Taxonomy
Red List Status -
Data Deficient (DD) , assessed in 03/07/2017Protected species -
in Northern Province
Recent genetic studies (Gaudeul & al, 2014) suggest that Araucaria laubenfelsii could not be genetically differentiated from A. montana. Even though thay have not yet been merged, A. laubenfelsii is here assessed as Data Deficient (DD) for taxonomic reasons.
Geographical area
Araucaria laubenfelsii (as previously circumscribed) is mostly concentrated in the southern ultramafic massifs of Grand Terre from 400 to 1,300 m. Two subpopulations have also been observed in the north of Grande Terre (Mt. Kaala) and the Bélep Islands.
Population
It is relatively uncommon and confined to a limited number of locations.
Habitat
Usually found as an emergent in lower to middle-montane forest or as smaller trees in "maquis minier". Restricted to ultramafic substrates derived from serpentine or peridotite, or on lateritic soil at lower elevations. In some areas it is associated with Araucaria montana and A. biramulata.
Threats
Open cast mining and its associated activities (road building, soil dumping) may have effected subpopulations in Mt Kaala and those in the Canala area. In the southern parts of its range, where the majority of subpopulations and locations are, fires and the associated increased fragmentation pose the main threat.
Conservation
Most of the southern subpopulations are within protected areas.
Bibliography
Jaffré, T., Bouchet, P. and Veillon, J.-M. 1996. Threatened plants of New Caledonia: Is the system of protected areas adequate?. Biodiversity and Conservation (7(1)) , p.109-135.
Jaffré, T., Munzinger, J. & Lowry, P.P. 2010. Threats to the conifer species found on New Caledonia’s ultramafic massifs and proposals for urgently needed measures to improve their protection.. Biodiversity and Conservation (19) , p.1485-1502.
Manauté, J., Jaffré, T., Veillon, J.-M. and Kranitz, M. 2003. Revue des Araucariaceae de Nouvelle-Calédonie. IRD, Nouméa..
Rigg, L., Enright, N., Jaffré, T. & Perry, G. 2010. Contrasting population dynamics of the endemic New Caledonian conifer Araucaria laubenfelsii in maquis and rain forest.. Biotropica(42(4)) , p.479-487.
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].
Gaudeul, M., Gardner, M.F., Thomas, P., Ennos, R.A. and Hollingsworth, P.M. 2014. Evolutionary dynamics of emblematic Araucaria species (Araucariaceae) in New Caledonia: nuclear and chloroplast markers suggest recent diversification, introgression, and a tight link between genetics and geography within species.. BMC Evolutionary Biology(14) , p.171.
Experts
Assessor(s): Amice, R., Cazé, H., Dumontet, V., Fleurot, D., Garnier, D., Héquet, V., Lagrange, A., Lannuzel, G., McCoy, S., Suprin, B., Veillon, J.
Reviewer(s): Munzinger, J., Jaffré, T., Thomas, P., Gardner, M.
Contributor(s): Gueugnier, C., Butaud, J.
Facilitator(s): Maura, J., Tanguy, V.