CR

Melicope nukuhivensis

Declining

Overview

Melicope nukuhivensis is a species of flowering plant in the family Rutaceae. It is a scrambling shrub or tree endemic to the island of Nuku Hiva in the Marquesas Islands of French Polynesia.

Melicope nukuhivensis faces severe threats from invasive plant species that outcompete native vegetation and alter forest composition on Nuku Hiva. Habitat degradation from introduced ungulates, particularly feral pigs and goats, damages the understory and prevents natural regeneration. The species' extremely limited range makes it vulnerable to stochastic events, while ongoing climate change threatens to shift suitable habitat zones beyond the species' adaptive capacity.

Threat summary

Habitat

This endemic tree species inhabits montane rainforests and cloud forests on the volcanic slopes of Nuku Hiva in the Marquesas Islands. It occurs in humid, high-elevation forests typically between 800-1,200 meters elevation where persistent cloud cover maintains moisture levels.

Other threatened species in RUTACEAE

CR

Melicope quadrangularis

Declining
VU

Melicope wawraeana

Declining
VU

Vepris drummondii

Declining
VU

Zanthoxylum mildbraedii

Declining

Frequently asked questions

Why is Melicope nukuhivensis classified as Critically Endangered?
Melicope nukuhivensis 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. Melicope nukuhivensis faces severe threats from invasive plant species that outcompete native vegetation and alter forest composition on Nuku Hiva. Habitat degradation from introduced ungulates, particularly feral pigs and goats, damages the understory and prevents natural regeneration. The species' extremely limited range makes it vulnerable to stochastic events, while ongoing climate change threatens to shift suitable habitat zones beyond the species' adaptive capacity.
Where does Melicope nukuhivensis live?
Melicope nukuhivensis 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 Melicope nukuhivensis?
The main threats to Melicope nukuhivensis 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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