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Buellia gypsyensis Fryday

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Scientific name
Buellia gypsyensis
Author
Fryday
Common names
 
IUCN Specialist Group
Lichens
Kingdom
Fungi
Phylum
Ascomycota
Class
Lecanoromycetes
Order
Caliciales
Family
Caliciaceae
Assessment status
Published
Assessment date
2020-06-11
IUCN Red List Category
VU
IUCN Red List Criteria
D2
Assessors
Fryday, A.
Reviewers
Lendemer, J.

Assessment Notes

The content on this page is fetched from The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/176075451/177303493

Justification

Buellia gypsyensis is only known from one location and its total Area of Occupancy is 4 km2. Coastal erosion and climatic changes could quickly lead to the decline and extirpation of this species. Therefore, it is listed as Vulnerable under criterion D2.

Geographic range

Buellia gypsyensis is known only from a single location on the Falkland Islands (Malvinas), a sea cliff on East Falkland along Gypsy Cove, that was observed in 2015. Careful examination of ~10,000 collections from southern South America held in the herbarium at Michigan State University did not result in the discovery of any individuals of this species occurring on mainland South America (Fryday and Prather 2001). This thorough investigation supports the conclusion that B. gypsyensis is endemic to the Falkland Islands (Malvinas).

Population and Trends

There is one reported subpopulation from a collection made in 2015. The population size and trends for this species are currently unknown. A detailed investigation of the population size and trends for Buellia gypsyensis is one major research and conservation need for this species.

Population Trend: unknown

Habitat and Ecology

Buellia gypsyensis is known to occur only on north-facing, rocky maritime cliffs on East Falkland, Falkland Islands (Malvinas).

Threats

An ongoing decrease in summer rainfall and an increase in sunlight as a result of climate change and ozone depletion may negatively impact lichen species throughout the islands (McAdam 2013). Additionally, Buellia gypsyensis is threatened by coastal erosion.

Conservation Actions

This species currently does not have a formal protected status. The two most important conservation actions needed to preserve this species are: 1) protection of the land on which it occurs, and 2) education of local land owners/citizens about the presence of this species in their area. Additionally, further research is needed to ascertain the current status and distribution of this species.

Source and Citation

Fryday, A. 2020. Buellia gypsyensis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T176075451A177303493. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T176075451A177303493.en .Accessed on 12 February 2025

Country occurrence