Taxonomy
Dasygrammitis crassifrons
Synonyms
Polypodium crassifrons Baker f. • Ctenopteris crassifrons (Baker f.) BrownlieRed List Status -
Near Threatened (NT) , assessed in 30/10/2019
Dasygrammitis crassifrons is an autochtonous epiphytic fern from New Caledonia, where it is only known from a few summits in the south of Grande Terre. It grows in high elevation dense humid forest on ultramafic subtrate above 900m asl. Although it is not directly threatened at the moment, its hosts could be impacted by feral pigs, which are frequent in high elevation forests. Its extent of occurrence (EOO) and area of occupancy (AOO) are 121 and 20 km², respectively, and the number of locations is estimated to be three. Therefore, D. crassifrons is listed as Near Threatened (NT), close to Vulnerable under criterion D2.
Geographical area
This species is autochtonous to New Caledonia, where it is only known from a few summits in the south of Grande Terre: Mt. Mou, Dzumac range and Mt. Humboldt. It also occurs in Vanuatu and Fiji.
Population
Population size is unknown in New Caledonia.
Habitat
This epiphytic fern grows in high elevation dense humid forest on ultramafic subtrate above 900m asl.
Threats
This species is not directly threatened at the moment, but its hosts could be impacted by feral pigs, which are frequent in high elevation forests. Besides, like other high elevation species, it could be impacted by climate change in the future.
Conservation
D. crassifrons is not protected by legislation in New Caledonia, but it occurs in three protected areas: Mt. Mou and Mt. Humboldt natural reserves, Côte Oubliée provincial park. Prospection is suggested in other cloud forests of Grande Terre, as well as the summits of Mts. Mou and Humboldt, where this species has not been seen since 1956 and 1872, respectively.
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.