José Miguel Medina-Cazorla

Biogeography of the Baetic ranges (SE Spain): A historical approach using cluster and parsimony analyses of endemic dolomitophytes

Abstract The Baetic ranges are one of the major hot‐spots of biodiversity in the Mediterranean basin. The prominent Baetic plant richness is based mostly on the variety of ecological gradients, including the geological substrates such as dolomites. Dolomitic outcrops are not uncommon in the area, and they produce genuine edaphic islands inducing a peculiar flora and vegetation with high endemicity levels. Indeed, the habitats from these outcrops have been included in the Habitats Directive by the EU. This paper deals with the biogeographical relations between the dolomitophilous flora of the Baetic ranges. The presence/absence of those species was recorded in each of the Baetic ranges and the most interesting relations were revealed by means of two complementary strategies: Cluster Analysis and PAE. Using the current biogeographical classification of Rivas‐Martínez to describe the results, the ranges of the Rondean Sector appear separated from the rest of the Baetic chorological province, since they comprise the most distinct flora. This division could be explained by the fact that this sector was separated from the Iberian Peninsula during the Messinian age (7.2–5.3 Ma) and, simultaneously, connected to Africa. The rest of the ranges belong to one of the following two groups: (1) the Malacitan‐Almijarensean Sector and the western sub‐Baetic territories; (2) the eastern territories of the sub‐Baetic Sector. The ranges of the Guadician‐Bacensean and Alpujarrean‐Gadorensean Sectors behave as “satellite” ranges of the two above‐mentioned groups.

Iberian Baetic Endemic Flora and the Implications for a Conservation Policy

The Baetic ranges in the Iberian Peninsula are extremely rich and outstanding in biological terms. Based on the existing literature, herbarium sheets and our own field research, we provide a checklist of the endemic flora growing in the Baetic chorological province. The checklist includes 418 taxa belonging to 43 families, with the species pool concentrated within large families. The highest number of endemic species is recorded in the altitudinal range of 1300–1500 m a.s.l. Hemicryptophytes represent the most frequent life form (45.5%). Conservation priorities should concentrate on non-woody life forms (particularly on hemicryptophytes), and on high mountain areas. Most of the taxa can be ascribed to serial shrublands (36.87%), or rock- or scree-dwelling formations (26.25%), with climactic forest formations playing a minor role (3.24%). This successional position has important implications for conservation programmes. Therefore, a clear distinction should be made between serial or plagioclimactic formations (e.g. dolomite thyme-scrub communities) and degraded communities of little interest for the preservation of biodiversity (e.g. synanthropic vegetation). Astragalus nevadensis subsp. andresmolinae (Díez-Garretas & Asensi) Mota & F.J. Pérez-García is proposed as a new combination.

Gap Analysis and selection of reserves for the threatened flora of eastern Andalusia, a hot spot in the eastern Mediterranean region

Abstract The Betic ranges are recognised as one of the hot spots of biodiversity in the Mediterranean region. The greater part of this territory is in Andalusia and is very rich in vascular plants, some of them endemic. The territory exhibits enormous orographical and geological complexity. This is, in short, a mosaic, fragmented landscape with extremely high β-diversity. This scenario is ideal for monitoring the efficiency of reserve areas. The main aim of this research is to see whether the Network of Natural Protected Areas of Andalusia, extended with the SCIs, is sufficient to safeguard the plant biodiversity, represented in this case by the threatened vascular flora. The analysis includes also the areas corresponding to the priority habitats as defined in the Directive 92/43/EEC. Considering that the presence of priority habitats was a guideline in the drafting of the SCIs, this last inclusion is logical. The results reveal that SCIs are the most efficient strategy for the preservation of the flora, although almost 30% of the flora occur outside these sites. By contrast, the areas with priority habitats failed to cover over 70% of the threatened flora.

Selection of an endemic flora reserve network and its biogeographical significance in the Baetic ranges (Southern Spain)

Abstract The Baetic mountains are a very important centre of plant diversity and endemicity. The current environmental legislation includes many of these localities. In order to assess the current reserves network and to propose a selection of protected areas, and to examine the biogeographic distinctiveness of that selection, we applied to the orophilous endemic flora a variety of algorithms (some of which were never used for Europe before) on the Baetic ranges. In order to preserve this natural heritage, it would be necessary to protect at least twelve massifs, considering the siliceous portion of Sierra Nevada as a great priority area. The most notable gaps in the legislation are the ranges of Gádor, Revolcadores and La Pandera. The selected localities were characterized by their great biogeographical distinctiveness. The distinctiveness of the obtained selections stresses their reliability and also emphasizes the suitability of the biogeographic researches of the flora of the Baetic ranges for conservation objectives.

Preliminary essay on the chorology of the Iberian gypsicolous flora: rarity and richness of the gypsum outcrops

Abstract The Iberian aljezares have been recognized as areas of high phyto—diversity and endemism as they harbour an extremely peculiar flora. Mining activities can endanger this flora. It is necessary to indicate the most important areas in order to conserve the biodiversity, so the chorology of 53 gypsophytes taxa have been developed where “1” was used for presences of every taxon and “0” for absences in UTM cells of 10 × 10 km2. This chorology is a complex dataset including numerous local endemics and high territorial differences (high β-diver- sity). In addition, the results indicate that the richest aljezares are present in the Central Iberian Meseta (plateau), while the highest values of rarity are situated in the semiarid South East of the Iberian Peninsula.

