The high rate
of threatened species is mostly because scientists have base their studies on a
narrow range of plants that have a limited genetic base. The article also estimates
380,000 plant species victims of habitat loss, to which it has been replaced
for agricultural purposes. With species in tropical rainforest at high risk,
the freezing seed bank at Kew’s Botanical Gardens has already collected around
1.8 billion seeds from around the world. The collection, which includes seeds
from plants that have already been judged extinct, have currently be named and
stored in underground cold rooms in case of future losses. Additionally, a
study, known as the Sampled Red List Index for Plants, has been made in order
to have an accurate knowledge of the rate of extinct plant species. Certainly, studies has been made in
the past, however, they were mostly focused on the most threatened plants or
particular regions in the world, which in reality there are thousands of
species that have not been completely study or even discovered, with high
significant value in the medical field and on the environment. The article adds that “Plant-based remedies
are the only source of healthcare in the world’s poorest countries” (Shukman, 2010)
combating diseases such as malaria and leukemia.
It is
important to collect seeds from different plant species and keep making studies
so cases such as the olive tree from the South Atlantic island of St Helena that
has completely disappear, with only few traces of dried pressing of its leaves,
and some test-tube DNA sample currently kept in a freezer, won’t happen in the
future. St. Helena olive tree |
The article presents good information, giving thought to the most important aspects of the plant. The freezing seed bank has made a huge step on saving such species for future germination. I’m not sure if this freezing process has been done to threatened animal species but it would be a huge step due to their high chance of extinction. Hopefully is not too late to place these freeze species in their natural habitat. Consequently botanists could try first with few seeds and observe if they adapt to the habitat as well as its new surrounding environment.
Sources:
Shukman, D. (2010, September 29). One-Fifth of World's Plants at Risk of Extinction. Environment correspondent, BBC News. Retrieved from http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-11434109