Conservation of North America's Native Vanilla (Orchidaceae) Species

Conservation of North America's Native Vanilla (Orchidaceae) Species
Author: William Grant Morton (Ph.D.)
Publisher:
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2022
Genre:
ISBN:

The orchid genus Vanilla, subfamily Vanilloideae, is distributed globally throughout the tropics with over 100 species. Six species inhabit southern Florida and only four are considered native: Vanilla barbellata, V. dilloniana, V. mexicana, and V. phaeantha. Vanilla dilloniana and V. mexicana are already considered locally extinct in Florida, while V. barbellata and V. phaeantha's distribution is limited to protected areas. All four of these species are considered rare, threatened, and endangered in Florida. Their habitats face numerous environmental threats including loss of pollinators, seed dispersers, and habitat fragmentation, as well as anthropogenically driven threats such as habitat degradation and the effects of climate change like sea-level rise. Considering these escalating threats conservation efforts are needed now more than ever. Yet, little is known about their genetic structure, mycobionts, and mycobiont compositions. Through genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) we determined genetic diversity, evidence of gene flow, and low heterozygosity of disjunct populations of sampled Vanilla barbellata populations. Additionally, we isolate and identify culturable endophytic fungi to ascertain their diversity and to acquire fungi with the potential to germinate orchid seeds. We were able to isolate and identify a wide variety of culturable fungi, from latent pathogen and non-mycorrhizal fungi to dark septate endophytes. Furthermore, with next-generation sequencing we explore and identify the composition and diversity of the mycobiomes of Vanilla barbellata and V. phaeantha and their different compartments. Counter to part of our initial hypotheses, we did not detect substantial differences of the mycobiome, between the two species, yet as we anticipated significant differences are evident between plant compartments. Data acquired in this study provide a foundational baseline for Vanilla conservation efforts that integrate their ecology, with a focus on the declining habitats of southern Florida. Accordingly, future conservation efforts that consider the relocation of these Vanilla species via assisted migration or ex situ cultivation should consider the fungal community compositions found here. Adamantly and with the support of these findings, we recommend immediate conservation efforts focused on symbiotic seed germination and assisted migration of these imperiled species to habitats beyond reach of the threats of climate change.

The Pollination Biology of North American Orchids: Volume 2

The Pollination Biology of North American Orchids: Volume 2
Author: Charles L. Argue
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 207
Release: 2011-09-21
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1461406226

Recent studies have revealed remarkable complexity and diversity in orchid-pollinator relationships. These studies comprise a vast literature currently scattered in numerous, often obscure, journals and books. The Pollination Biology of North American Orchids brings together, for the first time, a comprehensive treatment of this information for all native and introduced North American orchids found north of Mexico and Florida. It provides detailed information on genetic compatibility, breeding systems, pollinators, pollination mechanisms, fruiting success, and limiting factors for each species. Distribution, habitat, and floral morphology are also summarized. In addition, detailed line drawings emphasize orchid reproductive organs and their adaptation to known pollinators. This, the second of two volumes, treats the subfamily Orchidoideae with the tribe Cranichideae. This is followed by examination of the seven North American tribes of subfamily Epidendroideae and the single North American tribe of subfamily Vanilloideae. The Pollination Biology of North American Orchids will be of interest to both regional and international audiences including: Researchers and students in this field of study who are currently required to search through the scattered literature to obtain the information gathered here. Researchers and students in related fields with an interest in the co-evolution of plants and insects. Conservation specialists who need to understand both the details of orchid reproduction and the identity of primary pollinators in order to properly manage the land for both. Orchid breeders who require accurate and current information on orchid breeding systems. General readers with an interest in orchid biology. Charles Argue, Ph.D., is a plant biologist at the University of Minnesota specializing in the study of pollen grains. His articles have appeared in numerous journals including the American Journal of Botany, International Journal of Plant Sciences (formerly Botanical Gazette), Botany (formerly Canadian Journal of Botany), Grana, Pollen et Spores, North American Native Orchid Journal, The Native Orchid Conference Journal, Fremontia, and as chapters in a number of books. .

Wild Orchids Across North America

Wild Orchids Across North America
Author:
Publisher: Timber Press (OR)
Total Pages: 332
Release: 1998
Genre: Gardening
ISBN:

The author has driven more than 100,000 miles and walked several hundred more in pursuit of orchids in their native habits. This is an account of his trips in Canada and throughout the U.S.

The Pollination Biology of North American Orchids: Volume 1

The Pollination Biology of North American Orchids: Volume 1
Author: Charles L. Argue
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 232
Release: 2011-09-30
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1461405920

Recent studies have revealed remarkable complexity and diversity in orchid-pollinator relationships. These studies comprise a vast literature currently scattered in numerous, often obscure, journals and books. The Pollination Biology of North American Orchids brings together, for the first time, a comprehensive treatment of this information for all native and introduced North American orchids found north of Mexico and Florida. It provides detailed information on genetic compatibility, breeding systems, pollinators, pollination mechanisms, fruiting success, and limiting factors for each species. Distribution, habitat, and floral morphology are also summarized. In addition, detailed line drawings emphasize orchid reproductive organs and their adaptation to known pollinators. This, the first of two volumes, furnishes a brief introduction to the general morphology of the orchid flower and the terminology used to describe orchid breeding systems and reproductive strategies. It treats the lady’s-slippers of genus Cypripedium, subfamily Cypripedioideae, and nine genera of the subfamily Orchidoideae, including the diverse rein orchids of genus Platanthera. The Pollination Biology of North American Orchids will be of interest to both regional and international audiences including: Researchers and students in this field of study who are currently required to search through the scattered literature to obtain the information gathered here. Researchers and students in related fields with an interest in the co-evolution of plants and insects. Conservation specialists who need to understand both the details of orchid reproduction and the identity of primary pollinators in order to properly manage the land for both. Orchid breeders who require accurate and current information on orchid breeding systems. General readers with an interest in orchid biology. Charles Argue, Ph.D., is a plant biologist at the University of Minnesota specializing in the study of pollen grains. His articles have appeared in numerous journals including the American Journal of Botany, International Journal of Plant Sciences (formerly Botanical Gazette), Botany (formerly Canadian Journal of Botany), Grana, Pollen et Spores, North American Native Orchid Journal, The Native Orchid Conference Journal, Fremontia, and as chapters in a number of books.

Orchids

Orchids
Author: IUCN/SSC Orchid Specialist Group
Publisher: IUCN
Total Pages: 176
Release: 1996
Genre: Ecological surveys
ISBN: 9782831703251

This action plan chronicles the threats faced by wild orchids, but more importantly to critical habitats that host extraordinarily high orchid diversity and endemicity. It explores and recommends specific ways that national and local government, legislators, scientists and orchid conservationists as well as growers can all help to reverse present trends. The facts and viewpoints presented in this comprehensive document update and supplement the information available to conservation organizations and agencies through the world so that they can lobby their appropriate government offices more effectively.

Vanilla Orchids

Vanilla Orchids
Author: Ken Cameron
Publisher: Timber Press
Total Pages: 213
Release: 2012-01-06
Genre: Gardening
ISBN: 1604693215

With more than 30,000 known species, orchids represent the largest family of plants. But only one genus has agricultural value—the Vanilla orchid. Leading orchid expert Ken Cameron covers the natural history of the world’s most popular flavor and fragrance and provides an introduction to the pollination, biology, structure, evolution, and diversity of Vanilla and related orchids. Vanilla Orchids also features methods for bean harvest, curing, and processing for enthusiasts who want to try it at home.