Carduus pycnocephalus | UAE National Red List of Vascular Plants

Taxa
Carduus pycnocephalus | 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
In the UAE, this species is restricted to the Ru'us al-Jibal (Jongbloed et al. 2003, MEW 2010), from c.250 m to at least 1,200 m asl (Feulner 2011). The EOO is estimated at less than 500 km<sup>2</sup>, however the AOO cannot be estimated as detailed locality data are not available. The species is primarily found in cultivated areas, but is found in other habitats. The native range of this species is from Macaronesia, through northern Africa and Europe to Afghanistan and the Arabian Peninsula (although the UAE and Oman are not cited; Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019). The species has been widely introduced.
Habitats and Ecology
Ecological system type
Terrestrial system
No
Freshwater system
No
Marine system
No
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
This rain-dependent annual species is found in silt in mountain wadis, fields and plateaux (Jongbloed et al. 2003) and mountain summits (MEW 2010).
Is there a map available in assessment?
Incomplete
Assessed status
Asessment status in full
Least Concern
Assessment status abreviation
LC
Assessment rationale/justification
In the UAE, this species is restricted to the Ru'us al-Jibal in the north-east of the UAE, with an extent of occurrence that is probably less than 500 km<sup>2</sup>. There is no information on the population size or trend, and it is likely that the species occurs in more than ten locations. The species is considered Least Concern at present, although populations are probably rainfall-dependent.
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
As this species is dependent on rain, climate change and decreasing rainfall will have a negative impact on the species. However, it is unclear whether climate change in the UAE will ultimately lead to drier conditions or wetter conditions.
Conservation Measures

Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures:

Scientific Name Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus
Carduus pycnocephalus Plantae Tracheophyta Magnoliopsida Asterales Asteraceae Carduus