Ceratozamia miqueliana

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
PLANTAE	TRACHEOPHYTA	CYCADOPSIDA	CYCADALES	ZAMIACEAE

Scientific Name:	Ceratozamia miqueliana
Species Authority:	H.Wendl.

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Critically Endangered A2acd ver 3.1

Year Assessed:

2010

Assessor/s:

Vovides, A., Chemnick, J. & Gregory, T.

Reviewer/s:

Donaldson, J.S. & Bösenberg, J.D.

Justification:
The species has declined dramatically in the past 30 years (one generation) due to habitat destruction. Current estimates are that 95% of original habitat has been destroyed and the species is extinct in at least one location. Therefore qualifies as Critically Endangered under criterion A. The area of occupancy is uncertain but may be <10 km² in which case it would also qualify under criterion B. Based on extent of occurrence it would qualify as Vulnerable.

History:

2003	–	Vulnerable (IUCN 2003)
1997	–	Vulnerable (Walter and Gillett 1998)

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Occurs in the states of Chiapas and Veracruz, Mexico. It has also been reported from Tabasco state, but this locality has probably been extirpated.
Countries:	Native: Mexico (Chiapas, Tabasco, Veracruz)

Population [top]

Population:	This species is known from three localities of which one has been destroyed in Chiapas in the past year, and the other two (Coatzacoalcos, and Las Tuxtlas) are small islands of habitat surrounded by agriculture or oil refineries. There are probably other small populations still extant and maybe a larger population on one of the other volcanoes near Las Tuxtlas, but the genetics of each pocket are Critically Endangered. The known populations have been reduced dramatically in recent years. Miguel Angel Perez Farrera reports that the population above Mal Paso lake is now completely extirpated due to habitat destruction. The populations near Santiago Tuxtla and Coatzacoalcos are very much reduced and similarly threatened though the remaining plants at Coatzacoalcos are afforded some protection because they are located in a tiny remnant patch of forest under protection by Pemex (the national petroleum company) but literally right across the street from a large oil refinery. Ceratozamia miqueliana must be considered one of the most critically endangered of all Mexican cycads.
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Population:

This species is known from three localities of which one has been destroyed in Chiapas in the past year, and the other two (Coatzacoalcos, and Las Tuxtlas) are small islands of habitat surrounded by agriculture or oil refineries. There are probably other small populations still extant and maybe a larger population on one of the other volcanoes near Las Tuxtlas, but the genetics of each pocket are Critically Endangered.

The known populations have been reduced dramatically in recent years. Miguel Angel Perez Farrera reports that the population above Mal Paso lake is now completely extirpated due to habitat destruction. The populations near Santiago Tuxtla and Coatzacoalcos are very much reduced and similarly threatened though the remaining plants at Coatzacoalcos are afforded some protection because they are located in a tiny remnant patch of forest under protection by Pemex (the national petroleum company) but literally right across the street from a large oil refinery. Ceratozamia miqueliana must be considered one of the most critically endangered of all Mexican cycads.

Population Trend:

Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	Plants are found in scattered populations ranging from an altitude near sea level to 600 m. They occur in mixed wet evergreen and deciduous forest. Overall, more than 95% of its original natural habitat has gone.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	This species has been severely affected as a result of habitat destruction (over 95% of original habitat is gone). Over-collecting for ornamental purposes has also had a negative effect on the natural populations.

Major Threat(s):

This species has been severely affected as a result of habitat destruction (over 95% of original habitat is gone). Over-collecting for ornamental purposes has also had a negative effect on the natural populations.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	This species is listed on Appendix I of the CITES Appendices. Some plants occur in the Los Tuxtlas Biosphere Reserve and the La Cangrejera population is within a PEMEX (Mexico's national petroleum company) reserve.

Conservation Actions:

This species is listed on Appendix I of the CITES Appendices. Some plants occur in the Los Tuxtlas Biosphere Reserve and the La Cangrejera population is within a PEMEX (Mexico's national petroleum company) reserve.

Citation:	Vovides, A., Chemnick, J. & Gregory, T. 2010. Ceratozamia miqueliana. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 08 February 2012.
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