Abstract
The Numidian cypress (Cupressus sempervirens var. numidica, C. numidica hereafter) is a rare, almost unknown, endemic taxon of Tunisia whose conservation has long been hampered by human activities, taxonomic uncertainty and limited ecological knowledge, with only 64.33 ha of its populations remaining. Although recent genetic studies have confirmed its native status and long-term isolation, detailed information on its distribution, population structure and threats remain lacking. This study provides the first comprehensive assessment of C. numidica across its remaining range. Field surveys revealed that the species persists in only three small, fragmented forests, Bou Abdallah, Sidi Amer, and Dir Satour, covering a total of 64.33 ha. Soil analysis revealed some differences among sites, with Bou Abdallah showing higher clay content and Dir Satou exhibiting the highest levels of nitrogen, organic carbon, Olsen P, and available Mn and Mo. Climatic analyses indicate a semi-arid Mediterranean environment with pronounced summer droughts and a clear warming trend. Trees showed widespread damages, due to intensive grazing, tree cutting, crown dieback (drought), and pest and pathogen attacks. Natural regeneration was limited, and the condition of affected trees ranged from moderate to severe, with Bou Abdallah showing the highest levels of degradation. Notably, the severe fungal pathogen Seiridium cardinale, causal agent of cypress canker, was detected on C. numidica for the first time, highlighting an urgent conservation concern. Our results point to a staged conservation approach over time. In the immediate term (within 1 year), urgent monitoring and management of S. cardinale is needed. In the short term, efforts should focus on protecting carefully selected areas, about 5–10 regeneration microsites per forest, from grazing to support natural regeneration, reduce ongoing soil degradation, and establish clonal and seed-production plantations along with long-term seed storage. In the long term, the survival of C. numidica will only be possible with the active involvement of local communities, through awareness campaigns, adapting traditional practices such as gdel, and developing small-scale ecotourism that provides sustainable livelihoods while reinforcing support for conservation.
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Claims 15
Claim · model-written summary
The Numidian cypress persists in only three small, fragmented forests covering a total of 64.33 ha.
- Taxon
- Cupressus sempervirens var. numidica
Cupressus sempervirense0 - Outcome
- persistse1
- Value
- 64.33 hae1
- Qualifier
- in only three small, fragmented forestse1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Cupressus sempervirens var. numidica”
e1“Field surveys revealed that the species persists in only three small, fragmented forests, Bou Abdallah, Sidi Amer, and Dir Satour, covering a total of 64.33 ha”
Claim · model-written summary
Bou Abdallah soil had higher clay content than the other sites.
- Taxon
- Cupressus sempervirens var. numidicaCupressus sempervirense0
- Outcome
- clay contente1
- Direction
- highere1
- Setting
- Bou Abdallahe1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Cupressus sempervirens var. numidica”
e1“Bou Abdallah showing higher clay content”
Claim · model-written summary
Dir Satou soil had the highest levels of nitrogen, organic carbon and Olsen P among the sites.
- Taxon
- Cupressus sempervirens var. numidicaCupressus sempervirense0
- Outcome
- nitrogen, organic carbon, Olsen Pe1
- Direction
- higheste1
- Setting
- Dir Satoue1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Cupressus sempervirens var. numidica”
e1“Dir Satou exhibiting the highest levels of nitrogen, organic carbon, Olsen P, and available Mn and Mo”
Claim · model-written summary
Dir Satou soil had the highest levels of available Mn and Mo among the sites.
- Taxon
- Cupressus sempervirens var. numidicaCupressus sempervirense0
- Outcome
- available Mn and Moe1
- Direction
- higheste1
- Setting
- Dir Satoue1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Cupressus sempervirens var. numidica”
e1“Dir Satou exhibiting the highest levels of nitrogen, organic carbon, Olsen P, and available Mn and Mo”
Claim · model-written summary
The climate at the sites shows a clear warming trend.
- Taxon
- Cupressus sempervirens var. numidicaCupressus sempervirense0
- Outcome
- warming trende2
- Qualifier
- cleare2
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Cupressus sempervirens var. numidica”
e2“Climatic analyses indicate a semi-arid Mediterranean environment with pronounced summer droughts and a clear warming trend”
Claim · model-written summary
The climate shows pronounced summer droughts.
