LACTUCA WATSONIANA TREL., AN INTEGRATED STUDY TOWARDS CONSERVATION

STUDENT SEMINAR IN BIODIVERSITY AND EVOLUTION

Lactuca watsoniana Trelease (Asteraceae) is an Azorean priority species (Silva et al. 2009), included in Habitats Directive as a Priority species (Annex B-II) and also in Bern Convention (Appendix 1, Annex 1). Natural populations were estimated to include only from 1000 to 2000 individuals. It is present in the islands of São Miguel, Terceira, Pico and Faial. However, L. watsoniana is considered as rare taxon in danger of extinction. Its habitat includes steep slopes of craters, ravines, and temperate juniper rain forest. Although it is listed as a priority species, little was known about its reproductive output or its genetic variability. With this study basic information is being gathered on population genetics, seed germination, phylogeny and morphology in order to develop an effective recovery plan for this endangered plant taxon.

Elisabete has graduated in Biology by the University of Azores in 2005, and has completed her Master degree in Plant Biotecnology and Biodiversity by the University of Azores in 2012. Her master thesis was entitled “Population genetics study of the genus Leontodon in the Azores”. This work inspired her current PhD project, in the University of the Azores, under the theme of “Conservation of Lactuca watsoniana Trelease, an Azorean priority species: Phylogenetics, Population Genetics and Propagation”, supervised by Luis Silva, Mónica Moura and Hanno Schaefer, and in collaboration with CIBIO-InBIO/UAzores.

Image credits: Elisabete Dias