| Abstract Detail
Pollination to Population Structure - How Understanding Reproductive Biology Can Inform Conservation of Rare Plants Drake, Donald R. [1], Morden, Clifford W. [2]. Reproductive biology of Hawaii’s endangered flora: prioritizing research needs for conservation. The native, angiosperm flora of Hawaii is renowned both for its high level of endemism (89%) and for threats to its conservation. Of the approximately 1158 named angiosperm taxa, 269 (23%) are federally endangered, and many others are either being evaluated for listing or are presumed extinct. At least 150 taxa are represented by natural populations of fewer than 50 individuals. We have surveyed the literature for published data on the reproductive biology of endangered Hawaiian plants, including aspects of breeding system, pollination biology, seed dispersal, seed predation, seed germination and dormancy, reproductive phenology, and population genetics. For all but a very few species, little is known about reproductive biology beyond what a plant’s floral traits allow us to infer about its mating system. We propose a flow chart for prioritizing decisions regarding research on the reproductive biology of endangered Hawaiian plants. This protocol incorporates both biological information (e.g., breeding system) and practical issues associated with plant life history, rarity, distribution, and accessibility. Our goal is to increase the efficiency with which data are collected and applied to the conservation of endangered plants in Hawaii and elsewhere. Log in to add this item to your schedule
1 - University of Hawaii, Botany Department, 3190 Maile Way, Honolulu, HI, 96822, USA 2 - University of Hawaii, Botany Department, 3190 Maile Way, Room 101, Honolulu, HI, 96822, USA
Keywords: Hawaiian Islands pollination Endangered species breeding system conservation reproduction population genetics.
Presentation Type: Symposium or Colloquium Presentation Session: S1 Location: Room 3/Woodward Date: Monday, July 28th, 2008 Time: 10:00 AM Number: S1005 Abstract ID:828 |