DNA Barcodes Confirm the Taxonomic and Conservation Status of a Species of Tree on the Brink of Extinction in the Pacific.
The taxonomic status of a single island, narrow range endemic plant species from Palau, Micronesia (Timonius salsedoi) was assessed using DNA barcode markers, additional plastid loci, and morphology in order to verify its conservation status. DNA barcode loci distinguished T. salsedoi from all other Timonius species sampled from Palau, and were supported by sequence data from the atpB-rbcL intergenic spacer region. Timonius salsedoi was only known from two mature individual trees in 2012. Due to its extremely narrow range and population size, it had previously been recommended to be listed as Critically Endangered Status under three separate IUCN Criteria. In 2014 a second survey of the population following a typhoon revealed that the only two known trees had died suggesting that this species may now be extinct. Comprehensive follow up surveys of suitable habitat for this species are urgently required.
Botany Department, National Museum of Natural History, MRC 166, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, United States of America.|Australian Tropical Herbarium, James Cook University, Cairns Campus, Cairns, QLD, Australia.
Craig M
CM
Costion
Botany Department, National Museum of Natural History, MRC 166, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, United States of America.
W John
WJ
Kress
Australian Tropical Herbarium, James Cook University, Cairns Campus, Cairns, QLD, Australia.|Centre for Tropical Environmental Sustainability Science, James Cook University Cairns Campus, Cairns, QLD, Australia.
Darren M
DM
Crayn
D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources / Q000379:methods*; D058893:DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic / Q000379:methods*; D018744:DNA, Plant / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D056727:Endangered Species; D053476:Extinction, Biological; D054627:Genome, Plastid / Q000235:genetics; D005843:Geography; D010140:Pacific Ocean; D019029:Palau; D010802:Phylogeny; D011156:Population Density; D012273:Ribulose-Bisphosphate Carboxylase / Q000235:genetics; D019666:Rubiaceae / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013045:Species Specificity; D014197:Trees / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*
D018744:DNA, Plant; C101625:RbcL protein, plastid; D012273:Ribulose-Bisphosphate Carboxylase