Taxonomy
Asplenium filidens
Red List Status -
Near Threatened (NT) , assessed in 30/10/2019
Asplenium filidens is an endemic epiphytic or terrestrial 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 between 760 and 1,200 m asl. Its extent of occurrence (EOO) and area of occupancy (AOO) are 818 and 16 km², respectively. Although it does not seem to be threatened at the moment, it could suffer from habitat degradation by invasive species in the future. Therefore, A. filidens is listed as Near Threatened (NT), close to Vulnerable under criteria B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii).
Geographical area
A. filidens is endemic to New Caledonia, where it is restricted to a few summits of Grande Terre: Mts. Dzumac, pic Ningua, Dogny, Boulinda.
Population
Population size is unknown.
Habitat
This epiphytic or terrestrial fern grows in high elevation dense humid forest on ultramafic or volcano-sedimentary substrate from 760 m to 1,200 m asl.
Threats
This species does not seem to be threatened at the moment, but invasive species (rusa deer (Rusa timorensis) and feral pigs (Sus scrofa)) could eventually cause severe degradation to its habitat by impacting its host trees. Besides, like other high elevation species, it could be impacted by climate change in the future.
Conservation
A. filidens is not protected by legislation in New Caledonia, but it occurs in numerous protected areas: Pic Ningua natural reserve, as well as Dumbéa and Côte Oubliée provincial parks. Taxonomic studies are suggested to clear up the link between this species and A. parvum, which occurs in Australia (Perrie, comm. pers.).
Bibliography
Brownlie G. 1969. Flore de la Nouvelle-Calédonie et Dépendances, Volume 03 : Pteridophytae.
Endemia.nc 2016. Faune et Flore de Nouvelle-Calédonie.
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..
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.