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Plants
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The Conservation of Protected Plant Species: From Theory to Practice
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The Conservation of Protected Plant Species: From Theory to Practice

A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Protection and Biotic Interactions".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 January 2026 | Viewed by 5698

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Zigmantas Gudžinskas

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Nature Research Centre, Institute of Botany, 12000 Vilnius, Lithuania
Interests: plant invasions; plant ecology; plant taxonomy; species conservation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The conservation of legally protected plant species is an integral part of global environmental and biodiversity protection. Despite many efforts, plant species or individual populations are declining for a complex array of interrelated reasons: anthropogenic pressures, habitat and ecosystem degradation, climate change, biological invasions, changes in traditional agricultural practices and other human economic activities. It is therefore essential to comprehensively assess the causes of plant species decline and the short- and long-term processes occurring in their populations and habitats. Such knowledge is essential to identify the best methods and most effective conservation measures for protected plant species.

For this Special Issue, we invite the submission of articles dealing with different aspects of the study of protected plant species:

  • Conservation, management and restoration of the habitats of protected plant species.
  • Spatial and temporal changes in populations of protected plant species.
  • Population demographic structure and its relationship to environmental conditions.
  • Traits of protected plant species and their effect on population stability.
  • Mutualistic, symbiotic and trophic relationships of protected plant species with other organisms.
  • Effect of climate change on population trends and stability.
  • Impact of anthropogenic factors on populations of protected plant species.
  • Effect of invasive organisms on populations of protected plant species.
  • Genetic diversity in populations and its effect on population stability.
  • Policy and best practice for the conservation of protected plant species.

Dr. Zigmantas Gudžinskas
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Plants is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • biodiversity conservation
  • climate change
  • habitats
  • invasive species
  • legally protected plant species
  • management
  • plant traits
  • populations

