title: Habitat specificity of a threatened and endemic, cliff-dwelling halophyte.
abstract: Coastal areas and other saline environments are major contributors to regional and global biodiversity patterns. In these environments, rapidly changing gradients require highly specialized plants like halophytes. In European coastal cliff-tops, rocky and sandy seashores, and saltmarshes, typical halophytes from the genus Limonium are commonly found. Among them, the aneuploid tetraploid (2n = 4x = 35, 36, 37) Limonium multiflorum, endemic to the west coast of Portugal, is an interesting case study for investigating the ecology and conservation of a halophyte agamospermic species. Although it is listed in the IUCN red list of threatened species, information on its population size or rarity, as well as its ecology, in some respects is still unknown. Field surveys in the largest known population were performed (Raso cape, Portugal) in order to determine habitat requirements and conservation status. A total of 88 quadrats were monitored, 43 of which contained at least one L. multiflorum individual. For each sampled quadrat, four abiotic and four biotic variables as well as two spatially derived variables were recorded. Principal component analysis and cluster analysis showed narrow habitat specificity for this species which appeared to be intolerant to competition with invasive alien plants. We conclude that in situ conservation in a local 'hotspot' of this rare and vulnerable species emerges as a priority in order to ensure that biodiversity is not lost.
authors.affiliation: Plant Diversity and Conservation Group, Centro de Botânica Aplicada à Agricultura, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, University of Lisbon, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisbon, Portugal Centro de Ecologia Aplicada 'Prof. Baeta Neves', Instituto Superior de Agronomia, University of Lisbon, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisbon, Portugal anadelaunay@isa.ulisboa.pt.
authors.forename: Ana D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Caperta
authors.affiliation: Plant Diversity and Conservation Group, Centro de Botânica Aplicada à Agricultura, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, University of Lisbon, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisbon, Portugal Centro de Ecologia Aplicada 'Prof. Baeta Neves', Instituto Superior de Agronomia, University of Lisbon, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: M Dalila
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Espírito-Santo
authors.affiliation: Cascais Municipal Environment Company, Complexo Multiserviços, Estrada de Manique no. 1830, Alcoitão, 2645-138 Alcabideche, Portugal.
authors.forename: Vasco
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Cascais Municipal Environment Company, Complexo Multiserviços, Estrada de Manique no. 1830, Alcoitão, 2645-138 Alcabideche, Portugal.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.affiliation: Plant Diversity and Conservation Group, Centro de Botânica Aplicada à Agricultura, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, University of Lisbon, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: Ana P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Paes
authors.affiliation: Plant Diversity and Conservation Group, Centro de Botânica Aplicada à Agricultura, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, University of Lisbon, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: Ana S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Róis
authors.affiliation: Plant Diversity and Conservation Group, Centro de Botânica Aplicada à Agricultura, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, University of Lisbon, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisbon, Portugal Centro de Ecologia Aplicada 'Prof. Baeta Neves', Instituto Superior de Agronomia, University of Lisbon, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: José C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.affiliation: Plant Diversity and Conservation Group, Centro de Botânica Aplicada à Agricultura, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, University of Lisbon, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisbon, Portugal Centro de Ecologia Aplicada 'Prof. Baeta Neves', Instituto Superior de Agronomia, University of Lisbon, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Arsénio
keywords: Agamospermic species; Limonium.; cliff-dwelling species; conservation; habitat specificity; halophyte