新方法。最后认为PSESP概念的提出及其拯救保护工程的实施在我国野生植物保护领域具有里程碑意义,能促进保护实践和科学研究的相互融合,实现二者共同发展。     

中国极小种群野生植物保护理论与实践研究进展

极小种群野生植物大都分布范围狭窄、个体数量稀少且自然更新困难, 面临随时灭绝的风险, 迫切需要拯救性保护。极小种群野生植物这一概念自提出以来受到了保护生物学领域的广泛关注, 已成为当前中国生物多样性保护的一个热点方向。我国于2010年正式启动实施极小种群野生植物拯救保护工程, 并开展了大量的保护研究和实践。以“extremely small population*”和“plant”为检索词在Web of Science进行了主题检索, 以“极小种群”和“植物”为检索词在中国知网进行了主题检索, 对获取的的学术期刊论文、学位论文和会议论文进行了梳理。本文从极小种群野生植物种群、群落及生境调查与监测、适应性、遗传多样性、繁殖生物学、濒危机制、动态模型6个方面对近年来极小种群野生植物的理论研究工作进行了较为系统的综述。在此基础上, 从就地保护、迁地保护与种质资源保存、野外回归、人工繁育、标准化体系5个方面回顾了极小种群野生植物保护实践及取得的进展。基于极小种群野生植物保护理论与实践研究现状, 我们建议在极小种群野生植物未来保护工作中不断调整和完善保护名录, 加强种群结构的观测和预测、小种群形成和恢复机制的针对性研究以及特定物种的长期系统性研究, 同时促进这一概念在国际上的推广。希望本文能为国家生物多样性保护和生态文明建设提供参考。     

典型极小种群野生植物保护与恢复技术研究

极小种群野生植物是急需优先抢救的国家重点保护濒危植物。目前,有关极小种群野生植物濒危原因及相应解濒技术的研究还非常缺乏,已有的植物种群生态学和保护生物学理论对极小种群植物并不完全适用,迫切需要研发有针对性的科学理论和保育技术。介绍了国家重点研发计划项目"典型极小种群野生植物保护与恢复技术研究(2016YFC0503100)"的研究意义、内容、目标及展望。项目拟针对典型极小种群野生植物开展保护与恢复技术的研究,拟构建极小种群野生植物的种群生态学和保护生物学理论体系,研发极小种群野生植物保护和更新复壮的技术体系,并建立相应的应用技术标准和示范基地,为极小种群野生植物的保护与可持续利用奠定坚实的理论基础和技术支撑。     

14种中国典型极小种群野生植物繁育特性和人工繁殖研究进展

繁殖是植物种群更新与维持的重要环节。包括极小种群野生植物在内的受威胁物种, 其濒危原因是在长期演化过程中自身繁育力的衰退、生活力的下降等内在因素和人类的过度采挖和生境的破坏等外在因素共同作用的结果。对极小种群野生植物进行高效的人工繁殖, 能扩大种群数量并应用于迁地保护、自然回归和满足商品市场的需求, 有利于其种质资源的保护和可持续利用。为了保持物种的遗传多样性, 采用种子繁殖育苗是有效的方法, 扦插、嫁接和组织培养技术等无性繁殖方法则可用于对难以用种子繁殖的种类进行快速繁殖。本文对14种中国典型极小种群野生植物的繁殖特性和已有的人工繁殖方法进行了综述, 并简要介绍在其种苗繁殖研究方面取得的进展。其中利用播种繁殖成功的物种有12种, 共繁殖230,000株种苗; 利用扦插繁殖成功的物种有5种, 共繁殖33,100株种苗; 华盖木(Manglietiastrum sinicum)、河北梨(Pyrus hopeiensis)和黄梅秤锤树(Sinojackia huangmeiensis)采用嫁接繁殖出了2,415株种苗; 9个物种的组织培养技术获得成功, 共繁殖了24,850株种苗。这些种苗有些已应用于迁地保护和自然回归。上述研究结果为这14种极小种群野生植物的保护和利用提供了理论和技术基础, 也能为其他极小种群野生植物的保护和利用提供参考。     

