Held by the plants. How insights in population ecological and genetic processes can improve plant conservation and reintroductions

This thesis improves our understanding of how to conserve wild plant species using the examples of Primula elatior, Hypericum pulchrum, and Solidago virgaurea by studying their population ecology, genetics, and reintroduction success. It shows that high soil phosphate levels are linked to poor performance of P. elatior. Small populations face challenges with pollination due to imbalanced flower morph types and lose genetic diversity. However, diverse microhabitats can enhance genetic diversity and moderate surrounding forest cover support better pollination. Reintroduction experiments using soil inoculation (transferring soil including microorganisms from existing populations) had mixed results: H. pulchrum benefited in survival and flowering, S. virgaurea flowered more, but P. elatior performed worse. The thesis highlights that successful plant population conservation depends on multiple interacting factors: soil conditions, genetic diversity, pollinators, microorganisms, and landscape context. Effective conservation and reintroductions of populations must consider these intricate relationships.