|
Scientific Name | Conophytum bruynsii S.A.Hammer |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | AIZOACEAE |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Critically Endangered A4d; B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v) |
Assessment Date | 2021/11/16 |
Assessor(s) | A.J. Young, P.G. Desmet, I. Ebrahim, D. Guo, A. Harrower, L. Jabar, L. Knoetze, C. Rodgerson, P.C.V. Van Wyk & N.N. Mhlongo |
Justification | This species of dwarf succulent is endemic to the Western Cape province of South Africa where it is only recorded from a single locality with an extent of occurrence (EOO) and area of occupancy (AOO) of 4 km². This dwarf succulent has been increasingly targeted by illegal collection in recent years and is in high demand by collectors. In 2021 a substantial proportion of the global population was illegally collected for the illegal trade in succulents over a very short period. The continued threat of illegal collection remains very high with the single location rendering the species highly susceptible to further rapid decline due to this activity and a complete decline of up to 100% of the population is likely within the next ten years. It therefore qualifies as Critically Endangered under criteria A4 and B1+2. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Western Cape |
Range | This species is endemic to a small part of the Western Cape province of South Africa where it is only found in a single location with a restricted geographic range. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Southern Namaqualand Quartzite Klipkoppe Shrubland |
Description | This species is endemic to the Namaqualand Hardeveld Bioregion of the Succulent Karoo biome. The plants occupy small areas of quartzite sandstone. This species has a generation length of 30 years. It is expected to be sensitive to the impacts of climate change as it does not disperse and while adapted to arid conditions, is dependent on limited seasonal rainfall. Species in the genus are sensitive to long periods of drought. Drought related mortality has been observed for other closely related taxa within the genus. |
Threats |
| This species has been subject to illegal collection of mature individuals for the international trade in ornamental succulents in 2020-21. It has been highly sought after by collectors and is highly likely to remain so in future. The plants are severely range-restricted which coupled with the small population size renders them highly susceptible to a rapid decline in number through collection. The only known location is close to human habitation. There is a real possibility of extinction in habitat due to a single plant poaching event.
Plants occur on land used for livestock grazing and habitat degradation is currently taking place. Loss of vegetation cover as inferred from changes in Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) between 1984 and 2018 using Landsat data (Venter et al. 2020) has been experienced at the only known locality for this species.
Anthropogenic climate change is a long-term threat to this species. While it is not possible to model the response of this species to climate change due to its restricted distribution, the average loss to climate change for 15 more widely distributed Conophytum species occurring within the same region is used as an indication of likely impact to this species. Climate models for the likely emission scenarios where emissions stay at present day levels (RCP 2.6) (Hausfather and Peters 2020) and worst case scenarios where emissions continue to increase during the 21st century (RCP 8.5) indicate that there will be a loss of suitable bioclimatic envelope of between 72% and 99% by 2080 for Conophytum taxa within the region. Species in this genus have limited dispersal ability and migration to suitable habitats elsewhere is regarded as highly unlikely. |
Population |
No more than 8,000 mature individuals are thought to be present at the only known locality for this species (SANBI field survey 2021). The population is declining due to illegal harvesting to supply the ornamental succulent plant trade. This species has been highly sought after by collectors with a substantial proportion of the population removed illegally from the only known location since 2019.
|
Population trend | Decreasing |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Conophytum bruynsii S.A.Hammer | CR B1ab(v)+2ab(v) | 2020.1 | | Conophytum bruynsii S.A.Hammer | VU D2 | 2017.1 | | Conophytum bruynsii S.A.Hammer | Least Concern | Raimondo et al. (2009) | |
Bibliography |
Hammer, S. 2002. Dumpling and his wife: New view of the genus Conophytum. EAE Creative Colour, Norwich.
Hammer, S.A. 1993. The genus Conophytum: A conograph. Succulent Plant Publications, Pretoria.
Hausfather, Z. and Peters, G.P. 2020. Emissions - the 'business as usual' story is misleading. Nature 577(618-620).
Opel, M.R. 2004. The rediscovery of Crassula alcicornis. Haseltonia 10:38-40.
|
Citation |
| Young, A.J., Desmet, P.G., Ebrahim, I., Guo, D., Harrower, A., Jabar, L., Knoetze, L., Rodgerson, C., Van Wyk, P.C.V. & Mhlongo, N.N. 2021. Conophytum bruynsii S.A.Hammer. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2024/10/08 |
Comment on this assessment
