VU

Columnea mastersonii

Unknown

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

Columnea mastersonii faces significant pressure from deforestation and habitat conversion in its limited range within Costa Rican cloud forests. The species' epiphytic lifestyle makes it particularly vulnerable to logging activities that remove its host trees, while climate change threatens to shift the elevation zones where suitable cloud forest conditions persist. Agricultural expansion and infrastructure development continue to fragment the remaining patches of suitable habitat.

Threat summary

Habitat

This epiphytic plant inhabits the cloud forests of Costa Rica's mountain ranges, typically growing on tree branches and trunks in the humid, mist-shrouded environments between 1,200-2,000 meters elevation. It requires the consistent moisture and filtered light conditions characteristic of these specialized montane ecosystems.

Other threatened species in GESNERIACEAE

EN

Streptocarpus brachynema

Declining
EN

Streptocarpus erubescens

Declining
VU

Pearcea cordata

Unknown
EN

Streptocarpus burundianus

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Columnea mastersonii classified as Vulnerable?
Columnea mastersonii is classified as Vulnerable because the population is declining and the species faces a high risk of extinction in the medium-term future if current pressures continue. Columnea mastersonii faces significant pressure from deforestation and habitat conversion in its limited range within Costa Rican cloud forests. The species' epiphytic lifestyle makes it particularly vulnerable to logging activities that remove its host trees, while climate change threatens to shift the elevation zones where suitable cloud forest conditions persist. Agricultural expansion and infrastructure development continue to fragment the remaining patches of suitable habitat.
Where does Columnea mastersonii live?
Columnea mastersonii 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 Columnea mastersonii?
The main threats to Columnea mastersonii are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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