Brooke, A., Terry, L.I., & Marler, T.E. 2025 Conception, construction, implementation, and challenges with establishing a Tinian ex situ conservation program for Cycas micronesica: Lessons learned. Plant Species Biology 0: 1-8
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Notes: Guam was invaded by the cycad-specific Aulacaspis yasumatsui (Diaspididae) in 2003. Within months, the pest began killing Cycas micronesica trees. A conservation plan to establish an ex situ germplasm collection of this cycad species on the nearby island of Tinian (Commonwealth of the Mariana Islands) that was free of the pest was developed in 2005. An invasion of A. yasumatsui into the remote ex situ site was recognized in 2019, and observations from 2023 confirm only 208 surviving individuals remain due to the changes in conservation protocols. Our goal herein is to document the developments of this case study to inform conservation of all cycad species that become threatened by A. yasumatsui. https://doi.org/10.1111/1442-1984.70003
