ΕΡΓΟ: JAcer - Seed germination traits and conservation implications for two native woody species: the endangered Juniperus drupacea Labill. and the endemic Acer hyrcanum subsp. reginae-amaliae Orph. ex Boiss. on Mt Parnon (Peloponnese, Greece).
Seed germination traits and conservation implications for two native woody species: the endangered Juniperus drupacea Labill. and the endemic Acer hyrcanum subsp. reginae-amaliae Orph. ex Boiss. on Mt Parnon (Peloponnese, Greece).
This project aims to investigate seed biology of two important, native tree species from the area of Mt. Parnon (GR 2520006): Juniperus drupacea and Acer hyrcanum subsp. reginae-amaliae.
J. drupacea is a rare juniper species for Europe and its populations are found only in Greece, with its main distribution on Mt Parnon (Arcadia, Peloponnese); the species is assessed as Endangered (EN) in European level and as Least Concern (LC) in Global level. A. hyrcanum subsp. reginae-amaliae is an endemic species of Greece with its main distribution in the Peloponnese, the islands of Kythira and Antikythira, the Central Greece and the islands of the West Aegean; its presence in Mt. Parnon has been only recently documented.
During the seed collection periods (September–November) we will visit the area and collect cones/fruits/seeds from the entire distribution of the two species for maturation year 2023 and perhaps for next year (2024) as well. The germination behaviour of the two species will be studied in the laboratory. Seeds will be stored in the NKUA Seed Bank and their storage behaviour will be investigated with tetrazolium viability staining, in the span of one year of storage. For J. drupacea this same study will be additionally replicated with older seed collections, already stored in the NKUA Seed Bank (2000-2009) and in FRIA (2013 and 2020, 2021); in particular, for J. drupacea the effect of GA3 on seed germination will be accessed as well. It should be mentioned, that preliminary aspects of J. drupacea reproductive biology have been previously reported within the framework of the research project “Assessment of the structure and dynamics of Juniperus drupacea populations and the reproductive biology of the species” (2020-2022). This project was implemented by OIKOM Ltd (https://oikom.gr/el) in collaboration to the Institute of Mediterranean Forest Ecosystems-Hellenic Agricultural Organisation DIMITRA (http://www.fria.gr/) and funded by the National Environment & Climate Change Agency, Management Unit of The Southern Peloponnese Protected Areas, Αction “Subvention of Parnon, Moustos, Mainalon & Monemvasia Management Body for Management Measures of the Protected Areas, Species and Habitats”, Operational Program Transport Infrastructure, Environment & Sustainable Development.
Finally, for A. hyrcanum subsp. reginae-amaliae, which has not been previously studied extensively, fruit and seed morphometric traits will be recorded (seed mass and dimensions) from its populations on Mt. Parnon, for the first time, and the effect of light, temperature and cold stratification on seed germination will be inestigated.
The research project has duration of 12 months and is expected to be completed in May 2024.
The research team consists of Dr Evangelia N. Daskalakou (Scientific Responsible), Research Director at the Institute of Mediterranean Forest Ecosystems, Hellenic Agricultural Organization "DIMITRA" (http://www.fria.gr/), E-mail: edaskalakou@fria.gr, Spyridon Oikonomidis, Biologist, PhD candidate, Department of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Stefanos Boutsios, Forester MSc, PhD candidate, Geography Department, Harokopio University and Professor Emeritus Costas A. Thanos, Section of Botany, Department of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.
The project is supported by the National Environment & Climate Change Agency (N.E.C.C.A.) under the Call “Actions to protect, conserve and promote biodiversity. Field studies of endemic, endangered and nationally important species of Greece»” (Project Number: 013687, Acronym: JAcer).