Taxonomy
Red List Status -
Endangered (EN) , assessed in 06/12/2021
Argophyllum riparium is shrub endemic from New Caledonia only known from Rivière Bleue and Kuébini at the far south of the Grande Terre. It occurs in riparian forests on ultramafic substrate at an altitude range of 150-200 m asl. The main threats are floods or mofication of the river flow and uncontrolled bushfires of nearby forests that can cause soil erosions. Its Area of Occupancy (AOO) and Extent of Occurrence (EOO) are estimated to 16 km² and 18 km², respectively, while the number of locations are estimated to be two. Argophyllum riparium is therefore assessed as Endangered (EN) with criteria B1ab(ii,iii,v)+2ab(ii,iii,v) with a decline of all the concerned subcriteria.
Geographical area
Argophyllum riparium is endemic to New Caledonia where it is only known from Rivière Bleue and Kuébini at the far south of the Grande Terre.
Population
The population size is not known.
Habitat
Argophyllum riparium occurs in riparian forests on ultramafic substrate at an altitude range of 150-200 m asl.
Threats
The main threats are floods or mofication of the river flow and uncontrolled bushfires of nearby forests that can cause soil erosions.
Conservation
Argophyllum riparium is not protected by legislation in New Caledonia and it does occur in two protected areas : Rivière bleue, Haute Yaté. This species would benefit from ex situ and in situ emergency conservation actions. It is proposed that monitoring should occur to ensure the persistence of known subpopulations. It is recommended to inform the DSCGR (government department overseeing firefighting actions) on the presence of the species in the concerned areas.
Bibliography
Pillon, Y.; Hequet, V. 2021. A New Species of Argophyllum (Argophyllaceae) with Notes on the Species from New Caledonia and Nickel Hyperaccumulation. Plants(10 (4)) , p.701.
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].
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.
Experts
Assessor(s): Amice, R., Bruy, D., Cazé, H., Fleurot, D., Gâteblé, G., Garnier, D., Lannuzel, G., Laudereau, C., McCoy, S., Vandrot, H., Pillon, Y.
Reviewer(s): Fourdrain, A.
Facilitator(s): Warimavute, G., Meyer, S.