Melodinus aeneus is a big liana endemic to New Caledonia restricted to the south of the Grande Terre. It is known from five subpopulations : Forêt de la Conception, mine Sunshine, Montagne des Sources, route de Yaté, forêt cachée. This species occurs in low elevation dense humid forests (350-500 m asl.) on ultramafic substrate. The main threat comes from the degradation of forest habitat caused by uncontrolled bushfires. Its area of occurrence (EOO) and area of occupancy (AOO) are respectively 194 km² and 32 km² while the number of locations is estimated to be 5. Melodinus aeneus is therefore considered Endangered (EN) according to criteria B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v) with a decline of all the concerned subcriteria.

Geographical area

Melodinus aeneus is endemic to New Caledonia where it is restricted to the south of the Grande Terre. It is known from five subpopulations : Forêt de la Conception, mine Sunshine, Montagne des Sources, route de Yaté, forêt cachée.

Population

The population size is not known.

Habitat

Melodinus aeneus occurs in low elevation dense humid forests (350-500 m asl.) on ultramafic substrate.

Threats

The main threat comes from the degradation of forest habitat caused by uncontrolled bushfires.

Conservation

Unprotected species by legislation in New Caledonia, Melodinus aeneus occurs in six protected area: Forêt cachée, Rivière bleue, Montagne des sources, la Dumbéa, Haute Yaté, Haute Dumbéa. This species would benefit from ex situ and in situ emergency conservation actions. It is recommended to inform the local authority responsible for the coordination of the firefighting effort about the presence of the species in the concerned areas.

Bibliography

Munzinger J., Morat Ph., Jaffré T., Gâteblé G., Pillon Y., Rouhan G., Bruy, D., Veillon J.-M., & M. Chalopin 2020. FLORICAL: Checklist of the vascular indigenous flora of New Caledonia [continuously updated].

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.

Leeuwenberg, A. J. M. 2023. Series of Revisions of Apocynaceae LIII. Melodinus.. JSTOR(73(1)) , p.3-63.

Boiteau Pierre avec collaboration de Lucie Allorge 1982. Flore de la Nouvelle Calédonie et dépendances. Volume 10 : Apocynacées.

Endemia.nc 2016. Faune et Flore de Nouvelle-Calédonie.

Experts

Assessor(s): Amice, R., Bruy, D., Butin, J., Cazé, H., Fleurot, D., Héquet, V., Bernard-Musmann, M., Goxe, J., Lagrange, A., Lannuzel, G., Laudereau, C., Vandrot, H.

Reviewer(s): Pillon, Y.

Facilitator(s): Fourdrain, A., Warimavute, G., Meyer, S.