CRCritically Endangered

Dendroseris micrantha

Declining

Overview

Sonchus micranthus, synonym Dendroseris micrantha, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. It is endemic to the Juan Fernández Islands of Chile. It is threatened by habitat loss.

Dendroseris micrantha faces severe threats from invasive plant species that outcompete native vegetation and alter ecosystem dynamics on Juan Fernández Islands. Habitat degradation from introduced herbivores, particularly goats and rabbits, has severely impacted the remaining populations through direct browsing and soil erosion. The species' extremely limited range makes it highly vulnerable to stochastic events and climate-related changes affecting the island's unique montane ecosystems.
Threat summary

Habitat

Dendroseris micrantha is endemic to the Juan Fernández Islands, where it inhabits montane forests and shrublands at elevations between 400-800 meters. The species grows in humid, cloud-affected areas with well-drained volcanic soils, often associated with native Myrceugenia fernandeziana forests.

Forest· majorRocky areas· major

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protection

Other threatened species in ASTERACEAE

Threatened in Chile

Juan Fernandez Petrel

Pterodroma externa

Stable

Black Petrel

Procellaria parkinsoni

Stable

Chimney Swift

Chaetura pelagica

Declining

Pink-footed Shearwater

Ardenna creatopus

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Dendroseris micrantha classified as Critically Endangered?

Dendroseris micrantha 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. Dendroseris micrantha faces severe threats from invasive plant species that outcompete native vegetation and alter ecosystem dynamics on Juan Fernández Islands. Habitat degradation from introduced herbivores, particularly goats and rabbits, has severely impacted the remaining populations through direct browsing and soil erosion. The species' extremely limited range makes it highly vulnerable to stochastic events and climate-related changes affecting the island's unique montane ecosystems.

Where does Dendroseris micrantha live?

Dendroseris micrantha occurs in Chile. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.

What are the main threats to Dendroseris micrantha?

The main threats to Dendroseris micrantha are 2.3, 5.3, 8.1, and ai-1. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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