Morphological analysis, chorology and ecology of Juniperus navicularis Gand. in the Iberian Peninsula

Abstract

Juniperus navicularis is an endemic taxon of Iberian Peninsula that develops on paleodunes of coastal ecosystems and whose distribution range is not well defined. In this paper, we present the results of the morphological analysis in populations attributed to J. navicularis of southern Spain. In order to assess the similarity between Portuguese and Spanish populations, the Mann–Whitney U test was performed, the same test was also applied between this taxon and Juniperus oxycedrus subsp. oxycedrus. In order to distinguish this species from other taxa of the Juniperus oxycedrus group (subsp. oxycedrus, subsp. badia, subsp. macrocarpa) in the southwestern Mediterranean region, a principal component analysis has been carried out. New data about the chorology and ecology of Spanish populations considered as a priority habitat in the Habitat Directive as well as number of individuals and conservation status are provided.

Keywords:

• Iberian endemic taxon
• Cupressaceae
• morphology
• paleodunes
• principal component analysis

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the conservation technicians of Botanical Garden San Fernando (Cadiz) and Dunas del Odiel (Huelva), belonging to the Andalusian Network of Botanical Gardens (Junta de Andalucía) for their help in locating populations of Juniperus navicularis. We thank the anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments and suggestions.