Submit to Diversity Review for Diversity Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Distribution and Diversity of Orchids

Print Special Issue Flyer
Special Issue Editors
Special Issue Information
Keywords
Published Papers

A special issue of Diversity (ISSN 1424-2818). This special issue belongs to the section "Biogeography and Macroecology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2022) | Viewed by 16991

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Pavel Kindlmann

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

1. Department of Biodiversity Research, Czechglobe, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prokišova 7, 37000 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
2. Institute for Environmental Studies, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Benatska 2, 128 01 Prague 2, Czech Republic
Interests: species diversity; population and metapopulation dynamics; evolution of life histories; landscape connectivity; nature protection; insect pests and their predators; orchids; large mammals
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Tiiu Kull

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Tartu, Estonia
Interests: botany; orchids; population dynamics; clonal growth; dormancy and symbiosis; biodiversity conservation

Dr. Melissa McCormick

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, 647 Contees Wharf Rd., Edgewater, MD 20137, USA
Interests: orchid–fungus symbiosis; orchids; plant ecology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Orchids are disappearing worldwide, mostly due to habitat loss, but other factors like climate change are likely to increase in importance during the 21st century. Thus, one of the most worrying issues is that we still do not know the optimal abiotic and biotic requirements for population persistence of many of the ca. 30,000 species of orchids. On top of that, there are still unclear issues in orchid taxonomy, nomenclature and systematics. This all makes it very difficult to develop effective conservation methods for this endangered plant group.

This Special Issue aims to fill in some of these gaps in our knowledge. To achieve this, we welcome a range of contributions (including original research articles, reviews, perspectives, and opinion pieces) on themes including but not limited to:

Orchid species distribution models;
Orchid diversity in individual regions/countries;
Orchid population dynamics and its effects on orchid diversity;
Floristic studies and taxonomic revisions of problematic taxa in orchids;
Genetic studies of orchid species used for determination of differences between species.

We kindly invite you to submit a manuscript focused on any of the above topics. If you are interested in this opportunity or have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Prof. Dr. Pavel Kindlmann
Prof. Dr. Tiiu Kull
Dr. Melissa McCormick
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Diversity is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

orchids
species distribution models
diversity
taxonomic revisions
genetic studies

Published Papers (10 papers)

Download All Papers

Order results

Result details

Show export options Show export options

Select all

Export citation of selected articles as:

Editorial

Jump to: Research

3 pages, 190 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

The Distribution and Diversity of Orchids

by Pavel Kindlmann, Tiiu Kull and Melissa McCormick

Diversity 2023, 15(7), 810; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15070810 - 27 Jun 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1125

Abstract

The presence of Orchids is declining worldwide, mostly due to habitat loss and other factors like climate change, which are likely to increase in severity in the coming decades [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Distribution and Diversity of Orchids)

Research

Jump to: Editorial

16 pages, 5216 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Hybridization in the Fringed Orchids: An Analysis of Species Boundaries in the Face of Gene Flow

by Simone A. Evans, Dennis F. Whigham, Ida Hartvig and Melissa K. McCormick

Diversity 2023, 15(3), 384; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15030384 - 07 Mar 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1977

Abstract

Natural hybridization between closely related species in sympatry is an evolutionary process that is common in orchids. Once seen as a threat to parent species, interspecific genetic change is increasingly viewed as a source of novel variation in some ecological contexts. Terrestrial fringed orchids in the genus Platanthera contain several clades with high genetic compatibility among species and many putative hybrids. We used biallelic SNPs generated with 3RAD sequencing to study the hybrid complex formed from the parent species P. blephariglottis, P. ciliaris, and P. cristata with high resolution. The genetic structure and phylogenetic relationship of the hybrid complex revealed site-dependent gene flow between species. We documented extensive hybridization and cryptic hybrids in sympatric sites. Interspecific genetic exchange is particularly common between P. blephariglottis and P. ciliaris, with cryptic hybrids among putative P. ciliaris samples being more common than parental assignments in sympatric sites. Hybridization across the triad species complex can reticulate lineages and introduce adaptive alleles. Conversely, it can reduce diversification rates and introduce maladaptive alleles. Investigation into whether anthropogenic forces are eroding species boundaries, particularly the permeable P. blephariglottis and P. ciliaris boundary, is appropriate for conservation efforts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Distribution and Diversity of Orchids)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

