Fig. 3.

Specialisation in temperate terrestrial orchids based on the primary biotic agents limiting abundance and distribution – the degree of overlap in components indicates the degree of biological dependency of the orchid on that factor; e.g. the ability to have more than one fungal associate or multiple pollinators means broader ecological tolerance in the face of loss of one of these factors (ecological substitution). This leads to the concept of rarity being related to the ability for ecological substitution in the event of decline or elimination of a symbiont or pollinator. The development of conservation strategies including assisted migration via translocation to new sites relies on a thorough understanding of the type and level of biotic specializations and highlights the need for conservation actions to integrate research disciplines. *Microtis media is autogamous. (derived from Ramsay et al., 1986; Dixon et al., 1990; Peakall, 1990; Brundrett et al., 2003; Bonnardeaux et al., 2007; Brundrett, 2007).