Glacial relicts in the Alps: the decline and conservation strategy for Nuphar pumila (Nymphaeaceae)

Bétrisey, Sébastien; Arrigo, Nils; Graf, Larissa; Bilat, Julia; Gerber, Emanuel; Kozlowski, Gregor

doi:10.1007/s00035-020-00232-9

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Glacial relicts in the Alps: the decline and conservation strategy for Nuphar pumila (Nymphaeaceae)

Bétrisey, Sébastien Natural History Museum Fribourg, Chemin du Musée 6, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland - Department of Biology and Botanical Garden, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musée 10, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland
Arrigo, Nils Department of Ecology and Evolution, Biophore Building, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
Graf, Larissa Kantonsschule Wattwil, Näppisuelistrasse 11, 9630 Wattwil, Switzerland
Bilat, Julia Department of Ecology and Evolution, Biophore Building, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
Gerber, Emanuel Natural History Museum Fribourg, Chemin du Musée 6, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland
Kozlowski, Gregor Natural History Museum Fribourg, Chemin du Musée 6, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland - Department of Biology and Botanical Garden, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musée 10, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland

01.04.2020

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Alpine Botany. - 2020, vol. 130, no. 1, p. 89–99

English The Alps played an important role in the biogeography of European plants and acted as a refugium for numerous species during the interglacial cycles. We investigated Nuphar pumila, one of the most emblematic glacial relicts of the Alps, by carrying out exhaustive literature and field surveys to collect relevant data on its distribution and threats. We further evaluated the level of introgression with the closely related N. lutea based on microsatellite data from natural populations across the Alps as well as from all ex situ collections and reintroductions in Switzerland. According to our results, more than 60% of the known N. pumila populations went extinct, and the species currently presents 37 natural populations in the investigated area. A large number of populations were affected by eutrophication (69%) and hybridization with N. lutea (53%). Priority should be given to the in situ conservation of genetically pure populations, while ex situ cultures should be applied to nearly extinct populations and the genetically pure individuals still present in hybrid populations. N. pumila is an excellent representative of the wetland/aquatic glacial relicts that are particularly affected by the combination of climate change and habitat degradation. International integration of research and conservation programs is needed to limit the decline of such rare species in the Alps.

Faculty

Faculté des sciences et de médecine

Department

Département de Biologie

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