Taxonomy
Red List Status -
Near Threatened (NT) , assessed in 23/07/2015
Pittosporum leratii is an endemic shrub of New Caledonia, distributed in southern half of Grande Terre. A species of dense humid forest on ultramafic soil found from sea level to 1100 m, its area of occupancy and its extent of occurrence cover respectively 112 and 3144 km². With around 10 localities known it is potentially threatened by bushfire, mining activities, and invasive species (e.g., Rusa timorensis), resulting in a continuous decline of quality of habitat. Knowing that the total population is close to 10,000 mature individuals, it seems appropriate to classify P. leratii under the category Near Threatened (NT) close to (VU) B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v);C2a(i).
Geographical area
P.leratii is an endemic shrub of New Caledonia, distributed on the southern half part of Grande Terre.
Population
Population size is not precisely known, but due to current known repartition, this species could have around 10,000 individuals.
Habitat
P. leratii is a species of dense humid forest on ultramafic soil found from sea level to 1,100 m asl.
Threats
According to its ecology and distribution, P. leratii is potentially affected by the majority of inventoried threats in New Caledonia, whose fire, rusa deer (Rusa timorensis), mining activities and urbanization.
Conservation
P. leratii is not protected by legislation. Nevertheless this species is known from several protected areas : réserve naturelle du Mont Humboldt, réserve naturelle du Massif du Kouakoué, réserve naturelle du Mont Mou, Parc Provincial de la Rivière Bleue, réserve naturelle de la Vallée de la Thy, réserve naturelle de la forêt de Saille and also réserve naturelle du barrage de Yaté.
Bibliography
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.
L'Huillier L.; Jaffré T. and Wulff A. 2010. Mines et Environnement en Nouvelle-Calédonie : les milieux sur substrats ultramafiques et leur restauration.
Endemia.nc 2016. Faune et Flore de Nouvelle-Calédonie.
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.
Facilitator(s): Chanfreau, S.