In 2022-2023, the Lake Baikal Foundation supported a project to study and conserve a relic plant, Bardunov’s megadendia, presented by talented scientists from the Siberian Institute of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry (SIFIBR SB RAS). The project became the winner of the annual Program of the Foundation for the Conservation of Rare, Endangered and Endemic Species of the Baikal Natural Area.
Megadenia bardunovii is the rarest endangered red-listed plant. For almost 50 years Megadenia was considered to have disappeared from the face of the Earth, until it was accidentally discovered by an Irkutsk botany student who was collecting herbarium, in whose honor the species was later named.
The aim of the scientific project of Siberian scientists was to study the species in nature, as well as to develop methods for its monitoring, protection and conservation in the arboretum of Listvyanka village on Baikal.
The research studied plants growing in the Tunka Valley in the national park of the same name and found that they are in critical condition.
Scientists also determined that all plants in the valley are genetic copies of each other, which makes them more vulnerable and reduces their survival rate.
In order to preserve megadenia, the specialists managed to successfully plant the plants in the arboretum of the Baikal Museum to bring them back to nature if necessary in the future.
Thanks to the support of the Foundation and the hard work of the specialists, the following results were achieved:
- expeditions were conducted in the Tunka Valley to study local populations of megadenia;
- genetic research of megadenia from 50 collected samples of the plant was conducted;
- sites for long-term monitoring of megadenia populations were established in places where megadenia grows naturally;
- 56 plants grown in the SIFIBR greenhouse were planted in the arboretum of the Baikal Museum in Listvyanka to preserve the species;
- recommendations on the restoration and conservation of the species in nature were developed;
- the project results were presented at all-Russian conferences and popular science lectures.
“The project helped to learn and tell specialists and all those interested in nature conservation in Pribaikalye new facts about the biology of this rare plant. During the project we took a new look at the problem of rare species, went from expeditions and laboratory experiments to practical experience in creating an artificial population, applied a variety of methods, combined already known data and recently obtained results, communicated a lot and fruitfully, and, of course, shared the knowledge gained. All this helped us to better understand the reasons for the critical state of the species and to take steps to protect the species from total extinction. In the future we will continue monitoring megadenia in the Tunka National Park and collect seeds of the plant for its conservation”, – Alla Verkhozina, project leader, Head of the Department ‘Biodiversity and Biological Resources’ of SIFIBR SB RAS.
In the future it is planned to continue the project, namely:
- monitoring of natural populations in the Tunka National Park to control changes in megadenia growing area and its condition;
- collection of seeds and their long-term storage at reduced temperature in order to preserve genetic material;
- study of megadenia seed reproduction to increase the population size and genetic diversity.
The project was made possible thanks to the support of Siberian Wellness, the corporate trustee of the World Around You Foundation; the “Need Help” and “Code of Good” foundations; a donation from Raiffeisenbank and the Christmas fundraising fair “Khoroshkola”.