Glossary

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A Adventive: A plant that grows in the wild in New Zealand but which was introduced to the country by humans. Autecology: The ecology of a taxon. B No terms added C CD: Conservation dependant. Likely to move to a higher threat category if current management ceases Coloniser: Colonisers are taxa that have arrived in New Zealand without direct or indirect help from humans and have been successfully reproducing in the wild for less than 50 years. Critical (Nationally): Very small population or a very high predicted decline: A taxon is Nationally Critical when available scientific evidence indicates that it meets any of the following three criteria: 1. The total National population size is <250 mature individuals. 2. Human influences have resulted in <2 sub-populations and either: a. <200 mature individuals in the largest sub-population, or b. the total National area of occupancy is <1 ha (0.01km2). 3. There is a predicted decline of >80% in the total National population in the next 10 years due to existing threats. D Data deficient: Where information is so lacking that an assessment is not possible, the taxon is assigned to the Data Deficient category and is not otherwise ranked. If a taxon is listed in a category other than Data Deficient but confidence in the listing is low due to poor quality data, the listing can be qualified with the letters DP (Data Poor). Demography: Characteristics of a population, e.g., size and age structure. The study of populations. Dioecious: Plants having male and female flowers on separate plants. Distributional limit: The limit of the natural range of a taxon in the wild, for example the southern distribution limit of Rhabdothamnus solandri occurs near Wellington. DP: Data Poor - confidence in the threatened plant listing is low due to the poor data available for the assessment E EF: Extreme fluctuation - Extreme un-natural population fluctuations, or natural fluctuations overlaying human induced declines, that increase the threat of extinction Endangered (Nationally): A: Small population and moderate–high recent or predicted decline: A taxon is Nationally Endangered when available scientific evidence indicates that it fits at least one Status criterion and one Trend criterion: Status criteria 1. The total National population size is 250–1000 mature individuals 2. There are <5 sub-populations and either: a. <300 mature individuals in the largest sub-population or b. the total area of occupancy is <10 ha (0.1km2). Trend criteria 1. There has been a decline of >30% in the total National population or habitat area in the last 100 years. 2. There is a predicted decline of >30% in the total National population in the next 10 years due to existing threats. B: Small–moderate population and high recent or predicted decline: A taxon is Nationally Endangered when available scientific evidence indicates that it fits at least one Status criterion and one Trend criterion: Status criteria 1. The total National population size is 1,000–5,000 mature individuals. 2. There are <15 sub-populations and either: a. 300–500 mature individuals in the largest sub-population or b. the total area of occupancy is 10–100 ha (0.1–1km2 ). Trend criteria 1. There has been a decline of >60% in the total National population or habitat area in the last 100 years. 2. There is a predicted decline of >60% in the total population in the next 10 years due to existing threats. Endemic: A taxon confined to a particular place, country or region. EW: Extinct in the wild (only in cultivation or captivity) Ex-situ: Maintenance of plants as live specimens or propagules in cultivation as insurance against the loss of wild populations and as source for material for translocation. Extinct: A taxon is listed as Nationally Extinct when there is no reasonable doubt, after repeated surveys in known or expected habitats at appropriate times (diurnal, seasonal and annual) and throughout the taxons' historic National range, that the last individual has died. Extrinsic: Factors that impact on a population “from the outside”, e.g., habitat destruction, the effects of pest animals and weeds. F No terms added G Genotype: The genetic constitution of an individual. Genus: A taxonomic rank of closely related forms that is further subdivided in to species (plural = genera). In a scientific name (e.g., Sicyos australis), the first word is the genus, the second the species Gradual decline: Moderate–large population and small–moderate decline: A taxon is listed in Gradual Decline when available scientific evidence indicates that it fits at least one status criterion and the Trend criterion: Status criteria 1. The total National population size is >5,000 mature individuals. 2. There are >15 sub-populations and either: a. >500 mature individuals in the largest sub-population, or b. The total area of occupancy is >100ha (1km2). Trend criterion 1. There is a predicted National decline of 5–30% in the total National population in the next 10 years due to existing threats, and the decline is predicted to continue beyond 10 years. H Herbarium: A collection of dried/pressed plants and the place where that collection is kept. HI: Human induced - present distribution is a result of direct or indirect activity (applies to Range Restricted and Sparse) Hybrid: An individual that is the offspring of a cross between two different varieties or species. I IE: Island endemic In-situ:: On site conservation relating to the maintenance of plants in the wild. Indigenous: See ‘native’. Intrinsic: Factors that impact upon a species or population “from within”, e.g., biology, genetics, and life history strategies. Introduction: Translocation of wild or cultivated individuals to sites where the taxon has not occurred in historic times, although within that particular taxon’s normal range. J No terms added K No terms added L No terms added M Monitoring: Recording of quantitative data over time to document changes in population parameters. N Nationally Critical: Very small population or a very high predicted decline: A taxon is Nationally Critical when available scientific evidence indicates that it meets any of the following three criteria: 1. The total National population size is <250 mature individuals. 2. Human influences have resulted in <2 sub-populations and either: a. <200 mature individuals in the largest sub-population, or b. the total National area of occupancy is <1 ha (0.01km2). 3. There is a predicted decline of >80% in the total National population in the next 10 years due to existing threats. Nationally Endangered: A: Small population and moderate–high recent or predicted decline: A taxon is Nationally Endangered when available scientific evidence indicates that it fits at least one Status criterion and one Trend criterion: Status criteria 1. The total National population size is 250–1000 mature individuals 2. There are <5 sub-populations and either: a. <300 mature individuals in the largest sub-population or b. the total area of occupancy is <10 ha (0.1km2). Trend criteria 1. There has been a decline of >30% in the total National population or habitat area in the last 100 years. 