Reproductive isolation can be achieved through multiple types of barriers and is essential for speciation. In flowering plants, pre-pollination barriers (e.g. differentiation in pollination niches) are believed to be the most efficient at preventing gene flow across species boundaries. In closely related species that come into secondary contact, such barriers can evolve to prevent competition for pollinator service and/or interspecific pollen transfer, which can have fitness costs. Hence pollination niche differentiation should be stronger in sympatric populations than in allopatric populations (i.e. character displacement). To investigate the differences in pollination niches and to see if it is consistent with a hypothesis of character displacement, I used the two closely related and phenotypically similar orchid species, Gymnadenia conopsea and G. densiflora. I sampled mixed and pure populations of G. conopsea and G. densiflora on Öland during the summer of 2020. In these populations, I used video cameras and pollinator catches to record pollinator activity and characterize the composition of pollinator communities. Estimation of pollinator efficiency was also assessed by analyzing the number of pollinia carried by each pollinator. Contrary to my expectations, I found that both orchids had their visitation peak during the night and that the most frequent and efficient pollinators were Autographa gamma or Deilephila porcellus for both of them. Furthermore, no increased differentiation between the two species was found in mixed compared to pure populations. My results suggest that plant-pollinator interactions do not act as efficient pre-pollination barriers in these two orchid species, and that competition for pollinator service and through interspecific pollen transfer seem to be too weak to drive pollination niche partitioning.

The complex Gymnadenia conopsea s.l. represents a very problematic group in terms of taxonomy, showing a wide morphological, phenological, genetical and cytogenetical variability. The aggregate G. conopsea encompasses a range of taxa, two of which, G. conopsea (L.) R. Br. s.s. and G. densiflora (Wahlenb.) A. Dietr., have been acknowledged as beeing a species level. Individual taxa cannot be safely distinguished on the basis of morphological characteristics in all cases. Recently, there has been a lot of discussion concerning the taxonomical value of taxons within the G. conopsea complex. The complex is represented by a variety of cytotypes, while the major tetraploid cytotypes represent the above mentioned G. conopsea and G. densiflora taxa, that are easily distinguishable by means of flow cytometry. The taxonomical classification of minority cytotypes is not clear. For these reasons, to be able to obtain more detailed information, an application of different approaches from the field of morphology, cytogenetics and molecular genetics is suitable when evaluating the populations. In this thesis, morphological characteristics, AFLP and an analysis of microsatellites along with a measurement of ploid level using FCM have been used for evaluation. On the basis of evaluating a multidimensional cluster analysis and a dendrogram created by the UPGMA method combining these data, a specific dissimilarity of the G. densiflora and G. conopsea taxon has been confirmed. Based on the comparative analysis of microsatellite loci and overlapping morphometric characteristics of tetraploid and octoploid G. conopsea cytotype it can be assumed that the octoploid cytotype is a separate chromosomal aberration of tetraploid plants.

<p>Small populations are facing a particular risk of extinction due to a lack of appropriate genetic diversity and associated negative effects, factors dealt with in the discipline of conservation genetics. Many orchid species exhibit characteristics that make them a perfect study object in the scope of conservation genetics. The aim with this thesis was to investigate genetic structure at different levels in two orchid species <i>Gymnadenia conopsea</i>, geographically widespread, although diminishing and <i>G. odoratissima</i> with a long history of being rare. Microsatellite markers, developed in and used in studies of <i>G. conopsea</i> were also used in the study of <i>G. odoratissima</i>.</p><p>Populations of <i>G. conopsea</i> expressed high levels of genetic variation and a certain amount of gene flow, although investigated mating pattern in a small population indicated non-random mating among individuals, with the majority of pollen exchange between near neighbours, and noticeable levels of geitonogamous pollinations. Further a pronounced year to year variation in flowering frequency among individuals was found. </p><p>It was also discovered that flowering time variants (early and late) within the species <i>G. conopsea</i> were highly differentiated and seem to have had a more ancient historical separation than the separation between the two different species, <i>G. conopsea</i> and <i>G. odoratissima. </i></p><p>Levels of genetic variation in the rare congener, <i>G. odoratissima</i> differed between island and mainland populations where the more numerous island populations expressed larger levels of genetic variation and were less differentiated compared to the few remaining and genetically depauperated mainland populations.</p><p>Uppsala University Library, Box 510, 75120, Uppsala, Sweden </p>

