Mesembryanthemum nodiflorum | UAE National Red List of Vascular Plants

Taxa
Mesembryanthemum nodiflorum | L.
Publication
UAE National Red List of Vascular Plants
Location
Countries in Assessment
United Arab Emirates
Country ISO code(s)
ARE
Does the assessment cover a marine EEZ area(s)?
Off
Scope (Assessment)
National
Taxon
Taxonomic Group
Plants
Taxonomic Group Level 2
Flowering Plants
Assessed taxon level
Species
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
This plant species has been recorded from Ras al Khaimah and Arabian Gulf islands, including Das Island (Western 1994, Gillett 2002, Jongbloed et al. 2003, Sakkir et al. 2017). In 2007, one individual was found at Taweela (Brown et al. 2007), although this area has now been lost as a result of development. The species is also scattered across offshore islands, and is thought to be common on Zirku and Arzanah. Further, in 2005 and 2007, this species was reported as being locally common in Al Jazeera al-Hamra (Ra's al-Khaimah). Therefore, it is possible that this plant species is more widespread in disturbed areas along the coastline (Brown et al. 2007). The estimated EOO is around 21,009 km<sup>2</sup> and it is considered to occur in 5-10 threat-based locations. The AOO has not been calculated as few point data are available, but is estimated to be very much less than 2,000 km<sup>2</sup> and inferred to be undergoing a continuing decline as a result of development. The global distribution of this species includes Europe, Africa and Asia-Temperate (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2018).
Habitats and Ecology
Ecological system type
Terrestrial system
No
Freshwater system
No
Marine system
No
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
This is an annual species occurring in saline sand in coastal environments (Jongbloed et al. 2003) in addition to consolidated and disturbed ground. It forms cushion-like clumps, has succulent cylindrical leaves and solitary white flowers, in addition to brown triangular seeds (Jongbloed et al. 2003). As this plant matures, the leaves turn from green to red (Jongbloed et al. 2003, Western 1994). It has been suggested that Mesembryanthemum nodiflorum is a larval food plant for the Western Pygmy Blue butterfly, Brephidium exilis (Gillett 2002).
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes
Assessed status
Asessment status in full
Vulnerable
Assessment status abreviation
VU
Assessment status criteria
B2ab(ii,iii)
Assessment rationale/justification
This species mainly occurs in sandy coastal areas within the UAE. These parts of the country are undergoing rapid development for residential and tourist areas which could threaten the species' habitat. In addition, this species is described as rare in the UAE and is known to have a restricted distribution: the estimated extent of occurrence (EOO) for this species is around 21,009 km<sup>2</sup>. The area of occupancy (AOO) has not been calculated as few point data are available, but is estimated to be very much less than 2,000 km<sup>2</sup> and inferred to be a continuing decline as a result of development. The number of locations for this species is estimated at between 5 and 10, and it is thought to be undergoing a continuous decline in the extent and quality of habitat. As a result, it is assessed as Vulnerable (B2ab(ii,iii)), with little potential for a regional rescue effect suspected.
About the assessment
Assessment year
2019
Assessors/contributors/reviewers listed
UAE National Red List Workshop
Affliation of assessor(s)/contributors/reviewers listed on assessment
Government
IGO
Assessor affiliation specific
Government|IGO
Criteria system
Criteria system specifics
IUCN v3.1 + Regional Guidelines v4.0
Criteria system used
IUCN
Criteria Citation
IUCN. 2012. IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria: Version 3.1, Second edition. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK. iv + 32pp pp. And IUCN. 2012. Guidelines for Application of IUCN Red List Criteria at Regional and National Levels: Version 4.0. Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK: IUCN. iii + 41pp.
Endemism
Endemic to region
Not_assigned
Endemism Notes
Is an endemic?: Not_assigned
Conservation
Threats listed in assessment
Due to its coastal distribution, it is likely that this species is threatened by ongoing coastal development within the UAE.
Conservation Measures

Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures:

Further information
History
Ongoing development of coastal areas, in addition to the loss of previous Taweela locality mean that the species is listed as Vulnerable. The current ongoing threats are not thought to have had a significant impact on the species in 1996, and so it would have been listed as Least Concern then.
Scientific Name Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus
Mesembryanthemum nodiflorum Plantae Tracheophyta Magnoliopsida Caryophyllales Aizoaceae Mesembryanthemum