Ex-Situ conservation practices for some endangered plants in Ankara, Türkiye

Abstract

Within the scope of this study, activities were carried out to ensure ex-situ conservation of 12 taxa, distributed Ayaş, Beypazarı and Nallıhan districts in Ankara province, in the collection garden established by the National Botanical Garden of Türkiye and to raise awareness. With this study, which includes a part of the project supported by the General Directorate of Agricultural Research and Policies with the number TAGEM/BBAD/B/20/A7/P9/1820, the habitat characteristics of 12 taxa namely Achillea ketenoglui, Aethionema dumanii, Aethionema turcica, Astragalus densifolius subsp. ayashensis, Astragalus beypazaricus, Astragalus yildirimlii, Asyneuma linifolium subsp. nallihanicum, Campanula damboldtiana, Cytisus acutangulus, Salsola grandis, Salvia aytachii and Verbascum gypsicola, were recorded and analyzes were carried out using Geographic Information Systems. In line with the analyses, the most suitable place to establish an Endemic Plants Collection Garden within the borders of the National Botanical Garden of Türkiye was selected. Among the taxa studied, 7 propagated species were adapted and protected in the collection garden. Thus, an important example study has been presented for the conservation of endangered taxa, which is one of the missions of botanical gardens.