| Name | Semclimed Project |
| Cite as | BGJBB Semclimed |
| Description | The project SEMCLIMED proposes a series of actions that aim to evaluate the effects of climate change on floral biodiversity in the Mediterranean Basin. It moots active conservation proposals for threatened species and habitats and aims to increase public awareness regarding social and ecological aspects of global warming. The need to adopt measures to mitigate and slow down this process is highlighted by analysing the results and synergies generated by GENMEDOC. In this new project, this established network extends to new strategic regions in the Mediterranean and now covers 12 regions belonging to five member states and three other countries. In 2006-08 five active conservation actions were carried out within and outside the plants' natural habitats. The Barcelona Botanical Garden Seed Bank was in charge of Action 2: ex situ conservation measures and actions for the endemic flora of North Africa. The main objective of this action was to set up a seed bank in Rabat linked to the Department of Botany of the Scientific Institute, University Mohammed V. A number of field campaigns were planned to collect seed lots of 125 rare endemic Moroccan plants. This fieldwork was useful for the exchange of information and experiences between different members of the network. The Botanical Garden also participated in Action 1: the study of germination under climate change. |
| Provenance | The total batch preserved in the Barcelona Botanical Garden Seed Bank between the trips in Morocco and Spain for testing germination is 210. Three campaigns were carried out in Morocco: 13–23 October 2006 to the Western Rif and the High and Middle Atlas; 8–27 May 2007 to the western coast as far as Tafraoute and the Central and Eastern Rif; and 13–27 July 2007 to the High Atlas, Midelt and the Nfiss valley. Of the 210 lots corresponding to 189 species, 64 have duplicates deposited in the Seed Bank, University Mohammed V in Rabat. Nine lots are complete and stored in the Barcelona Botanical Garden, and 40 are stored in Barcelona Botanical Garden as duplicates of lots from the Conservatoire Botanique National Mediterranéen de Porquerolles. |
| Kingdom coverage | Plantae |
| Taxon coverage | Anthirrhium, Carduncellus, Centaurea, Daucus, Eryngium, Ferula, Marrubium, Teucrium, Thymus |
| Collectors | Aixart Sahun, Miriam Ferrer Gallego, Pablo Michaud, Henri Montserrat MartÃ, Josep Maria Pyke, Samuel Virevaire, Myriam |
| Collection type | Living |
| Primary purpose | Research |
| Include types | No |
| Grouping principle | Spatial |
| Development statuses | Consumable |
| Documentation state | All the lots in the collection have been prepared for conservation. In total, 86% of specimens are identified to species level and the remaining 14% to generic level; 65% of lots are geo-referenced. Germination trials have been conducted on 4 lots belonging to 4 species. |
| Specimen preservation methods | Dried, Frozen |
| Preparation and conservation | Cleaning and separation of seeds from the rest of the flower or plant structures. Then, the lot is weighed, dehydrated with silica gel in a dehydration chamber and placed in hermetic tubes. Finally, the lot is conserved in a freezer at -18ºC. |
| Institution | Botanical Garden of Barcelona - Seed Bank |
| Parent collection | Barcelona Botanical Garden Seed Collection |
| Associated person | Miriam Aixart (Seed Bank Curator), |
| Related material | Ferrer, P.; Ferrando, I.; Virevaire, M. (2008). Deuxième rencontre de la phase 4 du projet Semclimed à Valencia (Espagne). Odissea Semina,3:1-2. http://www.semclimed.org/allegati/53.pdf Gotsiou, P. (2007). Seminaire SEMCLIMED "Climate Change Impacts on Mediterranean Plant Diversity". Odissea Semina,2:1-4. http://www.semclimed.org/allegati/52.pdf Koutsovoulou, K. (2008). ‘Rencontre finale du Projet SEMCLIMED’ Athènes, Grèce 16-19 Avril 2008. Odissea Semina,4:1-2. http://www.semclimed.org/allegati/54.pdf Semclimed. www.semclimed.org Zreik, C. (2007). SEMCLIMED - Impact du changement climatique sur la flore méditerranéenne et actions de conservation. Odissea Semina,1:1-3. http://www.semclimed.org/allegati/51.pdf |
