Line of action:

Terrestrial ecosystems

Status:

Finalizado

Execution date:

2018

End date:

2019

Total budget:

€42,173.89

Amount of aid from the Biodiversity Foundation:

€17,554.59

Euphorbia fontqueriana is a species endemic to the island of Mallorca (Balearic Islands) listed as Critically Endangered in 2017.
Only one natural locality is known, which is difficult to access, which is located in the Sierra de Tramuntana, a protected natural area declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
In recent years, the Government of the Balearic Islands has carried out a pilot test of translocation of the species in another town in the Sierra de Tramuntana, although the demographic status of the natural population and many basic aspects of the biology of the species, such as reproductive biology, are unknown.
The state of conservation and the lack of knowledge about the biology of this threatened endemism make a scientific study extremely necessary to lay the foundations for the development of the corresponding recovery plan.

The main objective of the project is to obtain information about the demographic status of Euphorbia fontqueriana Greuter, characterize the habitat and study basic aspects of the biology of the species.

It has the following specific goals:

• Obtain an exhaustive census of the species and collect data on the demographic status (complete with the preliminary data of 2017 and 2018, unpublished).
• Characterization of the habitat.
• Analyze spatial distribution patterns.
• To study the reproductive biology of the species.
• To analyze the chemical defenses against herbivory.
• Monitor and reinforce the translocated population.
• To generate useful information for the regional administration in relation to the management of the species under study.
• To raise awareness in society of the importance of this species and of threatened endemic species in general.

• Exhaustive census of the population, taking note of biometric parameters (number of branches, length of the longest branch, diameter of the rhizome), reproductive status and the presence of signs of herbivory.
• Georeferencing of all individuals in the population by using a differential GPS to obtain a highly accurate distribution map.
• Monitoring of permanent plots to evaluate seedling recruitment.
• Inventory of the companion species and analysis of the chemical composition of the soil at various points in the species’ distribution area.
• Study of the spatial distribution pattern of the population by means of regression analysis with spatial data of available abiotic environmental variables (topography, hydrology, geology, etc.).
• Monitoring of flowering and fruiting phenology with a weekly frequency of visits.
• Evaluation of the ability to produce seeds by passive self-pollination and the dependence of pollinators on reproductive success.
  To this end, 20 mature individuals have been marked and the following treatments have been applied: bagging a branch with muslin (passive self-pollination), bagging a branch with tulle (pollinator exclusion), pollen supplementation on the female flowers of another branch (pollen limitation) and control treatment on another branch (without treatment).
• Pollinator observation and census: taxonomic identification of floral visitors and main pollinators; Obtaining the number of visits throughout the day (estimation based on periodic observations every two hours throughout the day and the time spent there).
• Analysis of the chemical profile of latex by gas chromatography and mass spectrometer to detect the presence of chemical components related to chemical defense against herbivory.
• Strengthening of the translocated population: ex situ seed germination, planting and monitoring.
• Dissemination and communication of the project and its results: publication of an informative brochure on the species under study; writing scientific manuscripts; presentation of a paper at the IX Congress of the Spanish Society of Plant Conservation Biology and a seminar at the Department of Biology of the University of the Balearic Islands.

• Information on the demographic status of the population of Euphorbia fontqueriana has been collected
• Its population has been georeferenced in its entirety to obtain a highly accurate distribution map, which will allow efforts to be directed in the protection of those areas with the presence of the species.
• Reproductive biology studies have been carried out, the characterisation of their habitat has been deepened to generate potential distribution maps for future population translocations and chemical defences against herbivory, especially by insects, have been analysed.
• In collaboration with the Ministry of the Environment and Territory, it has actively participated in the management of the population introduced into Puig Major by monitoring the survival of translocated individuals and reinforcing this population.
• A report with the main results of the project has been generated for the Administration as it is considered useful to direct the management strategies of this endangered species.
• The results have been disseminated to the scientific community through the presentation of two communications at the IX Congress of the Spanish Society of Plant Conservation Biology and a conference at the University of the Balearic Islands.