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Reinforcement operation for Astragalus alopecurus in Corsica

09 February 2017

Thumb astragalus alopecurus punta alta 004 resized

The CARE-MEDIFLORA team in Corsica (National Botanical Conservatory of Corsica - CBNC) started their first CARE-MEDIFLORA in situ conservation action, which consisted in a reinforcement operation of Astragalus alopecurus Pall.

Astragalus alopecurus Pall. is a protected species throughout France. Its area of distribution is wide but it is not a continuous distribution: it is found in France (Hautes-Alpes, Alpes of Haute-Provence, Corsica), Italy, Bulgaria, Turkey, the whole Caucasus, Russia (center western Ural) and Central Asia (Altai, Kazhakstan). Although abundant in some regions of France, it is extremely rare in Corsica. The single population is less than 10 plants. In 2016, only two plants flowered.

On December 13, 2016, a reinforcement operation was organised by the CBNC on the commune of Focicchia in conjunction with the DDTM de Haute-Corse and the CPIE Centre Corse. 200 seeds (100 of which were scarified) were sown on two experimental plots with different ecological conditions (soil depth, exposure, slope, etc.) and protected from wildlife (rodents, wild boars, birds, etc) and cattle (goats) by screened cages.

The results of the operation should make it possible to improve the knowledge on the germination capacity of this species in the absence of impacts and to orient the conservation actions accordingly.

Astragalus alopecurus

Astragalus alopecurus seed 

Scarification of Astragalus alopecurus seed

Astragalus alopecurus reinforcement: sowing of seeds

Astragalus alopecurus reinforcement: closure of the cage

Astragalus alopecurus reinforcement: spreading boar repellent around the cage

 

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MAVA Foundation

Mediterranean Plant Specialist Group (IUCN/SSC) Sóller Botanical Garden Foundation, Balearic Islands Office of the Environment of Corsica - National Botanical Academy of Corsica Hortus Botanicus Karalitanus, Sardinia University of Catania, Sicily Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Chania, Crete Agricultural Research Institute, Cyprus Department of Forests, Cyprus