Phases and actions of the project

The Impact of climate change

The objective of this phase is to evaluate the potential effects of the climatic change on seed germination, a process of major relevance concerning the extinction/survival of wild Mediterranean plants. The selection of the species to be studied is based on conservation and economic importance criteria (National Red Lists, EU Directive 92/43, IUCN-WCMC, as for e.g. the ‘Top 50 Mediterranean Island Plant Species Project’, CITES, etc.).
 
Three different categories of plants are included: (a) steno-endemic species with a single or a few isolated populations, b) species of limited geographical distribution and c) species with an extensive distribution in the Mediterranean.

Partner 1 (UNKA) acts as the coordinator of this phase.

Steneo-endemic species: Phoenix teophrasti. Photo: Thanos

Steno-Mediterranean:  Hypericum hircinum. Photo: G. Bacchetta.

Euro-Mediterranean species:  Crithmum maritimum. Photo: P. Pavone

Action 2.1: Selection of climatic models

Several climatic models will be selected according based on suggestions and consultation from several authorities on this subject. This action will be coordinated by Partner 1.

Action 2.2: Seed collection and banking

Each participant will collect seeds from their region for the germination experiments and for their conservation in seed banks.

Seed collection. Monte Lattias, Uta (CA). Photo: C. Pontecorvo

Germination test. C. C. B. Cagliari. Photo: E. Mattana

Action 2.3: Germination behaviour

The study of the physiology and ecology of seed germination (Photo 14) will be carried out using two types of different experimental conditions: conditions of simple culture (with temperatures and photoperiods usually employed in routine germination experiments) and conditions of culture into phytotrons that will simulate the selected climatic models.

Action 2.4: Impacts and conclusions

The analysis of the obtained results and the evaluation of the impact of climate change on the conservation of Mediterranean plants will help in estimating the relevance of the effect of global warming on the distribution of the plants and the degree of threat to Mediterranean plant diversity.