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

19 pages, 1431 KB  
Article
Spatial Patterns and Species Distribution Model-Based Conservation Priorities for Scrophularia takesimensis on Ulleungdo
by Gyeong-Yeon Lee, Na-Yeong Kim, Tae-Kyung Eom, Deokki Kim, Seung-Eun Lee and Tae-Bok Ryu
Plants 2025, 14(22), 3498; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14223498 - 16 Nov 2025
Viewed by 222
Abstract
Conserving near-shore island endemics requires workflows that are robust to small, spatially clustered samples and that translate Species Distribution Model (SDM) into regulation-ready actions. We formalize a transferable SDM-to-action blueprint—(i) cluster-aware spatial holdout (leave-one-cluster-out, LOCO), (ii) conservative, high-specificity binarization paired with simple ecological [...] Read more.
Conserving near-shore island endemics requires workflows that are robust to small, spatially clustered samples and that translate Species Distribution Model (SDM) into regulation-ready actions. We formalize a transferable SDM-to-action blueprint—(i) cluster-aware spatial holdout (leave-one-cluster-out, LOCO), (ii) conservative, high-specificity binarization paired with simple ecological filters, and (iii) explicit area-band uncertainty—and apply it to the Ulleungdo (Republic of Korea) endemic Scrophularia takesimensis. We combined 2008–2024 field records with a 5 m resolution MaxEnt model (linear–quadratic features; regularization RM = 1.40) using 28 unique presences versus 744 background points sampled within an accessible coastal belt (300 m from shore). Under LOCO, the model generalized well (AUC = 0.984 ± 0.014; partial AUC at specificity of at least 0.90 = 0.935; RelRMSE = 0.107) and mapped a narrow near-shore suitability belt with a continuous northern–northeastern core and fragmented southern–eastern satellites. To obtain a regulation-ready map, we converted continuous suitability to binary using a cutoff that achieved specificity of at least 0.98 under spatial holdout (threshold: 0.472; baseline: 300 m) and applied two ecological filters (retain areas within 90 m of shoreline; remove patches < 75 m2), yielding a CORE of 1.148 km2 that captured 71.4% of recent records with zero leakage beyond the belt after post-processing. Accessible-mask sensitivity (masks of 300, 450, and 600 m) bounded the post-processed CORE to 0.930–1.593 km2 (coverage: 0.607–0.789), which we carry forward as a planning area band. We translate these results into a tiered plan: protect the near-shore core, reconnect the fragmented southern and eastern stretches, and survey the highest-ranked coastal segments. Beyond this case, the blueprint generalizes to other small-n near-shore endemics, offering a transparent path from the SDM to policy while clarifying that, given static predictors, inferences concern present-day suitability rather than climate change forecasting. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Conservation of Protected Plant Species: From Theory to Practice)
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28 pages, 7950 KB  
Article
The Effect of Forest Habitats on the Traits and Demographic Structure of Cardamine bulbifera (Brassicaceae) Populations
by Laurynas Taura and Zigmantas Gudžinskas
Plants 2025, 14(18), 2899; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14182899 - 18 Sep 2025
Viewed by 521
Abstract
The conservation of plant species requires detailed knowledge of their reproductive behaviour and population demographic structure. This is particularly important for species such as Cardamine bulbifera, which depend on old-growth forest habitats and rely predominantly or entirely on vegetative reproduction through axillary [...] Read more.
The conservation of plant species requires detailed knowledge of their reproductive behaviour and population demographic structure. This is particularly important for species such as Cardamine bulbifera, which depend on old-growth forest habitats and rely predominantly or entirely on vegetative reproduction through axillary bulbils. Although C. bulbifera has a wide native range, little is known about its population structure and dynamics. The aim of this study was to assess the demographic composition, density and main traits of C. bulbifera individuals in six populations occurring in three types of forest habitats in southern Lithuania: Fennoscandian hemiboreal natural old broadleaved deciduous forests, Fennoscandian herb-rich forests with Picea abies and Galio-Carpinetum oak–hornbeam forests. Field studies were conducted in 2023, during which a total of 20 sampling plots (each 1 m2) were analysed in each population, arranged in a transect. The study revealed an absolute dominance of young (juvenile and immature) individuals in the populations (89.2%), whereas mature individuals comprised only a small fraction (10.8%). The proportion of mature individuals was significantly larger in hornbeam forests than in the other two forest types. The highest density of individuals was recorded in broadleaved forest, while the lowest density was found in spruce forest habitat. Mature C. bulbifera individuals in hornbeam habitats were significantly taller and had longer inflorescences than those in other habitats. The highest mean number of bulbils was produced by individuals of the studied species in spruce habitats, while bulbil production was lowest in hornbeam habitats. The strongest negative contribution to the number of C. bulbifera individuals was the area of bare soil in the sampling plot, whereas herb cover had the strongest positive effect. These results highlight habitat-specific differences in C. bulbifera population structure and suggest that the long-term viability of its populations is closely associated with forest type, as well as stability of the habitat and plant community. The optimum habitat conditions for C. bulbifera are found in old broadleaved forests, and habitats with natural succession are the most favourable for its growth and conservation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Conservation of Protected Plant Species: From Theory to Practice)
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22 pages, 2309 KB  
Article
The Ecological Drivers of the Mosaic Structure of Bryophyte and Vascular Plant Cover in the Rich Fens of Lithuania
by Monika Kalvaitienė and Ilona Jukonienė
Plants 2025, 14(17), 2662; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14172662 - 26 Aug 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 816
Abstract
The composition and structure of vegetation have been recognised as the main determinants of habitat quality, which influences biodiversity. The presented research focuses on the mosaic structure of Lithuanian rich fens and their relationship to ecological conditions. This study was conducted across 98 [...] Read more.
