Euphorbia stygiana

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	EUPHORBIALES	EUPHORBIACEAE

Scientific Name:	Euphorbia stygiana
Species Authority:	H.C.Watson

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:	Critically Endangered C2a(i); D ver 3.1
Year Published:	2011
Assessor/s:	Bilz, M.
Reviewer/s:	Cuttelod, A. & Lutz, M.L.
Contributor/s:
Justification: Euphorbia stygiana is endemic to the region São Lourenço on the island Santa Maria of the Azores. Its extent of occurrence (EOO) is 343 km². The habitat of the species is declining due to agricultural development, change in land use, and invasive species. The total population counts less than 50 mature individuals and has a declining trend. It is therefore classed as Critically Endangered.

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Euphorbia stygiana is endemic to the Azores, where it is confined to the region São Lourenço on the island Santa Maria (Martín et al. 2008). Its EOO is 343 km² (Commission of the European Communities 2009).
Countries:	Native: Portugal (Azores)
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	The population counts less than 50 mature individuals and has a declining trend (Martín et al. 2008).
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	Euphorbia stygiana grows in beech forests (faial) (Martín et al. 2008). It develops in steep areas that are subject to disturbances. There are two types of habitat: firstly forest clearings or ecotones on saxicolous substrates, secondly slopes including banks of streams, hills, or rock walls where it develops in soil. It can be found in or at the edge of the following Habitats Directive listed habitats (Commission of the European Communities 2009): 4050 Endemic Macaronesian heaths 5330 Thermo-Mediterranean and pre-desert scrub 8220 Siliceous rocky slopes with chasmophytic vegetation 9360 Macaronesian laurel forests (Laurus, Ocotea) 9560 Endemic forests with Juniperus spp.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Habitat and Ecology:

Euphorbia stygiana grows in beech forests (faial) (Martín et al. 2008). It develops in steep areas that are subject to disturbances. There are two types of habitat: firstly forest clearings or ecotones on saxicolous substrates, secondly slopes including banks of streams, hills, or rock walls where it develops in soil. It can be found in or at the edge of the following Habitats Directive listed habitats (Commission of the European Communities 2009):

4050 Endemic Macaronesian heaths
5330 Thermo-Mediterranean and pre-desert scrub
8220 Siliceous rocky slopes with chasmophytic vegetation
9360 Macaronesian laurel forests (Laurus, Ocotea)
9560 Endemic forests with Juniperus spp.

Systems:

Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	The habitat of the species is declining due to agricultural development, change in land use, and invasive species and the subsequent increase in competition (Martín et al. 2008).

Major Threat(s):

The habitat of the species is declining due to agricultural development, change in land use, and invasive species and the subsequent increase in competition (Martín et al. 2008).

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Euphorbia stygiana is listed on Annex II of the Habitats Directive and under Appendix I of the Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (Bern Convention). Necessary conservation and research actions are (Martín et al. 2008): Habitat management and protection Management of threats such as the control of invasive species and regulation of tourism activities Species recovery programmes Translocation of subpopulations Studies on the taxonomy, biology, ecology and population dynamics

Conservation Actions:

Euphorbia stygiana is listed on Annex II of the Habitats Directive and under Appendix I of the Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (Bern Convention).

Necessary conservation and research actions are (Martín et al. 2008):

Habitat management and protection
Management of threats such as the control of invasive species and regulation of tourism activities
Species recovery programmes
Translocation of subpopulations
Studies on the taxonomy, biology, ecology and population dynamics

Citation:	Bilz, M. 2011. Euphorbia stygiana. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 19 May 2013.
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