Summary:
Activities focus on (i) estimating the levels and apportionment of genetic variation in natural populations of several focal taxa with ISSRs to establish ex-situ conservation strategies and priorities (with the seed Bank and Herbarium at the JBCVCSIC), and (ii) use nuclear microsatellite to compare the genetic diversity of co-generic taxa with endemics in the three participating archipelagos (in collaboration with all stakeholders).
Additional remarks:
The DNA bank of the Canarian flora was created in 2005 at the Jardín Botánico Canario “Viera y Clavijo”-Unidad Asociada CSIC, Cabildo de Gran Canaria (JBCVCSIC). The bank hosts more than 12,000 samples that represent to different degrees of accuracy the distribution of more than 350 native Canarian taxa. Besides investigating the origins of the Canarian Flora, the bank also samples, extracts and stores plant DNAs from mainland areas that bear floristic links with the current endemic flora of this archipelago, and from the other four Macaronesian archipelagos (especially Cape Verde, via a collaboration with the Instituto Nacional de Investigaçoes de Desenvolvimento Agrario from that country). We study endemic, native non-endemic and invasive species, contribute to conservation and education, and establish collaborations to stimulate further investigation. Our ultimate objective is to represent the whole Canarian Flora (endemic, native non-endemic and invasive) to DNA-ID it, estimate its phylogenetic diversity, and use the resulting information to contribute to our institutional missions of research, conservation and education.The bank, actively seeks to invest its funds of genetic material to generate benefits in terms of scientific knowledge, so that their collections are simultaneously a significant by-product of research and a powerful tool to stimulate further investigation. Consequently, part of their sample management policy is oriented to establish active collaborations with other institutions doing research on the Canarian flora, especially if they use methods or perspectives that are new to them.
Category of best practice:
Characterization of biodiversity (e.g. inventory, description of species and ecosystems)
Biodiversity management (e.g. conservation ex situ and in situ, sustainable use and exploitation, rehabilitation, management of invasive species, pollutants, pesticides)
Governance and policies (e.g. interactions science/societies, regulations, decision-makers, networks, international collaborations)
Criteria used to define the best practice:
Significant contribution to preservation of biodiversity and ecological effectiveness
Provision of further environmental and socio-economic benefits
Applicability/transferability to other regions
Sustainability of projects (i.e. projects remain beyond the given funding)
Good governance (involve relevant stakeholders and integrate different interests and perspectives and needs in part from local stakeholders)
Generating multiplier/imitation effects
Web address of best practice:
Organisation:
Jardín Botánico Canario “Viera y Clavijo”-Unidad Asociada CSIC, Cabildo de Gran Canaria (JBCVCSIC)
Contact details:
Juli Cajaupé (julicajaupe@gmail.com)
Geographic region:
Macaronesia
Location:
Canaries, Azores, Madeira