Threatened plants of arid ecosystems in the Mediterranean Basin: a case study of the south-eastern Iberian Peninsula

Networks of protected areas are one of the main strategies used to address the biodiversity crisis. These should encompass as many species and ecosystems as possible, particularly in territories with high biological diversity, such as the Spanish arid zones. We produce a priority ranking of the arid zones of south-east Spain according to the rarity and richness of their characteristic flora and the level of endangerment. The resulting hierarchy shows that optimal zones for the preservation of the flora are located outside the network of protected areas. In particular, it is important to extend the network and encourage the creation of microreserves in the depression of the River Guadiana Menor (Granada), where there is least protection. This river valley is a particularly important arid site because of its unique flora and fauna, and palaeontological and archaeological findings.

Is the endangered flora of the Iberian southeast adequately protected? Gaps in the Network of Protected Natural Areas of Andalusia (RENPA): the case of the province of Almería.

Abstract The province of Almería presents a mosaic of ecological conditions which has given rise to an extremely rich natural patrimony. Combining a number of criteria aiming at the preservation of endangered species with chorologi- cal information is an efficient way of determining the floristically valuable areas at a regional level. Our research aims at defining the most valuable sites in Almería as far as flora is concerned in order to subsequently compare the results with the Network of Protected Natural Areas of Andalusia (RENPA). We have taken as our fundamental reference a very detailed and geo—referenced data base with all the catalogued taxa occurring in Almería. The implementation both of several algorithms for the automatic selection of natural reserves and of the indexes of Importance and Responsibility provides a set of solutions comparable with the RENPA proposals. Our results reveal that there are still unprotected enclaves with species whose conservation is crucial if we wish to safeguard the highest degree of diversity. A network of micro—reserves would help not only to protect these extremely valuable botanical areas but also to bring their importance to the attention of the general public.

The dolomite shrublands of the Convolvuletalia boissieri order and their preservation by means of the Habitats Directive

Abstract The shrublands of the Convolvuletalia boissieri order have been known since 1953, when Quézel published the first association in the dolomites of Sierra Nevada (south of Spain). Despite their enormous floristic and ecological originality, the Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC does not mention them as priority habitats. This omission is striking given the particular attention paid by this Directive to other habitats which, like this one, are associated with special substrates. The shrublands of the Gypsophiletalia order, i.e. habitat 1520 of the above mentioned Directive corresponding to gypsophilous vegetation, are a particular case in the Iberian Peninsula. The extensive study of both habitats and their flora over recent years has provided a magnificent opportunity for us to compare them, review their current state of preservation and demand that more serious attention be paid to dolomites.

Genetic analysis based on plastidial and ribosomal sequences of the endemic bi-edaphic taxon Jurinea pinnata (Lag.) DC. (Compositae) in the Guadix-Baza Basin

Jurinea pinnata (Lag.) DC. is one of the three species of the genus that grows in the Iberian Peninsula. This species grows on gypsum and dolomite, substrates rich in endemic taxa. Actually, the genus Jurinea Cass. is particularly rich in endemic taxa associated with special substrates. The island-like distribution of J. pinnata makes it an interesting case for the study of genetic differentiation processes. The geographical proximity of J. pinnata and J. humilis makes this evolutionary puzzle even more difficult to solve. These facts could affect the genetic attributes of the species as far as diversity and differentiation are concerned. Our field research involved the sampling of individuals from eight populations of J. pinnata. Of them, six were located in the Guadix-Baza Basin. We used sequences of ribosomal and plastid DNA to perform the genetic analyses. Results revealed no differences between individuals occurring on the two kinds of substrates and evidences of hybridization between J. pinnata and J. humilis. Furthermore, the phylogenetic analysis revealed a possible polyphyletic origin for the adaptation to special substrates within the Jurinea genus, while monophyly was observed in species from the Iberian Peninsula. This could indicate a more general adaptation to arid or saline environments.

The application of vegetation cartography and databases to the management and conservation of the biodiversity: an approach from the southeast of the Iberian Peninsula.

Abstract The vegetation cartography is a tool with an enormous potential for the management and conservation of biodiversity. Within the framework of an Andalusian project, we have carried out an accurate cartography (scale 1:10.000) of the flora and vegetation of 300.000 ha of the province of Almería. Due to the heterogeneity of this large area, the collected data allow us to do a quantitative assessment of the territory and determinate which are the richest patches from different points of view. The results emphasise that the semiarid lowlands and the Murciano—Almerienses territories are as rich and diverse than the Baetic sierras. The seasonal rivers are significant biodiversity reserves as well as the littoral dunes. The endangered flora tends to occur in the peaks of Sierra de Gádor, the Eastern coast, the gypsum outcrops and the subsaline marls of the sub—deserts of Almería. Lately, the holm oaks vegetation series are the most natural ones and those with higher vegetation cover. All these results must be guidelines in the management politics of natural protected areas and future SCIs in order to stop the current biodiversity loss in Almería.