Onopordum nogalesii

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	MAGNOLIOPSIDA	ASTERALES	COMPOSITAE

Scientific Name:

Onopordum nogalesii

Species Authority:

Svent.

Common Name/s:

Spanish

–

Cardón de Jandía

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:	Critically Endangered B2ac(iv); C2a(ii) ver 3.1
Year Published:	2011
Assessor/s:	Scholz, S.
Reviewer/s:	Bilz, M., Cuttelod, A. & Moreno Saiz, J.C.
Contributor/s:	Barreto Caldas, F
Justification: Onopordum nogalesii is listed as Critically Endangered because its area of occupancy is probably lower than 1 km², its population size is estimated to be between 50 and 150 mature individuals, all in one single location, and decreasing trends and extreme fluctuations in the number of mature individuals have been reported. Overgrazing and seed predation by insects limit the expansion of the species.

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	This plant is endemic to the island of Fuerteventura, Canary Islands, Spain (Scholz 2004). It can be found between 250 and 450 m asl, in a single known location, in Valle or Barranco de Vinamar, in the peninsula of Jandía. Its area of occupancy has been estimated in between 1 and 3 km².
Countries:	Native: Spain (Canary Is.)
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	Total population size fluctuates between 50 and 150 individuals (S. Scholz pers. comm. 2011), mainly affected by climatic factors. Scholz reported 70 individuals (2004). In the last few years a decline in the number of individuals has been observed.
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	This species grows in slopes of moderate to low inclination, usually near the bottom of the ravine. It has preference for gullies, carved by runoff water, usually on stony clay soils, probably due to their favourable moisture conditions. Frequent accompanying species include Euphorbia regis-jubae, Kleinia neriifolia and Launaea arborescens, Salsola vermiculata, Lycium intricatum and Rubia fruticosa. In winter, dense communities of nitrophilous therophytes such as Chenopodium murale, Patellifolia patellaris, Emex spinosa, Echium bonneti, Reichardia tingitana and Stipa capensis, appear in its habitat. It is a very adaptable species that can tolerate some presence of herbivores and soil nitrification. Seed production and germination are very irregular, depending on heavy rains and seed predation by several insects. Pollination is by Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera and Coleoptera.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Habitat and Ecology:

This species grows in slopes of moderate to low inclination, usually near the bottom of the ravine. It has preference for gullies, carved by runoff water, usually on stony clay soils, probably due to their favourable moisture conditions. Frequent accompanying species include Euphorbia regis-jubae, Kleinia neriifolia and Launaea arborescens, Salsola vermiculata, Lycium intricatum and Rubia fruticosa. In winter, dense communities of nitrophilous therophytes such as Chenopodium murale, Patellifolia patellaris, Emex spinosa, Echium bonneti, Reichardia tingitana and Stipa capensis, appear in its habitat.

It is a very adaptable species that can tolerate some presence of herbivores and soil nitrification. Seed production and germination are very irregular, depending on heavy rains and seed predation by several insects. Pollination is by Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera and Coleoptera.

Systems:

Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	This species takes profit from the presence of a certain amount of grazing species, due to its nitrophilous character. As livestock pressure increases, an important negative effect on the population can be observed, for flowers are predated (Scholz 2004). Seed predation by birds and insects, low germination rates and low survival of seedlings have also a great influence in population dynamics. A nearby passageway and the construction of tourist infrastructures located 2-3 km from the population is a potential threat. Moreover, it has been observed that it has been collected illegally for ornamental purposes and by scientists.

Major Threat(s):

This species takes profit from the presence of a certain amount of grazing species, due to its nitrophilous character. As livestock pressure increases, an important negative effect on the population can be observed, for flowers are predated (Scholz 2004). Seed predation by birds and insects, low germination rates and low survival of seedlings have also a great influence in population dynamics. A nearby passageway and the construction of tourist infrastructures located 2-3 km from the population is a potential threat. Moreover, it has been observed that it has been collected illegally for ornamental purposes and by scientists.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Onopordum nogalesii is listed as priority species on Annex II of the Habitats Directive and is listed under Appendix I of the Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (Bern Convention). It is included as species "En peligro de extinción" in the national catalogue of threatened species, and in the catalogue of protected species of the Canary Islands, under the name Onopordon nogalesii. It is classed as CR B2ac(iv); C2a(ii) in the Spanish Red List 2008 (Moreno 2008). The whole population occurs in the protected area Parque Natural de Jandía (SCI). Seeds are stored in the germplasm bank of the Jardín Botánico Viera y Clavijo and in the E.T.S. de Ingenieros Agrónomos de Madrid. It is necessary to carry out surveys on the demography and reproductive biology of the species. Proposed conservation measures include the control of livestock in the Parque Natural de Jandía. Seed storage in germplasm banks and reintroduction measures are recommended.

Conservation Actions:

Onopordum nogalesii is listed as priority species on Annex II of the Habitats Directive and is listed under Appendix I of the Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (Bern Convention). It is included as species "En peligro de extinción" in the national catalogue of threatened species, and in the catalogue of protected species of the Canary Islands, under the name Onopordon nogalesii. It is classed as CR B2ac(iv); C2a(ii) in the Spanish Red List 2008 (Moreno 2008).

The whole population occurs in the protected area Parque Natural de Jandía (SCI). Seeds are stored in the germplasm bank of the Jardín Botánico Viera y Clavijo and in the E.T.S. de Ingenieros Agrónomos de Madrid.

It is necessary to carry out surveys on the demography and reproductive biology of the species. Proposed conservation measures include the control of livestock in the Parque Natural de Jandía. Seed storage in germplasm banks and reintroduction measures are recommended.

Citation:	Scholz, S. 2011. Onopordum nogalesii. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 26 May 2013.
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