> There is an enormous genetic heritage with incalculable intrinsic value
The floristic variety of the Temporary Ponds is what characterizes this habitat being high in diversity, little abundant and sometimes rare species. That is why this habitat is so special and it is granted legal protection due to the various species with conservation status. There is an enormous genetic heritage in the Temporary Ponds of the Southwest Coast of Portugal with an incalculable intrinsic value and the LIFE Charcos Project intends to preserve it for the medium and long term.
In spite of restoration and recovery actions carried out by the Project at the place of origin of the Temporary Ponds (in-situ conservation), conservation actions outside the site were also carried out through a germplasm bank (ex-situ conservation).
Germplasm banks are scientific infrastructures that by storing seeds, DNA, tissues or other parts of plants conserved at low temperatures allows them to be safeguarded for longer periods. These infrastructures are considered as preventive options for conservation, functioning as a safeguard against future threats, a particularly important situation in species with small or very localized populations, as is the case of plants from Temporary Ponds.
The seed bank created by LIFE Charcos at the University of Évora already has about 80% of the diversity of plants that are specific to Mediterranean Temporary Ponds.
It was time consuming and not an easy process because the collection of mature seeds is conditioned by their availability which as previously mentioned are many species, less abundant and sometimes rare. But over the last 3 years, seeds of 130 species of plants associated with this habitat have been collected.
After collection, the seeds were cleaned in a thorough process to reduce the remains of vegetable matter or other residues and eliminate damaged seeds. After cleaning the seeds they were dried, counted and weighed. Further testing was required to assess the germination viability. Subsequently, the original samples and safety duplicates were stored in hermetically sealed test tubes or glass jars, depending on the quantity of seeds of each species available.
However, some duplicates were shared with the seed banks of the Kew Botanical Garden (UK) and the University of Lisbon's Ajuda Botanical Garden with the aim of cooperating with the world's largest plant conservation projects.
In this way, conservation of genetic diversity of plant populations of these particular ponds is assured, also allowing the supply of material for research or for recovery and habitat restoration actions in the SCI of the Southwest Coast. Effectively, this resource can allow the reintroduction or reinforcement of populations in extreme situations of populations at risk of extinction.
