Taxonomy
Pittosporum wenemense
Red List Status -
Critically Endangered (CR) , assessed in 24/07/2015Protected species -
in Southern ProvinceThe new species Pittosporum "wenemense" is a forest species found on volcano-sedimentary soil at an altitudinal range 230-250 m asl. in Hienghène (Wénem). Its extent of occurrence (EOO) and area of occupancy (AOO) stretches on 8 km². Fruit predation by rats have been observed, hence predicting a continuous decline of the quality of habitat and number of individuals. The new species Pittosporum "wenemense" is close but distinct from P. malaxanii. Using criteria B, P. "wenemense" (NOU 031190) qualifies as Critically Endangered (CR) B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v).
Geographical area
Pittosporum "wenemense" is an endemic shrub of New Caledonia known only of Wénem forest in Hienghène.
Population
According to field observations, the single known population counts 16 individuals. It is however difficult to estimate the number of individuals as this species could be present in other forest patches around Wenem.
Habitat
The new species P. "wenemense" is known only from a forest on volcano-sedimentary substrate.
Threats
According to field observations, fruit predation by rat has been observed in Wénem forest.
Conservation
Currently, there are no regulatory law dedicated to new species in New Caledonia : P. "wenemense" is thus not protected by legislation. At the suggestion of Dominique Fleurot, 70 seeds have been entrusted to Gildas Gâteblé, research engineer at IAC with the target to planting in situ. From current works on phylogenesis, there is a need to keep continue morphological and phylogenetic studies in order to clarify taxonomy between P. "wenemense" and P.malaxanii. Doubts between those two species comes from similarity in term of genetic observed between one individual determinated as P. malaxanii from Farino and several individuals determinated as P. "wenemense".
Bibliography
Gemmill C. 2016. Three new species of Pittosporum in New-Caledonia.
Endemia.nc 2016. Faune et Flore de Nouvelle-Calédonie.
Experts
Assessor(s): Gemmill, C., Veillon, J., Amice, R., Cazé, H., Dumontet, V., Fleurot, D., Garnier, D., Gâteblé, G., Letocart, I., Letocart, D., Maggia, L., Pain, A.
Reviewer(s): Tanguy, V.
Facilitator(s): Chanfreau, S.