Orthotrichum handiense
CR

Orthotrichum handiense

DecliningCREUCREU

Photo: (c) Daniel Suárez, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Daniel Suárez

Overview

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

Orthotrichum handiense faces severe threats from habitat degradation and loss due to urban development and tourism infrastructure expansion in its limited range. The species' extremely restricted distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to localized environmental changes, including altered microclimatic conditions that affect the specific moisture and substrate requirements of this moss. Climate change poses an additional threat through potential shifts in precipitation patterns and temperature regimes that could render its current habitat unsuitable.

Threat summary

Habitat

This critically endangered moss species is endemic to specific microhabitats in the Canary Islands, typically growing on volcanic rock surfaces and cliff faces where it depends on particular moisture and light conditions. It occupies specialized niches within the unique laurel forest ecosystems of the region, requiring specific substrate characteristics and microclimatic stability.

Conservation measures underway

Species managementSpecies recoveryEx-situ conservation

Other threatened species in ORTHOTRICHACEAE

VU

Orthotrichum dentatum

Stable
CR

Lewinskya lamyana

Unknown
EN

Ulota macrospora

Unknown
CR

Orthotrichum casasianum

Stable

Threatened in Spain

VU

Lepiota echinella

Unknown
VU

Copper Shark

Carcharhinus brachyurus

Declining
EN

Lyophyllum deliberatum

Unknown
VU

Hemicycla invernicata

Stable

Frequently asked questions

Why is Orthotrichum handiense classified as Critically Endangered?
Orthotrichum handiense 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. Orthotrichum handiense faces severe threats from habitat degradation and loss due to urban development and tourism infrastructure expansion in its limited range. The species' extremely restricted distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to localized environmental changes, including altered microclimatic conditions that affect the specific moisture and substrate requirements of this moss. Climate change poses an additional threat through potential shifts in precipitation patterns and temperature regimes that could render its current habitat unsuitable.
Where does Orthotrichum handiense live?
Orthotrichum handiense occurs in Spain. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Orthotrichum handiense?
The main threats to Orthotrichum handiense are 11.1, 2.3, 8.1, and ai-1. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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