Argophyllum brevipetalum is an endemic shrub of New Caledonia, found in vallée de la Tontouta and its tributaries in the south of Grande Terre. It occurs in scrubland on ultramafic substrate at an altitudinal range of 50-400 m asl. This species also occurs in areas threatened by the mining activities at Tontouta. The other main threat impacting this species comes from habitat degradation caused by uncontrolled bushfires. Its Area of Occupancy (AOO) and Extent of Occurrence (EOO) are estimated to 52 km² and 1150 km², while the number of locations are estimated to be four. Argophyllum brevipetalum is therefore assessed as Endangered (EN) with criteria B1ab(ii,iii,v)+2ab (ii,iii,v) with a decline of all the concerned subcriteria.

Geographical area

Argophyllum brevipetalum is endemic to New Caledonia where it is found in vallée de la Tontouta and its tributaries in the south of Grande Terre.

Population

The population size is not known.

Habitat

Argophyllum brevipetalum occurs in scrubland on ultramafic substrate at an altitudinal range of 50-400 m asl.

Threats

This species also occurs in areas threatened by the mining activities at Tontouta. The other main threat impacting this species comes from habitat degradation caused by uncontrolled bushfires.

Conservation

Argophyllum brevipetalum is protected by legislation in Province Nord and it does not occur in any protected area. This taxon 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. It is also recommended to realise prospections at Kopeto and Paéoua in the west of Grande Terre. As long as mining goes on in the valley, it will be difficult to envision perennial conservation measures: it would be better to effectively protect parts of the Tontouta valley.

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.

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].

Pillon, Y.; Hequet, V. 2021. A New Species of Argophyllum (Argophyllaceae) with Notes on the Species from New Caledonia and Nickel Hyperaccumulation. Plants(10 (4)) , p.701.

Experts

Assessor(s): Amice, R., Bruy, D., Cazé, H., Fleurot, D., Gâteblé, G., Garnier, D., Lannuzel, G., Laudereau, C., McCoy, S., Vandrot, H., Pillon, Y.

Reviewer(s): Fourdrain, A.

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