Taxonomy
Acropogon aoupiniensis
Red List Status -
Endangered (EN) , assessed in 28/01/2016Protected species -
in Southern Province , in Northern Province
Acropogon aoupiniensis is an endemic tree of the central part of Grande Terre in New Caledonia. This species is known from two subpopulations (Aoupinié, Vallée de l'Amoa). It is found in dense humid forest on a volcano-sedimentary substrate at an altitude of 500-1,000 m asl. The main threat comes from the degradation of forest habitat caused by rusa deer (Rusa timorensis). Its area of occurrence (EOO) and area of occupancy (AOO) are respectively 80 km² and 20 km² while the number of locations is estimated to be 3. A continuing decline has been estimated in the habitat quality. A. aoupiniensis is therefore considered Endangered (EN) according to criteria B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii).
Geographical area
Acropogon aoupiniensis is an endemic tree of the central part of Grande Terre in New Caledonia. This species is known from two subpopulations (Aoupinié, Vallée de l'Amoa).
Population
This species is abundant on the Aoupinié massif.
Habitat
It is found in dense humid forest on a volcano-sedimentary substrate at an altitude of 500-1,000 m asl.
Threats
The main threat identified is linked to habitat degradation due to Rusa Deer (Rusa timorensis), which was introduced in the 1880s and adapted extremely well to Caledonian habitats. Its population may have reached 200,000-400,000 individuals into the wild. This rusa deer (Rusa timorensis) consumes a wide variety of plant species and causes severe damage to trees, which results in very little regeneration.
Conservation
Protected species by legislation in Province Nord, A. aoupiniensis is also found in réserve de nature sauvage de l'Aoupinié. Unfortunately, this reserve is not properly managed with an implemented management plan. Additional field surveys in the Haute-Amoa would be beneficial to a better knowledge of the species 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.
Endemia.nc 2016. Faune et Flore de Nouvelle-Calédonie.
Experts
Assessor(s): Tanguy, V., Amice, R., Birnbaum, P., Bruy, D., Dubreuil, M., Dumontet, V., Fleurot, D., Lannuzel, G., Papineau, C., Razafindrakoto, L.
Reviewer(s): Cazé, H.
Contributor(s): Veillon, J.
Facilitator(s): Tanguy, V.