Muddy Boots Beget Wisdom: Implications for Rare or Endangered Plant Species Distribution Models

Diversity

Javier Fajardo¹  NoraH. Oleas²  Javier Francisco-Ortega³  KennethJ. Feeley⁴  Jennifer Gebelein⁵  AlanW. Meerow⁶ 

[1] Centro Universitario de Mérida, Universidad de Extremadura, 06800 Mérida, Spain;Centro de Investigación de la Biodiversidad y Cambio Climático, y Carrera de Ingeniería en Biodiversidad y Recursos Genéticos, Facultad de Ciencias del Medio Ambiente, Universidad Tecnológica Indoamérica, Machala y Sabanilla, Quito EC170301, Ecuador;Department of Biological Sciences, International Center for Tropical Botany, Cuban Research Institute, and Kimberly Green Latin American and Caribbean Center, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, USA;Department of Biology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33146, USA;Department of Earth and Environment, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, USA;National Germplasm Repository, Agricultural Research Service−Subtropical Horticultural Research Station United States Department of Agriculture, Miami, FL 33158, USA;

关键词: conservation;    georeferencing error;    Northern Andes;    Phaedranassa;    species occurrence data;    taxonomy;   

DOI  :  10.3390/d11010010

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Species distribution models (SDMs) are popular tools for predicting the geographic ranges of species. It is common practice to use georeferenced records obtained from online databases to generate these models. Using three species of Phaedranassa (Amaryllidaceae) from the Northern Andes, we compare the geographic ranges as predicted by SDMs based on online records (after standard data cleaning) with SDMs of these records confirmed through extensive field searches. We also review the identification of herbarium collections. The species’ ranges generated with corroborated field records did not agree with the species’ ranges based on the online data. Specifically, geographic ranges based on online data were significantly inflated and had significantly different and wider elevational extents compared to the ranges based on verified field records. Our results suggest that to generate accurate predictions of species’ ranges, occurrence records need to be carefully evaluated with (1) appropriate filters (e.g., altitude range, ecosystem); (2) taxonomic monographs and/or specialist corroboration; and (3) validation through field searches. This study points out the implications of generating SDMs produced with unverified online records to guide species-specific conservation strategies since inaccurate range predictions can have important consequences when estimating species’ extinction risks.

【 授权许可】

Unknown