1 Article type: Review 2 3 Orchid Conservation – from theory to practice 4 5 Ryan D. Phillips1,2,3*, Noushka Reiter3,4 & Rod Peakall3 6 7 1Department of Ecology, Environment and Evolution, La Trobe University, 8 Melbourne, Victoria 3086, Australia 9 2Kings Park Science, Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions, Kings 10 Park, WA 6005, Australia 11 3Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology, The Australian National 12 University, Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia 13 4Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, Corner of Ballarto Road and Botanic Drive, 14 Cranbourne, VIC 3977, Australia 15 16 Running title: Orchid Conservation – from theory to practice 17 18 *Corresponding author:
[email protected] 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 1 1 ABSTRACT 2 3 Background: Given the exceptional diversity of orchids (26,000+ species), improving 4 strategies for the conservation of orchids will benefit a vast number of taxa. 5 Furthermore, with rapidly increasing numbers of endangered orchids, and low success 6 rates in orchid conservation translocation programs worldwide, it is evident that our 7 progress in understanding the biology of orchids is not yet translating into widespread 8 effective conservation. 9 Scope: We highlight unusual aspects of the reproductive biology of orchids that can 10 have important consequences for conservation programs such as specialisation of 11 pollination systems, low fruit set but high seed production, and the potential for long- 12 distance seed dispersal. Further, we discuss the importance of their reliance on 13 mycorrhizal fungi for germination, including quantifying the incidence of specialised 14 versus generalised mycorrhizal associations in orchids. In light of leading 15 conservation theory and the biology of orchids, we provide recommendations for 16 improving population management and translocation programs.