See you next edition!
Guest speakers
Willy Tinner
Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research and Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern.
Prehistoric land-use change and its long-term legacy for future European vegetation dynamics.
Prehistoric land-use change and its long-term legacy for future European vegetation dynamics.
Prof. Dr. Willy Tinner
Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research and Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern
Legacies comprise human and ecological memories or carryover of the ecosystem, they are effects of past events that influence extant ecosystems. In this lecture we consider four legacy examples that have wide consequences for European vegetation and its services to the society. First, we discuss if climate change, specifically the interglacial-glacial cycles have created empty niches in Europe, making the continent particularly susceptible to invasions of plant species coming from continents that are floristically more diverse. Second we assess the Vera hypothesis, a speculation that has been controversially debated in European ecosystem management. The question that can be checked by palaeoecological approaches is, whether (apart from the eastern steppes) European ecosystems would be naturally forested or kept open by megaherbivores such as elephants, hippos or ruminants. Third we discuss the course of biodiversity in and around the Alps, specifically the reasons and processes that shaped significant biodiversity declines in forests and biodiversity increases in open lands during the past 5000 years. Finally, we use palaeoecological and palaeoclimatic evidence as well as process-based dynamic modelling to address the question, whether humans changed the realized climatic niches of species during the past 5000 years, creating a continental disequilibrium of species distributions with current climatic conditions. On the basis of these four examples, we suggest the use of palaeo-validated process-based dynamic models to better assess future vegetation dynamics under global change conditions.
Simon Pierce
University of Milan, Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Italy
What is the minimum viable population size for rare plant species?
What is the minimum viable population size for rare plant species?
Dr. Simon Pierce
University of Milan, Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Italy
Population size is a key parameter in conservation biology, and the number of individuals necessary for a population to persist over time is known as the ‘minimum viable population (MVP) size’. Calculating the MVP size for rare plant species can guide the planning of conservation actions and help understanding of whether conservation projects have been successful, but it is extremely difficult to determine what this number actually is. In the words of one conservationist, “how much is enough?”. Traditionally, MVP size has been estimated using computer models but, like weather forecasting, environmental variability over time cannot be predicted with certainty. Here, I suggest that a valuable approach may be to observe the biological effects evident in populations of different sizes in the wild. I show that a range of studies of reproductive effort (fruit and seed production) and genetic variability for rare and endangered plant species indicate that decreasing population size has a gradual effect until a critical point, beyond which any further decline in population size has a drastic impact on plant fitness. These ‘tipping points’ or ‘critical thresholds’ are not exactly the same thing as MVP size, but they do give a realistic indication of when populations are at particularly high risk. Usually, these tipping points occur when population size falls below around 50 to 500 individuals (depending on the species). Estimating tipping points for each species can show which populations are likely to respond positively to conservation actions.
Gabriele Carraro
Dionea SA, Locarno, Switzerland
The forest vegetation of the Onsernone Valley, 100 years ago, today and future trends.
The forest vegetation of the Onsernone Valley, 100 years ago, today and future trends.
Ing. forst. dipl. ETH Gabriele Carraro
Dionea SA, Locarno, Switzerland
It has been more than 100 years ago, that Johannes Bär studied and mapped the forest vegetation of the Onsernone valley (Ticino): rare, scientific work in our Alpine valleys, with great benefits for today’s understanding of evolutionary dynamics and for the management of forest ecosystems. For the comparison of the current state of vegetation with that of the past and for processing of future development scenarios, an updated mapping was required in addition to Bär’s map. A detailed mapping carried out solely by terrestrial surveys, in rough and partly inaccessible regions, which extends over 100 km2, is difficult and very costly. To overcome these difficulties, an alternative method was developed, based on existing terrestrial surveys and supplemented by trans-sectoral mapping over a total area of 10 km2. These assessments were the basis for an area-wide modelling using Random Forest Models. Considering the large number of forest types present in the valley (31), the model is able to forecast effectively. In an area with many newly formed forests, reliability of results could be increased by the evolutionary dynamics derived from historical maps. Hence, J. Bär’s map represents a valuable data set that contributes to a better understanding of the present vegetation distribution. Subsequently, results of the modelling and the quality of the forest vegetation map could be improved thanks to existing and additional terrestrial surveys and to the use of aerial photographs and drones for quality control. Based on these findings combined with contributions in the field of forest history, landscape studies, palynology and local climatic conditions, it was possible to reconstruct the dynamics of forest vegetation in the Onsernone valley with its evolutionary potential, considering also climate change scenarios.
13:30 | Opening check-in |
14:00 | Welcome & instructions |
14:20 | Plenary lecture - The forest vegetation of the Onsernone Valley, 100 years ago, today and future trends Speaker: Ing. Forst. Dipl. ETH Gabriele Carraro, Dionea SA |
15:00 | Short break (+ check in for new attendees) |
15:05 | Satellite events • Diversity and conservation of fungi, lichens, and mosses • Mapping and monitoring of rare plants: methods and priorities for Switzerland • Classifying impacts of alien species |
18:00 | Satellite Events end |
Workshop
Organizer: Dr. David Frey, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL and coordinator of fungi and lichen conservation, Canton Ticino, Switzerland.
