Cayman Islands National Biodiversity Action Plan 2009 3.T.1.

10 Terrestrial Species - Plants Dendropemon caymanensis

Rev: 19 March 2012

NATIONAL TRUST HERBARIUM

Dendropemon caymanensis Proctor Taxonomy and Range Kingdom: Plantae, Division: Magnoliophyta, Class: Magnoliopsida, Order: Santalales, Family: Loranthaceae Genus: Dendropemon, Species: caymanensis Dendropemon is primarily a West Indian genus, incorporating about 15 species (Proctor 2009). Dendropemon caymanensis is a species unique to Little Cayman. Last collected in or near the Central Forest in 1991, Dendropemon caymanensis has not been seen since, and is currently known only from dried herbarium specimens lodged with the National Trust for the Cayman Islands. Status Distribution: Species endemic to Little Cayman. Conservation: Critically endangered CR C2a(i,ii) (The Red List, Burton 2008a). Legal: Dendropemon caymanensis currently has no legal protection in the Cayman Islands. Pending legislation, it would be protected under the National Conservation Law (Schedule I). The Department of Environment would be the lead body for legal protection.
For Reference and Acknowledgement: Cottam, M., Olynik, J., Blumenthal, J., Godbeer, K.D., Gibb, J., Bothwell, J., Burton, F.J., Bradley, P.E., Band, A., Austin, T., Bush, P., Johnson, B.J., Hurlston, L., Bishop, L., McCoy, C., Parsons, G., Kirkconnell, J., Halford, S. and Ebanks-Petrie, G. (2009). Cayman Islands National Biodiversity Action Plan 2009. Cayman Islands Government. Department of Environment. Final Formatting and production by John Binns, International Reptile Conservation Foundation.

Section: 3.T.1.10 Terrestrial Species - Plants - Dendropemon caymanensis Page: 1

Natural History Dendropemon caymanensis is a mistletoe, a parasitic plant known to attach to, and grow on, Headache Bush Capparis cynophallophora and Black Candlewood Erithalis fruiticosa. Since 1991, repeat surveys of the Central Forest in Little Cayman have failed to discover any new specimens. Associated observations indicate few potential host trees and increasing land clearance in this area; contributing to concerns for the future of this unique and unusual plant. Associated Habitats and Species for Dendropemon ASSOCIATED HABITAT PLANS 2.T.3 Dry Shrubland 2.T.4 Forest and Woodland Current Factors Affecting Dendropemon Lack of information: lack of information on the precise location of the last recorded collection complicates critical assessment. Dendropemon caymanensis may already be extinct. Extreme range limitation: known only from a single site in Little Cayman, Dendropemon caymanensis will be especially prone to localised environmental perturbation. Habitat loss: land clearance and roads construction are planned in this vicinity. Host availability: parasitic dependence of Dendropemon caymanensis on Headache Bush Capparis cynophallophora and Black Candlewood Erithalis fruiticosa, compound habitat requirements to those which are suitable for the survival of the parasite and which contain viable populations of supportive hosts. Landscaping potential: the diminutive size and parasitic nature of Dendropemon caymanensis make this species an unlikely candidate for incorporation into formal landscaping schemes. Opportunities and Current Local Action for Dendropemon None. SPECIES ACTION PLAN for Dendropemon OBJECTIVES 1. Locate Dendropemon caymanensis and raise Red List status by at least one category from critically endangered. 2. Preserve in situ populations of Dendropemon caymanensis. 3. Develop inter-situ cultivation and conservation programme for Dendropemon caymanensis based in Little Cayman. TARGET 2015 2015 2012 Unknown ASSOCIATED SPECIES PLANS

Dendropemon caymanensis PROPOSED ACTION Policy & Legislation PL1. Pass and implement the National Conservation Law. PL2. Implement the Endangered Species (Trade & Transport) Law. PL3. Protect Dendropemon caymanensis under Schedule I of the National Conservation Law, through establishment of conservation regulations. PL4. Reduce the threat of a catastrophic loss of the remaining populations, through involvement with the Millennium Seedbank Project.

