Publication Type: Abstract
Abstract: Biodiversity monitoring programs are often impeded by a general decrease in the number of skilled naturalists. Here we studied how parataxonomy (the use of morphotypes, instead of species), might be used by unskilled volunteers to survey plant communities. Our questions were: (1) Can morphotypes be used as a robust estimator of species richness (α-diversity) and assemblage turnover (β-diversity)? (2) What is the robustness of such methods?
Double inventories were performed on 150 plots, one by a non-expert using morphotypes, the other by a taxonomist using species. To test the robustness of morphotype identification among participants, additional plots were surveyed by eight volunteers using the same protocol.
We showed that (1) the number of morphotypes identified by unskilled volunteers in a plot was always strongly correlated with species richness. (2) Morphotypes were less sensitive than species to detect assemblage turnover. (3) Morphotype identification varied significantly within and between volunteers.
Due to this lack of repeatability and reproducibility, parataxonomy cannot be considered a good surrogate for taxonomy. Nevertheless, assuming that morphotypes are identified with standardised methods, and that results are used only to evaluate gross species richness but not species turnover, parataxonomy might be a valuable tool for rapid biodiversity assessment of common wild flora.

Publication Type: Abstract
Abstract: Sacred forests are unique landscapes in the Kodagu district of Central Western Ghat region managed by local community. These are having their own role in conserving the biodiversity of a region apart from their religious and cultural values. The conservation of these sacred forests is necessary to preserve the valuable resources for next generations. Hence, we made an attempt to assess the population status of threatened medicinal tree species in large and small sacred forests under different vegetation types of Kodagu. The simple random sampling technique has been followed to assess the population status of threatened medicinal tree species. There were 27 threatened species were recorded from both the vegetation types. The Shannon-Weiver diversity, β-diversity and also structural parameters such as density, basal area size class distribution and mean height were computed. The result indicates that though there is no significant difference with respect to the diversity between the two vegetation types there was significant difference between large and small sacred forests. The density of the RET medicinal tree species in sacred forests of semi-evergreen vegetation was significantly different from that of moist deciduous vegetation. The conservation strategies recommended are species specific and location specific.

Key words: Sacred forests, anthropogenic pressure, threatened medicinal tree species, structural parameters, and conservation strategies

Publication Type: Abstract
Abstract: The North Chickamauga Creek Gorge State Natural Area (NCCG) consists of 7,073 acres and is located in Hamilton and Sequatchie counties in eastern Tennessee. The NCCG is on the eastern edge of the Cumberland Plateau and is bordered by the Ridge and Valley physiographic province. Broadly defined habitat types support a diverse assemblage of plants on the NCCG ’s upper plateau surface, gorge slopes, stream banks, and ruderal areas. Fifty collecting trips were made during the 2006 and 2007 growing seasons and 526 species of vascular plants in 108 families were documented. Seven species with either a state or federal listing were documented: Spiraea virginiana, Nestronia umbellula, Sabatia capitata, Diervilla sessilifolia var. rivularis, Panax quinquefolius, Viola tripartita and Glyceria acutifolia., and several populations of Scutellaria montana. Over fifty species of non-native species have also been documented, including Microstegium vimineum, Lespedeza bicolor, and Albizia julibrissin.

Publication Type: Abstract
Abstract: The loss of plant genetic resources has made necessary the development of new ex situ conservation methods. Advances in biotechnology provide new techniques for plant germplasm conservation and evaluation. Biotechnological tools such as in vitro culture, cryopreservation and molecular biology offer a valuable alternative to plant diversity studies, genetic resource management and conservation. This review summarizes the advances in plant conservation biotechnology with special emphasis on conservation efforts of Romanian flora. Strategies and the plant species used for establishment and maintenance of germplasm collections are reviewed.