Reassessment of Varronia bellonis - a threatened, endemic plant from Puerto Rico

Varronia bellonis (Urb.) Britton is a lianescent or recumbent shrub that is endemic to Puerto Rico where it is restricted to specific geology types with a limited extent on the western half of the Island. The species occurs on serpentinite geology covered by serpentine-derived soils in the west-central mountains and on limestone geology in the the northern karst region. The species area of occupancy is estimated to range between 108 km2 and 268 km2 and its extent of occurrence to be between 644 km2 and 852 km2. The number of locations are estimated to be four. There are 418 known mature individuals in the wild (Hamilton 2020a). The species was previously assessed as Critically Endangered (Linsky and Sustache 2014), based on available information. However, an international team have been collaborating to conserve the species and, based on new information derived from this work, the species is reassessed as Endangered (EN), based on Criteria B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v)+2ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v), according to the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria (version 3.1) and guidelines (IUCN Standards and Petitions Committee 2019). Areas of suitable habitat across the native range of the threatened plant, V. bellonis, were surveyed by a team of experts between 2016 and 2019 to determine the species habitat preferences, identify threats to the species survival and provide an up-to-date meta-population status. The new information enabled members of the international team to reassess the species status and will enable sound and scientifically-based recovery actions to be recommended that can secure Varronia bellonis populations for the future. Parallel efforts are ongoing to explore the species population genetics and reproductive biology.

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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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New island record and conservation status of Puerto Rican Bank endemic plant species, Ruehssia woodburyana (Acev.-Rodr.) Goyder, comb. nov., formally transferred from Marsdenia

Biodiversity Data Journal ◽

10.3897/bdj.8.e47110 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Sara Bárrios ◽

José Sustache ◽

David Goyder ◽

Martin Hamilton

Keyword(s):

Forest Fires ◽

Conservation Status ◽

Species Conservation ◽

Virgin Islands ◽

Ex Situ ◽

Suitable Habitat ◽

Endemic Plant ◽

Conservation Action ◽

British Virgin Islands ◽

Area Of Occupancy

Thought to be endemic to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Ruehssia woodburyana (Apocynaceae) was recently discovered at a single location on Norman Island in the British Virgin Islands. Despite an increase in the extent of occurrence and area of occupancy, this species meta-population is very limited with a total of 37 individuals known in the wild. The largest subpopulation, on Mona Island, has only 26 individuals. The species suitable habitat is experiencing a continuing decline due to urban development, grazing by feral ungulates and human-induced forest fires. Conservation action is urgently needed and should be directed towards establishing genetically representative ex situ collections, such as seed for long term storage and live material for propagation. This species is evaluated as Critically Endangered (CR), based on Criteria C2a(i)+D, according to the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria (version 3.1) and guidelines (Subcommittee IUCN Standards and Petitions 2016). Extensive and regular surveys to the region enable the discovery of new plant records for different countries and islands. In this paper, we record a new island record for Ruehssia woodburyana on Norman Island, in the British Virgin Islands and discuss the species conservation status. Marsdenia woodburyana is transferred to the genus Ruehssia to reflect the resurrection of that genus for species of Marsdenia native to the New World.

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Conservation assessment of the endemic plants from Kosovo

Hacquetia ◽

10.1515/hacq-2016-0024 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 16 (1) ◽

pp. 35-47

Author(s):

Fadil Millaku ◽

Elez Krasniqi ◽

Naim Berisha ◽

Ferat Rexhepi

Keyword(s):

Local Population ◽

Iucn Red List ◽

Red List ◽

Serpentine Soils ◽

Endemic Plants ◽

Aromatic Plants ◽

Endemic Plant ◽

Conservation Assessment ◽

Medicinal And Aromatic Plants ◽

Iucn Red List Categories

Abstract Sixteen endemic plant taxa were selected from Kosovo, according to the IUCN standards and for each taxon the risk assessment and threat category has been assigned. The taxa were compared with their previous status from fifteen years ago. From sixteen plant taxa, which were included in this work, four are Balkan endemics, whereas, eight of them are local endemics and four of the taxa are stenoendemics. Six of the taxa are grown exclusively on serpentine soils, five of them on limestone substrate, four of them in carbonate substrate, yet only one in silicate substrate. The work has been done based on the standard working methodologies of the IUCN (Guidelines for Using the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria – Version 8.1). The most threatened plant taxa is Solenanthus krasniqii – which after its observance has only 20 mature individuals. As a result of the wild collection of the medicinal and aromatic plants, from the local population, Sideritis scardica is about to be completely go extinct. The aim of this study was to assess the state of endemics in the threats possessed to them during the previous times, present and predicting the trends for the upcoming years.

