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Is there a future for the Cactaceae genera Copiapoa, Eriosyce and Eulychnia? A status report of a prickly situation

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Abstract

Many of Chile’s iconic cactus species are threatened by human activities and global change. In order to safeguard them from extinction, both in situ and ex situ conservation actions are urgently needed. In this paper, an overview is given of the in situ and ex situ conservation status of the mainly Chilean cactus genera Copiapoa, Eriosyce and Eulychnia, including a worldwide survey of living ex situ collections of the species of these genera. From our results, we can conclude that although the threats to Chile’s remarkable biodiversity are now recognized as an environmental problem, and efforts are underway to protect the threatened endemic flora, many of the most threatened species are currently not protected in situ. Although a higher percentage of living accessions of Copiapoa, Eriosyce and Eulychnia in ex situ collections are of known wild origin compared to results of previous studies on other plant groups, the number of available accessions is insufficient to adequately preserve the genetic diversity of the threatened species. Prospects to upscale both in situ and ex situ conservation of the studied genera are discussed.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to H. E. Walter, P. C. Guerrero and A. C. Sandoval (Chile), G. Pino Infante, C. Ostolaza and F. Cáceres Huamani (Peru), as well as R. Kiesling (Argentina) for information about Copiapoa, Eriosyce and Eulychnia species in their countries. We would also like to acknowledge J. Reyes Santiago for providing information concerning cactus conservation at the Botanical Garden of the Biology Institute of the National Autonomous University of Mexico. This work was supported by research grants of the Special Research Fund (‘A future for cacti?’ postdoctoral research Grant no. B/13089/19, BOF, Ghent University, Belgium) and the Department of Biology, Ghent University, Belgium. The field expedition was financed by travel Grants of the Research Foundation—Flanders (FWO) and the Leopold III-Fund and with support of the Department of Biology, Ghent University, Belgium. This study is part of the project “PLAN(E)T, Plants for the future—A future for our planet” funded by the Fondation Franklinia (Ghent University project number E/01394/01).

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  1. Ghent University Research Group Spermatophytes & Botanical Garden, K.L. Ledeganckstraat 35, 9000, Ghent, Belgium

    Isabel Larridon, Paul Goetghebeur & Marie-Stéphanie Samain

  2. Centro Regional del Bajío, Instituto de Ecología, A.C., Avenida Lázaro Cárdenas 253, 61600, Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, Mexico

    Anna Paizanni Guillén & Marie-Stéphanie Samain

  3. Jardín Botánico Nacional, Camino El Olivar 305 El Salto, Viña del Mar, Chile

    Mauricio A. Cisternas

  4. Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI), 199 Kew Road, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 3BW, UK

    Kirsty Shaw, Suzanne Sharrock & Sara Oldfield

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  1. Isabel Larridon
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Correspondence to Isabel Larridon.

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Communicated by Danna J Leaman.

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Larridon, I., Shaw, K., Cisternas, M.A. et al. Is there a future for the Cactaceae genera Copiapoa, Eriosyce and Eulychnia? A status report of a prickly situation. Biodivers Conserv 23, 1249–1287 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-014-0664-z

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