Eugenia haematocarpa
Alain
Uvillo
G2ImperiledGlobal Rank
High - mediumThreat Impact
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, https://www.usa.gov/government-works
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.134634
Element CodePDMRT030H0
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicendemic to a single nation
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderMyrtales
FamilyMyrtaceae
GenusEugenia
Concept Reference
Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2022-01-18
Change Date2022-01-18
Edition Date2022-03-28
Edition AuthorsMacBryde, B., rev. Jaster (1995), rev. Frances (2018), rev. Treher (2022).
Threat ImpactHigh - medium
Range Extent1000-5000 square km (about 400-2000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences6 - 20
Rank Reasons
Eugenia haematocarpa is a small tree endemic to the island of Puerto Rico and occurs in the Sierra de Luquillo, Sierra de Cayey, and Northern Limestone Hills. It occurs in areas that were extensively deforested in the past, many of which have regenerated and are now managed by federal and state governments. New sites have been documented since the species was federally listed under the U.S. Endangered Species Act in 1994. Currently, there are 17 sites in 3 populations and 1,426 individuals now known. The species population trend is stable or increasing, and there is evidence of natural recruitment. Some sites are on private land and are threatened by deforestation and land clearing. The effects of severe weather are also a threat to the species because of the small number of plants at some sites.
Range Extent Comments
Eugenia haematocarpa is endemic to Puerto Rico occurring at low to middle elevations in the Sierra de Luquillo to include El Yunque National Forest, Sierra de Cayey including Carite State Forest, and the Northern Limestone Hills where it is found in Guajataca State Forest (USFWS 2019). Range extent was calculated based on herbarium records, federal documents, and observations (S. Silvestrini, pers. comm., 2022, GBIF 2022, USFS 2019).
Occurrences Comments
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimates there are three populations, based on a 2 km separation distance applied to 17 known localities (USFWS 2019). In El Yunque National Forest and Guajataca State Forest, there are two subpopulations in each. In the Sierra de Cayey, there are five subpopulations. While some of these occurrences are on commonwealth or federal lands, some extend onto private lands (USFWS 2019).
Threat Impact Comments
Many of the populations occur within El Yunque National Forest and Commonwealth Forests that protect the species from disturbance from development and forest management activities. However, some subpopulations occur on private property neighboring protected lands and may be affected by boundary management activities, clearing and fencing for agriculture, utility or road expansion and maintenance, and urban development. The effects of severe weather, particularly flooding and landslides from hurricanes, are ongoing threats, especially to locations with small population sizes (USFWS 2014, 2019).
Ecology & Habitat
Habitat
This species occurs on forested slopes in the Subtropical Lower Montane Wet Forest zone (Liogier 1994; USFWS 1998).
Reproduction
Experiments have found that seeds germinate well, but are likely dispersal limited. The seeds are large, even for most animals, and not very fleshy. Those that germinate close to the parent plant, are less successful due to competition. It is possible that the primary mammalian disperser may be extinct, leaving gravity and water (rivers) to disperse seeds. Due to forest clearing and fragmentation, many individuals are now isolated and distant from rivers or slopes of significance for dispersion (S. Silvestrini, pers. comm., 2022).
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest/Woodland
Threat Assessments
| Threat | Scope | Severity | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 - Residential & commercial development | Restricted - small | Extreme - serious | High (continuing) |
| 1.1 - Housing & urban areas | Restricted - small | Extreme - serious | High (continuing) |
| 2 - Agriculture & aquaculture | Restricted (11-30%) | Extreme - moderate | High (continuing) |
| 2.1.4 - Scale unknown/unrecorded | Restricted - small | Extreme - moderate | High (continuing) |
| 4 - Transportation & service corridors | Restricted - small | Serious or 31-70% pop. decline | High (continuing) |
| 4.1 - Roads & railroads | Restricted - small | Serious or 31-70% pop. decline | High (continuing) |
| 4.2 - Utility & service lines | Restricted - small | Unknown | High (continuing) |
| 10 - Geological events | Restricted (11-30%) | Extreme - moderate | High (continuing) |
| 10.3 - Avalanches/landslides | Restricted (11-30%) | Extreme - moderate | High (continuing) |
| 11 - Climate change & severe weather | Large (31-70%) | Unknown | High (continuing) |
| 11.4 - Storms & flooding | Large (31-70%) | Unknown | High (continuing) |
Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (2)
Puerto Rico (2)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| El Toro Area | Caribbean National Forest | 12,584 |
| Mameyes Area | Caribbean National Forest | 11,150 |
References (13)
- Gann, G.D., J.C. Trejo-Torres and C.G. Stocking. 2015-2018. Plants of the Island of Puerto Rico. The Institute for Regional Conservation. Delray Beach, Florida USA.
- Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). 2022. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) data portal. Online. Available: https://www.gbif.org/ (accessed 2022).
- Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
- Liogier, H.A. 1994. Descriptive Flora of Puerto Rico and Adjacent Islands: Spermatophyta, Volume 3, Cyrillaceae to Myrtaceae. Editorial de la Universidad de Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras. 461 pp.
- Liogier, H.A., and L.F. Martorell. 1982. Flora of Puerto Rico and adjacent islands: A systematic synopsis. Editorial de la Universidad de Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras. 342 pp.
- Liogier, H.A., and L.F. Martorell. 2000. Flora of Puerto Rico and adjacent islands: A systematic synopsis. 2nd edition, corrected and revised by H.A. Liogier. Editorial de la Universidad de Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras. 382 pp.
- Little, E.L. and R.O. Woodbury. Rare and Endemic Trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Conservation Research Report No. 27. United States Department of Agriculture. Washington, D.C. 1980.
- Little, E.L., Jr., R.O. Woodbury, and F.H. Wadsworth. 1974. Trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Vol. 2. Agric. Handbook No. 449. U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Forest Service. 1024 pp.
- Santiago-Valentín, E., R. Rivera-Martínez, and J. Báez. 2019. Manual para la producción de árboles y arbustos nativos de Puerto Rico: una selección de especies desde la experiencia acumulada en Viveros Para La Naturaleza. Programa Viveros Para La Naturaleza. San Juan, Puerto Rico. 138 pp.
- Silvestrini, Steve Maldonado. Personal Communication. Botanist. University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras - Herbarium.
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 1998. Recovery Plan for <i>Pleodendron macranthum</i> and <i>Eugenia haematocarpa. </i>U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Caribbean Ecological Services Field Office, Boqueron, Puerto Rico.
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2014. Chupacallos (<i>Pleodendron macranthum</i>) and Uvillo (<i>Eugenia haematocarpa</i>) 5-Year Review: Summary and Evaluation. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Southeast Region Caribbean Ecological Services Field Office, Boquerón, Puerto Rico. 20 pp.
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2019. <i>Eugenia haematocarpa</i> and <i>Pleodendron macranthum</i> Recovery Plan Amendment. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Atlanta, Georgia. 8 pp.