Investigating the status of Cinnamomum chago (Lauraceae), a plant species with an extremely small population endemic to Yunnan, China

AbstractCinnamomum chago is a woody species of the family Lauraceae endemic to Yunnan province, China, previously known from only one location, and categorized as a Plant Species with Extremely Small Population. We surveyed to determine the distribution and population size of C. chago, characterize its habitat, identify any threats, assess its conservation status, and provide guidelines for its management and conservation. During 2014–2017 we found only 64 mature C. chago, in five locations. These small, fragmented populations occur along Lancang River in Dali Prefecture at altitudes of 2,200–2,400 m. The species' extent of occurrence is c. 923 km2, with an area of occupancy of c. 60 km2. The habitat of the species has been degraded by expansion of pastoral activities and deforestation. We recommend categorization of C. chago as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, prevention of the collection of seeds and wood of the species, protection and monitoring, and ex situ propagation for future reintroductions.

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PRELIMINARY EVALUATION OF THE STATUS OF ALOE DHUFARENSIS LAVRANOS (ASPHODELACEAE JUSS.) IN THE ARABIAN PENINSULA

Electronic Journal of University of Aden for Basic and Applied Sciences ◽

10.47372/ejua-ba.2021.1.85 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2 (1) ◽

pp. 14-21

Author(s):

Abdul Wali Al-Khulaidi

Keyword(s):

Plant Species ◽

Conservation Planning ◽

Arabian Peninsula ◽

Conservation Status ◽

Iucn Red List ◽

Red List ◽

Preliminary Evaluation ◽

Endemic Plants ◽

Area Of Occupancy ◽

The Status

Assessment of plant species in particular rare and endemic is essential for monitoring and conservation planning. I aimed to support conservation activities by addressing knowledge of the status of Aloe dhufarensis Lavranos, one of the endemic plants in the Arabian Peninsula. Information on the status and distribution range of A. dhufarensis in the Arabian Peninsula is almost absent. To Assess A. dhufarensis according to IUCN categories, Extent of Occurrence (EOO) and Area of Occupancy (AOO) were created and measured using ArcMap 10.8. The species is described and illustrated; the distribution of the species was mapped. The evaluation and the conservation status of this plant species are reported according to the context of IUCN Red List guidelines and criteria.

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Conservation status of Mascarene Amaranth Aerva congesta Balf.F. Ex Baker (Eudicots: Caryophyllales: Amaranthaceae): a Critically Endangered endemic herb of the Mascarenes, Indian Ocean

Journal of Threatened Taxa ◽

10.11609/jott.2402.10.8.12056-12063 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 10 (8) ◽

pp. 12056

Author(s):

Kersley Bruno Pynee ◽

David Harold Lorence ◽

Poojanraj Khurun

Keyword(s):

Conservation Status ◽

Iucn Red List ◽

Small Population ◽

Red List ◽

Critically Endangered ◽

Native Vegetation ◽

Ecological Studies ◽

Area Of Occupancy ◽

Mascarene Islands ◽

Iucn Red List Criteria

Aerva congesta Balf.f. ex Baker (Amaranthaceae), an endemic of Mascarene Islands (Mauritius and Rodrigues) is assessed for its conservation status. Considering its local extinction in Rodrigues and very small population in Mauritius, in Round Island and at Gris Gris, south of Mauritius its area of occupancy (AOO) is estimated at 8km². Due to its small AOO and threats by increasing native vegetation and alien species, A. congesta is evaluated as Critically Endangered following the latest IUCN Red List criteria. The species needs an urgent well-defined restoration program and ecological studies to prevent its extinction.

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Lost in time and space: re-assessment of conservation status in an arid-zone flora through targeted field survey

Australian Journal of Botany ◽

10.1071/bt14279 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 62 (8) ◽

pp. 674 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

J. L. Silcock ◽

A. J. Healy ◽

R. J. Fensham

Keyword(s):

