<i>Prunus lusitanica</i> L.: An Endangered Plant Species Relict in the Central Region of Mainland Portugal
Mauro A. M. Raposo,
Leonel J. R. Nunes,
Ricardo Quinto-Canas,
Sara del Río,
Francisco M. Vázquez Pardo,
Ana Galveias,
Carlos J. Pinto-Gomes
Affiliations
Mauro A. M. Raposo
Department of Landscape, Environment and Planning, School of Science and Technology, University of Évora, 7000-671 Évora, Portugal
Leonel J. R. Nunes
PROMETHEUS—Unidade de Investigação em Materiais, Energia e Ambiente para a Sustentabilidade, Escola Superior Agrária, Instituto Politécnico de Viana do Castelo, Rua da Escola Industrial e Comercial de Nun’Alvares, 4900-347 Viana do Castelo, Portugal
Ricardo Quinto-Canas
Centre of Marine Sciences (CCMAR), Faculty of Sciences and Technology, Campus de Gambelas, University of Algarve, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal
Sara del Río
Departamento de Biodiversidad y Gestión Ambiental (Área de Botánica), Instituto de Ganadería de Montaña (CSIC-ULE), Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas y Ambientales, Campus de Vegazana s/n, Universidad de León, E-24071 León, Spain
Francisco M. Vázquez Pardo
Departamento de Producción Florestal y Pastos, Centro de Investigación Finca La Orden-Valdesequera (CICYTEX), 06187 Guadajira, Spain
Ana Galveias
Department of Chemistry, ICT—Institute of Earth Sciences, School of Sciences and Technology & IIFA, University of Évora, 7000-671 Évora, Portugal
Carlos J. Pinto-Gomes
Department of Landscape, Environment and Planning, School of Science and Technology, University of Évora, 7000-671 Évora, Portugal
Prunus lusitanica L. is a paleotropical relic species with an Ibero-Maghrebian distribution, which is presently considered as an endangered species, recognized by the Natura 2000 Network (92/43/EEC) as a priority habitat for conservation in Europe. The mountains in the Portuguese mainland central region offer the best location for this species to occur. The main objective of this study is to measure the current conservation status of the communities of P. lusitanica, through the collection of field data, such as the number of existing individuals of each population and their location, which will then be comparatively analyzed based on the previous literature, published at least 15 years ago. Soil characterization analysis was carried out and the main threats to conservation were identified. As a result, a decline of approximately 40% was observed in the number of individuals and in the quality of their habitat. The main threats to their conservation were found to be the seasonal occurrence of rural fires and the expansion of invasive species, such as Acacia dealbata Link and Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle. Finally, we present the main management methodologies that should be considered for the valorization of this important vegetational relic in the central region of mainland Portugal.
