Autochthony and Conservation of a Relict Population of Abies Alba Miller in the Apuan Alps Regional Park (Tuscany - Italy)

Abstract

A small and relict population of Silver Fir (Abies alba Miller) in the Apuan Alps (Tuscany - Italy) has been confirmed and immediately analyzed in order to evaluate its level of autochthony. Some 19th-20th century floristic evidence, along with an extraordinary 17th century cartographic document, testify to the presence of Silver Fir in the same place. Results obtained from chloroplast genome analysis have been compared with Alpine and Apennine population data in order to identify any genetic relationship. The phylogenetic tree obtained shows a strong affinity between the Apuan populations and those in the Apennines, confirming with the historical floristic documents the autochthony of the Apuan fir population. Conservation activities have consisted, in situ, in improving vegetation habitats, through thinning surrounding woods, which will allow natural regeneration. Ex situ, near the Forest Garden of Camporgiano (Lucca), saplings have been obtained from seeds of the autochthonous Silver Fir population; later, these were planted out close to the relict population, so constituting a new experimental conservation nucleus. Thus a new nature conservation activity for a relict habitat, of priority on the 92/43/CEE Directive (“Apennine beech forests with Abies alba and beech forests with Abies nebrodensis“), has been initiated.