Lis de mer

Global warming may represent a potential major threat to this species in the medium term, due to expected associated rise of the sea level, which may affect the specific habitat of this species. However the direct impact of climate change on this species has not been proven yet.

The potential pharmaceutical use of the plant could represent a threat, since plants from natural habitats remain an important source of galanthamine-related alkaloids (Berkov et al. 2004), but there is still no evidence of wild specimens collection for pharmaceutical purposes.

In recent years, a dramatic decline has been reported in several subpopulations due to touristic activities (Costa 1999, Balestri and Cinelli 2004, Grassi et al. 2005, Serra 2007, Nikopoulos et al. 2008, Demur et al. 2010). However, whilst the habitat on which it depends is undoubtedly threatened throughout the Mediterranean, this species has a great capacity to recover if conditions change and to colonize new habitat as it becomes available (E. Vela pers. comm. 2016). 

Therefore the potential threats recognized here are not considered likely to compromise the survival of the global population of this species.

It is present in several protected areas throughout its range (IUCN and UNEP-WCMC 2017), especially in the Mediterranean Islands. It is listed as Vulnerable in the Red List of Lebanon (Zahreddine et al. 2004). In Spain, it is legally protected at the regional level in the Balearic Region, under the designation of “Species with Special protection”in the Catálogo Balear de Especies Vegetales Amenazadas (Govern Illes Balears 2005) and in Murcia for "Regulated Harvesting, under permission". It is also included in Annex II of the Biological Diversity Act of Bulgaria (Republic of Bulgaria National Assembly 2002).

The orthodox storage-behavior of the seed (Nikopoulos et al. 2008, Juan-Vicedo et al. 2013) allows to preserve this species in conventional genebanks, and seeds are preserved in several seedbanks over its distribution area: for example in ‘Devesa Saler’ Genebank and Torretes  Botanical Garden (Research Institute CIBIO-University of Alicante) in Spain; or the Museu Nacional d'História Natural Seed Bank in Lisbon (Portugal). Keren and Evenary (1974), Balestri and Cinelli (2004) and Juan-Vicedo et al. (2013) obtained good germination percentages in the temperature range of 15-30 degrees in both light and dark conditions (the optimum is normally at 20ºC) and these results may be used for germination protocols in genebanks. Moreover, Nikopoulos et al. (2008) developed a high productive protocol for bulb micropropagation that can be useful for reintroduction programs.

Additional conservation measures proposed are ongoing monitoring of the population and habitat trends.