Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-hc48f Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-26T19:57:17.074Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

The conservation of the endemic vascular flora of Ascension Island and threats from alien species

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 October 2005

Alan Gray
Affiliation:
Ecology and Resource Management, School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh, Darwin Building, The King's Buildings, Mayfield Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3JU, UK
Tara Pelembe
Affiliation:
Ascension Island Conservation, Conservation Centre, Georgetown, Ascension Island, ASCN IZZ, South Atlantic Ocean.
Stedson Stroud
Affiliation:
Ascension Island Conservation, Conservation Centre, Georgetown, Ascension Island, ASCN IZZ, South Atlantic Ocean.
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

We present the first assessment of the endemic vascular flora of Ascension Island for over 20 years. Combining new with existing data the following IUCN Red List categorizations are proposed: Anogramma ascensionis, Dryopteris ascensionis, Oldenlandia adscensionis and Sporobolus durus (Extinct); Pteris adscensionis and Euphorbia origanoides (Critically Endangered); Sporobolus caespitosus (Vulnerable); Asplenium ascensionis, Marattia purpurascens and Xiphopteris ascensionensis (Near Threatened). The primary cause of the four presumed extinctions appears to be introductions of exotic species and subsequent alteration of ecological conditions. M. purpurascens, A. ascensionis, and X. ascensionensis appear to be under no immediate threat of extinction, although long-term survival is uncertain. E. origanoides, P. adscensionis, and S. caespitosus require active conservation measures to ensure their survival.

Type
Short Communication
Copyright
2005 Fauna & Flora International

Footnotes

This paper contains supplementary material that can only be found online at http://journals.cambridge.org
Supplementary material: PDF

Gray Supplementary material

Appendix.pdf

Download Gray Supplementary material(PDF)
PDF 64 KB