CR

Aetheolaena ledifolia

Unknown

Overview

Aetheolaena ledifolia is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. It is found only in Ecuador. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.

Aetheolaena ledifolia faces severe threats from ongoing habitat destruction in Ecuador's cloud forests, where agricultural expansion and cattle ranching continue to fragment its extremely limited range. Mining activities and infrastructure development pose additional pressures on the remaining patches of suitable habitat. Climate change threatens to shift the narrow altitudinal zones where this species can survive, potentially eliminating critical habitat conditions.

Threat summary

Habitat

This critically endangered shrub is endemic to Ecuador's cloud forests, occurring in montane humid forests at elevations between 2,800-3,200 meters. It requires the specific microclimate conditions found in these high-altitude cloud forest ecosystems, including consistent moisture and cool temperatures.

Forest· major

Other threatened species in ASTERACEAE

EN

Bidens cosmoides

Declining
VU

Piptolepis monticola

Unknown
Libanothamnus parvulusCR

Libanothamnus parvulus

Declining
EN

Gynoxys neovelutina

Declining

Frequently asked questions

Why is Aetheolaena ledifolia classified as Critically Endangered?
Aetheolaena ledifolia is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. Aetheolaena ledifolia faces severe threats from ongoing habitat destruction in Ecuador's cloud forests, where agricultural expansion and cattle ranching continue to fragment its extremely limited range. Mining activities and infrastructure development pose additional pressures on the remaining patches of suitable habitat. Climate change threatens to shift the narrow altitudinal zones where this species can survive, potentially eliminating critical habitat conditions.
Where does Aetheolaena ledifolia live?
Aetheolaena ledifolia occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Aetheolaena ledifolia?
The main threats to Aetheolaena ledifolia are 5.3, ai-1, ai-2, and ai-3. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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