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According to the Aranzadi Science Society, prioritization is an essential task to address any biodiversity conservation activity, and the different protection catalogs are usually the reference documents for this. However, despite the fact that they usually have the collaboration of specialists in their development, genetic criteria such as genetic diversity and the adaptive capacity of species in the face of climate change are rarely considered, and this means that ex situ conservation work (those carried out outside their natural environment) does not always optimize the response to real conservation needs. according to the entity. The objective of this project has been to develop, with cataloged species that present taxonomic uncertainty or high vulnerability to climate change, a methodology that incorporates inter- and intra-population adaptive and genomic studies as criteria for the definition of ex situ conservation priorities at the population and species level.

This would make it easier for the competent administrations to integrate these criteria into their conservation programs and strategies.

The general objective of the project has been to develop methodologies to optimize the prioritization of ex situ conservation activities of plants with high vulnerability to climate change and taxonomic uncertainty.

The specific objectives were as follows:

• To resolve taxonomic uncertainties and quantify the population genetic variability of selected species.
• To know the plasticity and adaptability to climate change of the species and populations under study.
• Integrate the results obtained into conservation strategies at the regional and state levels.

• Selection of localities and collection of study material (vegetative material and seeds) in 197 growth communities distributed in 2 national parks (Picos de Europa and Ordesa), 10 biosphere reserves, 24 natural protected areas at regional level and 57 Sites of Community Importance (SCIs).
• Quantification of the genetic diversity of populations and phylogenetic reconstruction.
• Comparative studies of plasticity and germination adaptability of the species Androsace cantabrica, Androsacepirenaica and different populations of Petrocoptis.
• Comparative studies of plasticity and adaptability in cultivation of Petrocoptis populations, both through laboratory and common garden experiments.
  common garden
  (experiments to test the effect of moving two species from their native environments to a common environment).
• Characterization and ex situ conservation of reproductive material of the priority species and populations: 5 populations of Petrocoptis, one population of Androsace cantabrica and another population of Androsace pirenaica.
• Dissemination and dissemination of project results among the scientific community, competent administrations and the general public: a scientific article, 4 informative articles, participation in dissemination events, drafting of a scientific-technical report on the project for prioritization in ex situ conservation of plants, etc.

PRIOCONEX has conducted inter- and intra-population adaptive and genomic studies of 13 species of the genera Petrocoptis and Androsace that are taxonomically uncertain or highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. The development of this methodology has made it possible to establish ex situ conservation priorities at the population and specific levels by combining genetic diversity criteria with criteria of species’ adaptive capacity to climate change. Thus, thanks to the results obtained within the framework of the project, the entity has been able to corroborate the situation of Androsace cantabrica as a vulnerable species and propose its inclusion in the Spanish Catalogue of Threatened Species, due to both its reduced distribution, low dispersal capacity and habitat loss, as well as its vulnerability in the face of the effects of climate change. On the other hand, the project has shown that the germination of the species analysed depends to a large extent on the mother plant and that, in general, warm temperatures are an obstacle to germination, so that these results have highlighted the risk of disappearance faced by the populations of Petrocoptis and Androsace in Spain. In this regard, the entity points out in its scientific-technical report the benefits of the creation of a micro-reserve for the largest population of Androsace cantabria, located in Sierra Labra, as well as the development of a protocol for the restoration of Petrocoptis, with the effective reintroduction of seeds, as well as the control of some human activities, such as climbing, that affect their survival.

These conclusions have been reflected in the dissemination of results and the transfer of knowledge. During the execution of these actions, managers and conservation agents of the study areas in Castilla y León have been involved, and have contributed to enable the competent administrations to integrate the proposed criteria into their conservation programs and strategies. In general, PRIOCONEX has had a high level of participation from the competent administrations and other research centers to social networks, where the public, in general, has shown great interest in the development of the project and the results obtained.

Finally, it should be noted that the project has contributed to the line of action by area of work “7.4. Natural heritage, biodiversity and protected areas” established within the framework of the National Plan for Adaptation to Climate Change (PNACC).
National Plan for Adaptation to Climate Change (PNACC), as well as to Objective 1.3.
as well as Objective 1.3. “To promote biodiversity research and innovation to meet the needs of conservation, management and sustainable use” defined in the
Strategic Plan for Natural Heritage and Biodiversity (PEPNB).
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