Ex-situ conservation of single-country endemic plants of Tunisia and northern Morocco (Mediterranean coast and Rif region) in seed banks and botanic gardens worldwide

Abstract

The objective of this study is two-fold: firstly, to review the local endemic plants of Tunisia and northern Morocco (Mediterranean coast and Rif region) and the extent to which extinction risk status characterisations have been assigned to date to the endemic plants of these areas; and secondly, to identify which of these unique taxa are conserved ex-situ around the world. For the first aim, five major online databases as well as widely scattered literature sources were consulted; for the latter, the PlantSearch facility of Botanic Gardens Conservation International was used, followed by communication with domestic institutions. The examination of the extent of the ex-situ conservation of endemic plants of the Mediterranean part of northern Morocco (n=94 taxa) showed that only six of them are conserved in one conservatory, four arboretums and 18 botanic gardens of 10 countries, totalling only 25 accessions, with 40% of these in UK institutions. The threatened and near threatened flora of northern Morocco (Mediterranean coast and Rif region) is estimated at 64 taxa; only five of these are preserved ex-situ, among which only Abies marocana and Rhodanthemum hosmariense are assessed as effectively conserved. For the endemic flora of Tunisia which is estimated at 83 taxa, we have found only one taxon (Calendula suffruticosa subsp. suffruticosa) conserved ex-situ. With scarce evaluations made to date, the threatened endemic flora of Tunisia is limited to one taxon only (Rumex tunetanus). This study presents comprehensive and evaluated lists of the endemic plant taxa found in the studied countries/regions, indicating that consensus is compromised among the widely used taxonomic/phytogeographical online sources. Additionally, it is suggested that more coordinated efforts are needed to conserve the plant heritage of these countries, through integrated management, species-prioritisation, restoration of populations of threatened taxa, inclusion of threatened species in national lists of protected species, and establishment of seed banks focused on the wild flora.