TOWARDS SAVING TROPICSBioMoBiL

1. – objects of researches 2. – methods 3. – materials 4. – projects 5. – goals

Laboratory of Plant Taxonomy

Department of Plant Taxonomy

and Nature Protection University of Gdańsk

Head of researched team: Prof. dr hab. D. L. SzlachetkoResearch team:

Dr Hanna B. MargońskaM. Sc. Magdalena

SawickaM. Sc. Marta Kras-

Łapińska

The main objects of our researches team are the representatives of the order Orchidales:

their systematic and taxonomy, protection and biodiversity both on the genus and gene level

The order of orchids contains about 1.000 genera and 35 to 40

000 species – is a one of the largest taxon of vascular plants.

1. OBJECTS OF RESEARCHES

However, it is worldwide distributed taxon, its the greatest richness and variability reaches in tropics.

In this area occurs over 20 000 species. The relatively high degree of diversity of orchids is caused by different habitations and wide distribution.

It results in a rather large number of endemic taxa and in consequence an increase of dangers – destruction of a few stands can bring about a disappearance of taxon.

1. OBJECTS OF RESEARCHES

Many of tropical areas are still unexplored, at the same time constantly increasing their destruction.

Many taxa of plants and animals will be lost before they are discovered and researched by scientists.

Great interest and remarkable intensity of carried research (floral and taxonomic, too) allows estimating the high biodiversity of organisms in tropical ecosystems.

1. OBJECTS OF RESEARCHES

2. METHODSWe using methods:

classical - examined specimens is compared to type-materials on the basis of morphological and anatomical features, original diagnosis and iconography, too.- verification of old and chemically preserved materials

- enable selection and arrangement of taxonomic materials

- are a perfect starting point for further research by using others techniques

- can be easily used during field researches

2. METHODSWe using methods:

numerical using statistic.

- analyze many features and large data base

- enable e.g. establishing similarity between researched taxa

- analysis of obtained dendrodiagrams help to set classifications of taxamolecular.

- enable establishing relationship between researched taxa and set classifications of taxa

2. METHODS

Modern systematics elaborations should be based not only on possibly the most numerous, available taxonomic materials, the highest numbers of taxonomically important features, but on using all accessible methods, too. Only systematics elaborations like these can be complex sources of knowledge about researched organisms.

3. MATERIALSOur researches are

conducted on taxonomic materials: herbarium specimens – a lot

of own (the largest collection in Poland), loaned and studied in foreign institution, collection of digitalized images of herbarium sheets preserved in liquid specimens (over 2000 samples) bibliography and iconography (the largest collection in Poland) numerical data base (the largest collection in Poland)

genetical data base – preserved samples culture of alive plant (natural repro-duction – generative and vegetative and in vitro, as well)

4. PROJECTS

We taking part in few international researching

project, e.g.: Orchidales of Mesoamericana

Orchidales of Guianas Contribution to the orchid

flora of Central Africa (Gabon, Cameroon)

Besides we concentrate on taxonomic studies on:

tribe Spirantheae subtribe Malaxidinae genus Vanilla genus Habenaria genus Dactylorhiza

5. OUR GOALS WITHIN BioMoBiL PROJECT

start debate with the orchidologists about the ways and means of transformation scientific achievements from theoretical to practical ground make the scientific knowledge usable for many field working parataxonomists and paraecologists, which usually are far from understanding a scientific language start debate with the orchidologists about the ways and means of transformation scientific achievements from theoretical to practical ground

5. OUR GOALS WITHIN BioMoBiL PROJECT

getting contact and future cooperation with research teams of visited scientific institutions – very important in development of our department and projects

cognition and improving of knowledge and methods: improving of practical and theoretical field of activity within our taxonomic center active participation of young scientific staff and PhD-students in researches and projects using of acquired knowledge and ability for training courses for our students increasing of richness of our base of taxonomic materials