Type of event: Short oral presentations and round-table discussion
The aim of this event is to provide an overview of cryptogam conservation initiatives in Switzerland, with a special focus on the Southern Alps. In addition, recent advances in the knowledge of cryptogam diversity and distribution will be presented. Conservation status (e.g. Red List) assessments of fungi, lichens and bryophytes are challenging. Challenges include poor knowledge of their distribution, taxonomic uncertainties and lack of experts. Thus, the short oral presentations and round-table discussion also serve as an exchange of ideas and experience on how to face these challenges, and to identify potential synergies in conservation among groups.
Cost for participants: free
Max. 30 participants, upon registration
Organizer: Christophe Bornand, Info Flora Bern, Switzerland.
Type of event: Introductory oral presentation with workshop
With this satellite event, you will discover the methods and tools developed by Info Flora since 2012 for the monitoring of threatened plant populations and how regional botanical communities can take part to the monitoring through the “Mission Flora” project. This meeting will also provide the opportunity to discuss how much attention should rare and/or threatened species receive during a floristic mapping project like a “new atlas” of the Swiss flora.
Cost for participants: free, upon registration
Organizer: Anna Probert and Giovanni Vimercati, University of Fribourg, Switzerland.
Type of event: Workshop
Alien species cause a range of different environmental impacts through a variety of mechanisms. Until recently, understanding and evaluating these impacts across taxa was relatively difficult due to a lack of a standardised metric that could be applied across different invasion scenarios. To address this knowledge gap, the Environmental Impact Classification for Alien Taxa (EICAT) was developed; this year, EICAT was adopted by the IUCN as an official classification system.
EICAT is a ranked classification scheme that works by assigning one of five impact magnitudes to individual records of impact collated from the literature. So far, the system has been applied to various taxa at both local and global scales, providing a key tool for invasion scientists, pest managers and other practitioners.
During this workshop, you will learn the key concepts of EICAT and then how to apply it using real impact records for various taxonomic groups. You will become equipped with the correct knowledge and understanding to apply EICAT under the IUCN standard.
Cost for participants: free
Max. 20 participants, upon registration
08:30 | Opening check-in |
09:00 | Welcome & instructions |
09:20 | Plenary lecture - Prehistoric land-use change and its long-term legacy for future European vegetation dynamics Speaker: Prof. Dr. Willy Tinner, University of Bern |
10:00 | Short break |
10:05 | Is climate the main driver of the spreading of broadleaved evergreen species in southern Switzerland? Speakers: Gianni Boris Pezzatti, InsubricGianni Boris Pezzatti, InsubricEcosystems Research Group,Swiss Federal Institute WSL |
10:20 | Sexual and genetic patterns of the invasive palmTrachycarpus fortunei (Arecaceae) in southern Switzerland and northern Italy Speaker: Antoine Jousson, University of Geneva (BIVEG), Botanical Garden of Geneva |
10:35 | Automated pollinators monitoring on sympatric cytotypes of Senecio doronicum Speaker: Luca Pegoraro, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew |
10:50 | Poster Session 1 + Coffee break with Wonder.me |
11:20 | Modelling range dynamics of terricolous lichens of the genus Peltigera in the Alps under a climatechange scenario Speaker: Chiara Vallese, University of Bologna |
11:35 | Limits to Phenotypic Evolution along Elevational Gradients within and among Saxifraga species Speaker: Seraina Rodewald, University of Basel |
11:50 | Living on the edge. Unravelling biology and ecology of the endangered endemic alpine plant Androsacebrevis (Primulaceae) by a multidisciplinary approach Speaker: Marco Bonelli, University of Milan |
12:05 | Ancient ecotypes of Secale cereale and Fagopyrum esculentum in Valtellina (Central Alps): characterizationby morphological, genetic and nutraceutic traits Speaker: Rodolfo Gentili, University of Milano–Bicocca |
12:20 | Group Photo! |
12:30 | Lunch break (wonder.me remains open) |
13:30 | Plenary lecture - What is the minimum viable population size for rareplant species? Speaker: Dr. Simon Pierce, University of Milan |
14:10 | Short break |
14:15 | Nationwide revisitation reveals thousands of local extinctions across the ranges of 713 threatened andrare plant species Speaker: Anne Kempel, Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern |
14:30 | Strong decline of grassland habitat quality on the southern side of the Alps Speaker: Steffen Boch, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL |
14:45 | The importance of genetic diversity and habitat suitability for in-situ conservation and translocationsof threatened plant species Speaker: Deborah Schäfer, Botanical Garden of the University of Bern |
15:00 | Poster Session 2 + Coffee break with Wonder.me |
15:30 | Plant adaptive strategies in the dark diversity of forest vegetation in the province of Varese (Lombardy) Speaker: Michele Dalle Fratte, Università degli Studi dell’Insubria |
15:45 | Grouping of floristic quadrants with similar vegetation using beta diversity Speaker: Michael Kleih, Società Botanica Ticinese |
16:00 | Short break |
16:05 | Taxonomy and distribution of the Sheep Fescues (Festuca ovina s. lat.) in the Alps and surrounding areas: current state of knowledge Speaker: Peter Englmaier, University of Vienna |
16:20 | The multiple identities of the common moonwort, Botrychium lunaria Speaker: Vinciane Mossion, University of Neuchâtel |
16:35 | Final discussion & Awards |
17:00 | Closure |
Guests
Willy Tinner
Simon Pierce
Gabriele Carraro
An initiative of
In collaboration with
