Autecology and conservation biology of Erodium somanum H. Peşmen

The purposes of this study was on autecology and conservation biology of Erodium somanum H. Peşmen and to obtain a better understanding of the features of this taxon related with its biological, ecological, reproductive biology and population properties and also changing these characters timely. According to obtained data, IUCN category of this species was updated. Until this study, the species had not been intensively studied thoroughly and all examinations were determined first time, except its description to science.In order to investigate the biological features of this species such as morphological, palynological and cytological studies performed. Because of morphological studies, differences between flower numbers of female and male individuals in inflorescence were determined. In addition, the fruit, seed features and pollen structure and type of taxon were determined and photographed with scanning electron microscopy. Fruit and mericarps size that were determined as 4.8-8 cm and 9-12 mm, respectively and these values were not matched with allied literature values as 5-5.5 cm and 8 mm, respectively. In addition, controversially of the published data; mericarps was had a shallow pit. Pollen type of investigated taxon was spheroid, mean polar diameter and equatorial diameters were 66.03 and 62.94 ?m, respectively. On the other hand, as a result of cytological studies, chromosome number of this species was found as 2n=18 for the first time.Population features studies were show that, distribution area of species was determined as 91267 m2 and, the mean of population size was calculated 273801 individuals. Where as average individual?s number was 3.04. A total of 83% of plants in spreading area between 0 to 25 cm2 were not mature that was higher proportion of young individuals (vegetative) than but a slightly lower proportion of reproductive individuals. The ratio of sex index in population was 1.26. Average of the demographic increase of the flowering season for each year (From 2007 to 2009) was only 35%. We included this species to CR B2ab(iii)+(iv) in endangered groups of IUCN protocol (2006) based on the data that obtained from population studies.Distribution soils of this species are slightly alkaline and generally Iimes structure. Soils of the habitat are rich for ferrous but poor for phosphor and manganese. Climate type is semi-arid upper Mediterranean especially winter is very cool. Flowering period of plant is between the last week of March and May, however, the most density of flowering were shown between the last two weeks of April and first two weeks of May. On the other hand in the present study, blossom and pollination temperature were determined between 15-22 oC.It is interesting to note that, pollen number of plant was observed less for an obligate out crossing species according to pollen/ovule ratio calculations. The most important pollinators were coleoptera that were identified at familia level. Pollen viability level was 93%, 81%, 75% and 71% for first, second, third and fourth days, respectively. All of the examined flowers for stigma maturity; enzymatic activity was began in parallelisms when flowers were began to open and increased steadily second and third days; after these days; activity decreased slowly. Seed viability and germination success were determined as 81% and 80%, respectively. In addition, capacity of seed production for each plant was 36%.The seed germination of the plant was evaluated by ex-situ conversation applications, 90 units of seed were germinated and as a results; a total of 65 seedling implanted its natural soil, however none of them was lived. In addition, mature plants obtained from natural habitats were implanted to their habitat soil in campus area of Celal Bayar University and we are currently trying to alive these plants. Scope of the in-situ conservations studies; seeds were implanted to plant?s natural habitat between the seasons March and November, most of them were germinated. However, based on our observations, germinations were at spring season and seedlings were not able to overcome summer temperature and aridity and finally died. According to life cycle of this plant, germination period was found at autumn season. For better in-situ application program it was found that, seedling have to be applied at latest of the summer season.