Taxonomy
Red List Status -
Near Threatened (NT) , assessed in 21/07/2016Protected species -
in Northern Province
Cunonia rotundifolia is an endemic shrub of the southern part of Grande Terre (restricted to Monts Humboldt and Kouakoué) in New Caledonia. It is found in altitudinal shrubland on ultramafic substrate. This species does not seem directly threatened because of its altitudinal habitat. Cunonia rotundifolia is considered Near-Threatened close to VU D2 because of its small area of occupancy (AOO) being estimated to 16 km² and the potential impact of climate change.
Geographical area
Cunonia rotundifolia is restricted to the southern part of Grande Terre in New Caledonia : Monts Humboldt and Kouakoué
Population
This species is not very common. It is knwon of two subpopluations.
Habitat
It is found in altitudinal shrubland (1,000-1,450 m asl) on ultramafic substrate.
Threats
This species does not seem directly threatened because of its altitudinal habitat. Climate change could be a potential threat for altitudinal species.
Conservation
Protected by legislation in province Nord but not in province Sud, this species is found in two protected areas : Massif du Kouakoué, Mont Humboldt. It is recommended to monitor the populations and to investigate the potential impact of climate change on this type of altitudinal species, especially by following the evolution of the altitudinal limit between forest and shrubland.
Bibliography
Helen Fortune Hopkins, Yohan Pillon, Ruurd Hoogland 2015. Flore de la Nouvelle-Calédonie : Cunoniaceae.
Morat, P.; Jaffré, T.; Tronchet, F.; Munzinger, J.; Pillon, Y.; Veillon, J.-M. and Chalopin, M. 2012. The taxonomic database « FLORICAL » and characteristics of the indigenous flora of New Caledonia. Adansonia(334) , p.177-219.
Endemia.nc 2016. Faune et Flore de Nouvelle-Calédonie.
H. C. F. Hopkins, J. C. Bradford, B. Donovan, Y. Pillon, J. Munzinger, B. Fogliani 2015. Floral biology of the Cunoniaceae in New Caledonia and the role of insects, birds and geckos as potential pollinators.
Experts
Assessor(s): Pillon, Y., Bruy, D., Butin, J., Fleurot, D., Gâteblé, G., Hequet, V., Letocart, D., Letocart, I., Tanguy, V., Tiavouane, J., Tron, F.
Reviewer(s): Fogliani, B.
Contributor(s): Couhia, J., Fortune-Hopkins, H., Brinkert, M.
Facilitator(s): Maura, J., Tanguy, V.