Department of Ecology, Environment and Evolution, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Kings Park Science, Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions, Kings Park, WA, Australia.
Ann Bot. 2020 Aug 13;126(3):345-362. doi: 10.1093/aob/mcaa093.
Given the exceptional diversity of orchids (26 000+ species), improving strategies for the conservation of orchids will benefit a vast number of taxa. Furthermore, with rapidly increasing numbers of endangered orchids and low success rates in orchid conservation translocation programmes worldwide, it is evident that our progress in understanding the biology of orchids is not yet translating into widespread effective conservation.
We highlight unusual aspects of the reproductive biology of orchids that can have important consequences for conservation programmes, such as specialization of pollination systems, low fruit set but high seed production, and the potential for long-distance seed dispersal. Further, we discuss the importance of their reliance on mycorrhizal fungi for germination, including quantifying the incidence of specialized versus generalized mycorrhizal associations in orchids. In light of leading conservation theory and the biology of orchids, we provide recommendations for improving population management and translocation programmes.
Major gains in orchid conservation can be achieved by incorporating knowledge of ecological interactions, for both generalist and specialist species. For example, habitat management can be tailored to maintain pollinator populations and conservation translocation sites selected based on confirmed availability of pollinators. Similarly, use of efficacious mycorrhizal fungi in propagation will increase the value of ex situ collections and likely increase the success of conservation translocations. Given the low genetic differentiation between populations of many orchids, experimental genetic mixing is an option to increase fitness of small populations, although caution is needed where cytotypes or floral ecotypes are present. Combining demographic data and field experiments will provide knowledge to enhance management and translocation success. Finally, high per-fruit fecundity means that orchids offer powerful but overlooked opportunities to propagate plants for experiments aimed at improving conservation outcomes. Given the predictions of ongoing environmental change, experimental approaches also offer effective ways to build more resilient populations.
由于兰花（26000 多种）种类异常多样，因此改进兰花保护策略将使大量分类群受益。此外，随着濒危兰花数量的迅速增加和全球兰花保护转移计划成功率低，显然我们在理解兰花生物学方面的进展尚未转化为广泛有效的保护。
我们强调兰花生殖生物学的不寻常方面，这些方面可能对保护计划产生重要影响，例如授粉系统的专业化、果实结实率低但种子产量高，以及长距离种子散布的潜力。此外，我们讨论了它们对菌根真菌萌发的依赖的重要性，包括量化兰花中专门化和广义菌根关联的发生率。鉴于主要保护理论和兰花生物学，我们为改进种群管理和转移计划提供了建议。
通过整合对生态相互作用的了解，可以在保护兰花方面取得重大进展，无论是针对一般物种还是专业物种。例如，可以根据维持传粉者种群的需要来调整生境管理，根据已确认的传粉者可用性来选择保护转移地点。同样，在繁殖中使用有效的菌根真菌将增加离体收集物的价值，并可能提高保护转移的成功率。鉴于许多兰花种群之间的遗传分化程度较低，实验性遗传混合是增加小种群适应性的一种选择，尽管在存在细胞型或花型生态型的情况下需要谨慎。结合人口数据和现场实验将提供知识，以增强管理和转移的成功。最后，高每果种子产量意味着兰花提供了强大但被忽视的机会，可以繁殖植物进行旨在改善保护结果的实验。鉴于对正在进行的环境变化的预测，实验方法还提供了建立更具弹性种群的有效途径。
