Taxonomy
Synonyms
Solanum vaccinioides var. muehlenbeckiifolium Bitter • Solanum koniamboense GuillauminRed List Status -
Near Threatened (NT) , assessed in 12/10/2015Protected species -
in Northern Province
Solanum vaccinioides is an endemic shrub found in the northwestern part of Grande Terre in New Caledonia. This species is only known from Voh and Koné. It is found in shrubland on an ultramafic substrate at an altitudinal range 10-800 m asl. The main threats are presented by ongoing mining activities in Koniambo, increasing urbanization and habitat damage by uncontrolled bushfires. Its area of occupancy and extent of occurrence are respectively 80 km2 and 158 km2. The number of locations, based on habitat degradation as the main threat, is c.12. A continuing decline of the quality of habitat and number of mature individuals are inferred. The population size seems to be scattered but rather dense based on field observations. Using criterion B, S. vaccinioides qualifies for Near Threatened (NT) as it is close to qualifying for Vulnerable (VU) under criteria B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v).
Geographical area
Solanum vaccinioides is an endemic shrub found in the north-western part of Grande Terre in New Caledonia. This species is only known from Voh and Koné.
Population
Population size is unknown. Based on expert knowledge, populations are scattered but rather dense.
Habitat
Solanum vaccinioides is found in shrubland on an ultramafic substrate at an altitudinal range of 10-800 m asl.
Threats
The main threats to this species are ongoing mining activities in Koniambo, increasing urbanization and habitat damage by uncontrolled bushfires. New Caledonia contains 20 - 30% of the world’s nickel resources and has experienced intense mining activities since the late 19th century which has generated soil erosion (1.2% of bare ground mapped by SPOT5 in 2007). Based on the distribution of metal-rich soils and site accessibility, these threats are predictable and planned (there was a rise in nickel production from 60,000 to 200,000 tonnes per year between 2013 and 2015). Uncontrolled bushfires sweep across New Caledonia each year, especially during the dry season (an average of 20,000 ha of land is burnt each year, with dramatic peaks of 70,000 ha). The lowest parts of ultramafic areas are particularly exposed to such risk.
Conservation
Solanum vaccinioides is not protected by legislation in Province Nord. It does not occur in any protected area. It is noted that KNS has started conducting surveys for this species.
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., Barrière, R., Chambrey, C., Fleurot, D., Lannuzel, G.
Reviewer(s): Vandrot, H.
Contributor(s): Wulff, A.
Facilitator(s): Chanfreau, S., Tanguy, V.