C.10. Collection, storage, and long term conservation of germplasm

This action looks to favor the long term sustainability of restoration actions of the habitats of community interest that this project covers.

Like in part of Action A1, a list has been made of species of all peat lands in order to select those whose germplasm will be collected in each location.

In the case of Navarra, the following species’ germplasm could be subject to collection: Rhynchospora fusca, Spiranthes aestivalis, Carex hostina, Rhynchospora alba, Pinguicula lusitanica, Drosera intermedia and Triglochin palustris.

The collection should be preceded by a bibliography about the objective taxa, with the aim of evaluating the reproductive biology and/or the morphological characteristics of the germplasm when collected.   The development of field samples should be brought about in a way that a maximal genetic representation of the populations can be assured.

Although in the short term in certain spaces it may not be necessary to proceed with the population growth, in the future, if the predictions of global warming are considered, everything seems to indicate that at least in the north of the Iberian Peninsula, peat lands and hygrophilous areas will be ecosystems in decline.

Therefore, provisions should be made for the possibility of addressing these schedules of reinforcement or reintroduction of species that may be scarce or even disappear. The conservation work before the project can require plant material, and making germplasm available for all these species and all locations where work is planned, is of signifigant importance for the future conservation for these spaces.

This action will allow us to conserve germplasm of structural and endangered species habitats covered by the project, to establish the important elements for attaining the germination of different species, to know the degree of dissection that the seeds can withstand, their germination conditions, depending on the different scenarios of expected temperatures, and the best methods for growing these plants