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Conserving Threatened Orchids: The Flower- Fungus Connection Melissa McCormick Smithsonian Environmental Research Center Edgewater, Maryland
Conserving Threatened Orchids: The Flower-Fungus Connection
Melissa McCormick
Smithsonian Environmental Research Center
Edgewater, Maryland
• ~ 30,000 species (10% of all flowering plants)
• Occur on all continents except Antarctica
• Over 50 species in MD
• Widely threatened and endangered
• Complex life histories
• ‘Canary in the coal mine’ of the plant world
Orchids
3%
Chart1
Extinct (EX)
Critically Endangered (CR)
Endangered (EN)
Vulnerable (VU)
Not Threatened (NT/LC)
Data Deficient (DD)
2016 IUCN Red List
1
162
244
112
304
57
Sheet1
2016 IUCN Red List
Extinct (EX)1
Critically Endangered (CR)162
Endangered (EN)244
Vulnerable (VU)112
Not Threatened (NT/LC)304
Data Deficient (DD)57
Chart1
Not Yet Assessed
Assessed
Orchid Species of the World
[] []
26920
880
Sheet1
Orchid Species of the World
Not Yet Assessed26,920
Assessed880
Cypripedium parviflorum Spiranthes cernua
Hexalectris grandifloraGoodyera pubescens
Platantherapraeclara
Photos courtesy of Hal Horwitz
About 220 species of native orchids in the US and Canada
57% are threatened or endangered in some part of their range of distribution
Some of our most attractive native orchids have been declining rapidly (Knapp paper)
…and it hasn’t been clear what we could do to help them.
Orchid conservation has been pretty much just setting aside land.
was fascinated by orchids’ elaborate pollination and by why plants that produce so many seeds are so often rare.
calculated that if all seeds grew into plants then the great grandchildren of a single orchid would “cover the earth in one continuous green carpet”.
Charles Darwin
Why are orchids so difficult to grow and preserve?
What does orchid research tell us?
What will it take to apply this research to native orchids in North America?
Where does the North AmericanOrchid Conservation Center fit in?
What is it about orchids?
Orchid reproduction depends on other species
1cm
1mm
Fungi
Pollinators
Fungi
Pollinators
What do fungi do for plants?
A mycorrhiza is a symbiotic association between a plant root and a fungus
Read 1997
Most plants in most ecosystems
All plant families
Essential for access to nutrients and water
Protect against pathogens
Orchids take mycorrhizae to an extreme
Orchids cheat their mycorrhizal fungi.
Orchids eat their fungi.
Orchids are entirely dependent on fungi for all their nutrition at least early in life.
This early life stage may last only a few months or many years.
Tulasnella violacea
Tulasnella violea
Orchid mycorrhizal fungi:
Images from J. Breitenbach “Fungi of Switzerland” 1986
Ecologically diverseEctomycorrhizae,Mycoparasites,Pathogens,Decomposers
Poorly-studiedWidespread and common
Morphologically indistinguishable
2.5 mm
Ungerminated Seeds
protocorms
1 mm1 mm
1cm
Seeds have no nutrients. Germination requires
specific fungi. Fungi provide all
nutrients, including carbon.
Orchid seeds and fungi:
Pelotons (fungal coils) in an orchid root (Beyrle et al. 1995).
Adult orchids and fungi:
Adult Goodyera showing below-ground parts.
Fungi form pelotons in root cells. Most orchids continue to get nutrients from fungi as adults. Fungi help orchids tolerate stress.
(Zelmer 1994)
Dormant Plants
Seeds
Protocorms
Seedlings
VegetativePlants
SexualPlants
Orchid life history
How do fungi affect orchid performance?
Isotria medeoloides
Where are these fungi and when do they support orchids?
There are LOTS of fungi in the soil!
Up to 150 species in 0.5g of soil.
Extract DNA from soil
2 samples 15cm apart may share only 25% of their species.
We design specific probes to look only at the DNA from the fungi we are interested in and tell us how much is there.
Fungal DNA
Soil core
When do fungi support seed germination?
