CPC National Collection Plant Profile
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Mitracarpus maxwelliae
Family: |
Rubiaceae |
Common Name: |
None Known |
Author: |
Britt. & Wilson |
Growth Habit: |
Subshrub |
CPC
Number: |
2871 |
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Primary
custodian for this plant in the CPC National Collection of Endangered
Plants is: |
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Mitracarpus maxwelliae
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Mitracarpus maxwelliae is a low growing, densely branched, mound-shaped shrub that is endemic to a sub-tropical dry forest in southwestern Puerto Rico (USFWS 1994, USFWS 1998). M. maxwelliae's limited distribution in tandem with human threats and environmental stochasticity make it highly vulnerable to extinction (USFWS 1994, USFWS 1998).
Distribution
& Occurrence |
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State Range
Habitat
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The Guanica forest contains a variety of ecosystems including cactus scrub, littoral forest, deciduous forest and semi-evergreen forest (USFWS 1998). M. maxwelliae is in an area known as the coastal scrub forest over exposed limestone rock or coastal dwarf forest (USFWS 1998). M. maxwelliae is found from one location in in this forest, where it grows on dry, exposed limestone gravel (USFWS 1998).
M. maxwelliae is associated with other species such as: Bucida buceras, Bursera simaruba, Exostema caribaeum, Coccoloba microstachya, Plumeria alba, and Pilosocereus royenii (USFWS 1998). |
Distribution
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M. maxwelliae only site is in the Guanica Commonwealth forest in Guanica, Puerto Rico (USFWS 1994, 1998). |
Number Left
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There are less than 1500 individuals (USFWS 1998). |
State/Area
Protection
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State/Area |
Rank |
Status |
Date |
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Conservation,
Ecology & Research |
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Ecological
Relationships
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Ecological relationships are unknown. |
Threats
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Threats to this species include road construction and fire. Any road building or widening could eliminate a large portion of M. maxwelliae's remaining habitat (USFWS 1998). |
Current Research Summary
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The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources are working together to study the distribution, abundance, population size and structure and reproductive biology of M. Maxwelliae (USFWS 1998). |
Current Management Summary
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In this species' recovery plan, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (1998) proposes to introduce individuals until they are capable of self-perpetuation and continue to seek new populations. |
Research Management Needs
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A management plan for the recovery of for this species needs to be designed and implemented (USFWS 1998). Research needs include the continuation of demographic studies as well as understanding habitat requirements at all life history stages, such as germination, seedling recruitment and any ecological relationships. |
Ex Situ Needs
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Electronic Sources
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FCONSERVE. (2002). Threatened and endangered species in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Puerto Rico's Conservation Foundation. http://www.tld.net/users/fconserv/List.htm. Accessed: 2002.
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USFWS. (1990). Endangered and Threatened Species Accounts. [Web page] U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Endangered Species. http://ecos.fws.gov/servlet/TESSSpeciesQuery. Accessed: 2002.
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Journal Articles
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USFWS. 1994. Determination of endangered status for three Puerto Rican plants. Federal Register. 59: 46715-46718.
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Reports
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USFWS. 1998. Mitracarpus maxwelliae, Mitracarpus polycladus, and Eugenia woodburyana Recovery Plan. Atlanta, Georgia: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. p.19.
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This
profile was updated on 3/4/2010 |
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