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Gonocalyx portoricensis

(Urban) A.C. Sm.

Puerto Rico Brittleleaf

G1Critically Imperiled (G1G2) Found in 2 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G1Critically ImperiledGlobal Rank
UnknownThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.160675
Element CodePDERI0H020
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicendemic to a single nation
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderEricales
FamilyEricaceae
GenusGonocalyx
Other Common Names
Puerto Rico brittleleaf (EN)
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 Date2021-12-14
Change Date2018-03-26
Edition Date2021-12-14
Edition AuthorsTreher (2018, 2021)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent1000-5000 square km (about 400-2000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences1 - 20
Rank Reasons
Gonocalyx portoricensis is a shrub or vine that is endemic to Puerto Rico, where it occurs at high elevations of the Cordillera Central, Sierra de Cayey, and the Sierra de Luquillo. This species is described as common by some sources, but occurrence data do not reflect this assertion. There are less than 10 documented occurrences but most of these are based on historical herbarium collections. More research is needed to understand the species distribution, abundance, and threats. This species should be monitored to determine how the species responds to changes in climate.
Range Extent Comments
Gonocalyx portoricensis is endemic to Puerto Rico and occurs in the Cordillera Central, Sierra de Cayey, and the Sierra de Luquillo (Acevedo-Rodríguez 2005). Using GeoCAT, the range extent was estimated using iNaturalist observations and herbarium records from GBIF (iNaturalist 2021, GBIF 2021). The imprecise coordinates of some records were revised or excluded after review of the specimen label's location data.
Occurrences Comments
According to Acevedo-Rodríguez (2005), this species is common. However, occurrences, especially those observed since 2000, are few (iNaturalist 2021, GBIF 2021). Most collections are from El Yunque National Forest (Sierra de Luquillo) including sites in the vicinity of Pico del Este, El Yunque, Mount Britton, Rio Sabana (Naguabo), and the vicinity of Rio Prieto (Naguabo) (iNaturalist 2021, GBIF 2021). If historical sites are extant, it is estimated that there is one in Sierra de Cayey, and two in the Cordillera Central, and 3-5 occurrences in the Sierra de Luquillo, depending on the separation distance of occurrences.
Threat Impact Comments
This species is potentially threatened by climate change which would impact elevational temperature and moisture gradients. Increasing temperature and drier conditions have already been documented in the Luquillo Mountains over the last century (Quiñones et al. 2018, USFS 2017, Waide et al. 2013). As a species of high elevation peaks, the potential for suitable habitat at higher elevations is limited.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

This species occurs on mountaintops, typically in dwarf forests (Acevedo-Rodríguez 2005).
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest/Woodland
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
11 - Climate change & severe weatherPervasive (71-100%)UnknownHigh - low
11.1 - Habitat shifting & alterationPervasive (71-100%)UnknownHigh - low

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Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (2)
Puerto Rico (2)
AreaForestAcres
El Toro AreaCaribbean National Forest12,584
Mameyes AreaCaribbean National Forest11,150
References (7)
  1. Acevedo-Rodríguez, P. 2005. Vines and Climbing Plants of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Contributions from the United States National Herbarium 51:1-483.
  2. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). 2021. GBIF data accessed through GeoCAT portal. Online. Available: http://geocat.kew.org/ (accessed 2021).
  3. iNaturalist. 2021. Online. Available: https://www.inaturalist.org (accessed 2021).
  4. 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.
  5. Quiñones, M., I.K. Parés-Ramos, W.A. Gould, G. Gonzalez, K. McGinley, and P. Río. 2018. El Yunque National Forest Atlas. Gen. Tech. Rep. IITF-GTR-47. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, International Institute of Tropical Forestry, San Juan, Puerto Rico. 63 p.
  6. U.S. Forest Service (USFS). 2017. Species of Conservation Concern List for the El Yunque National Forest. USDA Forest Service, Southern Region, Atlanta, GA.
  7. Waide, R.B., D.E. Comarazamy, J.E. González, C.A.S. Hall, A.E. Lugo, J.C. Luvall, D.J. Murphy, J.R. Ortiz-Zayas, N.D. Ramírez-Beltran, F.N. Scatena, and W.L. Silver. 2013. Climate variability at multiple spatial and temporal scales in the Luquillo Mountains, Puerto Rico Ecological Bulletins 54: 21–41.