Acacia anegadensis

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	FABALES	LEGUMINOSAE

Scientific Name:

Acacia anegadensis

Species Authority:

Britton

Common Name/s:

English

–

Pokemeboy

Taxonomic Notes:

Synonym = Fishlockia anegadensis (Britton) Britton & Rose.

The generic status of this taxon is unclear, it having been included in Fishlockia, Acacia and more recently as Vachellia anegadensis (Britton) Seigler & Ebinger. Future molecular systematic research is planned to resolve this problem.

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:	Critically Endangered B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v) ver 3.1
Year Published:	2003
Assessor/s:	Clubbe, C. & Pollard, B. (RBG, Kew), Smith-Abbott, J., Walker, R. & Woodfield, N. (BVI National Parks Trust)
Reviewer/s:	Maunder, M. & Strahm, W. (SSC Plant Conservation Committee)
Contributor/s:
Justification: Anegada endemic. Area of the island is 38 km², of which approximately one third is water in the form of salt ponds. Therefore extent of occurrence for Acacia anegadensis is approximately 25 km². Fieldwork has determined that Acacia anegadensis is found across the island with a preference for limestone habitats and less common on sand dunes. Its area of occupancy has been estimated as < 10 km². Because of the small size of the island and the known distribution of this species we have treated this as 1 location. The island of Anegada is under extreme pressure for residential and tourism development. This has already resulted in documented habitat fragmentation and loss leading to a decline in the quality of the habitat for this species. All the available information indicates that this will accelerate in the next few years. This will result in a continued decline in the quality of the habitat and a reduction in the number of mature individuals.

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Anegada, British Virgin Islands. Extent of occurrence: 25 km², Area of occupancy: <10 km². Ex situ population: One mature, reproducing individual in the display collection of the JR O’Neal Botanic Garden on Tortola, BVI. 22 seedlings are in cultivation at the JR O’Neal Botanic Garden Nursery. Population size is unknown, but field observations indicate it to be locally common on limestone and scarce on sand dunes. Treated as one location with no distinct subpopulations.
Countries:	Native: Virgin Islands, British
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population Trend:	Unknown

Population Trend:

Unknown

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	Definite preference to limestone substrate – field data show a frequency >50% on limestone and
Systems:	Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Anegada is under severe development pressure resulting in both loss of habitat to residential and tourism infrastructure, and further fragmentation due to upgrading and construction of new roads. Loose livestock (cattle, goats, donkeys) roam the island and impact at the habitat (trampling) and species level (grazing). Invasive species may be a problem with increasing habitat fragmentation. The Settlement (Anegada’s only town) has lots of known invasives, three of which have been observed moving into natural habitats – Casuarina equisetifolia (also found along several western dunes), Cryptostegia madagascariensis and Bryophyllum pinnatum. Fire may be a problem in the future – increasing use of fire to clear land. Highest point of Anegada is approx. 10 m above sea level. Most of the preferred habitat is <3 m above sea level and so global climate change will reduce quality and area of habitat available to A. anegadensis. Natural disasters are a current and on-going threat e.g., hurricanes, coastal inundation and earthquakes. Formally cut for timber and the resin used as a boat sealant. No current utilization known.

Major Threat(s):

Anegada is under severe development pressure resulting in both loss of habitat to residential and tourism infrastructure, and further fragmentation due to upgrading and construction of new roads. Loose livestock (cattle, goats, donkeys) roam the island and impact at the habitat (trampling) and species level (grazing). Invasive species may be a problem with increasing habitat fragmentation. The Settlement (Anegada’s only town) has lots of known invasives, three of which have been observed moving into natural habitats – Casuarina equisetifolia (also found along several western dunes), Cryptostegia madagascariensis and Bryophyllum pinnatum. Fire may be a problem in the future – increasing use of fire to clear land. Highest point of Anegada is approx. 10 m above sea level. Most of the preferred habitat is <3 m above sea level and so global climate change will reduce quality and area of habitat available to A. anegadensis. Natural disasters are a current and on-going threat e.g., hurricanes, coastal inundation and earthquakes. Formally cut for timber and the resin used as a boat sealant. No current utilization known.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	A small proportion of the preferred habitat (limestone) lies within a Ramsar site (declared 1999) and national legislation is currently being prepared to declare this a Protected Area. One mature, reproducing individual in cultivation in the JR O’Neal Botanic Garden on Tortola, BVI. 22 seedlings in cultivation in the botanic garden nursery (collected in Anegada in 2000). Protected Wildlife legislation is currently being revised and consideration is being given to including named endemic/ threatened species of flora and fauna within this Schedule.

Conservation Actions:

A small proportion of the preferred habitat (limestone) lies within a Ramsar site (declared 1999) and national legislation is currently being prepared to declare this a Protected Area. One mature, reproducing individual in cultivation in the JR O’Neal Botanic Garden on Tortola, BVI. 22 seedlings in cultivation in the botanic garden nursery (collected in Anegada in 2000). Protected Wildlife legislation is currently being revised and consideration is being given to including named endemic/ threatened species of flora and fauna within this Schedule.

Citation:	Clubbe, C. & Pollard, B. (RBG, Kew), Smith-Abbott, J., Walker, R. & Woodfield, N. (BVI National Parks Trust) 2003. Acacia anegadensis. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 23 May 2013.
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