Format: ORAL

Magda Bou Dagher Kharrat, Carole Saliba, Rhea Kahale, Sonja Yakovlev and Thierry Robert

Faculty of Science, Saint Joseph University of Beirut And Mediterranean Facility (EFIMED) European Forest Institute (EFI) - Barcelona Office Sant Pau Art Nouveau Site, Sant Leopold Pavilion C/ Sant Antoni M. Claret, 167, 08025 Barcelona – Spain

The Mediterranean Basin is considered to be one of the most biodiverse regions in the world and an important site of floral exchange and active plant speciation. Lebanon, a micro-hotspot for plant biodiversity in the Mediterranean Basin is characterized by the coexistence of plants with diverse biogeographical origins and a large number of narrow endemic taxa. It clearly exhibits differentiated center of endemism. Topographical relief and sharp climatic contrasts within a small geographical area may have driven micro-evolutionary diversification processes of newly evolved species while water availability was critical for the long-term persistence of ancient lineages in refuge areas of smoother topography. As natural habitats continue to be lost and degraded, many plant species are becoming increasingly threatened especially endemic plant species that are usually more vulnerable to anthropogenic threats and natural changes. Therefore, they hold a higher extinction risk. The preservation of these species is a major concern on a worldwide context. Our research group has carried out for the last few years an interdisciplinary, integrated approach to the conservation of threatened plants of the Lebanese flora and to ecosystem restoration. Investigations on plant distribution, systematic relationships, autoecology, genetic structure, and some plant-animal species interactions were conducted in order to plan conservation activities. My talk will focus on Lebanese endemic Irises. Four of the 7 Iris studied are classified as Endangered and 2 as Critically Endangered. Knowing what taxonomic units need to be preserved and how unique they are is a prerequisite to any conservation action. Since rescue from possible extinction could be performed through the reinforcement of populations, defining species and differentiating taxa is crucial in order to define conservation units. For this purpose, molecular and cytogenetic studies were conducted, targeting different species in need of in-situ and ex-situ conservation.