Post by Surroundx on Jan 15, 2018 12:33:37 GMT 1
Red List Category & Criteria: Critically Endangered (Possibly Extinct) B2ab(iii) ver 3.1
Year Published: 2015
Date Assessed: 2015-07-15
Assessor(s): Cheek, M.
Reviewer(s): Onana, J.-M.
Facilitator/Compiler(s): Hilton-Taylor, C.
Justification:
This species was overlooked in the legume treatment in the Flora of West Tropical Africa, probably since no specimen survives. This species is known only from the location cited below (Ledermann 1843 B); this species was accepted by Baker (1929: pp. 464 and 474) but the only specimen has since been lost (was a unicate at Berlin Herbarium) so cannot be examined. The genus needs a modern revision. Here Rhynchosia ledermannii is assessed as Critically Endangered (possibly Extinct) since only a single site is known, with an area of occupancy of 4 km² and it is known that much of the habitat in this area has been cleared through wood harvesting and expanding agriculture. The area has been well surveyed several times in recent years with no trace of this species.
Date last seen: 1908
Geographic Range [top]
Range Description: This Cameroon endemic is known only from the type collection made in 1908 in the Bamenda Highlands at Babju in the Northwest Region.
Countries occurrence:
Native:
Cameroon
Additional data:
♦ Estimated area of occupancy (AOO) - km2: 4
♦ Number of Locations: 1
♦ Lower elevation limit (metres): 1500
♦ Upper elevation limit (metres): 1520
Range Map: Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.
Population [top]
Population: There is no information on population size or trends and this species is possibly Extinct.
Current Population Trend: Unknown
Additional data:
♦ Population severely fragmented: No
Habitat and Ecology [top]
Habitat and Ecology: Probably a climber which is assumed to have grown in submontane forest, possibly on the forest edge; occurred at about 1,500 m asl
Systems: Terrestrial
Continuing decline in area, extent and/or quality of habitat: Yes
Threats [top]
Major Threat(s): The Bamenda Highlands have been c. 96% denuded of the natural habitat believed needed for this species (Cheek et al. 2000). Inventories recently over several seasons at four sites along this range Oku-Ijim, Bali-Ngemba, Dom and Lebialem) have failed to rediscover it. Clearance of surviving forest is ongoing with 50% lost in one area over 15 years (Baena in Cheek et al. 2010), mainly for firewood and fertile land for agriculture.
Conservation Actions [top]
Conservation Actions: Rediscovery of this species is the first priority in conserving it, if it is not already extinct. If refound, plants should be propagated for inclusion in the existing reforestation projects in the Bamenda Highlands. The usual population data should be gathered for monitoring and management purposes.
Source: www.iucnredlist.org/details/202768/0
Year Published: 2015
Date Assessed: 2015-07-15
Assessor(s): Cheek, M.
Reviewer(s): Onana, J.-M.
Facilitator/Compiler(s): Hilton-Taylor, C.
Justification:
This species was overlooked in the legume treatment in the Flora of West Tropical Africa, probably since no specimen survives. This species is known only from the location cited below (Ledermann 1843 B); this species was accepted by Baker (1929: pp. 464 and 474) but the only specimen has since been lost (was a unicate at Berlin Herbarium) so cannot be examined. The genus needs a modern revision. Here Rhynchosia ledermannii is assessed as Critically Endangered (possibly Extinct) since only a single site is known, with an area of occupancy of 4 km² and it is known that much of the habitat in this area has been cleared through wood harvesting and expanding agriculture. The area has been well surveyed several times in recent years with no trace of this species.
Date last seen: 1908
Geographic Range [top]
Range Description: This Cameroon endemic is known only from the type collection made in 1908 in the Bamenda Highlands at Babju in the Northwest Region.
Countries occurrence:
Native:
Cameroon
Additional data:
♦ Estimated area of occupancy (AOO) - km2: 4
♦ Number of Locations: 1
♦ Lower elevation limit (metres): 1500
♦ Upper elevation limit (metres): 1520
Range Map: Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.
Population [top]
Population: There is no information on population size or trends and this species is possibly Extinct.
Current Population Trend: Unknown
Additional data:
♦ Population severely fragmented: No
Habitat and Ecology [top]
Habitat and Ecology: Probably a climber which is assumed to have grown in submontane forest, possibly on the forest edge; occurred at about 1,500 m asl
Systems: Terrestrial
Continuing decline in area, extent and/or quality of habitat: Yes
Threats [top]
Major Threat(s): The Bamenda Highlands have been c. 96% denuded of the natural habitat believed needed for this species (Cheek et al. 2000). Inventories recently over several seasons at four sites along this range Oku-Ijim, Bali-Ngemba, Dom and Lebialem) have failed to rediscover it. Clearance of surviving forest is ongoing with 50% lost in one area over 15 years (Baena in Cheek et al. 2010), mainly for firewood and fertile land for agriculture.
Conservation Actions [top]
Conservation Actions: Rediscovery of this species is the first priority in conserving it, if it is not already extinct. If refound, plants should be propagated for inclusion in the existing reforestation projects in the Bamenda Highlands. The usual population data should be gathered for monitoring and management purposes.
Source: www.iucnredlist.org/details/202768/0
