Adaptation strategies to climate change of the species Equisetum giganteum in the Tapyta Natural Reserve, Paraguay

Abstract

The effects of climate change on biodiversity requires the implementation of adaptation strategies at different scales (genes, species and landscape). The species Equisetum giganteum locally known a ¨horsetail¨ is an endangered plant species native to Paraguay which requires measures for its conservation. This species is one of the conservation targets of Tapyta Nature Reserve (San Juan Nepomuceno, Caazapá). The aim of this research study was to propose a basic methodology for the analysis of climate change adaptation of the species Equisetum giganteum inside the reserve. The specific objectives were to identify stresses and their sources affecting the species, determine the viability of the species, and suggest measures for its conservation in the protected area under a climate change scenario. The methodology was based in transects, interviews with key informants, application of climate scenarios, adaptation to the guidelines of The Nature Conservancy, validation focus groups, construction of different scenarios about species viability, and development of measures for the conservation of the species. Alterations on water quality, fragmentation, habitat degradation, and micro climatic regime were the stresses identified in the study and the sources were diffuse pollution, change in land use, incompatible subsistence harvesting, predation by domestic species and climate change. According to the viability analysis, the Equisetum giganteum has good persistence and colonization capacity inside the reserve. As measures for its conservation, it is suggested to carry out education workshops, planting specimens, implementation of terraces; ex situ and in situ conservation and continuity of research on the subject.