Description
Czech nature is rich and diverse but there is a list of endangered species. An intense help is framed in documents giving basic information and instructions how to treat the most endangered species. Such a document, usually for a species, less often for a group, is called an “action plan”. It is approved by Ministry of the Environment, and conservation authorities, researches and owners of land use it as the guidelines how to maintain species populations. An action plan is a special tool which contains complex knowledge about species and recommends the measures how to support it. The Bohemian Early Gentian (Gentianella praecox subsp. bohemica) is specially protected species therefor the “Action Plan for Bohemian Early Gentian” was prepared in the year 2011. The project meets the target of the state environmental policy of the Czech Republic for 2012-2020. The main objective of the project is the implementation of the action plan by one large research studies aimed at studying the genetic variability of the species populations in the Czech Republic. The project outcomes are increasing of knowledge of species population. The project outputs are results of the study. Project will also include part of publicity and beyond expert publication summarizing the results of research focused on the species and excursions for the general public. The target group of the project is primarily a species and nature-conservation authorities. Secondarily, the protection and connected activities will carry out the influence over the general public via education.
Summary of project results
As a result of changes in management, when many of the habitats has been maintained by human activities in the past, especially by grazing and regular mowing, the present localities become gradually reducing in their size or even extincting and more fragmented and therefore less favorable for the growth and survival of Gentianella individuals. Today, the flowering plants occur very irregularly and often only in a small numbers at a large majority of the remaining localities. For its targeted protection there was therefore created the Action plan for Gentianella praecox subsp. bohemica in the Czech Republic. We studied 57 populations of Gentianella praecox subsp. bohemica from entire distribution range of species (32 of them were the Czech populations), which includes next to the Czech Republic, also the Bavarian part of the Šumava mountains, the northern part of Austria and south-western part of Poland (near state border with the Czech Republic). Genetic markers developed just for Gentianella praecox subsp. bohemica can be used for studies of other related species – Gentianella amarella subsp. amarella and Gentianella obtusifolia subsp. sturmiana. All these species are genetically very close. To the question whether these species really differ, however, would be needed more extensive study. We also used obtained genetic data to confirm the hybridization between Gentianella praecox subsp. bohemica and Gentianella amarella subsp. amarella. Overall, we can say that despite the dramatic decline of number of populations and massive fluctuations of their size, Gentianella praecox subsp. bohemica is doing relatively well. Its populations are genetically quite rich and thanks to its seed bank, the species can overcome even temporary declines in population sizes. Future of Gentianella praecox subsp. bohemica populations is so dependent primarily on the regular maintenance of its localities. It is thus necessary to ensure appropriate localities management to which is largely focused implemented Action plan for Gentianella praecox subsp. bohemica in the Czech Republic. Summary of the genetic data from all Czech populations also suggests that even very small populations have relatively high genetic diversity and there is therefore not a current need for support these populations by transfer of individuals from other populations.
Summary of bilateral results