Plant Species ◽

Arid Zone ◽

Conservation Status ◽

Vascular Plant ◽

Iucn Red List ◽

Arid Zones ◽

Arid Environments ◽

Eastern Australia ◽

The Status ◽

Conservation Assessments

Lack of basic data to assess plant species against IUCN Red List criteria is a major impediment to assigning accurate conservation status throughout large areas of the world. Erroneous assessments will be most prevalent in vast poorly surveyed areas where herbarium collections are sparse. In arid environments, assessments are further confounded by extreme temporal variability and poor understanding of the nature and magnitude of threats. We systematically re-assess the conservation status of an arid-zone flora. The status of all 1781 vascular plant species occurring across 635 300 km2 of inland eastern Australia was initially assessed through herbarium records and expert interviews. This process generated a list of apparently rare and potentially threatened species, which guided a targeted survey program over 4 years. Search effort and key data on populations of candidate species found were recorded and used to assess 91 species against IUCN criteria. One-third of species were widespread and abundant at least in certain seasons, but had been deemed rare due to sparse collections. The conservation status of 20, mostly newly recognised species from restricted habitats, was upgraded and 14 remained listed because of having restricted areas of occupancy. With the exception of 12 artesian spring species, continuing declines were documented for just six species. The criterion that allows for listing of species because of extreme fluctuations (in combination with restricted and fragmented populations) needs to be carefully interpreted in arid zones, where these fluctuations may be apparent rather than real, and may actually confer resilience to grazing for some species. Our approach facilitates robust conservation assessments across vast and poorly known arid regions, distinguishing species that have merely been lost in space and time from those that are at risk of extinction.

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Conservation status and recovery of Podocarpus angustifolius: a threatened tree of Cuba

Oryx ◽

10.1017/s0030605321000144 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-3

Author(s):

Ernesto Testé ◽

Majela Hernández ◽

Eldis R. Bécquer ◽

Oliver Valle ◽

Luis R. González-Torres

Keyword(s):

Protected Areas ◽

Size Structure ◽

Conservation Status ◽

Population Based ◽

Iucn Red List ◽

Small Population ◽

Red List ◽

Coffee Plantations ◽

Area Of Occupancy ◽

In The Wild

Abstract The recovery of species’ populations is one of the most challenging tasks in conservation, which is why species recovery is most likely to be successful if it involves as many stakeholders as possible. Podocarpus angustifolius, a tree endemic to Cuba, is potentially threatened by overexploitation, deforestation and expansion of exotic species. In December of 2017, in two protected areas containing the only known subpopulations of this species, we recorded the geographical position, height, and diameter at breast height of each individual, and calculated the extent of occurrence (EOO) and area of occupancy (AOO). We recorded a total of 575 individuals, 174 of which were adult (defined as ≥ 6 m height on the basis of the occurrence of reproductive structures), and most of which occurred in Lomas de Banao Ecological Reserve. The EOO and AOO were 125.8 km2 and 6.0 km2, respectively. All P. angustifolius that remain in the wild are within two protected areas, either in rainforest relicts or in coffee plantations. The size structure indicates a growing population. Based on our findings we recommend that P. angustifolius should be recategorized from Vulnerable (on the IUCN Red List) and Critically Endangered (on the national Red List) to Endangered, based on criterion D (small population size). We recommend the continued reinforcement of the population at Topes de Collantes Natural Protected Landscape and the continued engagement of local stakeholders for the long-term conservation of this species.

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Conservation status of the unique population of Wenchengia alternifolia, an enigmatic plant endemic to Hainan Island, China

Oryx ◽

10.1017/s0030605313001373 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 48 (3) ◽

pp. 354-357 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Bo Li ◽

Zhiyong Zhang ◽

Dianxiang Zhang

Keyword(s):

Plant Species ◽

Ex Situ Conservation ◽

Conservation Status ◽

Hainan Island ◽

Iucn Red List ◽

Red List ◽

Critically Endangered ◽

Ex Situ ◽

Field Surveys ◽

Remnant Population

AbstractWenchengia alternifolia (Lamiaceae) is a plant species endemic to Hainan Island, China. Since the 1930s it was known from only four collections and was believed to be extinct until a remnant population was rediscovered in 2010. We conducted further field surveys during 2010–2012 but located only one population, with 66 individuals. W. alternifolia is restricted to the c. 1,500 m2 Shuangximu Valley, in a harsh microenvironment surrounded by plantations. As the population comprises < 50 mature individuals, we propose that W. alternifolia be categorized as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, based on criterion D. We recommend that the remnant population and its habitat need urgent protection and monitoring and that ex situ conservation, for future reintroduction, should be implemented.