LEAD

PARTNERS

TARGET

MEETS OBJECTIVE 1,2,3 1,2 1,2,3 3

CIG DoE DoE DoE RBGK

DoE CIG CIG QEIIBP

2006 2006 2006 2010

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Dendropemon caymanensis PROPOSED ACTION PL5. Promote amendment of the Planning Law, to facilitate rapid imposition of stop-orders on illegal developments and provide a responsive and effective enforcement mechanism. PL6. Promote establishment of a Development Plan for the Sister Islands, incorporating a long-term vision for the environmental, social, and economic development of the Islands.

LEAD DoP DoP DCB

PARTNERS DoE CIG CIG MP DoE

TARGET 2010

MEETS OBJECTIVE 1,2

ongoing

1,2

Safeguards & Management NOTE: All subsequent Safeguards & Management actions are subject to relocation under RM1. SM1. Collect seeds under Millennium Seedbank Project protocol and bank at Kew, with replicate collection for local conservation propagation. SM2. Use the Environmental Protection Fund to establish a protected area on Little Cayman, to effect in situ conservation of remaining populations of Dendropemon caymanensis. SM3. Establish Growing Stations on Little Cayman, from which to propagate, investigate and plant out key species of plants and trees of local significance, targeting private gardens and landscaping schemes. SM4. Implement associated HAPs. Advisory A1. Targeted awareness of the need for the National Conservation Law and the Endangered Species (Trade & Transport) Law. RM1. Survey and map remaining populations of Dendropemon caymanensis and determine whether this species is extinct. NOTE: All subsequent Research & Monitoring actions are subject to RM1. RM2. Determine natural fruiting period, and collect seeds. RM3. Collect seed under Millennium Seedbank Project protocol, including voucher specimens and in situ habit images, and transpose into searchable electronic format, linked to Field Collections Database. RM4. Investigate potential to establish and grow Dendropemon caymanensis on alternative hosts. RM5. Investigate potential for establishment of an exsitu contingency population of Dendropemon caymanensis within a protected area in Little Cayman. DoE DoE QEIIBP DoE NT RBGK QEIIBP DoE RBGK NT 2010 2010 2010 2015 1,3 3 1,3 1,3 DoE CIG NT 2006 1,2,3 DoE RBGK QEIIBP CC DoE QEIIBP DoE NT, MP DoE CIG MP RBGK 2012 3

2010

1,2

2010 2015

1,3 1,2,3

Research & Monitoring DoE NT 2010 2

Communication & Publicity NOTE: All subsequent Communication & Publicity actions are subject to RM1. CP1. Raise public awareness of the unique nature of Dendropemon caymanensis and other endemic flora and fauna. DoE NT QEIIBP MP CN GC OS SB LCN DoE DoT NT MP QEIIBP 2008 1,2,3

CP1. REPORT: Dendropemon caymanensis featured in Red List of Flora (Burton 2008a), though no photograph is known to exist. CP2. Utilise native flora and fauna, and associated preservation efforts, in the international promotion of the Cayman Islands. CIG 2010 1,2,3

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References and Further Reading for Dendropemon

Burton, F. (2007). Wild Trees in the Cayman Islands (2nd edition). International Reptile Conservation Foundation, USA. ISBN 978-1-4276-2168-9 Burton, F.J. (2008a). Threatened Plants of the Cayman Islands: The Red List. Royal Botanic Gardens Kew: Richmond, Surrey UK. Burton, F.J. (2008b). Vegetation Classification for the Cayman Islands. In: Threatened Plants of the Cayman Islands: The Red List. Royal Botanic Gardens Kew: Richmond, Surrey UK. Proctor, G.R. (1977). A new mistletoe from the Cayman Islands (Dendropemon caymanensis). Phytologia, 35:403. Proctor, G.R. (1984). Flora of the Cayman Islands. Kew Bulletin Additional Series XI. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Her Majestys Stationary Office. London. ISBN 0-11-242548-8. Proctor, G.R. (2012) Flora of the Cayman Islands. Kew Publishing. 736 pp. ISBN: 9781842464038

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