Conservation approach to the demography and dynamics of protected and unprotected populations of the endemic Ebenus armitagei in the Western Mediterranean Coast of Egypt

Ebenus armitagei Schweinf. & Taubert is a rare and endangered species inhabiting calcareous sea-shore rocky sites in the North Western Mediterranean coastal belt of Egypt. The population demography and dynamics of the only three populations remaining were compared with reference to their level of protection: (1) a protected population inside a biosphere reserve (Omayed); (2) a population inside a coastal guard station (Hekma, protected); and (3) an unprotected population (Hekma). Cuttings taken from plants at the study sites were used to test whether vegetative propagation represents a possible management tool to enhance species recovery.Life table statistics indicated that although protection may ameliorate the status of the species, the three study populations are in drastic decline, having intrinsic rates of population growth (r) of ?0.075, ?0.119 and ?0.143 and reproductive rates (R_o) of 0.179, 0.094 and 0.047 for the Omayed (protected) and Hekma protected and unprotected sites, respectively. The fruits-seeds and the germinable-seeds-juveniles were the most critical transitions in the E. armitagei life cycle, having the highest killing power values. Furthermore, differential seed production and seed predation among the three populations may be caused by the pattern of plant phenology in the study sites.Significant losses of seeds due to insect predation (56.6-94.8%), together with a low percentage of seedling emergence (23.5-26.2%) and low reproductive value of the populations were obstacles for natural regeneration and conservation of the species even at the protected sites. Despite the low success of vegetative propagation (43-54%), the establishment of new populations and the adoption of such a regeneration strategy seem to be necessary for the recovery of the species.