Taxonomy
Asplenium dognyense
Red List Status -
Endangered (EN) , assessed in 30/10/2019
Asplenium dognyense is an endemic terrestrial or saxicolous fern from New Caledonia, where it is restricted to a few summits of Grande Terre. It grows in high elevation dense humid forest on ultramafic or volcano-sedimentary substrate above 800 m asl. The main threat to this species is habitat degradation by invasive species. Its extent of occurrence (EOO) and area of occupancy (AOO) are 1,065 and 28 km², respectively, and the number of locations is estimated to be five. Therefore, A. dognyense is listed as Endangered (EN) under criteria B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii).
Geographical area
A. dognyense is endemic to New Caledonia, where it is restricted to a few summits of Grande Terre: Tontouta, pic Ningua, Mé Maoya, Boulinda.
Population
Population size is unknown, but field observations indicate that subpopulations are rather small.
Habitat
This terrestrial or saxicolous fern grows in high elevation dense humid forest on ultramafic or volcano-sedimentary substrate above 800 m asl.
Threats
The main threat to this species is habitat degradation, caused by invasive species, mainly rusa deer (Rusa timorensis) and feral pigs (Sus scrofa). Besides, like other high elevation species, it could be impacted by climate change in the future.
Conservation
A. dognyense is not protected by legislation in New Caledonia, but it occurs in two protected areas: Nodéla and Pic Ningua natural reserves. Prospection is strongly recommended on Plateau de Dogny (type location) and Mts. Koghis, where this species has not been observed in over a century, to clarify its current distribution and threat status.
Bibliography
Munzinger J., Morat Ph., Jaffré T., Gâteblé G., Pillon Y., Rouhan G., Bruy, D., Veillon J.-M., & M. Chalopin. 2019. FLORICAL: Checklist of the vascular indigenous flora of New Caledonia..
Endemia.nc 2016. Faune et Flore de Nouvelle-Calédonie.
Brownlie G. 1969. Flore de la Nouvelle-Calédonie et Dépendances, Volume 03 : Pteridophytae.
Experts
Assessor(s): Amice, R., Butin, J., Cazé, H., Fleurot, D., Garnier, D., Héquet, V., Perrie, L., Suprin, B., Vandrot, H.
Reviewer(s): Rouhan, G.
Facilitator(s): Meyer, S., Warimavute, G.