Taxonomy
Red List Status -
Critically Endangered (CR) , assessed in 27/09/2022
Parsonsia sp. Gâteblé 494 is an endemic liana of New Caledonia, only known from the Poum massif in the northwest of Grande Terre. It occurs in scrubland on serpentine substrate at approximatively 130 m asl. The main threats identified come indirectly from ongoing mining activities (road construction, soil erosion) and bushfires. Its area of occupancy (AOO) and extent of occurrence (EOO) are both equal to 4 km², while the species is known to exist only at a single location. Parsonsia sp. Gâteblé 494 is therefore assessed as Critically Endangered (CR) under criteria B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v), with a continuing decline of all concerned sub-criteria.
Geographical area
This newly identified species is endemic from New Caledonia and it is only known from the Poum massif in the northwest of Grande Terre.
Population
The population size is not known.
Habitat
Parsonsia sp. Gâteblé 494 occurs in scrubland on serpentine substrate at approximatively 130 m asl.
Threats
The main threats identified come indirectly from ongoing mining activities (road construction, soil erosion) and bushfires.
Conservation
Parsonsia sp. Gâteblé 494 is unprotected by legislation and it does not occur in any protected areas. This species would benefit from ex situ and in situ emergency conservation actions. It is proposed to monitor known subpopulations, to preserve a viable population on delimited area. It is also recommended to search the species in the southern massifs of Grande Terre. And lastly it is recommended to inform the DSCGR (government department overseeing firefighting actions) on the presence of the species in the concerned areas.
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.
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].
Experts
Assessor(s): Amice, R., Barrière, R., Bruy, D., Cazé, H., Fleurot, D., Lagrange, A., Lannuzel, G., Laudereau, C., Mandaoué, L., Vandrot, H.
Reviewer(s): Meyer, S.
Facilitator(s): Fourdrain, A., Warimavute, G.