Taxonomy
Red List Status -
Data Deficient (DD) , assessed in 29/02/2016Protected species -
in Northern ProvinceCupaniopsis megalocarpa is an endemic shrub/tree of Grande Terre in New Caledonia. From herbarium material, this species is known of 4 populations : vallée de la Thy, Dzumac, Tontouta, Boulinda. It is found in shrubland and thalweg forest on an ultramafic substrate at an altitudinal range 20-700 m asl. Recurrent bushfires and on-going mining activities in some areas (Tontouta) may contribute to the degradation of its habitat. This species is insufficiently known by the experts participating to the red list assessment. Cupaniopsis megalocarpa is therefore assessed as Data Deficient (DD) for provenance and taxonomy reasons.
Geographical area
Cupaniopsis megalocarpa is an endemic shrub/tree of Grande Terre in New Caledonia. From herbarium material, this species is known of 4 populations : vallée de la Thy, Dzumac, Tontouta, Boulinda.
Population
Population size is unknown.
Habitat
It is found in shrubland and thalweg forest on an ultramafic substrate at an altitudinal range 20-700 m asl.
Threats
Recurrent bushfires and on-going mining activities in some areas (Tontouta) may contribute to the degradation of its habitat.
Conservation
Cupaniopsis glabra is protected by the code de l'environnement of province Nord. It occurs in one protected area : réserve naturelle de la forêt de la Thy. Work is on-going to delimit a group of species (megalocarpa/macrocarpa/azantha/mackeeana/chytradenia). Prospections are needed in order to improve the species knowledge (distribution, identification) so that extinction risk can be assessed.
Bibliography
L'Huillier L.; Jaffré T. and Wulff A. 2010. Mines et Environnement en Nouvelle-Calédonie : les milieux sur substrats ultramafiques et leur restauration.
Endemia.nc 2016. Faune et Flore de Nouvelle-Calédonie.
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.
Wulff AS, Hollingsworth PM, Ahrends A, Jaffré T, Veillon J-M, L’Huillier L, et al. 2013. Conservation Priorities in a Biodiversity Hotspot: Analysis of Narrow Endemic Plant Species in New Caledonia.
Experts
Assessor(s): Tanguy, V., Veillon, J., Amice, R., Cazé, H., Chambrey, C., Dubreuil, M., Fleurot, D., Garnier, D., Lagrange, A., Lannuzel, G., Leborgne, T., Letocart, D., Letocart, I., McCoy, S., Villegente, J.
Reviewer(s): Maura, J.
Contributor(s): Wulff, A.
Facilitator(s): Tanguy, V.