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Conservation biology of threatened Mediterranean chasmophytes: The case of Asperula naufraga endemic to Zakynthos island (Ionian islands, Greece)

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0246706 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (2) ◽

pp. e0246706 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Anna-Thalassini Valli ◽

Vassiliki Lila Koumandou ◽

Gregoris Iatrou ◽

Marios Andreou ◽

Vasileios Papasotiropoulos ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Genetic Diversity ◽

Population Size ◽

Extinction Risk ◽

Conservation Status ◽

Small Population ◽

Ex Situ ◽

Current Conservation ◽

Ionian Islands ◽

Small Population Size ◽

Area Of Occupancy

Asperula naufraga is a rare and threatened obligate chasmophyte, endemic to Zakynthos island (Ionian islands, Greece). In this study, we provide a combined approach (including monitoring of demographic and reproductive parameters and study of genetic diversity) to assess the current conservation status of the species and to estimate its future extinction risk. The five subpopulations of A. naufraga were monitored for five years (2014–2018). Population size markedly fluctuated between 68–130 mature individuals during the monitoring period. The extent of occurrence (EOO) was estimated at 28.7 km2 and the area of occupancy (AOO) was 8 km2. Stage-structure recordings were similar for all subpopulations, characterized by high proportions of adult and senescent individuals, following a common pattern, which has been observed in other cliff-dwelling plants. Preliminary genetic analysis with SSRs markers revealed low heterozygosity within subpopulations and significant departure from H-W equilibrium, which combined with small population size suggest increased threat of genetic diversity loss. Our results indicate that the species should be placed in the Critically Endangered (CR) IUCN threat category, while according to Population Viability Analysis results its extinction risk increases to 47.8% in the next 50 years. The small population size combined with large fluctuations in its size, low recruitment and low genetic diversity, indicate the need of undertaking effective in situ and ex situ conservation measures.

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Assessment of the rarity and conservation status of the Colombian endemic brown hairy dwarf porcupine Coendou vestitus

Oryx ◽

10.1017/s0030605319001029 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-6

Author(s):

María M. Torres-Martínez ◽

Héctor E. Ramírez-Chaves ◽

Elkin A. Noguera-Urbano ◽

Fernando C. Passos

Keyword(s):

Small Body ◽

Conservation Status ◽

Natural Habitat ◽

Habitat Type ◽

Iucn Red List ◽

Red List ◽

Small Range ◽

Minimum Convex Polygon ◽

Area Of Occupancy ◽

Species Rarity

Abstract The brown hairy dwarf porcupine Coendou vestitus is a poorly studied Andean species endemic to Colombia. Its current Red List category is contradictory: globally it is categorized as Data Deficient but in Colombia it is categorized as Vulnerable. This contradiction has limited the implementation of conservation programmes. We evaluate the level of rarity of the species and provide consolidated information for a new assessment of its Red List status. We reviewed literature, photographs, and voucher specimens in natural history collections. Using the confirmed records, we estimated the extent of occurrence (EOO) based on the minimum convex polygon and the area of occupancy (AOO) summing the area of grid squares occupied by the species. We found that C. vestitus is very rare, with a small range, low estimated population density, occurrence in only one habitat type and small body size. The species has an EOO of 3,323 km2 and an AOO of 24 km2, based on six confirmed localities, all on the western slopes of the Eastern Cordillera, in the central Andean region of Colombia. Based on the species' rarity, restricted distribution, and threats to its natural habitat, we recommend its categorization as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. This will help delineate research and conservation efforts for this porcupine, which has a highly restricted range and inhabits the threatened Andean forest.

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Habitat associations and conservation status of an endemic forest dwarf chameleon (Bradypodion sp.) from South Africa

Oryx ◽

10.1017/s0030605306000408 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 40 (2) ◽

pp. 183-188 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Walter J. Reisinger ◽

Devi M. Stuart-Fox ◽

Barend F.N. Erasmus

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Conservation Status ◽

Canopy Cover ◽

Iucn Red List ◽

Habitat Associations ◽

Suitable Habitat ◽

Area Of Occupancy ◽

Forest Interior ◽

Forest Remnants ◽

Iucn Red List Criteria

We quantified habitat associations and evaluated the conservation status of a recently identified, undescribed species of dwarf chameleon, Bradypodion sp. nov. Dhlinza, endemic to scarp forest remnants in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. At the microhabitat scale the Dhlinza dwarf chameleon was found more often in forest gaps and near paths than highly disturbed edges or forest interior. Chameleon presence was not explained by forest physiognomic variables such as vine cover, shrub and tree density, or canopy cover. Presence near gaps may be better explained by the combined effects of the thermal microenvironment and food availability. The species is moderately common where it occurs, with estimated densities of 4.7, 8.7 and 29.7 individuals per ha within forest interior, edges and gaps respectively. At the landscape scale, the chameleon occurs only in three remnant forests: the Dhlinza, Entumeni and Ongoye Forests. The species' extent of occurrence was estimated to be 88 km2 and its area of occupancy 49 km2. Based on the small area of remaining suitable habitat, this species meets the requirements for categorization as Endangered according to IUCN Red List criteria.