22 pages, 25599 KiB

Open AccessArticle

New and Noteworthy Taxa of the Genus Dactylorhiza Necker ex Nevski (Orchidaceae Juss.) in Kazakhstan Flora and Its Response to Global Warming

by Aidar A. Sumbembayev, Sławomir Nowak, Aleksandra Burzacka-Hinz, Adrianna Kosiróg-Ceynowa and Dariusz L. Szlachetko

Diversity 2023, 15(3), 369; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15030369 - 03 Mar 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1661

Abstract

A critical study of the herbarium material representing the orchid genus Dactylorhiza Necker ex Nevski in Kazakhstan was conducted in 2019–2020. The information on the species composition was clarified. Dactylorhiza fuchsii subsp. hebridensis (Wilmott) Soó and D. × kerneri (Soó) Soó were identified for the first time in the country. New taxa were noted for individual botanical and geographical areas. All taxa were presented in the list and annotated with studied herbarium materials from the Kazakhstan area. Based on the collected and available locations for the studied taxa, distribution modeling was carried out for the four taxa (D. incarnata, D. majalis subsp. baltica, D. salina, and D. umbrosa). Bioclimatic data for the present and future (2041–2060) based on four possible scenarios were used. The occurrence of Dactylorhiza representatives in Kazakhstan is threatened by global climate warming. It is likely that some of them may not occur in the country in the future (D. incarnata and D. majalis subsp. baltica), losing up to 99.87% of their modern range or their range may be significantly reduced (D. salina and D. umbrosa), losing up to 80.83% of their present distribution. It is worth considering global changes in planning conservation activities and identifying areas that may play a significant role in the functioning of the national flora in the future. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Distribution and Diversity of Orchids)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 1945 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Forest Disturbances Threatening Cypripedium calceolus Populations Can Improve Its Habitat Conditions

by Zdenka Křenová, Pavel Lustyk, Pavel Kindlmann and Alžběta Vosmíková

Diversity 2023, 15(3), 319; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15030319 - 22 Feb 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 965

Abstract

Inappropriate forest management activities, above all clear-cutting, are recognized as the major threats to an iconic orchid species—the lady’s slipper orchid (Cypripedium calceolus), the flagship species of nature protection in Europe. Although clear-cutting in protected species’ localities is strongly regulated in many European countries, salvage logging is allowed in some circumstances (e.g., following windstorms, and insect outbreaks) and can threaten C. calceolus populations. In this paper, we review a database of recently registered populations of this species in the Czech Republic and study historical maps, to better understand the history of local habitat conditions and assess threats to C. calceolus populations by bark beetle outbreaks. We found that about one-third of the C. calceolus populations have suffered in coniferous or mixed tree plantations with a high proportion of spruce trees, which are forests with a high risk of bark beetle infestation. We review bark beetle management measures and distinguish management efforts in areas with known C. calceolus populations that result in no damage to the population and, at times, improve habitat conditions for the species. Thus, the bark beetle—usually understood as the enemy—can be transformed into a savior if smart management measures will replace the panic salvage logging. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Distribution and Diversity of Orchids)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 2397 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Seed Morphology, Life Form and Distribution in Three Bromheadia Species (Epidendroideae, Orchidaceae)

by Emma Ortúñez and Roberto Gamarra

Diversity 2023, 15(2), 195; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15020195 - 01 Feb 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1342

Abstract

The seed morphology of three species belonging to the genus Bromheadia was analyzed under light and scanning electron microscopy. The seeds of B. cecieliae and B. truncata were studied for the first time. Differences in the qualitative and quantitative characteristics between the terrestrial B. finlaysoniana and the epiphytes B. cecieliae and B. truncata were observed, which were in concordance with the life form. Due to the variability of the seed shapes, a new methodology is proposed to analyze the distance between the embryo and the testa cells, with the aim of demonstrating the presence of air space within the seed. The method is compared to previous formulae used to measure free air space. Furthermore, a new measurement, the angle in twisted testa cells of epiphytic orchids, is proposed, to evaluate the degree of torsion in medial cells. Although the wide distribution of B. finlaysoniana could be related to the great buoyancy of their seeds in contrast to the limited distribution of B. cecieliae, we consider that environmental factors are more influential than the buoyancy of seeds when understanding the distribution of these taxa. Future studies on seeds morphology in orchid genera with terrestrial and epiphytic taxa will provide new insights into this research. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Distribution and Diversity of Orchids)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 6989 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Monitoring of Dactylorhiza sambucina (L.) Soó (Orchidaceae)—Variation in Flowering, Flower Colour Morph Frequencies, and Erratic Population Census Trends

