Manuel Enrique Figueroa Clemente

Detection and Analysis of Genetic Variation in Salicornieae (Chenopodiaceae) Using Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) Markers

Salicornia L., Sarcocornia A. J. Scott and Arthrocnemum Moq. are halophyte genera belonging to the tribe Salicornieae Dumort. (Chenopodiaceae). They are taxonomically very close and share several morphological features, such as articulate, fleshy stems and opposite scale-like leaves. Some of their ecological, caryological and palynological characteristics also coincide, but others do not. The three genera are widely distributed in coastal habitats and inland salt marshes in many parts of the world. In coastal habitats, populations of each genus may grow under very different tidal regimes, ranging from the seaward edge that is inundated twice daily to the landward fringe that is flooded only by certain spring tides (Davy & Costa, 1992). On sand and low-lying mud deposits in estuaries of south-western Spain, the different species of Salicornia and Sarcocornia perennis (Mill.) A. J. Scott are found mostly in flooded marshes (at levels between mean high tide and mean high water), whereas Sarcocornia fruticosa (L.) A. J. Scott and Arthrocnemum macrostachyum (Moric.) Moris grow in non-flooded marshes (at levels between mean high water and mean spring tides). They all play an important role in salt marsh succession (Castellanos & al., 1994), showing a clear zonation with relation to tides. The taxonomic treatment of these genera by various authors and the delimitation and position of the species differ. The only species of Arthrocnemum present in Spain, A. macrostachyum, was included in Salicornia by early authors (Moricand, 1820; Lagasca, 1817), but later separated as a distinct genus based on differences in habit (Salicornia is annual while Arthrocnemum is perennial) and other characters. The two Spanish representatives of Sarcocornia usually recognized, S. fruticosa and S. perennis, were placed in Salicornia by Linnaeus (1753) and Miller (1768), respectively, then in Arthrocnemum by Moquin-Tandon (1840) and others, as again lately

La amenaza del desconocimiento en la conservación de la diversidad vegetal europea: el caso de la adormidera marítima

Cambrolle, J., Muñóz-Vallés, S., Luque, T., Figueroa, M.E. (2012). La amenaza del desconocimiento en la conservación de la diversidad vegetal europea: El caso de la adormidera marítima. Ecosistemas 21(3):110-112. Doi.: 10.7818/ECOS.2012.21-3.16 La industrialización y los cambios en el uso del territorio han originado que la flora europea esté considerada entre las más amenazadas del planeta. A pesar de los esfuerzos realizados, los datos que se manejan actualmente en relación a un gran número de especies son insuficientes para realizar una evaluación de su estado de conservación. Un ejemplo interesante lo encontramos en la “adormidera marítima” (Glaucium flavum). Aunque diferentes estudios indican que la sobreexplotación, transformación y eliminación de ecosistemas costeros durante las últimas décadas han afectado en gran medida a la conservación de esta especie, los datos que se manejan actualmente son insuficientes para realizar su evaluación a gran escala. Es necesario realizar un esfuerzo adicional para ampliar la información existente sobre el estado de conservación de ciertas especies que, a pesar de no encontrarse reconocidas como amenazadas, podrían estar experimentando importantes disminuciones en su área de distribución.