Gunnarella brigittae is a very rare epiphytic orchid endemic of New Caledonia with a very disparsed distribution in Grande Terre. It is found in dense humid forest at an altitude range of 700 and 1,000 m asl. This species is occurs in forest and does not seem threatened. Some subpopulations at Mandjélia and Ouaième can be potentially impacted by bushfires and future mining activity at Tchingou but the impacts are low in forests. This species is a very discret species and may go unnoticed.Thus its distribution may be wider. Its area of occupancy (AOO) and extent of occurrence (EOO) being estimated to be between 20 and 100 and between 3,867 and 4,000 km², respectively. It is known from a small number of locations (although potentially >10). Therefore, Gunnarella brigittae is considered Near Threatened (NT) close to VU B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v) with an estimated decline of quality of habitat quality and a number of mature individuals.

Geographical area

Gunnarella brigittae is a veryrare orchid endemic to New Caledonia where it has a very disparsed distribution in Grande Terre.

Population

Population size is unknown.

Habitat

Gunnarella brigittae is a rare epiphytic orchid found in dense humid forest at an altitude range of 700 and 1,000 m asl.

Threats

This species occurs in forests and does not seem threatened. Some subpopulations at Mandjélia and Ouaième may be potentially impacted by bushfires and future mining activity. But the impacts are low in forests.

Conservation

Gunnarella brigittae is protected by legislation in New Caledonia and it does occur in one protected area: Côte Oubliée.

Bibliography

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 2020. FLORICAL: Checklist of the vascular indigenous flora of New Caledonia [continuously updated].

Hallé N.; Aubréville A.; Leroy J. F.; 1977. Flore de la Nouvelle-Calédonie et dépendances. Volume 08 : Orchidaceae.

Experts

Assessor(s): Bruy, D., Butin, J., Dumontet, V., Fleurot, D., Héquet, V., Laudereau, C., Mandaoué, L., Vandrot, H.

Reviewer(s): Cazé, H.

Facilitator(s): Meyer, S., Warimavute, G.