Taxonomy
Red List Status -
Least Concern (LC) , assessed in 07/04/2017
Amborella trichopoda is an endemic small tree of New Caledonia spread on Grande Terre from Tonine in the north to Nakada in the south. Amborella trichopoda occurs in forest on volcano-sedimentary substrate at an altitudinal range 170- 1,000 m asl. This species does not seem directly threatened. Amborella trichopoda has a high phylogenetic importance as it is the only species in the order Amborellales. Plant systematists place the genus Amborella at or near the base of the flowering plant lineage and thus A. trichopoda occupies a key position in the current views of angiosperm evolution. Amborella trichopoda is considered Least Concern (LC).
Geographical area
Amborella trichopoda is an endemic small tree of New Caledonia spread on Grande Terre from Tonine in the north to Nakada in the south.
Population
Population size is unknown.
Habitat
It occurs in forest on volcano-sedimentary substrate at an altitudinal range 170- 1,000 m asl.
Threats
This species does not seem globally threatened as it is quite widespread. Some subpopulations (such as Dogny) may be severely impacted by invasive species (Rusa rusa deer (Rusa timorensis) and feral pig).
Conservation
This species is not protected by legislation. It occurs in one protected area: Aoupinié. Amborella trichopoda would deserve to be protected. It has a high phylogenetic importance as it is the only species in the order Amborellales. Plant systematists place the genus Amborella at or near the base of the flowering plant lineage and thus A. trichopoda occupies a key position in the current views of angiosperm evolution. Amborella has thus been the subject of many phylogenetic, genomic, cytogenetic, morphology and development biology studies (Pillon, 2005). Although there have been many financed projects concerning Amborella, to date, none has considered the conservation of this species or its habitat. Perhaps this is because this issue is of less interest to the international scientific community than are other aspects of scientific enquiry relating to Amborella. A more balanced distribution of resources and scientific interest is needed for the preservation of the biodiversity of New Caledonia and other tropical areas.
Bibliography
Pillon, Y.; Munzinger, J. 2005. Amborella fever and its (litle) implication in conservation.
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.
Tirel, C. & Jérémie, J. 1982. Flore de la Nouvelle-Calédonie et dépendances. Volume 11 : Eléocarpacées, Monimiacées, Amborellacées, Athérospermatacées, Triméniacées, Chloranthacées.
Munzinger J., Morat Ph., Jaffré T., Gâteblé G., Pillon Y., Tronchet F., Veillon J.-M. and M. Chalopin 2016. FLORICAL: Checklist of the vascular indigenous flora of New Caledonia. vers. 22.IV.2016.
Endemia.nc 2016. Faune et Flore de Nouvelle-Calédonie.
Experts
Assessor(s): Veillon, J., Amice, R., Bruy, D., Butin, J., Fleurot, D., Garnier, D., Gâteblé, G., Goxe, J., Suprin, B.
Reviewer(s): Pillon, Y.
Facilitator(s): Warimavute, G., Maura, J., Tanguy, V.