|
Scientific Name | Conophytum khamiesbergense (L.Bolus) Schwantes |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | AIZOACEAE |
Synonyms | Berrisfordia khamiesbergensis L.Bolus |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Critically Endangered A4cd |
Assessment Date | 2021/11/25 |
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 succulent species is endemic to the Northern Cape province of South Africa with an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 91 km² and area of occupancy (AOO) of 48 km². Anthropogenic climate change is a major threat to this species. Modelling of climate change impacts is predicted to result in an average loss of 83% of suitable bio-climatic habitat by 2080 under likely CO2 emission scenarios (RCP 2.6), the population is also declining rapidly as a result of illegal collection. With a generation length of 30 years, this species will experience a decline in excess of 80% within then next three generations (90 years) and therefore qualifies as Critically Endangered under criterion A4. |
Distribution |
Endemism | South African endemic |
Provincial distribution | Northern Cape |
Range | This species is endemic to a small area in the Northern Cape province of South Africa, where it is known from fewer than 20 locations. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Kamiesberg Mountains Shrubland, Namaqualand Granite Renosterveld, Kamiesberg Granite Fynbos |
Description | This species is found in both the Fynbos and Succulent Karoo biomes. It is primarily found in Granite Fynbos and Granite and Dolerite Renosterveld bioregions but is also present in the Namaqualand Hardeveld bioregion. The plants are typically associated with lichens on granite domes at altitude amongst mountain renosterveld. 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 |
| Plants have been subject to illegal collection of mature individuals for the international trade in ornamental succulents with several thousand plants being removed since 2019. This species has been highly sought after by collectors and is highly likely to remain so in future, resulting in a decline of at least 50% of the population in three generations.
There is no decline in habitat quality for this species as inferred by changes in vegetation cover determined from changes in Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) between 1984 and 2018 using Landsat data (Venter et al. 2020). Anthropogenic climate change is however a long-term threat 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 83% and 100% by 2080 for this species. Species in this genus have limited dispersal ability and migration to suitable habitats elsewhere is regarded as highly unlikely. |
Population |
There are no formal estimates of population size for this species but the number of mature individuals is likely to be between 75,000 and 125,000. The population is in decline due to illegal collection for the ornamental succulent plant trade. At least 2,500 plants have been removed from habitat between 2019 and the end of 2021 based on confiscation records, with many more having likely been removed but not intercepted by law enforcers.
|
Population trend | Decreasing |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Conophytum khamiesbergense (L.Bolus) Schwantes | EN B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v) | 2020.1 | | Conophytum khamiesbergense (L.Bolus) Schwantes | VU D2 | Raimondo et al. (2009) | | Conophytum khamiesbergense (L.Bolus) Schwantes | Lower Risk - Least Concern | Victor (2002) | | Berrisfordia khamiesbergensis L.Bolus | Indeterminate | Hall et al. (1980) | |
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 khamiesbergense (L.Bolus) Schwantes. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/04/13 |
Comment on this assessment