- Taxon
- Cupressus sempervirens var. numidicaCupressus sempervirense0
- Outcome
- summer droughtse2
- Qualifier
- pronouncede2
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Cupressus sempervirens var. numidica”
e2“Climatic analyses indicate a semi-arid Mediterranean environment with pronounced summer droughts and a clear warming trend”
Claim · model-written summary
Trees showed widespread damages.
- Taxon
- Cupressus sempervirens var. numidicaCupressus sempervirense0
- Outcome
- widespread damagese3
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Cupressus sempervirens var. numidica”
e3“Trees showed widespread damages, due to intensive grazing, tree cutting, crown dieback (drought), and pest and pathogen attacks”
Claim · model-written summary
The tree damages are attributed to intensive grazing, tree cutting, drought-related crown dieback, and pest and pathogen attacks.
- Taxon
- Cupressus sempervirens var. numidicaCupressus sempervirense0
- Treatment
- intensive grazinge3
- Outcome
- widespread damagese3
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Cupressus sempervirens var. numidica”
e3“Trees showed widespread damages, due to intensive grazing, tree cutting, crown dieback (drought), and pest and pathogen attacks”
Claim · model-written summary
Bou Abdallah had the highest levels of tree degradation; affected trees ranged from moderate to severe condition.
- Taxon
- Cupressus sempervirens var. numidicaCupressus sempervirense0
- Outcome
- levels of degradatione4
- Direction
- higheste4
- Qualifier
- ranged from moderate to severee4
- Setting
- Bou Abdallahe4
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Cupressus sempervirens var. numidica”
e4“The condition of affected trees ranged from moderate to severe, with Bou Abdallah showing the highest levels of degradation”
Claim · model-written summary
Natural regeneration was limited.
- Taxon
- Cupressus sempervirens var. numidicaCupressus sempervirense0
- Outcome
- Natural regeneratione5
- Qualifier
- limitede5
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Cupressus sempervirens var. numidica”
e5“Natural regeneration was limited”
Claim · model-written summary
The fungal pathogen Seiridium cardinale, the cause of cypress canker, was detected on C. numidica for the first time.
- Taxon
- C. numidicae1
- Interactor
- Seiridium cardinale
Seiridium cardinalee1pathogen - Outcome
- detectede1
- Qualifier
- for the first timee1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“the severe fungal pathogen Seiridium cardinale, causal agent of cypress canker, was detected on C. numidica for the first time”
Claim · model-written summary
Urgent monitoring and management of Seiridium cardinale is needed.
- Taxon
- Cupressus sempervirens var. numidicaCupressus sempervirense0
- Outcome
- urgent monitoring and management of S. cardinalee1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Cupressus sempervirens var. numidica”
e1“urgent monitoring and management of S. cardinale is needed”
Claim · model-written summary
Carefully selected regeneration microsites should be protected from grazing, about 5–10 per forest.
- Taxon
- Cupressus sempervirens var. numidicaCupressus sempervirense0
- Outcome
- protecting carefully selected arease1
- Qualifier
- about 5–10 regeneration microsites per foreste1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Cupressus sempervirens var. numidica”
e1“protecting carefully selected areas, about 5–10 regeneration microsites per forest, from grazing”
Claim · model-written summary
Clonal and seed-production plantations, with long-term seed storage, should be established.
- Taxon
- Cupressus sempervirens var. numidicaCupressus sempervirense0
- Outcome
- establish clonal and seed-production plantationse1
- Qualifier
- long-term seed storagee1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Cupressus sempervirens var. numidica”
e1“establish clonal and seed-production plantations along with long-term seed storage”
Claim · model-written summary
Survival of the species requires active involvement of local communities through awareness, traditional practices and small-scale ecotourism.
- Taxon
- Cupressus sempervirens var. numidicaCupressus sempervirense0
- Outcome
- active involvement of local communitiese1
- Qualifier
- through awareness campaigns, adapting traditional practices such as gdel, and developing small-scale ecotourisme1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Cupressus sempervirens var. numidica”
e1“the active involvement of local communities, through awareness campaigns, adapting traditional practices such as gdel, and developing small-scale ecotourism”