Potential distribution of South American species of the lichen genus Parmotrema (Parmeliaceae, Lecanorales): implications for conservation.

MICHLIG, ANDREA; NIVEIRO, NICOLÁS; RODRÍGUEZ, MARIA PIA

San Juan

Congreso; 11 Internationa Mycological Congress; 2018

Internationa Mycological Congress

Species distribution models have become an important tool to assess different issues in fields as biogeography, ecology, evolution, and climatic change. Although they have been commonly used in other organisms, just a limited number of studies about lichen-forming fungi have included modeling approaches. Species distribution models allow us to recognized those areas with favorable ecological conditions to species could develop outside their known localities, and to determine rare or threatened species, contributing thus to the development of conservation strategies. The aim of this study is to estimate the potential geographic distribution of South American species of Parmotrema, to identify which are the environmental variables influencing their distribution, and to analyze their conservation implications. For this, six species were selected: P. cristobaliae, P. flavomedullosum, P. homotomum, P. laciniellum, P. masonii, and P. melanochaetum. A database with recorded localities in literature for each species and also specimens deposited at CTES herbarium was made. Localities for which no geographic coordinates were available were georeferenced with Google EarthTM. The potential distribution was modeled with Maxent version 3.3.k, using the 19 climatic variables of temperature and precipitation and altitude of the WorldClim database, estimating their potential influence in these species distributions. The results were visualized and analyzed using DIVA-GIS version 7.5. The potential distribution maps are presented and the influence of environmental variables of each considered species are analyzed. This study has shown that P. homotomum and P. masonii has a restricted potential distribution area. The distribution of P. masonii, as P. cristobaliae, could be related to the distribution of the seasonally dry forests, as other species of the genus. The distribution of P. laciniellum has also a similar biogeographic pattern, but it would be adapted to more wide environmental conditions. Based on these results, we could identify two priority areas for conservation for these species.