Poa sandvicensis
CR

Poa sandvicensis

Declining

Photo: (c) Susan Fawcett, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Susan Fawcett

Overview

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

Poa sandvicensis faces severe threats from invasive plant species that outcompete this endemic Hawaiian grass in its native alpine habitats. Habitat degradation from feral ungulates, particularly pigs and goats, has destroyed much of its specialized ecosystem through trampling and soil disturbance. Climate change poses an additional threat as warming temperatures alter the cool, moist conditions this high-elevation species requires for survival.

Threat summary

Habitat

Poa sandvicensis is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands, where it inhabits high-elevation alpine shrublands and grasslands typically above 2,000 meters elevation. This specialized grass grows in cool, moist volcanic soils on the slopes of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, often in association with native shrubs and other endemic alpine plants.

Forest· majorForest - Subtropical/tropical moist montane· majorWetlands (inland) - Permanent rivers/streams· major

Conservation measures underway

Ex-situ conservationLegislation

Other threatened species in POACEAE

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Panicum pinifolium

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Eragrostis usambarensis

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Cymbopogon bhutanicus

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Drepanostachyum annulatum

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Poa sandvicensis classified as Critically Endangered?
Poa sandvicensis 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. Poa sandvicensis faces severe threats from invasive plant species that outcompete this endemic Hawaiian grass in its native alpine habitats. Habitat degradation from feral ungulates, particularly pigs and goats, has destroyed much of its specialized ecosystem through trampling and soil disturbance. Climate change poses an additional threat as warming temperatures alter the cool, moist conditions this high-elevation species requires for survival.
Where does Poa sandvicensis live?
Poa sandvicensis 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 Poa sandvicensis?
The main threats to Poa sandvicensis are 11.1, 12.1, 8.1, and ai-1. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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