by Matthias Kropf and Monika Kriechbaum

Diversity 2023, 15(2), 179; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15020179 - 27 Jan 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2109

Abstract

Central questions of reproductive research on Dactylorhiza sambucina (Orchidaceae) are, if and how pollinator-mediated negative frequency dependent selection might maintain its flower colour polymorphism. As this hypothesis was based on artificial populations, it needs to be verified under natural conditions. Therefore, we demonstrate and discuss spatial-temporal variation of flowering, flower colour morph frequencies and population fluctuations in D. sambucina as prerequisites for understanding its population and reproduction dynamics. Knowledge of these dynamics is also crucial for the species’ conservation. We investigated colour morph frequencies for ten Austrian populations of D. sambucina over maximum time series of 18 consecutive years. We report repeated changes in the dominance of red- or yellow-flowering morphs in at least three populations during these time series. Even though being basically erratic (e.g., switches in different years), we identify smaller populations as being more prone to changes of flower colour dominance. Conversely, constant morph frequencies and the dominance of one flower colour morph is demonstrated for individual-poor and large populations. As previous large-scale (continental) analyses failed to identify environmental factors explaining the distribution of differing morph frequencies across Europe, we strongly argue for local approaches by investigating such factors at the micro-habitat scale. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Distribution and Diversity of Orchids)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 1980 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) Diversity in the Orchid Himantoglossum robertianum (Loisel.) P. Delforge from Sardinia (Italy)

by Antonio De Agostini, Francesco Saverio Robustelli della Cuna, Pierluigi Cortis, Annalena Cogoni, Cristina Sottani, Francesca Soddu and Cinzia Sanna

Diversity 2022, 14(12), 1125; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14121125 - 15 Dec 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1588

Abstract

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are produced by plants to address a variety of physiological and ecological tasks (among others, stress resistance, and pollinator attraction). Genetics is a key factor in determining plants’ VOCs content and emission, nevertheless, environment strongly influences VOCs profiles in plants. Orchids are a widespread group of plants that colonize diverse environments and rely on complex and refined pollination mechanisms to reproduce. Orchids VOCs are rarely studied and discussed in relation to growing conditions. In the present study, we compare the volatile profiles of inflorescences of Himantoglossum robertianum (Loisel.) P. Delforge sampled in six ecologically diverse populations on Sardinia Island (Italy). The essential oils obtained by steam distillation were characterized by GC-FID and GC-MS analysis. A total of 79 compounds were detected, belonging to the chemical classes of saturated hydrocarbons, esters, alcohols, ketones, unsaturated hydrocarbons, sesquiterpenes, oxygenated terpenes, terpenes, acids, and aldehydes. Multivariate statistics separated H. robertianum populations based on their chemical profiles. Differences were positively linked to the distance separating populations and reflected climatological features of the sampling sites. Interestingly, our results differed from those available in the literature, pointing out the high variability of VOCs profiles in this food-deceptive orchid. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Distribution and Diversity of Orchids)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 2128 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Symbiotic Culture of Three Closely Related Dendrobium Species Reveals a Growth Bottleneck and Differences in Mycorrhizal Specificity at Early Developmental Stages

by Liyue Zhang, Kento Rammitsu, Akihiko Kinoshita, Ken Tokuhara, Tomohisa Yukawa and Yuki Ogura-Tsujita

Diversity 2022, 14(12), 1119; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14121119 - 15 Dec 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1406