极小种群野生植物保护研究进展与未来工作的思考

生物多样性保护是全球的热点问题之一。极小种群野生植物(plant species with extremely small populations,PSESP)是为了“抢救性保护”我国濒临高度灭绝风险的野生植物、指导我国生物多样性保护、服务于国家生态文明建设而提出来的保护生物学领域的新概念,该概念的提出引起了国际保护生物学领域的广泛关注。国家在“十三五”期间启动实施了极小种群野生植物拯救保护工程,并在《中华人民共和国国民经济和社会发展第十四个五年规划和2035年远景目标纲要》中,明确把极小种群野生植物专项拯救纳入重要生态系统保护和修复工程。极小种群野生植物的拯救保护是一项科学性强、技术性和专业性要求高、周期长的系统工程,“抢救性保护”与“系统研究”并重是科学拯救保护极小种群野生植物的途径。开展极小种群野生植物保护的系统研究,是指导或支撑其有效保护的重要工作。该文重点从极小种群野生植物的调查与评估、生态生物学特性、繁殖技术、遗传多样性方面对近年来极小种群野生植物保护的研究工作进行系统综述,以期为极小种群野生植物的拯救保护奠定新的理论基础。该文还基于极小种群野生植物保护研究现状及其未来拯救保护工作需求,对我国极小种群野生植物未来的保护研究重点提出了三个方面的思考。该文可为极小种群野生植物保护的系统研究提供参考。     

濒危植物黄梅秤锤树野生与迁地保护种群的果实性状比较

黄梅秤锤树(Sinojackia huangmeiensis J.W.GeX.H.Yao)是我国120个极小种群野生植物之一。本研究运用独立样本t检验和贝叶斯方差分析比较黄梅秤锤树仅存的1个迁地保护种群和1个野生种群的环境条件、果实形态性状和果实元素含量。结果显示,迁地保护种群和野生种群同处于亚热带地区,年均温和年降水量基本一致。迁地保护种群的果实长度、宽度和长宽比均显著大于野生种群;2个种群在果实重量上呈现相同的趋势,但差异不显著。迁地保护种群在果实形态性状方面,种内变异程度不低于野生种群;土壤和果实中绝大多数元素(Ni元素除外)的含量在2个种群间的变化规律不一致。研究结果表明该物种的迁地保护基本成功,但存在迁地保护种群较小的问题。     

中国纳入一级保护的极小种群野生植物濒危机制

为科学有效地保护极小种群野生植物, 明确其濒危机制具有重要意义。本文通过分析中国28种极小种群一级保护野生植物的种群特征及其濒危的内在原因和受威胁因素等, 总结了极小种群野生植物的濒危机制。极小种群野生植物的种群特征表现为遗传多样性低(13种)、衰退型种群结构(11种)、聚集型分布(11种)且分布区域狭窄(20种)。极小种群野生植物濒危的内在原因主要是繁殖力低(21种)和竞争能力弱(16种)。受威胁因素主要包括过度采挖等人类活动导致的种群数量减少(15种)和生境破坏(25种)以及气候变化等。因此, 除了保护极小种群野生植物免遭人类活动破坏, 保护策略应加强关注种群规模的维持和遗传多样性的保护。     

中国极小种群野生植物的保护现状评估

广阔的地域和多样的地形造就了中国丰富的生物多样性, 同时长时间的人类活动也导致我国有不少物种的生存受到威胁, 特别是一些极度濒危、随时有灭绝危险、生境要求独特、生态幅狭窄或基因易流失的物种需要重点保护。近期国家出台了《全国野生动植物及自然保护区建设工程总体规划》, 其中包含了首批重点保护的极小种群植物名单。本研究中, 我们整理了120种极小种群野生植物的高精度分布图, 探讨其分布格局并通过国家级和省级保护区网络评估其保护现状。研究发现, 中国极小种群野生植物丰富度最高的地方是云南东南部、广西西南部和海南岛西南部。国家级自然保护区对中国极小种群野生植物分布区的平均覆盖率为21.5%, 省级自然保护区的平均覆盖率为10.9%。有35种极小种群野生植物(占总数的29%)未受国家级自然保护区覆盖, 有17种(14%)未受任何国家级或省级自然保护区覆盖。我们建议在云南和海南省针对极小种群建立自然保护区。     

