The serpentine ecosystems of Galicia, which have a very restricted distribution and are considered unique habitats due to the chemical composition of their soils and the high specialization of the flora they host, are the focus of one of CRETUS’ collaborative projects: CONSERPEN. The initiative aims to improve knowledge and conservation strategies for three endemic species classified as “endangered”: Armeria merinoi, Leucanthemum gallaecicum and Santolina melidensis. The strong dependence of these species on serpentine soils makes them especially vulnerable to agroforestry land transformation, habitat fragmentation and the impacts associated with global change.
The project, entitled “Ecophysiological and edaphic strategies for the conservation of threatened endemic flora in degraded serpentine habitats”, is being developed through collaboration between the Biodiversity and Soil Remediation and Sustainable Land Use research areas at CRETUS. The initiative adopts a multidisciplinary approach that combines the study of threatened flora and the serpentine soils to which it is associated, with the aim of understanding the ecological and edaphic factors that determine the persistence of these species in unique habitats subjected to continuous anthropogenic pressures.
Throughout 2025, field campaigns were carried out in several serpentine enclaves in Galicia, mainly in the Serra do Careón and the Melide area, for the collection of seeds and soil samples. Using the collected plant material, the first germination assays under controlled conditions were initiated in order to improve knowledge about seed viability and the early developmental stages of these species. Preliminary results reveal differences in germination success among population nuclei, as well as a high incidence of insect parasitism in seeds of L. gallaecicum and S. melidensis. These factors are of particular interest for understanding the processes that may affect the persistence of these species and for improving conservation planning and management strategies. At the same time, soil samples are being used to characterize the physicochemical properties of the serpentine soils associated with the studied populations and the edaphic requirements of these species, with particular interest in their possible relationship with the ecological variability observed among population nuclei.
The project is led by CRETUS researchers Josefina G. Campoy and Juan Antelo. The initiative will contribute to the development of conservation protocols and criteria based on scientific knowledge, representing a significant contribution to the protection of Galicia’s most specialized and fragile biodiversity.
The project is part of the 2025 CRETUS Collaborative Projects for Young Researchers call and is supported by the funding programme for research centres of the Galician University System of the Xunta de Galicia, co-financed by European funds (ED431G/2023/12).