life+arcos: coastal dune habitat restoration in northern spain
TRANSCRIPT
LIFE+ARCOS Coastal dune habitat restoration in
northern Spain
THE EX SITU CONSERVATION SCOPE
J.I. Alonso Felpete
INDUROT – UNIVERSITY OF OVIEDO
LIFE13 NAT/ES/000883 LIFE-ARCOS 1
www.arcoslife.eu @infoarcoslife
Overview of the Cantabrian dunes
(Distribution of main dune systems in Europe © Doody, 2001)
1. Dunes are scarce and irregularly distributed
2. Dunes are among the most threatened habitats in terms of surface lost
3. They are included in Prioritised Action Plans for Spain
How scarce are grey dunes on the Cantabrian coast? Working area: 380 km long
Grey dunes surface: 290 ha
The Netherlands: 290 km of dunes Grey dunes surface: 15660 ha
Some in situ actions in progress
1. Elimination of AIS 2. Protection of dunes 3. Dynamics (sand traps) 4. Dynamics (pines removal) 5. Assessment coastal drift
trends 6. Plantation of structural and
non structural species
Main threat: abiotic natural processes
1. The quick evolution of the front dune backwards (specially in the last 4 years) explains how urgent is to take measures against loss of biodiversity
Front dune movement Period Avge movement (m) Avge Speed (m/year)
1956-2007 33.25 0.65
2007-2011 -15.13 -3.78
2011-2014 -11.85 -3.95
2014-2015 2.66 2.66
Studies on the evolution of the front dune have been carried out for the 10 sites
When do ex situ conservation comes in?
Prior to any restoration action we make ourselves some questions
• How do we increase the biodiversity in areas where no nurse plants are present?
• Are we prepared against the loss of biodiversity in the future?
• By conserving seeds we are able to anticipate the loss of biodiversity if dune surface decreases due to catastrophic events that jeopardize the survival of species (many of them protected)
Short and long term benefits of seed conservation
• Have we got enough plants for restabilising the original biodiversity and richness, specially on grey dunes? (in the context of the project)
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The ex situ - in situ perspective
IMPROVE THE EXPERTISE ON COSTAL RESTORATION FROM A BIOGEOGRAPHIC POINT OF VIEW
ARCOS promotes the use of combined ex situ and in situ conservation techniques on the proposed dune conservation actions
1. Ex situ conservation techniques are deployed in order to:
• Evaluate how resistant are seeds of dune species to storage conditions • Provide information about possible taxonomic differences • Provide information about seed dormancy • Ensure that genetic diversity preserved and that plants introduced come from a
well known origin
2. Culture essays are deployed for drawing up the best culture protocol for dune plant species production (nursery or in the wild)
3. Contributes to the conservation of biodiversity and enables post LIFE actions to be carried out
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Ex situ conservation makes sense on protected species
Glaucium flavum Otanthus maritimus Medicago marina Chamaesyce peplis
Halting against the loss of biodiversity also means fighting against the loss of genetic diversity
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Importance of genetic diversity
Climate change effects may result on the loss of natural populations of these species
Alyssum loiseleurii ssp. loisseleurii Alyssum loiseleurii ssp. gallaecica
Galium arenarium
Crucianella maritima
NARROW ENDEMIC SPECIES
LIMIT OF DISTRIBUTION
LIMIT OF DISTRIBUTION
Importance of non structural species on grey dunes
NON STRUCTURAL SPECIES (working with 28 species)
STRUCTURAL SPECIES
Ammophila arenaria Elymus farctus boreoatlanicus
Many of them on prioritized habitat 2130* grey dunes
• Beta maritima • Cakile maritima • Calystegia soldanella • Crucianella maritima • Dianthus hyssopifolius • Eryngium maritimum • Festuca rubra var. littoralis • Glaucium flavum • Helichrysum stoechas • Honckenya peploides • Iberis procumbens • Medicago marina • Otanthus maritimus • Pancratium maritimum
• Alyssum loiseleurii subsp loiseleurii • Dianthus hyssopifolius • Galium arenarium • Euphorbia paralias • Festuca vasconcensis • Helichrysum stoechas • Herniaria ciliolata • Koeleria albescens • Linaria supina subsp. maritima • Solidago virgaurea subsp macrorhiza
Bolded species are present in Regional Protection Cataloges
High diversity
Low diversity
Non Prioritized habitats: embrionic and white dunes
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Ex situ conservation into practice
Seeds from 28 non structural species were collected in the 10 targeted sites 125 distinct accessions (average rate 10.2 accessions / site)
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Seed characterization
Seed morphometric characterization of dune species In absence of genetic studies, analysis of morphometric parameters can help on defining if there are differences between populations
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Are these seeds useful for restoration?
We have to ensure that seeds being conserved still retain the
capacity to germinate
OTHERWISE CONSERVATION OF SEEDS MAKES NOSENSE
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Culture protocols
Variables considered: - Pot volume root development - Substrate mix effects on germination
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Field essays: transplanting
Seedlings are transplanted into the dune and survival rates are
measured
Conclusions
1. In the Cantabrian coast where dunes are small, scarce and they are irregularly distributed, loss of dune surface may arise to irreversible consequences in terms of loss of biodiversity.
2. Ex situ conservation actions should also be considered in dune restoration projects as they provide mechanisms to fight against climate change effects and eases post LIFE actions.
3. More information on dune species culture protocols should be discussed in knowledge exchange networks. Best practice guides and a European database of seed banks conserving dune species should be created.
4. Ensure an optimal conservation of dune species can highly contribute to the reestablishment of good conservation status of dune habitats in the future
LIFE+ARCOS team
T.E. Díaz A. Bueno
C. Ley
J.I. Felpete
J. Varas
L. Oreja
E. Iglesias
L. García
THANKS FOR YOUR
ATTENTION!!
J.L. Tejerina
J. Marquínez
J. Zulaika
R. Menendez S. Fernández
Botanists
Geomorphologist
Public bodies
Restoration expert