Pérdida del área de ocupación y del tamaño de la población de Vella lucentina (Cruciferae)

Abstract

We report new information about population size of Vella lucentina, a taxon endemic to the Thermomediterranean semiarid territories of the central areas of Alicante province (SE of Spain), which grows in calcicolous steppic bushes. We delimited polygon envelopes for the three known subpopulations in a GIS. Field work was carried out during flowering time (April to June, 2008), which resulted in the discovering of a new subpopulation in Serra dels Castellans (Agost). The current total occupation area is 351,52 ha, and the total population size is estimated in 385.671 adult individuals, according to UICN criteria. A 50-year period diagnostic indicates that three of the subpopulations are severely fragmented. The subpopulation of Bec de l�Àguila, the greatest, extensive and continuous one, showed an imminent decline risk. According to the available data, and in spite of the high local population size, we support labelling V. lucentina as �endangered� (EN), as well as its inclusion in the Valencian red list as �species threatened with extinction�.