Taxonomy
Asplenium pseudobulbiferum
Red List Status -
Near Threatened (NT) , assessed in 30/10/2019
Asplenium pseudobulbiferum is an endemic epiphytic fern from New Caledonia, where it is restricted to the summits of the south of Grande Terre. It grows in high elevation dense humid forest on ultramafic or volcano-sedimentary substrate above 500 m asl. Its extent of occurrence (EOO) and area of occupancy (AOO) are 882 and 36 km², respectively. Although it does not seem threatened at the moment, this species and its hosts could eventually suffer from habitat degradation by animal invasives. Therefore, A. pseudobulbiferum is listed as Near Threatened (NT), close to Vulnerable under criteria B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii).
Geographical area
A. pseudobulbiferum is endemic to New Caledonia, where it is restricted to the summits of the south of Grande Terre, from Mts. Koghis to Plateau de Dogny.
Population
Population size is unknown.
Habitat
This epiphytic fern grows in high elevation dense humid forest on ultramafic or volcano-sedimentary substrate above 500 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.
Conservation
A. pseudobulbiferum is not protected by legislation in New Caledonia, but it occurs in several protected areas: Vallée de la Thy, Montagne des Sources, Mont Humboldt, Mont Mou and Pic Ningua natural reserves, as well as Dumbéa and Côte Oubliée provincial parks. Prospection is recommended on most stations, where this species has not been observed in more than 40 years (Mt. Mou, Mt. Humboldt, Mts. Koghis), or even in more than a century (Dogny, Dent de Saint Vincent).
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): Warimavute, G., Meyer, S.