- Proposed
- Under Assessment
- Preliminary Assessed
- Assessed
- CRPublished
Sulcaria isidiifera Brodo
- Scientific name
- Sulcaria isidiifera
- Author
- Brodo
- Common names
splitting yarn lichen- Iron Maiden's Hair
- IUCN Specialist Group
Lichens- Kingdom
- Fungi
- Phylum
- Ascomycota
- Class
- Lecanoromycetes
- Order
- Lecanorales
- Family
- Parmeliaceae
- Assessment status
- Published
- Assessment date
- 2017-08-30
- IUCN Red List Category
- CR
- IUCN Red List Criteria
- B2ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v)
- Assessors
- McMullin, T., Allen, J. & Lendemer, J.
- Reviewers
- Scheidegger, C.
Assessment Notes
Justification
This species is assessed as Critically Endangered (CR) on the basis of it having a very narrow distribution (10 km diameter area), correlating to an extent of occurrence of less than 100 km², and an area of occupancy of just 8 km². A continuing decline in the extent of occurrence, and the number of mature individuals is reported, and it is considered that this species severely fragmented and found in 1-4 locations based on the threats of development and changes to the fire regimes.
Geographic range
This species is narrowly restricted to a small area of old-growth coastal chaparral scrub on stable sand dunes in San Luis Obispo County, California, U.S.A.Population and Trends
Sulcaria isidiifera was first discovered in 1984 and was formally described in 1986 (Brodo 1986). It is only known to inhabit an area that is 7 miles across at its widest point (Carlberg and Knudsen 2007). Repeated visits in recent years, including a 2012 visit from C. Bratt (one of the original two people that discovered it), documented significant observed decline in the population and habitat fragmentation (C. Bratt pers. comm., Carlberg and Knudsen 2007). Most known occurrences are within three state parks: Montana de Oro State Park, Morro Bay State Park, and Los Osos Oaks State Reserve, with the highest abundance at Montana de Oro (Reifner 1995). The rest of the population is on private or unregulated land (Carlberg and Knudsen 2007).
Population Trend: decreasing
Habitat and Ecology
This is a corticolous species that is restricted to old-growth coastal chaparral scrub (Carlberg and Knudsen 2007). It occurs on the branches of trees and shrubs such as: Adenostoma fasciculatum, Quercus dumosa, Q. agrifolia, and Ceanothus ramulosus (Brodo 1986, Carlberg and Knudsen 2007).Threats
This species is threatened by residential development and changes in fire regimes. Development is the biggest threat to this species. Two communities, Los Osos and Baywood, have grown substantially in the last thirty years since Sulcaria isidiifera was discovered. They are within the range of this species and new development is reducing the already small area of suitable habitat.Conservation Actions
This species needs to be listed as an endangered species in the United States. Additionally, efforts need to be made to protect populations from residential development. Because of the small population size of this species and significant loss of habitat, reintroduction to areas where it has been lost should be attempted.Monitoring the abundance and health of this species needs to begin immediately. Also, the viability of reintroduction should be explored.