Abstract

Mycorrhizal specificity, i.e., the range of fungi allowing mycorrhizal partnerships, differs among orchid species, but that at early developmental stages is unclear. We investigated whether mycorrhizal specificity during seed germination and seedling development differs among three Dendrobium species, D. officinale, D. okinawense and D. moniliforme, in vitro. Nine mycorrhizal fungal strains were obtained from the roots of these species and cultured with a seed of each Dendrobium species. Five to eight fungal strains stimulated seed germination, whereas one to four fungal isolates significantly promoted protocorm development in the three species. To evaluate effects on leafy seedling growth, seedlings obtained from asymbiotic culture were cultured with nine fungal isolates. D. officinale and D. okinawense showed specificity for a single Serendipitaceae or Tulasnellaceae isolate, whereas D. moniliforme exhibited specificity for three isolates of Serendipitaceae and Tulasnellaceae. Therefore, the three Dendrobium species had a growth bottleneck from seed germination to the protocorm stage, and mycorrhizal specificity of protocorm growth and seedling development in vitro varied among the species. Our findings imply divergent mycorrhizal specificity in Dendrobium species at early developmental stages. This study provides insights into the diversity of orchid mycorrhizal specificity, as well as valuable information for conservation of endangered orchids. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Distribution and Diversity of Orchids)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 1831 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Species Distribution Modeling Reveals Recent Shifts in Suitable Habitat for Six North American Cypripedium spp. (Orchidaceae)

by Patrick A. Smallwood and Dorset W. Trapnell

Diversity 2022, 14(9), 694; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14090694 - 23 Aug 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1748

Abstract

Accelerating climate change is expected to cause range shifts of numerous taxa worldwide. While climatic projections and predicted consequences typically focus on the future (2050 or later), a measurable change in climatic conditions has occurred over recent decades. We investigate whether recent climate change has caused measurable shifts in suitable habitat for six North American species in the highly threatened genus Cypripedium (Orchidaceae). We constructed species distribution models using a maximum entropy approach from species occurrence records, 19 bioclimatic variables, land cover data, and soil data for two decadal time intervals (1980–1989 and 2010–2019). Models were compared between time intervals to assess shifts in locality, size, fragmentation, and mean elevation of suitable habitat. For all six congeners, the centroids of suitable habitat shifted between time intervals, although the directionality varied. There was, however, consistency among species within geographic regions. Consistent with our expectations, the optimal habitat for most species shifted to a higher elevation and for western species it shifted northwards. However, the habitat for one northwestern species shifted southwards and the habitat for eastern species converged on the Great Lakes region from different directions. This work illustrates the somewhat idiosyncratic responses of congeneric species to changing climatic conditions and how the geographic region occupied by a species may be more important for predicting shifts in habitat than is the response of a closely related taxon. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Distribution and Diversity of Orchids)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

29 pages, 6066 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Taxonomy and Biogeography of Andinia-Complex (Orchidaceae)

by Dariusz L. Szlachetko, Magdalena Dudek, Aleksandra Naczk and Marta Kolanowska

Diversity 2022, 14(5), 372; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14050372 - 07 May 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1877

Abstract

The results of a revision of the orchid genus Andinia are presented. The proposed classification is based on outcomes of morphological and molecular studies. Additionally, the similarity of the climatic niches occupied by representatives of the Andinia-complex was calculated and visualized. The highest number of Andinia representatives is found in the Eastern Cordillera real montane forests, while Neooreophilus species are found in two ecoregions—the Eastern Cordillera real montane forests, and the Northwestern Andes. According to the level of endemism, a very unique orchid flora was noted in the Guajira–Barranquilla xeric scrub ecoregion, as well as in the Isthmian-Pacific and the Ucayali moist forests, where single endemic species occur. In the proposed classification, nine genera are recognized within the Andinia-complex, three of which (Xenosiella, Chicalia, and Minuscula) are described in this paper. A key to the identification of all genera is provided. Additionally, sections Amplectentes and Bilamellatae of Neooreophilus are elevated to the subgeneric rank, and subgenus Aenigma is here considered as a separate genus. A complete list of representatives of each taxon is provided, and new combinations are proposed accordingly. A new species of Neooreophilus from Colombia is described. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Distribution and Diversity of Orchids)

► Show Figures

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Distribution and Diversity of Orchids

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Special Issue Information

Keywords

Published Papers (10 papers)

Editorial

Research

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI