Pittosporum peridoticola (Pittosporaceae), a new ultramafic obligate species restricted to Kinabalu Park (Sabah, Malaysia)

Background Kinabalu Park, in Sabah (Malaysia) on Borneo Island, is renowned for the exceptionally high plant diversity it protects, with at least 5000 plant species enumerated to date. Discoveries of plant novelties continue to be made in Sabah, especially on isolated ultramafic outcrops, including in the genus Pittosporum (Pittosporaceae) with P. linearifolium from Bukit Hampuan on the southern border of the Park, and P. silamense from Bukit Silam in Eastern Sabah, both narrow endemics restricted to ultramafic soils. Results A distinctive new species of Pittosporum (P. peridoticola J.B.Sugau and Ent, sp. nov.) was discovered on Mount Tambuyukon in the north of Kinabalu Park during ecological fieldwork. The diagnostic morphological characters of this taxon are discussed and information about the habitat in which it grows is provided. The soil chemistry in the rooting zone of P. peridoticola has high magnesium to calcium quotients, high extractable nickel and manganese concentrations, but low potassium and phosphorus concentrations, as is typical for ultramafic soils. Analysis of foliar samples of various Pittosporum-species originating from ultramafic and non-ultramafic soils showed a comparable foliar elemental stoichiometry that is suggestive of ‘Excluder-type’ ecophysiology. Conclusion Pittosporum peridoticola is an ultramafic obligate species restricted to Kinabalu Park with only two known populations within the boundaries of the protected area. It is vulnerable to any future stochastic landscape disturbance events, such as forest fires or severe droughts, and therefore its conservation status is ‘Near Threatened’.


Background
Kinabalu Park, in the northwestern part of the Malaysian state of Sabah (on Borneo Island), is renowned for the exceptionally high plant diversity it harbours, with over 5000 plant species enumerated from an area less than 1200 km 2 (Beaman 2005; Van der Ent et al. 2015a). Ultramafic outcrops (also called 'serpentine' or 'ultrabasic') are known globally for hosting distinctive and highly endemic floras (Brooks 1987). Ultramafic soils are characterised by unusual chemical characteristics, including high concentrations of potentially phytotoxic elements (nickel, cobalt, chromium), low concentrations of essential plant nutrients, and cation imbalances (high magnesium to calcium quotients) (Proctor 2003).
Ultramafic outcrops are widespread in Sabah, and occur in Kinabalu Park, predominantly on Mount Tambuyukon, and on the southern slope of Mount Kinabalu ( Van der Ent et al. 2015a). In Kinabalu Park, ultramafic soils are known for high levels of species-richness and (local) endemism (Beaman and Beaman 1990). Overall, the vegetation on ultramafic soils often has a relative shorter stature and more open aspect, compared to vegetation on non-ultramafic soils. On tropical isolated mountains the altitudinal vegetation zonation is often compressed (Proctor et al. 1988;Bruijnzeel et al. 1993). This effect is particularly apparent on Mount Tambuyukon (2579 m asl), where the vegetation on the summit ridge is a graminoid dwarf scrub. Such dwarf scrub also occurs locally on the Mount Kinabalu massif, such as at Marai Parai, Bukit Babi and the Mentaki Ridge ( Van der Ent et al. 2015a). At similar elevations on soils derived from granite or sandstone geology, relatively tall forest occurs. As part of ecological fieldwork undertaken in 2010-2013 a distinctive Pittosporum was found on the main summit ridge of Mount Tambuyukon, which is described here.

Methods
In this article we use the Biological Species Concept (BSC), which is based on considering discontinuities in morphological variation as an indirect assessment of reproductive isolation and lack of gene flow preventing lineages from homogenising (Coyne and Orr 2004;Mallet 2008). Dried plant specimens were examined from the Sabah Parks Herbarium (SNP). Soil samples (n = 9) were collected near individuals of P. peridoticola on the summit ridge of Mount Tambuyukon, air-dried at room temperature and digested with concentrated nitric and hydrochloric acid in a specialized microwave (Milestone Start D). Foliar samples of P. ferrugineum (n = 1), P. linearifolium (n = 3), P. longisepalum (n = 1), P. resiniferum (n = 1), P. peridoticola (n = 1) were collected in Kinabalu Park and the nearby Bukit Hampuan Forest Reserve, airdried at room temperature and similarly digested with concentrated nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide in a specialized microwave. Both soil and leaf sample digest solutions were then measured with an ICP-AES (Varian Vista Pro II) for nickel, cobalt, manganese, iron, magnesium, calcium, sodium, potassium and phosphorus. The ICP-AES instrument was calibrated using a 6-point multi-element standard prepared in each solution.

Distribution and ecology of the genus Pittosporum in Sabah
The family Pittosporaceae consists of nine genera, of which the genus Pittosporum is the sole representative in Sabah (Malaysia, on the island of Borneo). The genus (approximately 200 species) ranges from tropical areas in Africa, South and East Asia and Australasia to the Pacific Region. All Pittosporum taxa are trees and woody shrubs growing to 2-30 m tall. In Sabah a total of six species have been described to date (Sugau 1994;1995): Pittosporum ferrugineum Aiton, P. linearifolium Sugau, P. longisepalum Bakker, P. ramiflorum Zollinger ex. Miquel, P. resiniferum Hemsley and P. silamense Sugau. Of these P. ferrugineum is relatively widespread in Sabah, whereas P. ramiflorum, P. resiniferum and P. longisepalum are principally known from Kinabalu Park in Sabah, but also occur elsewhere in Southeast Asia. Two species, P. linearifolium and P. silamense, are hyper-endemics restricted to isolated ultramafic outcrops in Sabah on Bukit Hampuan and Bukit Silam respectively (Sugau 1994).

Distribution and habitat
Pittosporum peridoticola is found exclusively in ligneous scrub on extreme ultramafic soil on Mount Tambuyu

Etymology
The specific epithet "peridoticola" denotes the peridotite (ultramafic) bedrock on which this species grows on Mount Tambuyukon and Mount Kinabalu (from 'peridotite' the ultramafic bedrock, and; cola (Latin)-to dwell or inhabit). Peridotite is a dense, coarse-grained igneous rock, consisting of olivine and pyroxene minerals (magnesium-iron-silicates). This rock-type, to varying degrees serpentinised, is the main bedrock of ultramafic outcrops in Sabah, and forms the Mount Tambuyukon massif.
2a. Leaves persistently densely hairy on the lower side, and conspicuously bullate between the veins on the upper side; margins markedly recurved when dry ………….P. silamense.
2b. Leaves never persistently hairy (glabrous or, if hairy, only when very young), and not bullate or veins only finely impressed on the upper side; margins not recurved or slightly recurved when dry ………….3.

Soil and foliar chemistry
The analysis of a soil sample collected between the roots of P. peridoticola, and foliar analysis of different Pittosporum spp. are presented in Table 2. The results show that the soil chemistry from the rooting zone of P. peridoticola is extreme in containing very high magnesium (Mg), nickel (Ni) and manganese (Mn), but relatively low calcium (Ca) and potassium (K) concentrations. This chemistry is characteristic for ultramafic soils, and the soils on which it occurs are 'hypermagnesian soils' (Hypermagnesic Cambisols) (Van der Ent and Wood 2012). These soils occur at high elevation (1700-2500 m asl.), are very shallow and skeletal and derive from primary weathering of the bedrock close to the surface. They have high Mg:Ca quotients, low CEC , high extractable Ni and Mn concentrations , and are moderately acidic. Total soil K and P concentrations are low 52 and 118 μg g −1 respectively. As such these soil properties might induce phytotoxicity and nutrient deficiencies, and P. peridoticola must have evolved adaptations to these adverse soil chemical conditions. The foliar analyses show that Pittosporum spp. are effective at excluding potentially phytotoxic elements (Ni, Mn, Mg) from the shoot and at the same time are efficient in sequestering essential elements (Ca, K, Na, P). Foliar accumulation of most elements is rather similar between the Pittosporum spp. despite the fact they grew in different habitats and on different soils. The leaf samples from P. ferrugineum, P. longisepalum and P. resiniferum originate from non-ultramafic soils, and these soils generally have higher concentrations of Ca, K and P compared to ultramafic soils. Nevertheless, the concentrations of foliar elements are either similar or erratic compared to Pittosporum spp. from ultramafic soils, and this points towards 'Excluder-type' ecophysiology (sensu Baker 1981) of this genus on a wide range of soil types.

Ecological and evolutionary aspects
Ultramafic outcrops may be conceptualized as 'edaphic islands' (Kruckeberg 1991;Rajakaruna 2004), and as such these insular features in the landscape can confer genetic isolation, which in association with locally strong climactic and edaphic stresses, may promote plant speciation and endemism (Kruckeberg 1986;Wong 2011;Rajakaruna and Boyd 2008). The combination of isolated ultramafic soils in combination with (high) elevation has been shown to be particularly conductive for the evolution of local endemics ('neo-endemics') on Mount Kinabalu, for example in the genera Dendrochilum (Orchidaceae), Elatostema (Urticaceae), Rhododendron (Ericaceae), Leptospermum (Myrtaceae), and Nepenthes (Nepenthaceae) (Barkman and Simpson 2001;Argent et al. 2007;Beaman 2001;Lee and Lowry 1980;Van der Ent et al. 2015b). Neo-endemic species are thought to have evolved in situ from related precursor taxa, and often form high-elevation and lower-elevation speciespairs. Other species are paleo-endemics, that were formerly widespread, but continue to persist locally when competition pressure is low (Stebbins and Major 1965;Anacker 2014).
The new species P. peridoticola is the third narrowly endemic species in the genus in Sabah that is obligate (restricted) to ultramafic soils (together with P. linearifolium and P. silamense). All three species are each known from isolated mountain summits (Mount Tambuyukon/Mentaki Ridge, Bukit Hampuan and Bukit Silam respectively). The habitat of all three species is very open forest or dwarf scrub. This suggests a high light requirement permitted through competitive exclusion due to habitat specialisation under strong edaphic stresses. Pittosporum peridoticola in particular appears to have a slow growth rate, judging from the thick woody gnarled stems, and co-occurs with a number of other plant species endemic to Mount Tambuyukon, such as Eriobotrya balgooyi K.M.Wong and Ent (Rosaceae) (Wong and Van der Ent 2014), Gynura tambuyukonensis Vanij. and Ent (Asteraceae) (Van der Ent and Vanijajiva (Van  (Peng et al. 2015). The situation of ultramafic obligate Pittosporum-species in Sabah mirror that of an another genus of woody shrubs, Timonius (Rubiaceae), of which four species are currently understood as ultramafic obligates: T. tambuyukonensis J.Chen, T. stenolobus J.Chen and K.M.Wong, T. leopoldii J.Chen and K.M.Wong and T. ophioliticus J.Chen, with the first three species probably endemic to Kinabalu Park (Chen et al. 2014). Future molecular studies might elucidate the phylogenetic position of the ultramafic obligate Pittosporum-species in Sabah.

Conservation status
The habitat of P. peridoticola lies entirely in Kinabalu Park (an IUCN Category II National Park) and it is therefore statutorily protected. Nevertheless the restriction of this species to just two known populations on Mount Tambuyukon and Mount Kinabalu respectively, and the inherent small total number of individuals means that this species is vulnerable to any future stochastic events, such as forest fires or severe droughts that could ultimately lead to the extinction of this rare taxon. However, as there is no currently available evidence of decline or fluctuations in the extent of its occurrence (EOO), the area of occurrence (AOO), or the number of mature individuals, the conservation status of the species is currently classified as 'Near Threatened' (IUCN 2001).