两种不同保护模式下坡垒种群发育特征

自20世纪60年代以来,坡垒种群的保护与恢复一直是海南地方林业工作者关注的内容,采用的保护与恢复方式主要有原地保护和迁地保护,历经50多年,该种群在原生境发育状况一直得不到有效的改善,一直被列为国家Ⅰ级保护植物,IUCN的极危种群,2012年又列入国家种极小种群(全国120种)。因此,该种群的有效保护方式一直在探索中。通过野外调查和数据统计分析,比较研究了海南霸王岭自然保护区野生坡垒种群与枫木林场迁地保护后形成的坡垒种群的发育状况。结果表明,迁地保护与原地保护的种群均属于增长型,幼龄个体占优势,中龄和老龄个体相对较少,迁地保护的种群存活曲线趋于Deevey-Ⅰ型,原地保护的种群存活曲线趋于Deevey-Ⅲ型;时间序列预测分析表明,枫木迁地保护种群具备一定的恢复潜能,霸王岭种群正常更新难以维持,种群面临衰退。据生命表分析其主要原因是种群第Ⅰ龄级幼苗死亡率高达99.5%,生境对第Ⅰ龄级个体的环境筛选作用强,幼苗阶段数量仅0.53%能过渡到幼树阶段,迁地保护形成的小种群第Ⅰ龄级幼苗死亡率为90.3%,但幼苗阶段数量的8.85%能过渡到幼树阶段,具有充足的幼树个体数量,能够维持坡垒种群的稳定性,枫木林场地区更适宜坡垒的生存。因此,在原地保护的自然保护区内模拟迁地保护的环境特点,创造出适合的海南坡垒种群发育的环境条件,或许能缓解野生坡垒濒危状态。     

通过遗传多样性探讨极小种群野生植物的致濒机理及保护策略: 以裸子植物为例

遗传多样性是生物多样性的重要组成部分, 然而由于资源的过度开发利用和生境的破碎化影响了物种的遗传多样性, 甚至威胁到物种的生存适应性和生物多样性。极小种群野生植物是亟待保护的国家重点保护濒危植物,遗传多样性研究对揭示极小种群致濒机理及保护策略具有重要意义。生境破碎化会造成物种遗传多样性降低、种群间分化增加、基因流减少等, 使种群濒危。但在某些物种中, 繁殖特征、进化历史等生物和生态因素的不同也可能造成近期生境破碎化后遗传效应的延迟。裸子植物进化历史悠久, 包含许多孑遗物种, 由于生活史周期长, 遭受生境破碎化后可能短期内显示不出遗传效应的改变, 但长期很难恢复。本文以裸子植物为例综述了濒危植物的遗传多样性研究的案例, 探讨了濒危裸子植物应对环境恶化的维持机制、致濒因素和保护方案, 旨在说明通过遗传多样性研究充分认识极小种群致濒机理对高效保护极小种群野生植物的重要性。     

Near Situ Conservation for Wild Plant Species with Extremely Small Populations

Minimum Viable Population (MVP) is the endangered species faced with extinction need prior conservation. A new method of “near situ conservation” has being particularly raised by the Forestry Department of Yunnan Province for conserving Plant Species with Extremely Small Population (PSESP) in China. In accordance with the practices and results of near situ conservation for PSESP and after our study on comparison for growth and adaptation of some state emphasized plant species between near situ and ex situ conservation in recent years, the authors hold that near situ conservation for the plant species faced with extremely high risk of extinction in the wild is more efficient than that of their ex situ conservation. We therefore suggest that the system of near situ conservation need to be constructed as soon as possible, and the high risk extinction mechanism for PSESP need to be urgently studied for selecting the effective conservation methods and adopting scientific measures. Meanwhile, for near situ conservation practices of PSESP, the principles of similarities of climates, habitats and communities must be followed for reducing the investment and raising the conservation effectiveness.     

