Taxonomy
Artia lifuana
Common name :
Epiat (drehu)
Synonyms
Artia amieuensis Guillaumin • Parsonsia lifuana Baill.Red List Status -
Least Concern (LC) , assessed in 20/11/2020
Artia lifuana is an endemic robust liana of New Caledonia, growing up to 10 m high and sometimes more. This species is widely distributed across Grande Terre as well as in Lifou at Loyalty Islands. This species is considered to be a common species and it occurs in dense humid forest on volcano-sedimentary substrate and rarely ultramafic and calcareous substrate at an altitude range of 20 and 850 m asl. This species does not seem to be threatened although some subpopulations may be impacted by mininig acitivities at Goro, bushfires and invasive species ( Rusa deer, Rusa timorensis and wild pigs, Sus scrofa). Despite having an Area of Occupancy (AOO) and an Extent of Occurrence (EOO) equal to 140 and 35,870 km² respectively, Artia lifuana is not thought to approach the conditions for listing as threatened under any criterion. It is listed as Least Concern (LC).
Geographical area
Artia lifuana is endemic to New Caledonia where it is widely distributed across Grande Terre as well as in Lifou at Loyalty Islands.
Population
Population size is unknown. Field observations indicate a species that is locally common.
Habitat
Artia lifuana occurs in dense humid forest on volcano-sedimentary substrate and rarely ultramafic and calcareous substrate at an altitude range of 20 and 850 m asl.
Threats
Artia lifuana does not seem to be threatened although some subpopulations may be impacted by mininig acitivities at Goro, bushfires and invasive species (Rusa deer, Rusa timorensis and wild pigs, Sus scrofa).
Conservation
Artia lifuana is protected by legislation in New Caledonia and it does occur in three protected areas: Aoupinié, Parc des Grandes Fougères, Vallée de la Thy. The experts note a high variability in this group and it can also contain multiple taxa that may deserve species-level recognition. Taxonomic and genetic studies are needed to confirm or refuting these assumptions.
Bibliography
LIEDE-SCHUMANN S., MEVE U., GÂTEBLÉ G., BARRIERA G. & FICI S. 2020. Apocynaceae p.p., Phellinaceae, Capparaceae : Flore de la 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].
Endemia.nc 2016. Faune et Flore de Nouvelle-Calédonie.
Experts
Assessor(s): Bruy, D., Butin, J., Dumontet, V., Fleurot, D., Héquet, V., Laudereau, C., Mandaoué, L., Vandrot, H.
Reviewer(s): Cazé, H.
Facilitator(s): Warimavute, G., Meyer, S.