Podocarpaceae

Podocarpus gnidioides Carrière

A small shrub restricted to a few montane ares in New Caledonia where fires and climate change impacts pose potential threats.

Description

Taxonomic Notes

Phylogenetic analyses indicate that this species is more closely related to the montane and subalpine podocarps of Australia and New Zealand rather than the other podocarps endemic to New Caledonia (Knopf et al. 2011).

Distribution

This species is known from several montane areas in the southern massifs of New Caledonia. It has been recorded from 600 to 1,600 m a.s.l.

Habitat and Ecology

Commonly found along rocky ridges and summits growing with other low shrubs

Human Uses

No uses have been recorded for this species.

Conservation Status

Global Status

Near Threatened

Global Rationale

Although the extent of occurrence (867 km2) and the area of occupancy (52 km2) are within the thresholds for Endangered, none of the subpopulations currently appear to be in decline. This could change quickly due to fires or climate change - therefore an assessment of Near Threatened is appropriate (almost meets the criteria for listing under B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v)).

Fires pose a threat throughout the range of this species and the expanson of mining could be a threat in some areas. Predicted increases in average annual temperature and changes in precipitation patterns could decrease the area suitable for this species and its associated vegetation

Conservation Actions

This species is known to occur in several protected areas, some of which are open to the possibility of mining

References and further reading

  1. Dörken, V.M. and Nimsch, H., 2015. Morphology and anatomy of pollen cones and pollen in Podocarpus gnidioides Carrière (Podocarpaceae, Coniferales). Bulletin of the Cupressus Conservation Project: Bull. CCP, 4(1), pp.36-48.
  2. Jaffré, T., Munzinger, J. and Lowry, P.P. 2010. Threats to the conifer species found on New Caledonia's ultramafic massifs and proposals for urgently needed measures to improve their protection. Biodiversity and Conservation 19: 1485-1502: DOI 10.1007/s10531-010-9780-6
  3. Thomas, P. 2010 Podocarpus gnidioides. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2010: e.T42505A10711801. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-3.RLTS.T42505A10711801.en. Downloaded on 02 August 2017
  4. Knopf, P., Schulz, C., Little, D.P., Stützel, T. and Stevenson, D.W., 2012. Relationships within Podocarpaceae based on DNA sequence, anatomical, morphological, and biogeographical data. Cladistics, 28(3), pp.271-299.

External links