Darwiniothamnus alternifolius
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Darwiniothamnus alternifolius faces severe pressure from invasive plant species that outcompete native vegetation in its limited highland habitats across the Galápagos Islands. Habitat degradation from introduced herbivores, particularly goats and cattle, has altered the natural vegetation structure and reduced suitable growing conditions. Climate change poses an additional threat through shifting precipitation patterns and increased drought frequency, which could push this endemic shrub beyond its narrow ecological tolerance limits.
Habitat
This endemic shrub inhabits the humid highland zones of the Galápagos Islands, typically found in transitional areas between arid lowlands and moist upland forests at elevations between 200-600 meters. It grows in volcanic soils within native shrubland communities, often associated with other endemic Galápagos flora in areas that receive seasonal mist and rainfall.