Abstract
Reviewing the ecological studies on the endangered endemic Plantago almogravensis Franco, an Al-hyperaccumulator plant, and combining these with morphological, physiological, biochemical, and molecular data, significant knowledge on the limiting factors that cause its narrow geographical distribution and rarity status is achieved, which can contribute to suited conservation guidelines. Emphasis was given on (i) the major factors limiting P. almogravensis’ ecological niche (biotic and abiotic); (ii) phases of the life cycle and population dynamics; and (iii) and the phylogenetically close taxa (Plantago subulata aggregate) in order to fill the knowledge gaps in the uniqueness of P. almogravensis ecology, its phylogeny, and conservation status. The identification of relevant ecological data and using plant functional (morphological and physiological) traits, as well as genetic attributes, substantiate into a powerful tool to guide protection and conservation measures, usable toward this and other endangered hyperaccumulator plant species. Knowledge of the limitations of this strongly narrowly distributed plant allows for better design of conservation measures and to guide value and investment strategies in order to secure the species’ current area (habitat conservation and reclamation), direct the expansion of the existing population (assisting in populational densification and colonization), and/or grant ex situ conservation (genetic resources conservation).
Highlights
Plantago almogravensis Franco (Plantaginaceae) is an extremely rare Portuguese endemic plant species only found naturally in a 3 ha area, in the southwest coast, scattered in several small subpopulations (Serrano, 2015)
Dietr., mostly composed of Mediterranean taxa whose nomenclature has been of difficult resolution and agreement among taxonomists because of variations in morphology due to ecological conditions, as the frequent revisions indicate, e.g., in Flora Europaea (Moore et al, 1976), Flora de Portugal (Franco, 1984), in Flora Iberica (Pedrol, 2009), and taxonomy notes on the Plantago subulata group by Hassemer et al (2017), Hassemer (2018), Iamonico et al (2017), or Höpke et al (2019)
For Portugal, those floras described two to seven taxa belonging to two groups: P. subulata group (Plantago algarbiensis Samp., P. almogravensis Franco, Plantago holosteum Forssk., P. subulata L., Plantago radicata Hoffmans & Link., and Plantago penyalarensis Pau.) and Plantago maritima group [Plantago alpina L., P. maritima subsp. maritima L., and P. maritima subsp. serpentina (All.) Arcang.]
Summary
Plantago almogravensis Franco (Plantaginaceae) is an extremely rare Portuguese endemic plant species only found naturally in a 3 ha area, in the southwest coast, scattered in several small subpopulations (generally ≤ 25 individuals) (Serrano, 2015). Competition with shrub species (native and invasive) for areas with optimal conditions limits the expansion of the populations outside the geochemical islands.
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