Scientific background of ex-situ conservation and reintroduction of endemic plant species Minuartia smejkalii

2018

Ex-situ conservation and species reintroduction is a standard approach in many conservation actions. These actions should ensure that the new populations will be genetically diverse and will not suffer from loss of fitness due to inbreeding or outbreeding depression. Despite this, many projects establish new populations without previous scientific research. We present the results of a genetic analysis and hybridization experiment aimed to provide background information for ex-situ conservation and reintroduction of Minuartia smejkali, a critically endangered endemic species included in Habitats directive 92/43/EEC. M. smejkalii is restricted to serpentine rocks and occurs only on two isolat…