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Ramalina erosa Krog

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Scientific name
Ramalina erosa
Author
Krog
Common names
 
IUCN Specialist Group
Lichens
Kingdom
Fungi
Phylum
Ascomycota
Class
Lecanoromycetes
Order
Lecanorales
Family
Ramalinaceae
Assessment status
Published
Assessment date
2023-02-02
IUCN Red List Category
VU
IUCN Red List Criteria
D1+2
Assessors
Sparrius, L., Aptroot, A., Sipman, H., Pérez-Vargas, I., Matos, P., Gerlach, A. & Vervoort, M.
Reviewers
Yahr, R.

Assessment Notes

The content on this page is fetched from The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/70382699/213347134

Justification

Ramalina erosa is a rock-dwelling species that is narrowly endemic to Porto Santo in the Madeira archipelago where it occurs at two locations, both on high elevation volcanoes. Threats from trampling or wildfire could rapidly impact the whole population. There are only 500–1,000 known individuals of this species (Sparrius et al. 2017), thus it is listed as Vulnerable under criteria D1+2.

Geographic range

This species is found only on the small island of Porto Santo in the Madeira archipelago, and known only in two locations, each on a separate rock outcrop, with an area of occupancy of 4 km2.   

Population and Trends

The species is restricted to two locations. The population size is estimated to be 500–1,000 mature individuals (size > 2 cm), representing reproductively mature individuals at each site where they have been observed during fieldwork. The numbers are corrected for suitable habitat that could not be reached or visited during the survey (Sparrius et al. 2017).

Population Trend: unknown

Habitat and Ecology

It is saxicolous, on basaltic volcanic rockfaces at higher elevations. It avoids calcareous rocks, which occur mainly at lower elevation and along the coast. It is found growing together with other endemic macrolichens, such as Anzia centrifuga, Ramalina confertula, R. jamesii, R. nematodes and R. timdaliana.

Threats

This species occurs only on one small island. It could be threatened by extinction from wildfire, and trampling (rock climbing, tourism) if development of tourism occurred in the vicinity of the locations. The past impact of these threats has not been documented. Most sites are at quiet places at higher elevation and at some distance from paths and roads.

Conservation Actions

The sites are not within a Natura 2000 site. The species grows at higher elevations and sites can only be reached by hiking trails. The geology limits development of infrastructure. The rocky cliffs are sparsely vegetated, making them less susceptible to changes in grazing regime and fires.

Use and Trade

This species is not utilised.

Source and Citation

Sparrius, L., Aptroot, A., Sipman, H., Pérez-Vargas, I., Matos, P., Gerlach, A. & Vervoort, M. 2024. Ramalina erosa. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2024: e.T70382699A213347134. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2024-1.RLTS.T70382699A213347134.en .Accessed on 5 February 2025

Country occurrence