Seed packets tell us when conditions are right for orchids
Goodyera pubescensrattlesnake plantain
Liparis liliifoliamauve twayblade
Tipularia discolorcranefly orchid
A test with three orchids:
MD101GA243Tulasnella bifronsH
MD109MD141MD144pMD145pMD148pMD150pMD154pMD179NC245MI230NC239NC241NC244NC247NC248NC249
MD169MD186MD213-2MD219GA253Tulasnella calosporaCTulasnella deliquescensC
MD120MD196MD197MD191MD192MD140MD166pMI193IA233VA234IA238VA258
MD128MD170MD181MD175
MD188MD213-1
MD184MD183MD218
GA254Ceratobasidium obscurumGCeratobasidium cornigerumC
Ceratorhiza goodyerae-repentisCSistotrema brinkmaniC
MD121pMD138pMD207Tomentella puniceaG
NC259Suillus cavipesGChroogomphus vinicolorGScutellospora castaneaGBrauniella albidipesGGomphidius glutinosusG
Serpula himantioidesG10 changes
*
*
*
*
*
*
**
**
*
*
***
*
* *
*
McCormick et al. 2004
Different orchids need different fungi
More fungus more germination
Seed GerminationGermination No germination
Nor
mal
ized
Fun
gal A
bund
ance
0.0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1.0
1.2Goodyera Liparis Tipularia
Isotria fungi are all ectomycorrhizal
All Lactarius and Russula are considered obligately ectomycorrhizal (ECM)
ECM hosts we have identified are:Fagus grandifoliaQuercus falcataQuercus albaCarya cordiformisCarya ovataBetula alleghaniensis
Mycorrhizal fungi
Russula xerampelina
Rus
sula
ceae
Abu
ndan
ce(m
ean
ng D
NA
/g d
ry s
oil +
SE
)
Years Since Last Emergence
0 1 3 none0.0000
0.0005
0.0010
0.0015
0.0020
0.0025
0.0030MTNH
0 1 3 none0.0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4PWFP
0 1 2 none0.00
0.01
0.02
0.03
0.04
0.05FAPH
Mycorrhizal fungus abundance
More fungus means plants are more likely to emerge and less likely to become dormant.
Rock-Blake et al. 2017
Some orchids need specific fungi, while others can use many different ones.
More abundant fungi are better able to support orchid seed germination and emergence from dormancy.
Maybe improving conditions for the fungi would also improve conditions for orchids.
Field Conclusions
Goodyera pubescensLiparis liliifoliaTipularia discolor
Seed packets of 3 species.
With and without appropriate fungi for germination added.
What can we do to make fungi more abundant?
wood
leavescontrol
6 forest sites: 3 old (150+ years), 3 young (50-70 years)
36 subplots in each: 1/3 got chipped wood, 1/3 crushed leaves, 1/3 control
What makes these fungi abundant?
Goodyera pubescensRattlesnake plantain
Wood Leaves Control
Pro
toco
rms
0
20
40
60
80
100
Amendment treatment
Did amendments affect host fungi and protocorm development?
P
TREATMENTBio
divers
iTree
Fores
t Soil
Woo
d Chip
s
Abun
danc
e of
Orc
hid
Fung
i
0.0000
0.0005
0.0010
0.0015
0.0020
0.0025
0.0030
Applications
All three orchids were limited by the abundance of the fungi they needed, but the fungi were all limited by different things.
Adding wood and leaves increased host fungus abundance and germination for Goodyera.
Adding wood inoculated with orchid fungi or adding forest soil that had the fungi helped to increase those fungi in new soils, but only somewhat.
Orchids and host fungi
Dormant Plants
Seeds
Protocorms
Seedlings
VegetativePlants
SexualPlants
Orchid life history
Canopy Thinning Experiment – Increase light
Thinning!
Thinning increased emergent plants
Year2008 2010 2012 2014 2016
Num
ber o
f Pla
nts
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70PRWIA.P. Hill
% Canopy Openness in May6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Leaf
who
rl ex
pans
ion
May
-Sep
tem
ber (
cm)
-1
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Individual plants also grew bigger
Prince William Forest Park
Per
cent
of P
lant
s
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70%flower %Fruit
0
Fort A.P. Hill
Year
Per
cent
of P
lant
s
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70%flower %fruit
Thin
ning
Flowering and Fruiting increased
No Thinning
Cypripedium parviflorum Spiranthes cernua
Hexalectris grandiflora
Goodyera pubescens
Platanthera praeclara
Photos courtesy of Hal Horwitz
Cypripedium parviflorum Spiranthes cernua
Hexalectris grandiflora
Goodyera pubescens
Platanthera praeclara
Photos courtesy of Hal Horwitz
Our mission:
Conserve our native orchid heritage
NAOCC Model
EducationSeed BanksFungal BanksPropagation
SmithsonianU.S. Botanic Garden
Longwood Gardens Orchid Conservation Coalition Old Dominion UniversityPollinator Partnership Seeds for Success University of Florida
UC Berkley UC Santa Cruz US Forest Service Virginia Native Plant Society Wabash College Wintergreen Nature Foundation
Minnesota Landscape Arboretum NatureServe Grand Traverse Regional Land ConservancyRidges Sanctuary University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Naples Orchid Society
