2005-2006
Organismo Autónomo Parques Nacionales, Ministerio de Medio Ambiente
Ninot Sugrañes, Josep M. (IP). Carrillo Ortuño, Amparo.


Seed bank of the National Park Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici

This project is aimed to the preservation of a substantial part of the Park’s plant diversity in a germplasp bank, where viable seeds are kept for a long time. Also, we proceed to a morphologic-functional analysis of the seeds in order to obtain a standardized knowledge of them, according to general protocols.

For this seed bank, we selected priority taxa within the Park flora: endemics, mountain plants with disjunct area, rarities, etc. During the vegetative periods we select the adequate plant populations, and yield seed at the ripening time. Each sample (one population) includes more than 3,000 seeds, which is the amount established as genetically representative. The field sampling is done by Moisès Guardiola and Albert Petit, in collaboration with our Research Group.

After sorting and rejecting plant fragments, the samples are kept in hermetic bottles at – 18 ºC, in the Jardí Botànic of Barcelona.

A small subsample of each sample is used for the morphologic study mentioned, and is included in the Herbarium of the Universitat de Barcelona (BCN). The data recorded (seed size, mass, type) and a digital image (http://herbaribcn.ub.es/herbvirt/album/aesm/index.htm) are included in a data bank of seeds and fruits, coordinated by Roser Guàrdia.

This project has been also useful in obtaining new knowledge of the local flora. Thus, we have found 12 new species in the Park, and unknown locations of a number of rarities.

The most intensive activity of this project developed in the period 2004-2006, thought new collections are added each year. At the end of 2011, the content of the seed bank may be summarized as follows:



The seed bank in the virtual herbarium of the Documentation Centre of Plant Biodiversity, University of Barcelona

Presentation on the project within the course Protocols of long-term monitoring of mountain flora (Espot, 2012)






Research field:
Floristics and Taxonomy


Project results: