Taxonomy
Scientific Name
Rhinephyllum broomii L.Bolus
Higher Classification
Dicotyledons
Family
AIZOACEAE
National Status
Status and Criteria
Data Deficient - Insufficient Information
Assessment Date
2019/10/24
Assessor(s)
D. Raimondo
Justification
Rhinephyllum broomii is a poorly known taxon from the central parts of the Karoo Basin. It has been recorded from only three collection localities with an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 5388 km². Only one recent record of this species exists, nothing is known about the current status and trends of the population, it is potentially threatened by livestock overgrazing and trampling and also possibly by future shale gas fracking. Based on currently available data, its risk of extinction cannot be assessed. It therefore qualifies as Data Deficient.
Distribution
Endemism
South African endemic
Provincial distribution
Northern Cape
Range
This species is endemic to South Africa, and is found from Carnarvon to Fraserburg Road and Beaufort West.
Habitat and Ecology
Major system
Terrestrial
Major habitats
Gamka Karoo
Description
It occurs on bare stony, gentle slopes, in shale.
Threats
Large-scale shale gas fracking was proposed in 2015 for the Karoo basin covering the majority of this species' range. Subpopulations on flats would be most vulnerable to habitat loss to infrastructure development related to fracking, and this species could decline in future if fracking goes ahead. A Strategic Environmental Impact Assessment submitted to South Africa's Department of Environmental Affairs in 2016 cautioned against moving ahead with Shale Gas fracking based on the very high infrastructure costs associated with fracking as well as multiple secondary negative impacts both to biodiversity and other economic activities in the region. Furthermore geological studies that have taken place since 2016 have found that gas deposits are not as substantial as original suspected due to the very old age of the Karoo shale formations and the fact that the extensive number of dolerite intrusions throughout the Karoo have resulted in much of the gas being lost. At present, future development scenarios are too uncertain to estimate the potential extent of the impact on the population but it is unlikely that shale gas fracking will proceed in the near future.
Population

Nothing is known about the populations size and current status of Rhinephyllum broomii. There is only one recent record for this species collected from Carnarvon in 2013. This record has no notes on population status or abundance. Other records which predate 1950 are from Fraserburg and Beaufort West.


Population trend
Stable
Assessment History
Taxon assessed
Status and Criteria
Citation/Red List version
Rhinephyllum broomii L.BolusDDD 2020.1
Rhinephyllum broomii L.BolusLeast Concern Raimondo et al. (2009)
Bibliography

Magee, A.R. and Boatwright, J.S. (eds). In prep. Plants of the Karoo: A Conspectus of the Nama-Karoo and Adjacent Summer-Rainfall Regions of the Northern and Western Cape Provinces. Strelitzia.


Raimondo, D., von Staden, L., Foden, W., Victor, J.E., Helme, N.A., Turner, R.C., Kamundi, D.A. and Manyama, P.A. 2009. Red List of South African Plants. Strelitzia 25. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria.


Citation
Raimondo, D. 2019. Rhinephyllum broomii L.Bolus. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2024/11/13

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Distribution map


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