Small populations are facing a particular risk of extinction due to a lack of appropriate genetic diversity and associated negative effects, factors dealt with in the discipline of conservation genetics. Many orchid species exhibit characteristics that make them a perfect study object in the scope of conservation genetics. The aim with this thesis was to investigate genetic structure at different levels in two orchid species Gymnadenia conopsea, geographically widespread, although diminishing and G. odoratissima with a long history of being rare. Microsatellite markers, developed in and used in studies of G. conopsea were also used in the study of G. odoratissima. Populations of G. conopsea expressed high levels of genetic variation and a certain amount of gene flow, although investigated mating pattern in a small population indicated non-random mating among individuals, with the majority of pollen exchange between near neighbours, and noticeable levels of geitonogamous pollinations. Further a pronounced year to year variation in flowering frequency among individuals was found. It was also discovered that flowering time variants (early and late) within the species G. conopsea were highly differentiated and seem to have had a more ancient historical separation than the separation between the two different species, G. conopsea and G. odoratissima. Levels of genetic variation in the rare congener, G. odoratissima differed between island and mainland populations where the more numerous island populations expressed larger levels of genetic variation and were less differentiated compared to the few remaining and genetically depauperated mainland populations. Uppsala University Library, Box 510, 75120, Uppsala, Sweden

The subject of this diploma thesis was the research of vegetation at localities in the Protected Landscape Area Bohemian Paradise. There were choosen areas: Natural Monument Podloučky and Protected Area Fialník, where grows an orchid Gymnadenia conopsea subsp. montana. There were made 60 phytocenological samples, and described: biotop, altitude, slope, huminidy and exposure. There were found four orchid species in the localities. Phytocenological samples were compared with each other. It has been shown that differences between localities are greater than the differences between orchid and non-orchid samples. Significant differences were also found in comparing the coverage in the floor between locations and abundace of species in each floor.