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Status assessment of the Saddlepeak Dewflower (Murdannia saddlepeakensis Ramana & Nandikar: Commelinaceae): an endemic spiderwort plant of Andaman Islands, India

Journal of Threatened Taxa ◽

10.11609/jott.2363.8.14.9643-9647 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 8 (14) ◽

pp. 9643

Author(s):

Johny Kumar Tagore ◽

Sebastian Soosairaj ◽

M.U. Venkat Ramana ◽

M. Sanjappa ◽

K. N. Ganeshaiah

Keyword(s):

National Park ◽

Threat Assessment ◽

Iucn Red List ◽

Red List ◽

Andaman Islands ◽

Endemic Plant ◽

Field Surveys ◽

Iucn Red List Categories ◽

Status Assessment ◽

Red List Categories

The current distribution and threat assessment of Murdannia saddlepeakensis Ramana & Nandikar (Commelinaceae), an endemic plant of Saddle Peak National Park, northern Andaman is presented here. The data available from field surveys indicate that this species is Critically Endangered according to the 2011 IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria.

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Population status of endemic tree kokoleceran (Vatica bantamensis) in Ujung Kulon National Park, Indonesia

Biodiversitas Journal of Biological Diversity ◽

10.13057/biodiv/d200147 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

pp. 296-302

Author(s):

IYAN ROBIANSYAH ◽

DODO DODO ◽

ARIEF HAMIDI

Keyword(s):

National Park ◽

Conservation Status ◽

Habitat Preferences ◽

Iucn Red List ◽

Mature Stage ◽

Cluster Sampling ◽

Population Status ◽

Threatened Plants ◽

Area Of Occupancy ◽

Surrounding Areas

Robiansyah I, Dodo, Hamidi A. 2019. Population status of endemic tree kokoleceran (Vatica bantamensis) in Ujung Kulon National Park, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 20: 296-302. Kokoleceran (Vatica bantamensis) is an endemic tree found only in Ujung Kulon National Park (UKNP), Banten, Indonesia, and is classified as Endangered by IUCN Red List. To develop effective conservation measures of threatened plants, current information on population status and distribution of the species is needed. Thus in the present study, a targeted survey of kokoleceran was conducted in UKNP aiming at mapping the distribution of the species, measuring current population size and structure, assessing the habitat preferences, and identifying threats to the species. Using a non-random adaptive cluster sampling, a total of 27 clusters harboring 280 individuals of kokoleceran was located, of which 20 % were in mature stage. All these individuals were only found in Mount Payung and its surrounding areas, and formed an inverse-J-shaped population structure pattern. The species was estimated to have an area of occupancy and extent of occurrence of 8 km2. The invasive langkap palm (Arenga obtusifolia, Arecaceae) was identified as the main threat for kokoleceran. Based on these results, kokoleceran appears to more than justify its conservation status of Critically Endangered B1ab(iii,v) +2ab(iii,v); C2a(ii).

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Conservation status of New Caledonia palms

Pacific Conservation Biology ◽

10.1071/pc990009 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

pp. 9 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

J.-C. Pintaud ◽

T. Jaffré ◽

J.-M. Veillon

Keyword(s):

Threatened Species ◽

New Caledonia ◽

Conservation Status ◽

Iucn Red List ◽

Red List ◽

Iucn Red List Categories ◽

Area Of Occupancy ◽

Palm Species ◽

Red List Categories ◽

Herbarium Collections

An assessment of the conservation status of the palm species occuring in New Caledonia is provided, based on the new IUCN Red List categories. To determine the conservation status of each species, their extent of occurrence was determined using locality data on herbarium collections. Area of occupancy, number of adults, regeneration, and threats were evaluated on 62 localities throughout the Territory, including all types of palm habitats and all localities of species occurring at less than five sites. Among the 37 palm species known in New Caledonia, all are endemic and 13 are in a threatened category, including four critically endangered, one endangered, and eight vulnerable. Only four of the threatened species are represented in a reserve. Six species are listed as LRcd since they are adequately protected in a reserve despite an acute restriction of their range. Recommendations are given to improve the network of protected areas to include more threatened species.

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Rediscovery of Glauconycteris superba Hayman, 1939 (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) after 40 years at Mbiye Island, Democratic Republic of the Congo

European Journal of Taxonomy ◽

10.5852/ejt.2013.42 ◽

2013 ◽

Author(s):

Guy-Crispin Gembu Tungaluna ◽

Victor Van Cakenberghe ◽

Prescott Musaba Akawa ◽

Benjamin Dudu Akaibe ◽

Erik Verheyen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Democratic Republic ◽