The composition and structure of vegetation have been recognised as the main determinants of habitat quality, which influences biodiversity. The presented research focuses on the mosaic structure of Lithuanian rich fens and their relationship to ecological conditions. This study was conducted across 98 study plots amongst 15 fens distributed throughout Lithuania. This research included the cover and abundance of vascular plants and bryophytes, water parameters (conductivity, pH, and concentrations of Ca2+, Fe3+, K+, Mg2+, NH4+, NO3−, and PO43−), topography type, and the cover of hummocks. Vegetation studies resulted in the distinction of two clusters containing ten bryophyte groups and two clusters containing eleven vascular plants groups. The main diagnostic species for bryophyte clusters were Scorpidium cossonii and Calliergonella cuspidata, and those for the vascular plant clusters were Carex lepidocarpa and Carex rostrata. The mosaic distribution of vegetation observed in both the bryophyte and vascular plant layers is primarily shaped by local hydrological regimes, microtopographical variation, and the amount of iron present. The habitats of bryophyte groups, as compared to those of vascular plants, were determined by narrower ecological conditions. This study emphasised the specificity of Lithuanian fens, which are located at the junction of the boreal and continental biogeographical regions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Conservation of Protected Plant Species: From Theory to Practice)
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22 pages, 29994 KB  
Article
In Situ Conservation of Orchidaceae Diversity in the Intercontinental Biosphere Reserve of the Mediterranean (Moroccan Part)
by Yahya El Karmoudi, Nikos Krigas, Brahim Chergui El Hemiani, Abdelmajid Khabbach and Mohamed Libiad
Plants 2025, 14(8), 1254; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14081254 - 20 Apr 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2563
Abstract
The focus of this study was the Intercontinental Biosphere Reserve of the Mediterranean (IBRM, part of the biodiversity hotspot of the Mediterranean Basin) and the Orchidaceae family, which is under-studied in the Moroccan part of the IBRM. For this reason, an inventory of [...] Read more.
The focus of this study was the Intercontinental Biosphere Reserve of the Mediterranean (IBRM, part of the biodiversity hotspot of the Mediterranean Basin) and the Orchidaceae family, which is under-studied in the Moroccan part of the IBRM. For this reason, an inventory of Orchidaceae diversity and factors that could influence their in situ conservation was undertaken, employing a series of field surveys conducted in the Northern Moroccan IBRM ecosystems. In total, 42 sites were surveyed in four protected areas of the Moroccan part of the IBRM. In total, 21 Orchidaceae species and subspecies (taxa) belonging to seven genera were identified, including Orchis spitzelii subsp. cazorlensis, as newly recorded in Morocco, as well as several new reports for different sites and/or areas surveyed, thus updating the previous knowledge of Moroccan Orchidaceae. Most of the Orchidaceae taxa were found in limited numbers of individuals (<30) and were restricted in a few sites (1–3) or a single area; thus, they were assessed as poorly conserved due to the scarcity of rainfall coupled with human pressures, such as the abstraction of surface water, forest fires, and the conversion of protected forests to Cannabis farms. The enforcement of existing laws, the adoption of strategies to combat desertification and forest fires, the prohibition of Cannabis farming, and raising awareness among the local population could reduce the pressures on the protected Orchidaceae members and their habitats, thereby contributing to their conservation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Conservation of Protected Plant Species: From Theory to Practice)
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16 pages, 1004 KB  
Article
Complex Floral Scent Profile of Neottia ovata (Orchidaceae): General Attractants and Beyond
by Edyta Jermakowicz, Marcin Stocki, Piotr Szefer, Justyna Burzyńska and Emilia Brzosko
Plants 2025, 14(6), 942; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14060942 - 17 Mar 2025
Viewed by 964
Abstract
Understanding the complexity of flower scent—a crucial attractant for pollinators and a key factor in ensuring plant reproduction—is an essential ecological task for highly endangered orchids. To address this issue, we studied the flower volatiles profile of Neottia ovata, a nectar-rewarding orchid [...] Read more.
Understanding the complexity of flower scent—a crucial attractant for pollinators and a key factor in ensuring plant reproduction—is an essential ecological task for highly endangered orchids. To address this issue, we studied the flower volatiles profile of Neottia ovata, a nectar-rewarding orchid known for its generalist pollination strategy. We then compared the chemical composition of N. ovata floral scent with scent data of other orchid species to place our findings in the context of general volatile attractants emitted by nectar-rewarding or food-deceptive species. Our results contribute to understanding the complexity of the N. ovata floral scent profile and provide valuable methodological insights. The scented bouquet of N. ovata comprises 100 compounds with a relatively consistent composition across the analyzed samples. It is rich in terpenes, including linalool and trans-/cis-sabinene hydrate, compounds commonly associated with generalized rewarding or food-deceptive pollination systems. Other terpenes identified include α- and β-pinene, limonene, and β-phellandrene, whose presence underscores the generalized nature of the floral scent. Interestingly, in the studied N. ovata populations, the dominance among terpenes is shifting markedly towards γ-terpinene, α-terpinene, and terpinene-4-ol, commonly found in essential oils and the floral scents of some supergeneralist-pollination plants. Aromatic compounds were less represented in the N. ovata scent profile and those of other orchids studied, though benzyl alcohol and benzaldehyde were noticeably more abundant. Aliphatic compounds composed the least prevalent fraction, showing a marked decreasing trend among nectar-rewarding species with generalized or specialized pollination systems. It is worth emphasizing that the applied methodology revealed an extensive group of low-frequency compounds in the N. ovata floral scent. This finding raises new ecological questions about the intraspecific diversity of floral scent profiles and sheds new light on the factors determining effective reproduction in this species of orchid. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Conservation of Protected Plant Species: From Theory to Practice)
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