Taxon name
Saccharum kajkaiense
(Melderis) Melderis
Uploaded by
National Red List Database
Taxonomic information
Scientific name
Saccharum kajkaiense
(Melderis) Melderis
Assessed taxon level
Species
Higher level taxonomic groupings
Plants
Flowering Plants
Species authority
(Melderis) Melderis
Location and scope
Specific locality or subnational name or regional name
United Arab Emirates (the)
Scope (of the Assessment)
National
Countries included within the scope of the assessment
United Arab Emirates (the)
Does the assessment cover a marine EEZ area(s)?
Not_assigned
Conservation Status
Qualifying criteria (if given)
B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii); D1
Criteria system used
IUCN
(see Assessment details)
Assessment rationale/justification
This species has a very restricted known distribution in the UAE, where it is currently known from a few locations in the Hajar Mountains. Given the records from adjacent parts of Oman, the presence of the species in suitable habitat around Hatta within the UAE might be expected, but it was not found during surveys by Feulner and Karki (2009). Based on the currently known localities, the area of occupancy (AOO) is very much less than 50 km<sup>2</sup> measured using the required 2x2 km grid, however, the actual area represented by the two localities is probably just a few square meters. The extent of occurrence (EOO) is around 280 km<sup>2</sup>. In addition, the species occurs in four threat-based locations and is thought to be undergoing a continuing decline in the extent and quality of habitat. As a result, the restricted distribution meets the threshold for Endangered under Criterion B1 and B2. Overall, the three known localities in the UAE comprise c.100 plants (inferred here to equal mature individuals). Both sites are subject to heavy recreational use. Therefore, the species also qualifies as Endangered under Criterion D, due to the small number of mature individuals. Whilst the seed dispersal mechanisms for this species are not known, the potential for dispersal from adjacent populations in Oman (by wind, water, by animals (especially water birds), as well as by human transport) is considered to be high. As a result, the category is downgraded by one category from Endangered to Vulnerable (VU B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii); D) for this UAE national assessment. Monitoring is essential for this species, and it should be reassessed if new data become available on, for example, new records for the UAE, population size or trend, or the potential for seed immigration from Oman.
Assessment details
Assessors/contributors/reviewers listed
UAE National Red List Workshop
Criteria system used
IUCN
Reference for methods given
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.
Further information
Endemism (according to assessment)
Endemic to region
Not assigned
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
This species has a restricted distribution in the UAE, where it is known from two sites in the Hajar Mountains. Feulner and Karki (2009) undertook fieldwork to search for the species in suitable habitat in northern Oman and in the UAE, finding the species at just two sites in the UAE; Wadi Shawka and Wadi Wurayah National Park (a single location above the Wadi Wurayah waterfall; Feulner 2016). G.R. Feulner (pers. comm. 2019) also found the species at Wadi Hala (Ras al Khaimah). Saccharum kajkaiense has also been recorded from a locality south-east of Shawqa (Dave Aplin pers. comm. 2019). Given the records from adjacent parts of Oman to the west, south, and southeast of Hatta (including at Wadi Qahfi, part of the 'Hatta Pools'), the presence of the species in suitable habitat (permanent water) within the UAE around Hatta might be expected, but it was not found during surveys by Feulner and Karki (2009). The species may occur at other sites with permanent water, as it is difficult to identify S. kajkaiense amongst the large background populations of S. griffithii (G.R. Feulner pers. comm. 2019). Based on the four currently known localities, the AOO is 16 km<sup>2</sup> using a 2x2 km grid, although the actual area where this species occurs is very much less, just a few square meters. It is considered to occur at four threat-based locations. The altitude range in the UAE is c. 200 - 450 m asl, but it is found to above 1,000 m in neighbouring parts of Oman. R.A. Western (<a href=""http://data.rbge.org.uk/herb/E00240941"">RBG Edinburgh Herbarium specimen</a>) collected the species in 1990 from Wadi Rayy in Oman, just south of Hatta in the UAE and Cock (2009) collected the species from east of Hatta (Wadi Qahfi), also in Oman. Feulner and Karki (2009) summarise the known records for the UAE and northern Oman. The global distribution of this species is from Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iran, to the Arabian Peninsula (Oman and the United Arab Emirates; Cope 2007, Feulner and Karki 2009).
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes
Habitat and systems
Ecological system type
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
This is a wadi-bed species that is more dependent on permanent or regular access to near-surface water than S. griffithii, and it is always found close to water or where the soil remains moist even in the summer (Feulner and Karki 2009), such as near streams and springs. The species does not exceed c. 1.5 m in height (Feulner and Karki 2009). The seed dispersal mechanisms for this species are not known, but potentially include wind, water, by animals (epizoochorously or endozoochorously), as well as by human transport. Seed dormancy in the seedbank is also not known.
Threats and conservation measures listed
Threats listed in assessment
The habitat of this species is prone to change and damage. The exploitation of water resources (e.g. the Wadi Shawka dam) is a potential threat.
History
It is assumed that the species occurred with a similar distribution and population size in 1996.
Publication
Allen, D.J., Westrip, J.R.S., Puttick, A., Harding, K.A., Hilton-Taylor, C. and Ali, H. 2021. UAE National Red List of Vascular Plants. Technical Report. Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, United Arab Emirates, Dubai.