2. There is a predicted decline of >30% in the total National population in the next 10 years due to existing threats. B: Small–moderate population and high recent or predicted decline: A taxon is Nationally Endangered when available scientific evidence indicates that it fits at least one Status criterion and one Trend criterion: Status criteria 1. The total National population size is 1,000–5,000 mature individuals. 2. There are <15 sub-populations and either: a. 300–500 mature individuals in the largest sub-population or b. the total area of occupancy is 10–100 ha (0.1–1km2 ). Trend criteria 1. There has been a decline of >60% in the total National population or habitat area in the last 100 years. 2. There is a predicted decline of >60% in the total population in the next 10 years due to existing threats. Nationally Vulnerable: Small–moderate population and moderate recent or predicted decline. A taxon is Nationally Vulnerable when available scientific evidence indicates that it fits at least one Status criterion and one Trend criterion: Status criteria 1. The total population size is 1,000–5,000 mature individuals. 2. There are <15 sub-populations and either: a. 300–500 mature individuals in the largest sub-population or b. the total area of occupancy is 10–100ha (0.1–1km2 ). Trend criteria 1. There has been a decline of 30–60% in the total population or habitat area in the last 100 years and the total population or habitat area is still in decline. 2. There is a predicted decline of 30–60% in the total population in the next 10 years due to existing threats. NRR: No recent records NTD*: No trend data - long term information on which to reliably assess population trends does not exist O OL: One location - Found at one location (geographically or ecologically distinct area) in which a single event (e.g. a predator irruption) could soon affect all individuals of the taxon P Permanent photopoint: A permanent point that is marked and from where a photo is taken of the same plant or population at regular intervals. Photos taken over time can then be compared. Population enhancement: Increasing a population for a specific biological purpose, e.g., when a species is already present in an area but extra individuals are added to address a sex imbalance. Propagate: To reproduce a plant by sexual (i.e., from seed) or asexual (e.g., from cuttings) means. Provenance: The place of origin (of a plant that is in cultivation). Q No terms added R Range restricted: If the taxon does not fit the criteria for the acutely or chronically threatened Categories and the the area of occupancy of the taxon < 100km2 for terrestrial and freshwater taxa. RC: Recovering - total population showing a sustained recovery Re-introduction: Translocating wild or cultivated individuals to sites where the taxon has been known to occur in the past, but from which it has disappeared. Regionally threatened or uncommon: Taxa which are not nationally threatened or uncommon but which are of limited distribution or abundance within a region of New Zealand. RF: Recruitment failure - Recruitment failure will result in catastrophic declines in the future S Serious Decline: A. Moderate–large population and moderate–large predicted decline. A taxon is listed in Serious Decline when available scientific evidence indicates that it fits at least one Status criterion and the Trend criterion: Status criteria 1. The total population size is >5,000 mature individuals. 2. There are >15 sub-populations and either: a. >500 mature individuals in the largest sub-population, or b. the total area of occupancy is >100ha (1km2 ). Trend criterion 1. There is a predicted decline of >30% in the total population in the next 10 years due to existing threats B. Small–moderate population and small–moderate predicted decline A taxon is listed in Serious Decline when available scientific evidence indicates that it fits at least one Status criterion and the Trend criterion: Status criteria 1. The total population size is <5,000 mature individuals. 2. There are <15 sub-populations and either: a. <500 mature individuals in the largest sub-population, or b. the total area of occupancy is <100ha (1 km2). SO: Secure overseas - secure in other parts of its natural range outside New Zealand Sparse: If the taxon does not fit the criteria for the acutely or chronically threatened Categories and the taxon is naturally or unnaturally rare, with small widely scattered subpopulations. ST: Stable - Total population stable T Taxa: Plural of taxon. Taxon: A taxonomic group of any rank, e.g., family, genus, species, sub-species. (plural = taxa). Taxonomy: The science of classifying organisms. The study of the principles and methods of classification. Threatened vascular plant: Threatened plant species are defined as those included in any category of the New Zealand list of threatened and uncommon plants (de Lange et al. 1999) TO: Threatened overseas - also threatened in other parts of its natural range outside New Zealand Translocation: The movement of a taxon from one site to another by introduction, re-introduction or population enhancement, with the aim of establishing a viable wild population. U No terms added V Vagrant: Vagrants are taxa that are found unexpectedly and rarely in New Zealand and whose presence in the country is naturally transitory. These are taxa that do not establish themselves beyond their point of arrival because of reproductive failure or for specific ecological reasons. Vascular plant: A plant that possesses specialised conducting tissue (xylem and phloem). This includes flowering plants, conifers and ferns but excludes mosses and liverworts. Vulnerable (Nationally): Small–moderate population and moderate recent or predicted decline. A taxon is Nationally Vulnerable when available scientific evidence indicates that it fits at least one Status criterion and one Trend criterion: Status criteria 1. The total population size is 1,000–5,000 mature individuals. 2. There are <15 sub-populations and either: a. 300–500 mature individuals in the largest sub-population or b. the total area of occupancy is 10–100ha (0.1–1km2 ). Trend criteria 1. There has been a decline of 30–60% in the total population or habitat area in the last 100 years and the total population or habitat area is still in decline. 2. There is a predicted decline of 30–60% in the total population in the next 10 years due to existing threats. W No terms added X No terms added Y No terms added Z No terms added