A sophisticated species conservation strategy for <Emphasis Type="Italic">Nyssa yunnanensis</Emphasis>, a species with extremely small populations in China

Conservation of plant species with extremely small populations (PSESP) is a focus of wild plant conservation in China at present. A relevant strategy for PSESP conservation requires improvement from previous programs for rare and endangered plants and national key protected plants. An integrated strategy for PSESP conservation of the Nyssa yunnanensis was initiated and applied over a 7-year period (2009–2015). Here, we reviewed the processes to implement the strategy: resource inventory, formulation of conservation action plan (CAP), in situ conservation, seedling propagation, near situ conservation, ex situ conservation and scientific research. Major concerns and technical requirements for each action are described and further analyzed within a broad scope to conserve PSESPs. A detailed resource inventory that highlights both the change in population status and the participation of local residents is recommended before the formulation of the CAP. Techniques for determination of the area of a mini-reserve is developed for in situ conservation of N. yunnanensis. Near situ conservation is a novel approach whereby establishing new viable population in contiguous areas with a similar climate, habitat and community, in which techniques for seedling preparation, soil preparation, and early management are introduced. A population-based species conservation strategy for N. yunnanensis may aid additional PSESP conservation, so as to contribute to overall wild plant conservation.     

Plant species with extremely small populations (PSESP) in China: A seed and spore biology perspective

Approximately one fifth of the world's plants are at risk of extinction. Of these, a significant number exist as populations of few individuals, with limited distribution ranges and under enormous pressure due to habitat destruction. In China, these most-at-risk species are described as ‘plant species with extremely small populations’ (PSESP). Implementing conservation action for such listed species is urgent. Storing seeds is one of the main means of ex situ conservation for flowering plants. Spore storage could provide a simple and economical method for fern ex situ conservation. Seed and spore germination in nature is a critical step in species regeneration and thus in situ conservation. But what is known about the seed and spore biology (storage and germination) of at-risk species? We have used China's PSESP (the first group listing) as a case study to understand the gaps in knowledge on propagule biology of threatened plant species. We found that whilst germination information is available for 28 species (23% of PSESP), storage characteristics are only known for 8% of PSESP (10 species). Moreover, we estimate that 60% of the listed species may require cryopreservation for long-term storage. We conclude that comparative biology studies are urgently needed on the world's most threatened taxa so that conservation action can progress beyond species listing.     

The role of botanical gardens in scientific research,conservation, and citizen science

Plant diversity is currently being lost at an unprecedented rate, resulting in an associated decrease in ecosystem services. About a third of the world's vascular plant species face the threat of extinction due to a variety of devastating activities, including, over-harvesting and over exploitation, destructive agricultural and forestry practices, urbanization, environmental pollution, land-use changes, exotic invasive species, global climate change, and more. We therefore need to increase our efforts to develop integrative conservation approaches for plant species conservation. Botanical gardens devote their resources to the study and conservation of plants, as well as making the world's plant species diversity known to the public. These gardens also play a central role in meeting human needs and providing well-being. In this minireview, a framework for the integrated missions of botanical gardens, including scientific research, in/ex situ conservation, plant resource utilization, and citizen science are cataloged. By reviewing the history of the development of Kunming Botanical Garden, we illustrate successful species conservation approaches (among others, projects involving Camellia, Rhododendron, Magnolia, Begonia, Allium, Nepenthes, medicinal plants, ornamental plants, and Plant Species with Extreme Small Populations), as well as citizen science, and scientific research at Kunming Botanical Garden over the past 80 years. We emphasize that Kunming Botanical Garden focuses largely on the ex situ conservation of plants from Southwest China, especially those endangered, endemic, and economically important plant species native to the Yunnan Plateau and the southern Hengduan Mountains. We also discuss the future challenges and responsibilities of botanical gardens in a changing world, including:the negative effects of outbreeding and/or inbreeding depression; promoting awareness, study, and conservation of plant species diversity; accelerating global access to information about plant diversity; increasing capacity building and training activities. We hope this minireview can promote understanding of the role of botanical gardens.     

Seed banking of endangered plants: are we conserving the right species to address climate change?

The increasing awareness of the effects of climate change on plant distributions in situ has made the appropriate application of ex situ techniques more crucial. These ex situ conservation techniques need to be targeted to priority species identified at risk from climate change. The present paper assesses the sensitivity of plant species to climate change in Belgium and explores the current conservation status of those species potentially vulnerable to climate change. We then checked whether these species were included in ex situ collections. The whole Belgian flora has been assessed (a total of 1,396 native plant species). We evaluated whether each of these species occurs in a “climate change-vulnerable” habitat, having therefore a higher probability to be impacted by climate change. The assessment revealed that there are at least 415 native plant species (30% of the Belgian native flora) that appear to be vulnerable to climate change during the next decades. Results also showed that about one-third of the species currently included in the red list may have their situation made potentially worse due to climate change. In addition, depending on the region, between 45 and 67% of the species that are currently not threatened in Belgium are likely to become so due to climate change. It also appeared that only 32% of these climate change-vulnerable species are currently held ex situ. We conclude that there is a need to identify gaps in existing ex situ collections as an urgent priority and ensure that species potentially vulnerable to climate change are conserved ex situ.     

