Taxonomy
Dictymia mettenii
Synonyms
Polypodium mettenii Copel.Red List Status -
Least Concern (LC) , assessed in 30/10/2019
Dictymia mettenii is an endemic terrestrial fern from New Caledonia, where it has a wide, but scattered distribution across Grande Terre, the Isle of Pines and Bélep Islands. It occurs mostly in dry tropical forest, but also humid forest and shrubland on ultramafic or volcano-sedimentary substrate up to 1,250 m asl. Its extent of occurrence (EOO) and area of occupancy (AOO) are 13,780 and 76 km², respectively. Although some subpopulations are impacted by bushfires or mining activities, this species does not seem to be threatened. Therefore, D. mettenii is listed as Least Concern (LC).
Geographical area
D. mettenii is endemic to New Caledonia, where it is has a quite wide, but scattered distribution across Grande Terre (from Port Boisé to Tiébaghi), as well as the Isle of Pines and the Bélep Islands.
Population
Population size is unknown.
Habitat
This terrestrial fern occurs mostly in dry tropical forest, but has also been observed in humid forest and shrubland on ultramafic or volcano-sedimentary substrate up to 1,250 m asl.
Threats
Although some subpopulations are impacted by bushfires or mining activities (currently Tiébaghi, potentially Bélep in the future), this species does not seem to be threatened.
Conservation
D. mettenii is not protected by legislation in New Caledonia, but it occurs in two protected areas: Mont Humboldt natural reserve, Parc Zoologique et Forestier Michel Corbasson.
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..
Brownlie G. 1969. Flore de la Nouvelle-Calédonie et Dépendances, Volume 03 : Pteridophytae.
Endemia.nc 2016. Faune et Flore de Nouvelle-Calédonie.
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.