|Scientific Name:||Acacia anegadensis|
|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.
|Red List Category & Criteria:||Critically Endangered B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v) ver 3.1|
|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)|
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.
|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.
Native:Virgin Islands, British
|Range Map:||Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.|
|Current Population Trend:||Unknown|
|Habitat and Ecology:||Definite preference to limestone substrate – field data show a frequency >50% on limestone and|
|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:||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. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2003: e.T43894A10830656. . Downloaded on 25 May 2016.|
|Feedback:||If you see any errors or have any questions or suggestions on what is shown on this page, please provide us with feedback so that we can correct or extend the information provided|