Taxonomy
Red List Status -
Vulnerable (VU) , assessed in 23/07/2015Protected species -
in Southern Province
Pittosporum letocartiorum is a rare endemic tree of New Caledonia. It has a discontinuous distribution on ultramafic massifs in central Grande Terre. P. letocartiorum occurs at mid to high altitude in dense humid forest and in forest edges on ultramafic soils. Individuals are usually found as isolated trees, the population size could exceed more than 10,000 mature individuals. Mining activities, invasive species such as feral pigs or rusa deer (Rusa timorensis) and bushfires are at the root of a continuous decline in area of occupancy, quality of habitat and population size. Under criteria B, P. letocartiorum qualifies as Vulnerable (VU) B1ab(ii,iii,v)+2ab(ii,iii,v).
Geographical area
P. letocartiorum is a rare endemic tree of New Caledonia. It has a discontinuous distribution on ultramafic massifs in central Grande Terre.
Population
Usually found as isolated trees, population size could exceed more than 10,000 mature individuals.
Habitat
P. letocartiorum occurs at mid to high altitude in dense humid forest and in forest edges on ultramafic soils.
Threats
For populations located on Ningua, Paéoua and Boulinda, mining activities are clearly involved in habitat degradation of this species. Frequent bushfires and grazing of seedlings by rusa deer (Rusa timorensis) also likely negatively impact on P. letocartiorum.
Conservation
P. letocartiorum is not protected by legislation. This species is known from two protected areas of Province Sud : réserve naturelle du Mont Do and réserve naturelle du Pic Ningua.
Bibliography
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.
Tirel, C. & Veillon J.-M. 2002. Flore de la Nouvelle-Calédonie et dépendances. Volume 24 : Pittosporaceae.
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.
Endemia.nc 2016. Faune et Flore de Nouvelle-Calédonie.
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.