How to Save Endangered Magnolias? From Population Biology to Conservation Action: The Case of Allopatric Radiation in Western Mexico

J. Antonio Vazquez-Garcia, Miguel Angel Muniz-Castro, Alex Nelson Dahua-Machoa, Edison Osorio-Munoz, Gerardo Hernandez-Vera, Alondra Salome Ortega-Pena, Cesar Jacobo-Pereira, Rosa de Lourdes Romo Campos, Noelia Alvarez de Roman and Viacheslav Shalisko

A chapter in Endangered Plants from IntechOpen

Abstract: Numerous Neotropical Magnolia species are endangered and red-listed by the IUCN. Here we highlight major results from over a decade of research on endangered magnolias in western Mexico. Particularly, we compare three species of Magnolia (M. pugana, M. pacifica and M. vallartensis) along a large-scale continentality and moisture gradients, in terms of a) their morphological adaptations, b) genetic structure, diversity, and differentiation, c) reproductive phenology, and d) floral scents and their floral visitors. Fieldwork along this gradient unveiled two new species of Magnolia sect. Magnolia; M. granbarrancae and M. talpana. We found that most continental populations have a higher extinction risk than those with greater maritime influence, due to their lower genetic diversity, and greater fragmentation, isolation, and water stress. Also, these populations are more vulnerable to the environmental conditions predicted with the global warming climate scenarios. We share fieldwork experience and advise on pre-germination treatments and seed dormancy. We propose an ex-situ and in-situ conservation strategy, identify new challenges, and suggest future directions of collaborative work as a global Magnolia conservation consortium.

Keywords: allopatric radiation; conservation; floral scents; genetic diversity and differentiation; new species; species distribution modeling; pre-germination treatments (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q20 Q30 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ito:pchaps:219387

DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.94346

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