Abstract:

Aims: Petrocosmea qinlingensis is a Class-II National Key Protected Wild Plant distributed in the Qinling Mountains. It has important value, both ecologically and ornamentally. However, it is endangered and the numbers are few in the wild and thus need urgently strengthen protection and rescue. We are exploring the reintroduction of the endangered plant P. qinlingensis to the wild. This will provide the basis efforts to return P. qinlingensis to the Qinling Mountains as well as the reintroduction of other endangered species.

Methods: Three different reintroduction sites were selected after inspection. At the same time, we used random quadrat survey and observation photography to record the growth situation and calculate survival rate of P. qinlingensis in the reintroduction sites.

Results: (1) The difference of altitude, air humidity, soil texture and surface vegetation across three reintroduction sites affected the survival rate of the reintroduced P. qinlingensis. And altitude significantly affected the survival rate of the reintroduced P. qinlingensis among three different reintroduction sites (P < 0.05). (2) Severe drought, rainstorm, and frost in three reintruduction sites caused the loss of P. qinlingensis to varying degrees. (3) After returning to the wild for 12 months, the petioles and leaves of P. qinlingensis elongated, while the number and width of the leaves decreased, as expected.

Conclusion: Strengthening domestication before returning to the wild and investigation of the microclimate the returning places selected are key factors to determine the success of P. qinlingensis reintroduced to the wild.

Key words: Petrocosmea qinlingensis, habitat selection, wild introduction, survival rate