Plant Reproductive Ecology for Conservation of Endangered Mediterranean Species

摘要

There is concern that biodiversity is threatened by environmental changes and human impact on natural ecosystems. Specific ecosystems such as Mediterranean shrublands are in danger more than others because of their peculiar temperature and humidity fluctuations as well as the strong human impact exerted through fire, grazing and land use. Reproductive failure is claimed as one of the main reasons of rarity of most species, and continuous reproductive failure is indeed dangerous for species survival.In order to identify the critical phases that limit reproductive success, the whole reproductive cycle of a species has to be studied. Ruscus aculeatus L., a Mediterranean species is a remnant of the tropical Tertiary era. Studies on its reproductive ecology showed that it has a 'tropical reproductive syndrome' which survived the environmental changes occurred during the Quaternary era and the subsequent establishment of the Mediterranean climate, but it is now suffering from pollination failure.