Abstract
Species previously unknown to science are continually discovered and some of these species already face extinction at the time of their discovery. Conserving new and rare species in these cases becomes a trial-and-error process and conservationists will attempt to manage them by using knowledge of closely related species, or those that fill the same ecological niche, and then adapting the management program as needed. Savannas Mint (Dicerandra immaculata Lakela var. savannarum Huck) is a perennial plant that was discovered in Florida scrub habitat at two locations in 1995, but is nearly extinct at these locations. We tested whether shade, leaf litter, propagation method, parent genotype, parent collection site, planting date, and absorbent granules influenced survival, reproduction, and recruitment of Savannas Mint in a population of 1,614 plants that we introduced between June 2006 and July 2009 into a state protected site. Survival and reproduction of introduced plants, and recruitment of new plants, was higher in microhabitats in full sun and no leaf litter and lower in partially shaded habitats. The two sites from which parent plants were collected differentially influenced survival and reproduction of introduced plants. These differences in survival and reproduction are likely due to underlying genetic differences. Differential survival of progeny from different parent genotypes further supports the idea that underlying genetics is an important consideration when restoring plant populations. The most successful progeny of parent genotypes had survival rates nearly 12 times higher than the least successful progeny. We speculate that many of these environmental and genetic factors are likely to influence allopatric congeners and other critically endangered gap specialists that grow in Florida scrub and our results can be used to guide their conservation.
Highlights
Species previously unknown to science are continually discovered and some of these species are already threatened with extinction at the time of their discovery (e.g. [1], [2])
Environmental and genetic factors individually and interactively influence survival and reproduction of plants (e.g., [29,30,31]), so we tested the influence of shade, leaf litter, propagation method, parent genotype, parent collection site, planting date, and absorbent granules on survival, reproduction, and recruitment of Savannas Mint in the introduced population, and we present those findings here
The area where we introduced Savannas Mint within Savannas Preserve State Park (SPSP) is located approximately 5 km north of the wild population at EC and contains coastal scrub on well-drained sand, which is similar to the historical habitat
Summary
Species previously unknown to science are continually discovered and some of these species are already threatened with extinction at the time of their discovery (e.g. [1], [2]). An estimated 60,000 species of plants remain unknown to science and many are endemic only to biodiversity hotspots that have high levels of habitat loss, so they are likely to be rare and in shrinking habitats when discovered [3,4,5]. The plant genus Dicerandra (Lamiaceae) contains four annual and five perennial species that are restricted to scrub and sandhill habitats primarily in Florida [13], [14] and is the highest ranked genus of rare southeastern endemic plants [12]. Some Dicerandra spp. are listed on state and federal endangered species lists, but this affords little protection and populations continue to decline Some Dicerandra spp. are listed on state and federal endangered species lists, but this affords little protection and populations continue to decline (e.g. [18])
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