Lauren Eserman, Atlanta Botanical Garden Conradina glabra, or Apalachicola rosemary, is a federally listed endangered species that exists only on a small area of sandhill in Liberty County, Florida. Forestry practices in the last 100 years have resulted in declining populations of C. glabra. In the wild, plants produce very few seeds, but small plants that resemble seedlings […]
Dr. Johnny Randall, North Carolina Botanical Garden The infamous Venus flytrap, Dionaea muscipula, found across North Carolina and into South Carolina, has been seen to be declining in recent years. It is currently under review for federal listing, is ranked G2 on NatureServe, and considered vulnerable by RedList. Threats to this charismatic plant include poaching, […]
Jessica L. Allen, PhD, Southeastern Center for Conservation, Atlanta Botanical Garden Dr. Allen outlines a conservation genomics approach to assessing genetic diversity between geographically separated populations of the Rock Gnome lichen, a Southern Appalachian endemic. Her results show that each locale sampled has a genetically distinct population. This suggests that the management plan for this lichen should include protecting […]
Dr. Rebecca Hale, University of North Carolina, Asheville Wayne Morgan, UNC Asheville Biology Elise Powell, UNC Asheville Biology Leila Beikmohamadi, Western Carolina University, Psychology Mara Alexander, US Bureau of Land Management Caroline Kennedy, UNC Asheville Biology Jennifer Rhode Ward, UNC Asheville Biology Pitchers of the purple pitcher plant, Sarracenia purpurea, are distinctly shorter and broader […]
Dr. Sean Hoban, The Morton Arboretum, Taylor Callicrate, Species Conservation Toolkit Initiative, Chicago Zoological Society, Susan Deans, Plant Biology and Conservation Program, Northwestern University, Michael Dosmann, The Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University, Jeremie Fant, Chicago Botanic Garden, Oliver Gailing, University of Göttingen, Kayri Havens, Chicago Botanic Garden, Andrew Hipp, The Morton Arboretum, Priyanka Kadav, Michigan […]
Dr. Jeremie Fant, Chicago Botanical Garden Many land managers are aware of the value of genetic data for making important decisions for the management of rare species. In the ever-expanding world of Genomics, practitioners now have access to more comprehensive and accurate data. However, the speed of change can make it hard to keep up […]
Shawn C. McCourt, Sally M. Chambers, and Bruce K. Holst, Marie Selby Botanical Gardens The genus Harrisia (Cactaceae) comprises 20 narrowly endemic species of night-blooming cacti with two widely separated geographic ranges, including South America south of Amazonia, as well as the West Indies and southern Florida. Commonly known as aboriginal prickly-apple, H. aboriginum is […]
Joe Davitt, Institute for Conservation Research, San Diego Zoo Global Maintaining a plant species’ genetic diversity can contribute to adaptive potential, prevent inbreeding effects, and potentially preserve traits such as drought tolerance and disease resistance, all of which are critical in a changing climate. Seed collections are often the best method of conserving the genetic diversity of rare plant populations ex-situ, […]
Christy Powell, San Diego Zoo Global San Diego Zoo Global’s Christy Powell opens the 2019 Plant Genetics Conservation workshop at San Diego Zoo Global with a welcome to participants, some background on San Diego Zoo Global, and an inspirational story about a fern that has benefitted from conservation efforts. […]
Christy Powell, Brian Dorsey, San Diego Zoo Global, Huntington Botanical Garden As the most endangered group of plants on the planet, cycads (Cycadales) face a number of threats to their continued existence. Efforts to preserve these iconic plants (in situ reserves and ex situ collections) could benefit greatly from a better understanding of population genetic […]
Oliver A. Ryder, Director, Conservation Genetics, Kleberg Endowed Chair, San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research In January, 1975 genetics studies commenced at the San Diego with group of researchers who would become the core of CRES, the Center for Reproduction of Endangered Species – now the San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research. Founded […]
Alexander G. Linan, Porter P. Lowry II, Allison Miller, George E. Schatz, Jean-Claude Sevathian, Christine E. Edwards, Saint Louis University, Missouri Botanical Garden, Institut de Systématique, Évolution et Biodiversité (ISYEB), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique/Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle/École, Pratique des Hautes Études, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Sorbonne Universités, Donald Danforth Plant Science Center The ebony and persimmon […]
Fred Gouker, Abigail Moore, Kevin Conrad, Margaret Pooler, USDA-ARS U.S. National Arboretum, Floral and Nursery Plants Research Unit, Enviromental and Plant Biology Department, Ohio University Sassafras albidum is a well-known, ecologically important tree that is dispersed throughout the Eastern United States. Its root and bark oil were commonly used as a flavoring agent for many products […]
Dr. Stephanie Steele, San Diego Zoo Global The Torrey pine (Pinus torreyana) is a rare, iconic species that occurs naturally in only two locations in Southern California: in coastal San Diego County and on Santa Rosa Island. The species is of particular conservation concern due to prolonged drought which has increased susceptibility of trees to […]
Jill Hamilton, North Dakota State University Species evolutionary potential is tightly linked to both the amount and distribution of genetic variation available through which natural selection may act. Rare species present particular challenges under rapidly changing conditions where the genetic consequences of rarity may limit species ability to adapt to ongoing change. Thus in a […]
Cynthia Steiner, Aryn Wilder, Debra Shier and Natalie Calatayud, San Diego Zoo Institute of Conservation Research Among the main roles of conservation management is to mitigate the negative effect of anthropogenic activities in nature by ensuring the persistence of biodiversity and species in the wild. Conservation geneticists have recently developed a new toolbox of genomic […]
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