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Increasing accuracy: The advantage of using open access species occurrence database in the Red List assessment

Biodiversitas Journal of Biological Diversity ◽

10.13057/biodiv/d210831 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 21 (8) ◽

Author(s):

Iyan Robiansyah ◽

Wita Wardani

Keyword(s):

Open Access ◽

Extinction Risk ◽

Conservation Status ◽

Iucn Red List ◽

Red List ◽

Suitable Habitat ◽

Herbarium Specimens ◽

Species Occurrence ◽

Extent Of Occurrence ◽

Area Of Occupancy

Abstract. Robiansyah I, Wardani W. 2020. Increasing accuracy: The advantage of using open access species occurrence database in the Red List assessment. Biodiversitas 21: 3658-3664. IUCN Red List is the most widely used instrument to assess and advise the extinction risk of a species. One of the criteria used in IUCN Red List is geographical range of the species assessed (criterion B) in the form of extent of occurrence (EOO) and/or area of occupancy (AOO). While this criterion is presumed to be the easiest to be completed as it is based mainly on species occurrence data, there are some assessments that failed to maximize freely available databases. Here, we reassessed the conservation status of Cibotium arachnoideum, a tree fern distributed in Sumatra and Borneo. This species was previously assessed by Praptosuwiryo (2020, Biodiversitas 21 (4): 1379-1384) which classified the species as Endangered (EN) under criteria B2ab(i,ii,iii); C2a(ii). Using additional data from herbarium specimens recorded in the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) website and from peer-reviewed scientific papers, in the present paper we show that C. arachnoideum has a larger extent of occurrence (EOO) and area of occupancy (AOO), more locations and different conservation status compared to those in Praptosuwiryo (2020). Our results are supported by the predicted suitable habitat map of C. arachnoideum produced by MaxEnt modelling method. Based on our assessment, we propose the category of Vulnerable (VU) C2a(i) as the global conservation status for C. arachnoideum. Our study implies the advantage of using open access databases to increase the accuracy of extinction risk assessment under the IUCN Red List criteria in regions like Indonesia, where adequate taxonomical information is not always readily available.

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Review of the status and conservation of tenrecs (Mammalia: Afrotheria: Tenrecidae)

Oryx ◽

10.1017/s0030605318001205 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 1-10 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

P. J. Stephenson ◽

Voahangy Soarimalala ◽

Steven M. Goodman ◽

Martin E. Nicoll ◽

Vonjy Andrianjakarivelo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Conservation Status ◽

Iucn Red List ◽

Conservation Priorities ◽

Incidental Capture ◽

The Status ◽

Conservation Actions ◽

Data Deficient ◽

Essential Knowledge ◽

Development Objectives ◽

Near Future

Abstract The mammal family Tenrecidae (Afrotheria: Afrosoricida) is endemic to Madagascar. Here we present the conservation priorities for the 31 species of tenrec that were assessed or reassessed in 2015–2016 for the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Six species (19.4%) were found to be threatened (4 Vulnerable, 2 Endangered) and one species was categorized as Data Deficient. The primary threat to tenrecs is habitat loss, mostly as a result of slash-and-burn agriculture, but some species are also threatened by hunting and incidental capture in fishing traps. In the longer term, climate change is expected to alter tenrec habitats and ranges. However, the lack of data for most tenrecs on population size, ecology and distribution, together with frequent changes in taxonomy (with many cryptic species being discovered based on genetic analyses) and the poorly understood impact of bushmeat hunting on spiny species (Tenrecinae), hinders conservation planning. Priority conservation actions are presented for Madagascar's tenrecs for the first time since 1990 and focus on conserving forest habitat (especially through improved management of protected areas) and filling essential knowledge gaps. Tenrec research, monitoring and conservation should be integrated into broader sustainable development objectives and programmes targeting higher profile species, such as lemurs, if we are to see an improvement in the conservation status of tenrecs in the near future.

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