Plant Biology and Evolution

The rapid decline of established biological systems around the world makes the plant endemisms (species with narrow geographical distribution) more vulnerable than other widely distributed species. We have used genetic approaches to investigate the diversity and structure of rare and threatened populations to address in situ and ex situ conservation and management strategies in several endangered plants. Our studies search the dispersal, migration, demographics, effective population size, inbreeding depression, and minimum population viability patterns of rare or endangered species.

 

Some general conclusion of our research is that genetic population analyses produces reliable information for taking proper decisions in conservation management programs. Such studies increase the efficiency of the conservation plans. The collection (sampling) of individuals for germoplasm banks, and management actions as translocation and reintroduction must be done using the genetic structure information, in order to avoid lose of genetic variability or structure. The identification of Relevant Genetic Units for Conservation (RGUCs) is an efficient method that allows to determine how many and which populations must be preserved to conserve the genetic variability of the species.

 

Selected papers and books:

.- Moreno-Aguilar MF, Arnelas I, Sánchez A, Viruel J, Catalán P. 2020. Museomics unveil the phylogeny and biogeography of the neglected Juan Fernandez archipelago Megalachne and Podophorus endemic grasses and their connection with relict Pampean-Ventanian fescues. Frontiers in Plant Sciences, 11:819.

.- Pérez-Collazos E, Segarra-Moragues JG K, Villar L, Catalán P. 2020. Estructura y diversidad genéticas de Dioscorea pyrenaica (Dioscoreaceae): hormigas, polinización y dispersión. Conservación vegetal 24: 21-24.

.- Moura M, Catalán P, Brehm A, Sequeira M. 2019. Colonization routes, microevolutionary genetic structure and conservation concerns in a remote widespread insular endemic grass: the Azorean tussock grass Deschmapsia foliosa. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 191: 365–380. A

.- Catalán P, Marques I, Draper D, Segarra-Moragues JG, Acedo C, Llamas F, Sahuquillo E, Pérez-Collazos E, Komac B, Viruel J, Sancho MC, Manso JA, Villar L. 2018. Genética del paisaje y conservación de pastos subalpinos de Festuca (Festuca gr. eskia, Poaceae) en los Parques Nacionales pirenaico-cantábricos españoles. Botanique 4: 5-17. A

.-Pérez-Collazos E, Segarra-Moragues JG, Villar L, Catalán P. 2015. Ant pollination promotes spatial genetic structure in the long-lived Borderea pyrenaica (Dioscoreaceae). Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 116: 144-155.

.- Simon-Porcar VI, Pérez-Collazos E, Catalán P. 2015. Phylogeny and systematics of the western Mediterranean Vella pseudocytisus - V aspera complex (Brassicaceae). Turkish Journal of Botany 39: 472-486. A

.- Viruel J, Catalán P, Segarra-Moragues JG. 2014. Latitudinal environmental niches and riverine barriers shaped the phylogeography of the central Chilean endemic Dioscorea humilis (Dioscoreaceae). PlosOne 9(10): e110029. A

.- Catalán P, López-Alvarez D, López-Herranz ML. 2013. Código de barras genético de gramíneas modelo (Brachypodium): incremento de la biodiversidad. Conservación Vegetal 17: 3-6. A

.- Catalán P, Acedo C, Marques I, Llamas F, Alonso A, Pérez-Collazos E, Viruel J, Sahuquillo E, Sancho MC, Komac B, Manso JA, Segarra-Moragues JG, Draper D, Villar L. 2013. Genética del paisaje y ecología de pastos subalpinos de Festuca eskia, F. gautieri y F. x picoeuropeana en los Parques Nacionales de Ordesa-Monte Perdido, Aigüestortes y Estany de Sant Maurici, y Picos de Europa. In: Ramírez L, Asensio B (eds). Proyectos de investigación en Parques Nacionales: 2009-2012. pp. 39-70. Organismo Autónomo Parques Nacionales, Ministerio de Medio Ambiente. Madrid. CL 

.- Marques I, Draper B, Komac B, Segarra-Moragues J.G., Villar L, Sahuquillo E, Pérez-Collazos E, Viruel J., Catalán P. 2013. Genética del paisaje y ecología de pastos subalpinos de Festuca eskia y F. gautieri en el Parque Nacional de Aigüestortes y Estany de Sant Maurici. Servicio Publicaciones PNAESM. Boí. (in press). CL

.- Catalán P,  Moreno-Saiz JC, Pérez-Collazos E. 2011. Los Monegros. La conservación de plantas en medios semiáridos españoles. Cueto M (Ed). En prensa. CL

.- Pérez-Collazos E., Catalán P. 2011. Genética de Poblaciones. En: Biología de la Conservación de Vella pseudocytisus L. subspespecie paui, una planta amenazada en Aragón. Consejo de Protección de la Naturaleza de Aragón.  CL