http://www.alaskabg.org/http://www.newfs.org/videos-and-tips/plants/bill-cullina-articles/rooted-in-mystery.htmlhttp://www.dbg.org/about-the-garden/sonoran-quarterly/cienegas-rare-oases-in-the-deserthttps://www.chicagobotanic.org/research/reproductive_biology.phphttp://www.mtcubacenter.org/education/distance-learning/native-orchid-conference-2011/http://www.centerforplantconservation.org/Collection/CPC_ViewProfile.asp?CPCNum=2350http://www.atlantabotanicalgarden.org/conservation/conservation-greenhousehttp://www.dukefarms.org/en/About-Us/History/Architecture/Greenhouses/http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/nativeorchidconference/http://www.si.edu/http://www.usbg.gov/http://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/regions/northamerica/unitedstates/maryland_dc/newsroom/rare-hybrid-orchid-discovered-on-eastern-shore.xmlhttp://www.uamh.devonian.ualberta.ca/en/CollectionActivities/Orchid%20Conservation.aspx
Peloton
Fungus banksConserving the diversity of fungi that orchids need
CryopreservationDNAExtraction
Beyrle
et al. 1995
NationallyUSDA - Agricultural Research Service
National Seed Storage Laboratoryin Fort Collins, Colorado
Regionally • Storage in individual laboratories
• Storage in regional facilities
(Source: Phil Seaton)
(Source: USDA Image Gallery)
Seed banksConserving orchid genetic diversity
Seeds and Protocorms
Liparis liliifolia
Corallorhiza odontorhiza
Seedlings
Propagation to establish sustainable populations
Education: increasing botanical literacy and engaging citizen scientists in hands-on conservation
Go Orchids websitegoorchids.northamericanorchidcenter.org
Photos: Maarten Janssens and Jay O’Neill
Dr. Ken Cameron – University of Wisconsin – using models with students at the Mater Grove Academy as part of “Read Across America” day
Photo: University of Wisconsin-Madison Photo: University of Wisconsin-Madison
Regional groups:• Collect mycorrhizal fungi• Collect seeds• Initiate propagation• Initiate educational efforts
Implementing the model
MT
WY
ID
WA
OR
NV
UT
CA
AZ
ND
SD
NE
CO
NM
TX
OK
KS
AR
LA
MO
IA
MN
WI
IL IN
KY
TN
MS AL GA
FL
SC
NC
VAWV
OH
MI
NY
PA
MD
DE
NJCT
RI
MA
ME
VT
NH
AK
HI
PR
VI
© Bruce Jones Design Inc. 2013 • www.mapsfordesign.com
Regional Groups – March 2017Mid-West
New England
Mid-Atlantic
Florida-GeorgiaArizona-New Mexico
Alaska
Pacific Ocean (Hawaii-Palau)
• More than 50% of US covered with regional groups
Where the effort stands
• Model moving beyond US (Palau – USFS, 9 western European countries, Greece-Turkey, Australia)
• First endowment received – still seeking major endowment to assure long-term success
• Visits to NAOCC and Go Orchids web site increasing regularly (Thanks to National Geographic for the great ‘shout-out’)
• Secured funds to support Development Coordinator
Optimism abounds• NAOCC model based on ecological concepts and citizen
science is robust and is rapidly gaining acceptance with an ever increasing number of collaborators
• Goal of collecting samples from all species in the U.S. and Canada in the next five years can be reached
• The NAOCC concept is already reaching out globally and is easily adapted to any environment/country
• Like all efforts of this sort, long-term success depends on development of a sustainable funding base
Melissa McCormick: [email protected]://northamericanorchidcenter.org/
• Dennis Whigham – SERC• Jay O’Neill – SERC• Barbara Faust, Vicki Dibella – Smithsonian Gardens• Ari Novy, Ray Mims, Susan Pell – US Botanic Garden• Hanna Rasmussen – University of Copenhagen• Funding: NSF, DOD, USDA, NPS, WV Department of
Transportation, Contributors to SERC/NAOCC (Chicago Botanic Garden, SI Gardens, US Botanic Garden, Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, Biophilia, Hal and Helen Horwitz Orchid Conservation Fund)
Acknowledgments
Cypripedium parviflorum Spiranthes cernua
Hexalectris grandiflora
Goodyera pubescens
Platanthera praeclara
Photos courtesy of Hal Horwitz
Conserving Threatened Orchids: The Flower-Fungus ConnectionSlide Number 2Slide Number 3Slide Number 4Slide Number 5Slide Number 6Slide Number 7Slide Number 8PollinatorsSlide Number 10Slide Number 11Slide Number 12Slide Number 13Slide Number 14Slide Number 15Slide Number 16Slide Number 17Slide Number 18Slide Number 19Slide Number 20More fungus more germinationSlide Number 22Slide Number 23Slide Number 24Slide Number 25Slide Number 26Slide Number 27Slide Number 28Slide Number 29Slide Number 30Slide Number 31Slide Number 32Slide Number 33Slide Number 34Slide Number 35Slide Number 36Slide Number 37Slide Number 38Slide Number 39Slide Number 40Slide Number 41Slide Number 42Slide Number 43Slide Number 44Slide Number 45Slide Number 46Slide Number 47Slide Number 48Slide Number 49Slide Number 50Slide Number 51AcknowledgmentsSlide Number 53
