Evolutionary diversity of the endemic genera of the vascular flora of Chile and its implications for conservation.

As a direct consequence of global change, both natural and human-induced, a high percentage of biodiversity is now under threat worldwide. This has urged conservation planners to formulate and/or improve existing strategies to preserve species and their ecosystems. In this context, the present study focuses on two strategies using phylogeny-based measures of biodiversity to account for the processes that led to the biodiversity patterns observed today. It will contribute additional information that can aid decision-making regarding the assignment of threat status for some species, thus strengthening measures currently in use and facilitate the allocation of often scarce conservation resources. The Evolutionarily Distinct (ED) index prioritises species that are on long branches of the tree of life with few descendants, and the Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered (EDGE) index integrates evolutionary history with IUCN Red List threat status of species. It has been used mostly in animal groups, but since the threats faced by many plants have not been evaluated, it has been more difficult to compile for plants worldwide. Here, we apply the EDGE metric to species of the endemic genera of Chile. However, more than 50% of the endemic flora of the country are still lacking official threat status. We thus used an alternative measure (Relative Evolutionary Distinctness-RED), based on a range-weighted phylogenetic tree, which uses geographic ranges to adjust branch lengths, and calculate ED. The RED index was shown to be a suitable measure, yielding similar results compared to EDGE, at least for this group of species. Given the urgency to halt biodiversity loss and the time it would take to evaluate all species, we propose that this index is used to set conservation priorities until we can calculate EDGE for these unique endemic species. This would allow guiding decision-making until we can gather more data to assess and assign conservation status to new species.

Pb-Contaminated Soil from Quintero-Ventanas, Chile: Remediation Using Sarcocornia neei.

A phytoremediation process for lead (Pb) under laboratory conditions on contaminated soil from the Puchuncaví commune, Valparaíso Province, Chile, was carried out. It analyzed the phytoremediation potential of Sarcocornia neei (Lag.) M.A. Alonso and M.B. Crespo. The plants were propagated beforehand and extracted from the El Yali wetland, a RAMSAR 878 site in Valparaíso. Soil fertility and heavy metal concentration analyses of composite samples were conducted, complying with established protocols and standard methodology for chemical and metal analyses. These analyses were conducted in the Soil Analysis Laboratory of the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso. The aim was to analyse not only the tissue of plants from both areas but also the soil to identify the changes in different conditions in which the plants live. To determine the type of inferential analysis to be performed, a normality test was applied; however, it was deemed unsuitable, and therefore, the contrasts were developed using nonparametric tests, particularly Wilcoxon. R project software was used in the tests, especially the RCommander package, together with the Jamovi free-license statistical spreadsheet application. The analyses results of the soil samples indicated high concentrations of heavy metals, predominantly Pb at a concentration of 77.97 mg/kg, acidic soil indicated by pH between 5.77 and 6.38, low levels of electrical conductivity, and the presence of organic matter. A phytoremediation efficiency of 99% on soil samples was achieved. Preliminary results were compared against international regulations on the concentration of metals in soil. The histological sections showed that individual plants probably adapted to their environmental conditions.

Lioptilodes friasi (Lepidoptera: Pterophoridae) Niche Breadth in the Chilean Mediterranean Matorral Biome: Trophic and Altitudinal Dimensions.

Understanding the factors driving the diet breadth of phytophagous insects remains one of the main questions in ecological research. In this study we explored the diet breadth and plant-insect associations in the plume moth Lioptilodes friasi Vargas & Parra (Lepidoptera: Pterophoridae). This phytophagous insect was originally described in association with a single host species, Haplopappus foliosus (Asteraceae), a native shrub of the Chilean Mediterranean matorral. In order to address the breadth of host plant choice, we surveyed other Haplopappus species growing along the elevation gradient of central Chile from sea level to 2600 m. We were able to obtain L. friasi adults from five additional Haplopappus species: Haplopappus chrysantemifolius and Haplopappus decurrens from the coastal zone, Haplopappus multifolius and Haplopappus schumanii from the mid-elevation zone, and Haplopappus scrobiculatus at high elevation. Our results demonstrate that the genus-specialized endophagous herbivore L. friasi has a wider distribution and climatic tolerance than previously described. Its biogeographical range extends from the lowland coastal habitats up to the Andean subnival level. We propose that shared flower phenotypic traits such as morphology and chemical composition may have allowed the colonization of closely related Haplopappus species in central Chile, the expansion of which is limited by the harsh high elevation conditions.