Taxonomy
Red List Status -
Critically Endangered (CR) , assessed in 23/07/2015Protected species -
in Southern Province , in Northern Province
Pittosporum ornatum is an endemic shrub of New Caledonia known only from the Bourail area. Discovered in 1981 by MacKee on Haute Téné, approximately ten individuals have been observed at the same locality by Dominique Fleurot (Dec. 2015). Frequent bushfires as well as degradation of habitats induced by rusa deer (Rusa timorensis) support a continuous decline of its area of occupancy, extent of occurrence, quality of habitat, number of location and number of mature individuals and potentially extinction. Using criteria B, P. ornatum qualifies as Critically Endangered (CR) B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v)+2ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v); C2a(i).
Geographical area
Pittosporum ornatum is an endemic shrub of New Caledonia known only from the Bourail area.
Population
According to last observations of Dominique Fleurot, population of Haute-Téné observed is around 50 individuals, with an estimated population size less than 250 mature individuals.
Habitat
P. ornatum occurs on forest edges and humid forest on ultramafic substrate for Haute Téné station and in rupestral area and schist for Mé Aoui station.
Threats
From its distribution, P. ornatum could be affected by bushfires, but also by rusa deer (Rusa timorensis) causing habitat damage and seedlings grazing.
Conservation
P. ornatum is at once protected by legislation in Province Nord and Province Sud, but has never been known from any protected areas. In order to confirm or not occurrence of this species on Mé Aoui, field surveys are required on this station.
Bibliography
Endemia.nc 2016. Faune et Flore de Nouvelle-Calédonie.
Tirel, C. & Veillon J.-M. 2002. Flore de la Nouvelle-Calédonie et dépendances. Volume 24 : Pittosporaceae.
Hély-Alleaume 2012. INC : Incendies et biodiversité des éco-systèmes en Nouvelle-Calédonie.
Morat, P.; Jaffré, T.; Tronchet, F.; Munzinger, J.; Pillon, Y.; Veillon, J.-M. and Chalopin, M. 2012. Le référentiel taxonomique Florical et les caractéristiques de la flore vasculaire indigène de la Nouvelle-Calédonie [The taxonomic database « FLORICAL » and characteristics of the indigenous flora of New Caledonia]. Adansonia sér 3(34) , p.177-219.
Gomez C.; Mangeas M.; Curt T.; Ibanez T.; Munzinger J.; Dumas P.; Jérémy A.; Despinoy M. and Hély C. 2014. Wildfire risk for main vegetation units in a biodiversity hotspot: modeling approach in New Caledonia, South Pacific. Ecology and Evolution(5) , p.377-390.
Experts
Assessor(s): Gemmill, C., Veillon, J., Amice, R., Cazé, H., Dumontet, V., Fleurot, D., Garnier, D., Gâteblé, G., Maggia, L.
Reviewer(s): Tanguy, V.
Contributor(s): Butaud, J.
Facilitator(s): Chanfreau, S.