Nearly two out of every five plant species worldwide may be at risk of extinction. In this context, identifying the most vulnerable species and developing efficient conservation strategies is more crucial than ever.
Rising to this challenge is a team of researchers led by Professor Angelino Carta from the Department of Biology at the University of Pisa. Their research, published in the journal New Phytologist, introduces a novel methodology based on the evolutionary distinctiveness of species, aimed at optimizing the collections held in seed banks. The approach not only enhances conservation outcomes but also offers significant potential for cost reduction. The study was carried out in collaboration with researchers from the Doñana Biological Station (Spain), and the botanic gardens of Geneva (Switzerland), Meise (Belgium), and Kew (UK).
The team analyzed a massive dataset compiled from 109 seed banks, representing more than 22,000 species across the European flora. While the collections were found to be diverse, they still fall short of encompassing the full spectrum of evolutionary diversity. In essence, some branches of the phylogenetic tree of European plants are currently missing from ex-situ conservation efforts. The species most in need of collection and storage are often those that represent unique evolutionary lineages—plants with unusual reproductive strategies or highly restricted geographic ranges.
“This is a scalable and customizable approach that can be adapted to different conservation goals, depending on available resources,” explains Carta. “Our work provides a solid foundation for future conservation actions and could help guide policy discussions on biodiversity protection, food system resilience, and habitat restoration under climate change scenarios.”
The methodology aligns with emerging conservation priorities by emphasizing evolutionary uniqueness—a concept often used in biodiversity assessments to identify irreplaceable species. By prioritizing these species, seed banks can maximize their contribution to long-term plant survival and ecosystem stability.
(Translation supported by ChatGPT)