Acritopappus irwinii
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Acritopappus irwinii faces significant pressure from agricultural expansion and cattle ranching activities that fragment and degrade its specialized cerrado habitat. Mining operations in the region pose additional threats through direct habitat destruction and soil contamination. The species' restricted range in central Brazil makes it particularly vulnerable to localized disturbances, while climate change may alter the delicate moisture and temperature conditions required for its survival.
Habitat
This endemic Brazilian composite inhabits specialized cerrado grasslands and rocky outcrops in the central highlands of Goiás state. It typically occurs in well-drained soils on elevated plateaus with specific moisture regimes and seasonal rainfall patterns characteristic of the cerrado biome.