DOWNLOAD full IUCN Assessment as PDF

Common name(s): n/a.

ASSESSMENT JUSTIFICATION [criteria: B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii); D]

The lichen species Parmotrema bifidum is known only from the type locality, where it was collected in Chapada dos Guimarães National Park, Mato Grosso, Brazil in 1894. The species was formally described only in 2020, and has not been found elsewhere (one location). Despite an extensive herbaria review and further surveys in the type area, this species has never been found again. It seems that Parmotrema bifidum has/had a very narrow distribution, possibly being endemic to the Mato Grosso highlands. The species was found growing on rocks in shady areas, and despite occurring within an area protected by national park restrictions, fires that originate from nearby agriculture plantations often become wild and result in habitat loss in the highlands. Therefore, there is a relatively high probability that this species may be already extinct. Further surveys are required to confirm this, but if it is found to still be extant its persistence depends on the creation of more protected areas and better management of wildfires and forest conservation. Overall, P. bifidum is assessed as Critically Endangered (Possibly Extinct).

Date last seen: 1894.

Assessor/s: Spielmann, A., Costa-Rezende, D.H., Drechsler-Santos, E.R., Gumboski, E.L. &
Kossmann, T.; Reviewer/s: Allen, J.; Facilitator(s) and Compiler(s): Leimbach-Maus, H.

Bibliography:

Aptroot, A. & Souza, M.F. (2021) New lichen species and records from the Chapada dos Guimarães, Mato Grosso, Brazil. Cryptogamie, Mycologie 42(10): 171-180.

IUCN (2022) The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2022-1. Available at: www.iucnredlist.org. (Accessed: 21 July 2022).

Mistry, J. (1998) Corticolous lichens as potential bioindicators of fire history: a study in the cerrado of the Distrito Federal, central Brazil. Journal of Biogeography 25(3): 409-441.

Spielmann, A.A. & Marcelli, M.P. (2020) Type studies on Parmotrema (Parmeliaceae, Ascomycota) with salazinic acid. Plant and Fungal Systematics 65(2): 403-508.

Find out more about the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria here.