- Segarra-Moragues JG, Catalán P. 2010. The fewer and the better: prioritization of populations for conservation under limited resources, a study with Borderea pyrenaica (Dioscoreaceae) in the Pyrenean National Park. Genetica 138: 363-376. A

- Pérez-Collazos E., Sánchez-Gómez P., Jiménez JF, Catalán P. 2009. The phylogeographical history of the western Mediterranean Ferula loscosii (Apiaceae). Molecular Ecology 18: 848-861. A

.- Catalán P., Pérez-Collazos E., Segarra-Moragues J.G., Inda L.A., Sánchez-Gómez P. 2008. Bases genéticas para la conservación de la flora amenazada de Aragón (II), de Murcia y de Castilla-La Mancha (Puccinellia pungens, Boleum asperum, Ferula loscosii). Conservación Vegetal 12: 14-17. A

.- Pérez-Collazos E., Segarra-Moragues J.G., Catalán P. 2008. Two approaches for the selection of Relevant Genetics Units for Conservation (RGUCs) in the narrow European endemic steppe plant Boleum asperum(Brassicaceae). Biological Journal Linnean Society, 94: 341-354. A

.- Pérez-Collazos E., Catalán P. 2008. Conservation genetics of the endangered Iberian steppe plant Ferula loscosii (Apiaceae). Plant Biology, 10: 492-501. A

.- Pérez-Collazos E., Catalán P. 2007. Genetic diversity analysis and conservation implications for the Iberian threatened populations of the irano-turanian relict Krascheninnikovia ceratoides (Chenopodiaceae). Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 92: 419-429. A

.- Pérez-Collazos E., Segarra-Moragues J.G., Inda L. A., Catalán P. 2007. Population genetics and the conservation status of the threatened Iberian steppe grass Puccinellia pungens (Pau) Paunero. Botanical Journal Linnean Society 154: 269-281. A

.- Catalán P, Pérez-Collazos E, Segarra-Moragues JG, Inda LA. 2007. Bases genéticas para la conservación de la flora amenazada de Aragón I (Borderea chouardii, Vella pseudocytisus subsp. paui, Krascheninnikovia ceratoides). Conservación Vegetal 11: 15-17. A

.- Pérez-Collazos E, Catalán P. 2006. Palaeopolyploidy, spatial structure and conservation genetics of the narrow steppe plant Vella pseudocytisus subsp. paui (Vellinae, Cruciferae). Annals of Botany 97: 635-647. A

.- Segarra-Moragues J.G., Iriondo J.M., Catalán P. 2005. Genetic typing of germplasm accessions as an aid for the species conservation: the case study of Borderea chouardii (Dioscoreaceae), one of the most Critically Endangered Iberian plants. Annals of Botany 96: 1283-1292. A

.- Segarra-Moragues J.G., Palop-Esteban M., Gonzalez-Candelas F., Catalán P. 2005. On the verge of extinction: Genetics of the Critically Endangered Iberian plant species Borderea chouardii (Dioscoreaceae) and implications for conservation management. Molecular Ecology 14: 969-982. A

.- Segarra-Moragues J.G., Catalán P. 2005. Species boundaries and population divergence in the Pyrenean endemic relict genus Borderea(Dioscoreaceae) as revealed by microsatellite (SSR) and other hypervariable markers, in Columbus, J. T., E. A. Friar, C. W. Hamilton, J. M. Porter, L. M. Prince, and M. G. Simpson. Monocots: Comparative biology and evolution. Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden, Claremont, California.USA pp. 541-555. CL

.- Segarra-Moragues J.G., Palop-Esteban M., Gonzalez-Candelas F., Catalán P. 2004. Characterization of seven (CTT)n microsatellite loci in the Pyrenean endemic Borderea pyrenaica (Dioscoreaceae). Remarks on ploidy level and hybrid origin assessed through allozymes and microsatellite analyses. Journal of Heredity 95(2): 177-183. A

.- Villar, L. 2003. Fichas de Astragalus penduliflorus, Carex lachenalii, C. muricata, Cochlearia pyrenaica, Festuca altopyrenaica, Hieracium ramondii, Taraxacum iberanthum, T. ptiltoides, T. solenanthinum y Thlaspi occitanicum. In Bañares, A. & al. (eds.) Atlas y Libro rojo de la flora amenazada de España Peninsular, Baleares y Canarias. Taxones Prioritarios. Mº de Medio Ambiente. Madrid. CL

.- Segarra, J. G., Catalán, P. 2002. Low allozyme variability in the critically endangered Borderea chouardii and in its congener Borderea pyrenaica (Dioscoreaceae), two palaeoendemic relicts from the Central Pyrenees. International Journal of Plant Science 163: 159-166.  A