Начало / Университетът / Факултети / Биологически факултет / Официални издания / Годишник на Софийския университет - КНИГА 4 Научни сесии на Биологическия факултет / Първа национална конференция по реинтродукция на консервационно значими видове - 2015 год. / Daniela Ivanova, Rayna Natcheva – EINTRODUCTION OF THE CRITICALLY ENDANGERED PLANT MARSH CLUBMOSS (LYCOPODIELLA INUNDATA) IN ONE OF ITS HISTORICAL OCCURRENCES

   

REINTRODUCTION OF THE CRITICALLY ENDANGERED PLANT MARSH CLUBMOSS (LYCOPODIELLA INUNDATA) IN ONE OF ITS HISTORICAL OCCURRENCES

 

DANIELA IVANOVA*, RAYNA NATCHEVA

 

Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Department of Plant and Fungal Diversity and Resources
*Corresponding author: dani@bio.bas.bg

 

Keywords: Central Rhodopi Mts., conservation, Lycopodiella inundata, plants, reintroduction

 

Abstract: Reintroduction of Marsh Clubmoss (Lycopodiella inundata) in Chairski lakes, Central Rhodopi Mts. was attempted. The species is one of the rarest in Bulgaria and is Critically Endangered at national level. In many countries of its European range L. inundata is rare or threatened. Conservation of L. inundata is however difficult since little is known about its ecology, including potential reasons for decline and response to environmental change. The species is a weak competitor. Some of the natural populations of the Marsh Clubmoss are already extinct. Its occurrence has been confirmed at three out of seven localities. Therefore, we attempted to transplant clones at the peat islands in Chairski lakes, Central Rhodopi Mts. The experiment lasted for eight years. During the first three years of the experiment the clones developed relatively well, expansion of the vegetative shoots was observed and abundant sporophytes were produced. After 2010 the plot within Sphagnum fallax/S. flexuosum was very quickly overgrown by Carex rostrata and Menyanthes trifoliata. The bare peat area of the plot set within Sphagnum capillifolium was maintained easier and remained in a good state for a longer period without human interference. The overall factor important for the occurrence of this species is the presence of microhabitats with low competition. Reintroduction can only be successful if mild disturbance or continuous maintenance is provided. We suggest that the focus for the conservation of Lycopodiella inundata should be placed on the protection of its natural habitats instead.

 

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