Acropogon grandiflorus is an endemic small tree of the central part of Grande Terre in New Caledonia. This species is known from three subpopulations (Amieu/Dogny, Aoupinié, Panié). It is found in dense humid forest on a volcano-sedimentary substrate at an altitude of 300-650 m asl. The main threat comes from the degradation of forest habitat caused by rusa deer (Rusa timorensis) (Rusa timorensis). Its area of occurrence (EOO) and area of occupancy (AOO) are respectively 2,018 km² and 28 km² while the number of locations is estimated to be 3. A continuing decline has been estimated in the habitat quality. A. grandiflorus is therefore considered Endangered (EN) according to criteria B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii).

Geographical area

Acropogon grandiflorus is an endemic small tree of the central part of Grande Terre in New Caledonia. This species is known from three subpopulations (Amieu/Dogny, Aoupinié, Panié).

Population

This species is rather abundant on the Aoupinié massif.

Habitat

This species is found in dense humid forest on a volcano-sedimentary substrate at an altitude of 300-650 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. grandiflorus is also found in réserve de nature sauvage de l'Aoupinié and réserve de nature sauvage du Panié.

Bibliography

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.

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.