GREUTER (ASTERACEAE), A THREATENED ENDEMIC SPECIES OF THE GENNARGENTU MASSIF, SARDINIA (ITALY)

perennial species, narrow endemic of Sardinia (Italy) and known only in two sites of the Gennargentu massif. The aims of this study are to investigate characteristics of the ecolo-gy and biology of the species which might be important for its conservation and reassess its conservation status. Here we show the preliminary results of this study, with a focus on the abundance and distribution of the species, its reproductive capacity and the levels of threats. From the data collected in the field it appears that the population had been fragmented into two subpopulations. The total population covered an area of around 12 hectares and consisted of around 2500 individuals. The reproductive biology of the spe-cies, in particular the low production of fertile seeds and absence of seedlings (recruit-ment) in the field, seems to be one of the main biological causes of the threatened status of the species. Increases in extensive grazing and tourism, linked to the skiing and trek-king activities, have been recognized as the major anthropogenic threats to the species. The preliminary results of this study confirm the conservation status of L. m-icrocephala as Critically Endangered. Key words: narrow endemic, conservation biology, seed vi-ability, human disturbance, IUCN categories