Masdevallia niesseniae
Photo: (c) adrianaliz13, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Masdevallia niesseniae faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to agricultural expansion and cattle ranching in Colombia's cloud forest regions. The species' extremely restricted range makes it particularly vulnerable to localized disturbances, while climate change poses additional risks by altering the cool, humid conditions essential for its survival. Illegal collection for the orchid trade further compounds population pressures on this already rare endemic species.
Habitat
This orchid species inhabits cool, humid cloud forests in the Colombian Andes, typically growing as an epiphyte on moss-covered tree branches and trunks. It requires the consistently moist, fog-shrouded conditions found at elevations between 2,000-3,000 meters in montane forest ecosystems.
Other threatened species in Orchidaceae
Frequently asked questions
Why is Masdevallia niesseniae classified as Critically Endangered?
Where does Masdevallia niesseniae live?
What are the main threats to Masdevallia niesseniae?
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