Habitat Preferences ◽

Central Africa ◽

Wide Distribution ◽

Iucn Red List ◽

Type Specimens ◽

Forest Zone ◽

Area Of Occupancy ◽

The Status ◽

Republic Of The Congo

We report the rediscovery of the Pied Butterfly Bat, Glauconycteris superba Hayman, 1939, 40 years after this species was last recorded. The new specimen from Mbiye Island, Democratic Republic of the Congo, is compared with the type specimens of G. s. superba and G. superba sheila Hayman, 1947 and a specimen from Matonguiné, Ivory Coast. The variation in the striking colouration of the pelage as well as in morphometric data is considered to be individual rather than geographic variation and we tentatively regard G. s. sheila as a synonym of the nominate form. Despite the wide distribution of this species in the tropical forest zone of West and Central Africa, only four specimens from four localities are known to date, which might indicate very specific habitat preferences. Contemporary land cover information around historic collection sites shows degraded landscapes. Given the highly uncertain area of occupancy of this species, we suggest changing the status of G. superba in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species from “Least Concern” to “Data Deficient”.

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Conservation status of the threatened and endemic Rufous-throated Dipper Cinclus schulzi in Argentina

Bird Conservation International ◽

10.1017/s0959270919000467 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 30 (3) ◽

pp. 396-405

Author(s):

NATALIA POLITI ◽

SEBASTIÁN MARTINUZZI ◽

PATRICIA SARDINA ARAGÓN ◽

VERÓNICA MIRANDA ◽

SEBASTIÁN ALBANESI ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Population Size ◽

National Parks ◽

Potential Distribution ◽

Conservation Status ◽

Iucn Red List ◽

Red List ◽

Mountain Forest ◽

Suitable Habitat ◽

Area Of Occupancy ◽

North Western

SummaryThe Rufous-throated Dipper Cinclus schulzi is endemic to the Southern Yungas of north-western Argentina and southern Bolivia. The species is categorised as ‘Vulnerable’ on the IUCN Red List on the basis of small population size and restricted range. The purpose of our study was to determine the distribution of potentially suitable habitat for the Rufous-throated Dipper, estimate its population size, and assess potential distribution within strict protected areas, in north-western Argentina. We surveyed 44 rivers in the Southern Yungas of Argentina from 2010 to 2013 to determine dipper density (i.e. the number of individuals detected per km surveyed). The dipper’s potential distribution was assessed using a maximum entropy modeling approach based on 31 occurrence points and eight bioclimatic and two topographic variables as predictors. The species is dependent on mountain forest rivers, so the potential distribution was restricted to rivers. We estimated dipper population size by multiplying density by the potential distribution along rivers. Finally, we calculated the extent of suitable habitat contained within the boundaries of Argentina´s National Parks. Dipper density was 0.94 ± 1.55 individuals/km. We estimate that within north-west Argentina there are ~2,815 km of river that are potential habitat, with an area of occupancy of 141 km2 and a population size of 2,657 ± 4,355 dippers. However, of this river extent, less than 5% is within National Parks. Our results highlight the need to create new and to enlarge existing National Parks that protect the potentially suitable habitat of the species. Although more information is needed for Bolivia, the country-level area of occupancy and population size of the dipper found in Argentina provides strong evidence that the IUCN Red List classification of this species as ‘Vulnerable’ is warranted.

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Conservation status of the narrow endemic gypsophile Ononis tridentata subsp. crassifolia in southern Spain: effects of habitat disturbance

Oryx ◽

10.1017/s0030605312001688 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 47 (2) ◽

pp. 199-202 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Miguel Ballesteros ◽

Ana Foronda ◽

Eva María Cañadas ◽

Julio Peñas ◽

Juan Lorite

Keyword(s):

Population Size ◽

Seedling Recruitment ◽

Conservation Status ◽

Iucn Red List ◽

Endemic Plant ◽

Negative Effects ◽

Field Surveys ◽

Narrow Endemic ◽

Area Of Occupancy ◽

Species Area

AbstractOnonis tridentata L. subsp. crassifolia (Leguminosae) is a narrow endemic plant restricted to gypsum outcrops in south-east Spain. Its habitat and populations are currently threatened by anthropogenic disturbance. Because of the paucity of information concerning its distribution, abundance and response to disturbance, we assessed its status and evaluated the impacts of quarrying, ploughing, grazing and afforestation. Distribution and population size were estimated by field surveys, censuses and mapping. We measured cover, plant volume, fruit and seed production, seed predation and seedling recruitment to asses any effects of disturbance. The species’ area of occupancy is 1.6 km2 and its extent of occurrence 337 km2, in 29 habitat patches and 16 populations between 705 and 1,125 m altitude, and its population size was estimated to be 531,605. Quarrying, ploughing, overgrazing and afforestation negatively affected the species, in this order. We recommend this subspecies be categorized as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. A species recovery plan is required, and the ecological restoration of altered areas would mitigate negative effects on the species and improve the overall conservation of gypsum habitats.

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