Araucariaceae
Agathis kinabaluensis de Laub.
Restricted to just two mountains in Sabah and Sarawak where there is some evidence of logging and forest clearance
Distribution
Only known from Mt. Kinabalu in Sabah and Mt. Murud in Sarawak (Malaysia). The Flora Malesiana account (de Laubenfels, 1988) identifies the Mt. Murud subpopulation as Agathis orbicula.
There are two disjunct small subpopulations of this species between which there is no genetic exchange due to distance. The Mt. Kinabalu subpopulation is presumed to be stable while the trend in the Mt. Murud subpopulation is likely to be downward due to logging and deforestation at least at its periphery.
Habitat and Ecology
Agathis kinabaluensis is found in upper montane forest, mossy low forest and subalpine scrub (at altitudes between 1500 and 2400m). It occurs on nutrient-poor substrates such as ultramafics, granite or sandstone.
Human Uses
This is a minor species occurring in remote mountain sites, if on ultramafic rock the trees are too small to be of interest for timber as there are other larger species of Agathis in the region. Some of the trees have been logged for local use.
Conservation Status
Global status and rationale
Endangered B1ab(ii,iii,v)+2ab(ii,iii,v)
Agathis kinabaluensis is currently only known from two locations. Although both are within protected areas, the relatively small size of their subpopulations and limited distributions make them susceptible to stochastic events. In addition there is some evidence of logging and forest clearance in the southern locality and from this a continuing decline is inferred. The small extent of occurrence (EOO=1,340 km²) and area of occupancy (AOO=90 km²) therefore place the species in the category Endangered. At the time of the first IUCN global assessment it was thought that the entire population was in Mt. Kinabalu National Park and was therefore stable.
Global threats
The relatively small size of the two known subpopulations and their limited distribution make them vulnerable to stochastic events. In the areas surrounding Pulong Tau National Park Agathis spp. are used locally for house construction. Within the park, Agathis is used for building walkways for tourists (Pearce, 2006). The extent to which these activities have effected A. kinabaluensis is uncertain.
Conservation Actions
The Mt. Kinabalu subpopulation is almost entirely contained within the Mt. Kinabalu National Park while the Mt. Murud population is included within the recently declared Pulong Tau National Park.
References and further reading
- de Laubenfels, D. J. (1988). Coniferales. P. 337-453 in Flora Malesiana, Series I, Vol. 10. Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic.
- Farjon, A. (2013). Agathis kinabaluensis. In: IUCN 2013. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.1. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 05 July 2013.
- Meijer-Drees, E. (1940). The genus Agathis in Malaysia. Bulletin Jardins Botanical Buitenzorg, Series 3, 16, 455-474.
- Pearce, K.D. (2006). The flora of Pulong Tau National Park. ITTO Project PD 224/03 Rev. 1(F) Transboundary Biodiversity Conservation - The Pulong Tau National Park, Sarawak, Malaysia. International Tropical Timber Organization Sarawak Forest Department Sarawak Forestry Corporation.
- Soepadmo, E. & Wong, K.M. (1995). Tree Flora of Sabah and Sarawak. Kuala Lumpur: Ampang Press Sdn. Bhd.
- Whitmore, T.C. (1977). A first look at Agathis. Tropical Forestry Papers No. 11. University of Oxford Commonwealth Forestry Institute. 54p.
- Whitmore, T.C. (1980). A monograph of Agathis. Plant Systematics and Evolution 135: 41-69.