Conservation status and endemism of seven rare Centaurea L. (Asteraceae) taxa from Turkey and Syria

Conservation status and endemism of seven rare Centaurea L. (Asteraceae) taxa from Turkey and Syria

Habitat fragmentation is one of the main threats to biodiversity. Due to the destruction and fragmentation of habitats many species nowadays occur mainly in small and isolated populations, which for a number of reasons are expected to face a higher risk of extinction. Endemic species seem to be more liable to threats of extinction. The precise evaluation of the conservation status of a particular species is a necessary condition in order to successfully prevent its extinction. Conservation status of seven rare Centaurea L. species are evaluated for Syria, Turkey and the global level. Threatened categories of the species are determined as NT for C. ptosimopappa which was previously known as a Turkish endemic, VU for C. lycopifolia, CR for C. antiochia var. antiochia, C. foliosa, and C. simulans (the latter is endemic only to Syria) for regional and for global level. Threatened categories of C. arifolia, which was previously known as a Turkish endemic, is determined as CR for Turkey and EN for Syria and the global level. Threatened categories of C. cassia are determined as EN for Turkey and VU for Syria and the global level. In light of this information in situ and ex situ conservation measures should be put into practice for C. antiochia var. antiochia, C. arifolia, C. cassia, C. foliosa, C. lycopifolia, and C. simulans. .