Translocation of Limonium perplexum (Plumbaginaceae), a threatened coastal endemic

Abstract

Limonium perplexum Saez and Rossello is an herbaceous—perennial to annual—, triploid apomictic halophyte which only lives on a small outcrop (40 sq. m.) of a low coastal cliff in Serra d’Irta (Peniscola, Castellon, Valencian Community, Spain). The population has been observed to fluctuate between 19 and 383 individuals, and the site is affected by collapse risk caused by marine storms. To save this species, 9 new populations—neopopulations—have been planted close by—0.12 to 7.35 km—, with 4,198 individuals planted throughout 2005–2014. The fluctuation of the native population shows a correlation between the number of individuals and the maximum daily rainfall of the second quarter—April to June. Survival of the founder individuals on available microhabitats fluctuates between 36 and 77 %. New populations show a strong initial decline during the first 2 years, but in that time an initial pool of seeds is generated, which can yield the first recruitment of seedlings. The establishment of new generations is not apparently restricted by seeds, but by the need to grow in safe conditions—mainly on rock crevices holding soil and being protected against the effects of excessive wind and sun radiation. Similarity between the inter-annual changes in censuses of the native population and neopopulations is taken as a measurement of the establishment success. Apparently no former similar works have been published with endangered species of Limonium, although this genus holds more than 400 species.