Taxonomy
Red List Status -
Endangered (EN) , assessed in 22/03/2023Protected species -
in Southern Province , in Northern ProvinceHunga guillauminii is an endemic shrub from New Caledonia, restricted to the north-west of Grande Terre. This species is only known from two subpopulations : Koumac and Tiéa. It is found in shrubland on serpentine substrate up to 250 m asl. The main identified threats are linked to habitat damage by Rusa Deer (Rusa timorensis) and uncontrolled bushfires. Its extent of occurrence (EOO) and area of occupancy (AOO) are both estimated to be of 8 km² while the number of locations are estimated to be two. Hunga guillauminii is therefore assessed as Endangered (EN) with criteria B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v) with a continuing decline of habitat quality and number of mature individuals.
Geographical area
Hunga guillauminii is endemic to New Caledonia where it is restricted to the north- west of Grande Terre. This species is only known from two subpopulations : Koumac and Tiéa.
Population
The population size is not known.
Habitat
This species occurs in shrubland on serpentine substrate up to 250 m asl.
Threats
The main identified threats are linked to habitat damage by Rusa Deer (Rusa timorensis) and uncontrolled bushfires.
Conservation
Hunga guillauminii is protected by legislation in Province Sud and Province Nord but it does not occur in any protected areas. This species would benefit from ex situ and in situ emergency conservation actions. It is recommended to monitor and preserve known populations in delimited areas of the mining site, and to inform the local authority responsible for the coordination of the firefighting effort about the presence of the species in the concerned areas. Finally, prospection in the northwest is urgently needed to better estimate the size and the state of the population.
Bibliography
Morat, P.; Jaffré, T.; Tronchet, F.; Munzinger, J.; Pillon, Y.; Veillon, J.-M. and Chalopin, M. 2012. Le référentiel taxonomique Florical et les caractéristiques de la flore vasculaire indigène de la Nouvelle-Calédonie [The taxonomic database « FLORICAL » and characteristics of the indigenous flora of New Caledonia]. Adansonia sér 3(34) , p.177-219.
Nielsen(Author), Sir Ghillean T Prance(Author), John R Edmondson(Author) 1983. Flore de la Nouvelle-Calédonie et Dépendances, Volume 12: Legumineuses - Mimosoideae, Chrysobalanaceae, Plombaginaceae.
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].
Experts
Assessor(s): Amice, R., Bruy, D., Cazé, H., Eltabet, N., Garnier, D., Fleurot, D., Lannuzel, G., Laudereau, C., Vandrot, H.
Reviewer(s): Meyer, S.
Facilitator(s): Fourdrain, A., Warimavute, G.