我国近30年来植物迁地保护及其研究的综述

从20世纪80年代起,中国植物园与世界植物园同步挑起了植物迁地保护的历史重担,使植物园的数量迅速增加至近200个,收集保存了占中国植物区系2/3的20000个物种,并在稀有濒危植物迁地保护原理与方法的科学研究上获得了新的进展。然而,中国植物园的布局与世界的植物园一样,物种越丰富的地区,已建立的植物园越少;在保存的物种中,不仅忽视了遗传多样性的保护,而且有约1/3的国家重点保护种类主要因适应性问题而生长不良、出现生殖障碍,甚至死亡。为了提高我国植物迁地保护的有效性,本文就《中国稀有濒危植物保护名录》的修订与公布、《中国植物保护战略》的制定,以及我国植物园协调机制的建立、植物迁地保护网络系统的完善、稀有濒危植物迁地保护的规范等问题进行讨论。     

Ex situ conservation of plant diversity in Romania: A synthesis of threatened and endemic taxa

Romania hosts a relatively high species diversity, including 3,829 vascular and 979 non-vascular spontaneous plant taxa. Multiple national red lists exist, with the number of taxa assessed as threatened varying greatly between them, from 548 to 1,438, and with number of taxa assigned to a given threat category also varying between the different sources. A composite list including all taxa mentioned in at least one of the selected red listings from Romania is required in order to compensate for this lack of consensus and to assess their ex situ conservation status. In this study, we synthesized data from the national red lists and counted 1,220 spontaneous vascular plant species and 201 subspecies, of which 77 are endemic and 76 subendemic for Romania. In addition, 18 non-red-listed endemics and 14 subendemics have been added, bringing the total to 1,453 threatened and (sub)endemic plant taxa, representing almost 38% of the total native vascular flora of Romania. Despite the large network of protected areas in Romania, many taxa are still being threatened with extinction in the region mainly due to anthropogenic pressure. Several ex situ conservation measures have been employed to assure a more substantial buffer against plant extinction in the wild, supported by thorough and adequate conservation strategies and multiple means to reintroduce taxa back to their natural habitats. Consequently, our second aim was to evaluate the ex situ conservation status of these threatened and (sub)endemic plants from Romania, focussing on both conventional methods (cultivation in botanic gardens, seed banking) and biotechnological approaches (in vitro tissue culture, medium-term storage and cryostorage). Of the 1,453 taxa included in our list, 642 (44.2%) are conserved by ex situ approaches. Of these, 524 are harboured in the most important botanic gardens throughout Romania, while 156 are currently held in long-term seed banks locally or in the Millennium Seed Bank of the Royal Botanic Garden, Kew (UK). Conversely, only 64 taxa from the list are preserved at the national level through in vitro cultures, and cryopreservation protocols have been developed for only 8 taxa. Overall, more than half of the threatened and (sub)endemic vascular flora from Romania remains unprotected outside the classical in situ conservation measures. For red-listed bryophytes, only 0.6% are preserved in national ex situ collections. Moreover, some aspects related to population genetic studies and the genetic stability of ex situ conserved plants are also briefly discussed, as essential prerequisites for applied biodiversity conservation programs. Finally, considering the distribution range of targeted taxa, we included a synthesis of biotechnological approaches at both national and international level. Our study presents not only a first assessment of the ex situ conservation status of national red listed flora, but also, to our knowledge, the most comprehensive and updated overview of the rare, threatened and (sub)endemic taxa from Romania. This evaluation will provide a supporting tool for national decision- and policy-making actions for biodiversity conservation, using both in situ and ex situ approaches. We also highlight the need for an updated red list for the Romanian flora that accurately follows the IUCN assessment criteria and protocols.