Lamyropsis microcephala

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:	Lamyropsis microcephala
Species Authority:	(Moris) Dittrich & Greuter

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Critically Endangered A3c; B1ab(iii) ver 3.1

Year Published:

2011

Assessor/s:

Mattana, E., Bacchetta, G., Fenu, G. & Ulian, T.

Reviewer/s:

Abeli, T., de Montmollin, B. & Bilz, M.

Contributor/s:

Camarda, I.

Justification:
This species only occurs at two locations in a very small area of 3 km². The quality of its habitat is declining due to tourism development and recreational activities, soil erosion, land slides, and wild pigs. The total number of individuals is difficult to determine because of their clonal growth mode. The whole population probably consists of eight to ten colonies, and only covers some 100 m². It is therefore assessed as Critically Endangered.

History:

2006	–	Critically Endangered (IUCN 2006)
2006	–	Critically Endangered
1997	–	Endangered (Walter and Gillett 1998)

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Lamyropsis microcephala is endemic to Sardinia, and is found only in the Gennargentu mountains on the slopes of Mount Bruncu Spina. This plant has a range of about 3 km² and occurs at two locations (Bacchetta et al. in: Rossi et al. 2008).
Countries:	Native: Italy (Sardegna)
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	The whole population probably consists of eight to ten colonies. L. microcephala grows only in two growing sites at the northeastern and southwestern slope of Mount Bruncu Spina, in the Nuoro Province, Sardinia (Bacchetta et al in: Rossi et al. 2008). The two populations are at the brink of extinction if the current threats will persist.
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	This perennial herb grows on eroded rock at 1,500-1,700 m altitude, in a band of montane dwarf shrub and steppe vegetation. This species has a highly complex branched rhizome system producing many stems, so it is very difficult to distinguish separate individuals. Previously it had been considered possibly Extinct, but was rediscovered shortly before publication of the Italian Red List in 1992. It grows in the Habitats Directive listed habitat 4090 "Endemic oro-Mediterranean heaths with gorse" (Commission of the European Communities 2009). Species with chionophiluos, eliophilous and igrophilous behaviour, L. microcephala grows in montane grassland on metamorphic substrate with erosion. these grasslands are characterized by the species of the class Carici-Genistetea lobelii and the order Carici-Genistetalia lobelii (Arrigoni 1974).
Systems:	Terrestrial

Habitat and Ecology:

This perennial herb grows on eroded rock at 1,500-1,700 m altitude, in a band of montane dwarf shrub and steppe vegetation.

This species has a highly complex branched rhizome system producing many stems, so it is very difficult to distinguish separate individuals. Previously it had been considered possibly Extinct, but was rediscovered shortly before publication of the Italian Red List in 1992.

It grows in the Habitats Directive listed habitat 4090 "Endemic oro-Mediterranean heaths with gorse" (Commission of the European Communities 2009).

Species with chionophiluos, eliophilous and igrophilous behaviour, L. microcephala grows in montane grassland on metamorphic substrate with erosion. these grasslands are characterized by the species of the class Carici-Genistetea lobelii and the order Carici-Genistetalia lobelii (Arrigoni 1974).

Systems:

Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Just to the east of the small area where this species occurs a ski run has been built, which is a serious threat. This species is also threatened by rooting of wild pigs, soil erosion, landslides and further development of tourist infrastructure, where agricultural land development has already destroyed its natural habitat. Moreover, this plant has a limited reproductive capacity. The few seeds produced have a very low germination rate, and vegetative growth is very slow. The germination percentage of the seeds of the species is about 20% (Diana-Corrias 1977). Bacchetta et al. (2007) referred to of a germination percentage of about 50%.

Major Threat(s):

Just to the east of the small area where this species occurs a ski run has been built, which is a serious threat. This species is also threatened by rooting of wild pigs, soil erosion, landslides and further development of tourist infrastructure, where agricultural land development has already destroyed its natural habitat. Moreover, this plant has a limited reproductive capacity. The few seeds produced have a very low germination rate, and vegetative growth is very slow.
The germination percentage of the seeds of the species is about 20% (Diana-Corrias 1977). Bacchetta et al. (2007) referred to of a germination percentage of about 50%.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Actions in Place Legally: The species is listed as a priority species in Annex II of the Habitats Directive and under Appendix I of the Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (Bern Convention). Nationally there is no legal protection for this species, despite the fact that the regional council of Sardinia proposed a draft law in 2001 concerning protection of plant species on the island, and L. microcephala is listed in the Annex as an endemic species. However, this law is controversial as it may also increase collecting interest in the species listed. It is included in the Italian Red List and in the Red List of the Top 50 Mediterranean Island Plants (Conti et al. 1997, De Montmollin and Strahm 2005). In situ: No action for the moment. Ex situ: The species is not under cultivation. Actions Needed A management plan to conserve L. microcephala is urgently needed, with habitat restoration a priority. The little-used ski run should be removed, and the local population sensitized to the plight of this rare species.

Conservation Actions:

Actions in Place
Legally: The species is listed as a priority species in Annex II of the Habitats Directive and under Appendix I of the Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (Bern Convention). Nationally there is no legal protection for this species, despite the fact that the regional council of Sardinia proposed a draft law in 2001 concerning protection of plant species on the island, and L. microcephala is listed in the Annex as an endemic species. However, this law is controversial as it may also increase collecting interest in the species listed.
It is included in the Italian Red List and in the Red List of the Top 50 Mediterranean Island Plants (Conti et al. 1997, De Montmollin and Strahm 2005).

In situ: No action for the moment.

Ex situ: The species is not under cultivation.

Actions Needed
A management plan to conserve L. microcephala is urgently needed, with habitat restoration a priority. The little-used ski run should be removed, and the local population sensitized to the plight of this rare species.

Citation:	Mattana, E., Bacchetta, G., Fenu, G. & Ulian, T. 2011. Lamyropsis microcephala. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 23 May 2013.
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