Jordens ekosystem och dess funktioner är och verkar på komplexa sätt, vilket människan är direkt ochindirekt beroende av för välfärd. På grund av mänsklig utveckling har förändrad markanvändningtryck undan ekosystem och begränsat dess möjligheter till funktion. Att implementera gröninfrastruktur är ett sätt att ge arter möjlighet att sprida sig mellan habitat och på så vis främjasekosystemens funktioner. Ekologisk konnektivitet är spridningsförmågan för liv mellan livsmiljöeroch grön infrastruktur är nödvändig för att det ska ske.Syftet med studien är att undersöka möjligheten till ekologisk konnektivitet för växten brunkulla inomett avgränsat område utifrån befintlig data, samt att utvärdera vilket kompletterande data som skullekunna ge en bättre bild av levnadssituationen och konnektivitet för orkidén.Studien är geografisk avgränsad till ett mindre område inom Storsjöbyggdens gräsvärdetrakt medLänsstyrelsen Jämtland Härlejdalens dokumentation över gräsvärdetrakter som utgångspunkt.Kartverktyget QGIS Desktop 3.10 with GRASS har använts i studien och data har hämtats frånJordbruksverket, Naturvårdsverket, Trafikverket, SMHI. Data som har använts är: nationellgräsmarksanalys, ängs- och betesmarksinventering, artrika väg- och järnvägsmiljöer, nationellmarktäckardata, vattenwebb, samt åtgärdsprogram för brunkulla.Resultatet visar att det finns en teoretisk möjligheten till ekologisk konnektivitet för växten brunkullainom det avgränsade området. Befintlig data kan även identifiera tänkbara habitat inom området. Dockbekräftar endast en datakälla att växten finns på en lokal inom det studerade området. För att få enbättre bild av levnadssituation och konnektivitet för orkidén inom området skulle kompletterande datasom: data med kalkrik-fosforfattig jordsammansätning inom området, data över var brunkulla blivitobserverad inom det utvalda området, fältbesök etc.Eftersom ett mindre område har valdes ut slumpmässigt för analys kan resultatet endast representeradet området. Eftersom brunkullas frö kan spridas med vind eller via vattendrag krävs att möjligahabitat ligger tätt och/eller att vatten flyter genom habitatet. En kartläggning av en arts möjlighet tillkonnektivitet ett kunskapasinsamlad som kan leda till stödjande åtgärder som i sin tur gynnarbiologisk mångfald långsiktigt. / The earth's ecosystems work in complex ways. The environment in the ecosystems together with lifecreate functions that humans are direct- and indirect dependent on. Due to human expansion throughdevelopment and change of land use, this has created pressure on the ecosystems and has limited itsability to function. Green infrastructure is a prerequisite for the ecosystems and their functions andcontributes to increased ecological connectivity. Through creating value areas and managing meadowandpastureland, knowledge is gained, and areas of high ecological value are being preserved. Actionprograms for endangered species and habitat is a way to save and preserve life that have decreased innumbers due to human activity. Actions like these are for preserving and benefit biodiversity. Thepurpose of the study is to investigate the possibility of ecological connectivity for Gymnadenia nigrawithin a defined area. The study is based on collected data, and an evaluate which supplementary datacould provide a better picture of the living situation and connectivity for the orchid.The study is geographically limited to a smaller area in Storsjöbyggden grassland values areas with thecounty administrative board of Jämtland Härlejdalen documentations of grassland values areas as astarting point. The mapping tool: QGIS Desktop 3.10 with GRASS has been used and data has beenretrieved from the Swedish National Board of Agriculture, The Swedish Environmental ProtectionAgency, The Swedish Transport Administration and The Swedish Meteorological and HydrologicalInstitute. Data that have been used is national grassland analysis, meadow- and pasture inventory, richroad and rail environments, national ground cover data, action program for endangered species etc.The results show that there is a theoretical possibility of ecological connectivity for the plantGymnadenia nigra within the demarcated area. Existing data can also identify possible habitats withinthe area. However, only one data source confirms that the plant is located at a local within the studiedarea. In order to get a better understanding of the living situation and connectivity of the orchid in theaera, additional data such as: data with lime-rich-phosphorus-poor soil density, data on whereGymnadenia nigra has been observed in the selected area, a field study, etc.Because a smaller area has been randomly selected for analysis, the result can only represent that area.If another area had been selected, the outcome would probably have been different. In order to get abetter picture, additional data would be needed, such as soil data for calcareous, phosphorus-poor soilas well as a field research to find possible habitat on site. Since the seeds of Gymnadenia nigra can bespread by wind or via watercourses, it is required that possible habitats are dense and / or that waterflows through the habitat. / <p>2021-11-26</p>

A wide majority of orchid populations are decreasing due to habitat fragmentation and to changes in land management. Population size, density and habitat quality are factors that are expected to be positively related to the viability and future growth of a population. We evaluated if population size, density and soil organic matter were good predictors of growth, survival, flowering, recruitment, and growth rate in 18 populations of the long-lived orchid Gymnadenia conopsea. We followed the populations for four years. Recruitment in 2020 increased with population size, and survival in 2018 was higher in denser populations. However, flowering probability and number of flowers both decreased with population size in 2018. Soil organic matter did not significantly influence any vital rate. In total, the studied population factors could explain very little of the variation in demography. The matrix modelling showed that 14 of the 18 populations had a positive stochastic growth rate, even with an increased probability of summer drought (scenario with 50% of the years equal to the dry summer of 2018). In the populations with negative growth rate, the probability of quasi-extinction in the next 50 years varied from 90 to 100%. Declining populations were characterized by low survival following the dry year. In sum, population size, density and soil organic matter did not convincingly explain variation in growth rate of G. conopsea, suggesting that other environmental factors are responsible of governing variation in vitals rates and population dynamics.