The conservation and ecology of the British Virgin Islands endemic tree, Vachellia anegadensis
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The conservation and ecology of the British Virgin Islands endemic tree, Vachellia anegadensis. / Bárrios, Sara; Dufke, Maria; Hamilton, Martin; Cowan, Robyn; Woodfield-Pascoe, Nancy; Dalsgaard, Bo; Hawkins, Julie; Clubbe, Colin.
In: Oryx, Vol. 56, No. 1, 2022, p. 26-33.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
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T1 - The conservation and ecology of the British Virgin Islands endemic tree, Vachellia anegadensis
AU - Bárrios, Sara
AU - Dufke, Maria
AU - Hamilton, Martin
AU - Cowan, Robyn
AU - Woodfield-Pascoe, Nancy
AU - Dalsgaard, Bo
AU - Hawkins, Julie
AU - Clubbe, Colin
N1 - Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Fauna & Flora International.
PY - 2022
Y1 - 2022
N2 - Numerous island species have gone extinct and many extant, but threatened, island endemics require ongoing monitoring of their conservation status. The small tree Vachellia anegadensis was formerly thought to occur only on the limestone island of Anegada in the British Virgin Islands and was categorized as Critically Endangered. However, in 2008 it was discovered on the volcanic island of Fallen Jerusalem, c. 35 km from Anegada, and in 2018 it was recategorized as Endangered. To inform conservation interventions, we examined the species' distribution, genetic population structure, dependency on pollinators and preferred habitat, and documented any threats. We found V. anegadensis to be locally widespread on Anegada but uncommon on Fallen Jerusalem and established that geographical location does not predict genetic differentiation amongst populations. Vachellia anegadensis produces the highest number of seed pods when visited by animal pollinators, in particular Lepidoptera. Introduced animals and disturbance by humans appear to be the main threats to V. anegadensis, and in situ conservation is critical for the species' long-term survival.
AB - Numerous island species have gone extinct and many extant, but threatened, island endemics require ongoing monitoring of their conservation status. The small tree Vachellia anegadensis was formerly thought to occur only on the limestone island of Anegada in the British Virgin Islands and was categorized as Critically Endangered. However, in 2008 it was discovered on the volcanic island of Fallen Jerusalem, c. 35 km from Anegada, and in 2018 it was recategorized as Endangered. To inform conservation interventions, we examined the species' distribution, genetic population structure, dependency on pollinators and preferred habitat, and documented any threats. We found V. anegadensis to be locally widespread on Anegada but uncommon on Fallen Jerusalem and established that geographical location does not predict genetic differentiation amongst populations. Vachellia anegadensis produces the highest number of seed pods when visited by animal pollinators, in particular Lepidoptera. Introduced animals and disturbance by humans appear to be the main threats to V. anegadensis, and in situ conservation is critical for the species' long-term survival.
KW - Acacia anegadensis
KW - British Virgin Islands
KW - Caribbean
KW - Endangered
KW - endemic
KW - monitoring
KW - reassessment
KW - Vachellia anegadensis
U2 - 10.1017/S0030605320001234
DO - 10.1017/S0030605320001234
M3 - Journal article
AN - SCOPUS:85115955138
VL - 56
SP - 26
EP - 33
JO - Oryx
JF - Oryx
SN - 0030-6053
IS - 1
ER -
ID: 285508232