In situ and ex situ conservation strategies for three endangered plant species

This work is part of a broader research context, specifically the ongoing Life Seedforce project, LIFE20 NAT/IT/001468 SEED FORCE: "Using SEED banks to restore and reinFORCE the endangered native plants of Italy." This project aims to improve the conservation status of 29 native plant species in Europe by adopting a variety of ex situ and in situ conservation measures. MUSE, the Museo delle Scienze di Trento, serves as the lead institution and reference point for the 15 partners involved, including the Università degli Studi di Padova, Centro di Ateneo Orto Botanico. This thesis focuses on three species listed in Annex II of the Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC). Their conservation status, as assessed based on Article 17, has prompted Life Seedfoce to take measures to reinforce the existing populations or to reintroduce into the wild those populations that, over time, have disappeared. This work will provide an overview of some of the actions required for the recovery of the native plant species Saxifraga tombeanensis Boiss. ex Engl., Dracocephalum austriacum L., and Adenophora liliifolia (L.) Ledeb. ex A.DC., all of which are present in the Trentino region. Despite being recognised as in need of conservation efforts, these species often lack sufficient information regarding their biology and germination requirements. In some cases, outdated and contradictory information exists, which urgently needs revision. Furthermore, since the conservation of a plant species is strictly dependent on knowledge of its biology and ecology, developing germination and propagation protocols for these under-researched species is an essential step. Considering these knowledge gaps, one of the aims of this work has been to gather preliminary data on these species, verify their current conservation status in the visited sites in Northern Italy, and investigate, even at a basic level, their germination and propagation requirements. This dissertation follows a structured approach: it will be firstly provided an overview of their basic background information, including their distribution, ecology, reproductive biology, and conservation status, gathered through literature reviews and field observations. Secondly, the fieldwork activities and propagation protocols followed will be described. Finally, in the last chapter, the corresponding results will be discussed. Hopefully, the knowledge gained through this work will contribute to the success of the ongoing project and to the future conservation of these species.