TAILIEUCHUNG - Reproductive success of the rare endemic Orchis galilaea (Orchidaceae) in Lebanon
The biology and ecology of Orchis galilaea Schltr., a species endemic to Lebanon, Palestine, and Jordan, is poorly studied, a fact that hinders present and future management and conservation efforts concerning this species. In this paper, we report findings of a field investigation that assessed the impact of altitude, population density, and plant size on the reproductive success of O. galilaea. | Research Article Turk J Bot 36 (2012) 677-682 © TÜBİTAK doi: Reproductive success of the rare endemic Orchis galilaea (Orchidaceae) in Lebanon 1 2 Nisrine MACHAKA-HOURI1,2, Mohammad Souheil AL-ZEIN3, 1 2, Duncan Brian WESTBURY , Salma Nashabe TALHOUK * School of Agriculture, Policy & Development, The University of Reading - UK 3 Department of Landscape Design and Ecosystem Management, and IBSAR, Nature Conservation Center for Sustainable Futures, American University of Beirut, Beirut - LEBANON Department of Natural Sciences, School of Arts and Sciences, Lebanese American University, Beirut - LEBANON Received: ● Accepted: Abstract: The biology and ecology of Orchis galilaea Schltr., a species endemic to Lebanon, Palestine, and Jordan, is poorly studied, a fact that hinders present and future management and conservation efforts concerning this species. In this paper, we report findings of a field investigation that assessed the impact of altitude, population density, and plant size on the reproductive success of O. galilaea. The results revealed that plant size and population density were significantly correlated with reproductive success while altitude was not. This study is part of ongoing research on the ecological responses of O. galilaea and provides a baseline for understanding the conservation potentials for this rare endemic species. Key words: Altitude, population density, plant size, fruit set, deceptive pollination, conservation Introduction Semi-natural habitats of the Mediterranean region, a recognised biodiversity hotspot harbouring more than 50% of endemic plant species, are subject to increasing threats. Hence, there is a need to step up efforts to generate baseline data that enable monitoring, conservation, and management of plant species, particularly rare and endemic ones (Quézel, 1985; Heywood, 1995; de Montmollin & Strahm, 2005). In line with this goal, the present study investigated Orchis .
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