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Extinction threat to neglected Plinia edulis exacerbated by climate change, yet likely mitigated by conservation through sustainable use
Author(s) -
Lima Valdeir Pereira,
Marchioro Cesar Augusto,
Joner Fernando,
Steege Hans,
Siddique Ilyas
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
austral ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.688
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1442-9993
pISSN - 1442-9985
DOI - 10.1111/aec.12867
Subject(s) - threatened species , climate change , ecology , geography , environmental niche modelling , conservation status , species distribution , rainforest , agroforestry , extinction (optical mineralogy) , effects of global warming , dominance (genetics) , distribution (mathematics) , ecological niche , global warming , environmental resource management , environmental science , biology , habitat , mathematical analysis , mathematics , paleontology , biochemistry , gene
Forecasting the impacts of climate change on species distribution has several implications for conservation. Plinia edulis is a rare and threatened tree species from Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest. In this study, we assessed the impact of global climate change on the distribution of P. edulis. Additionally, we evaluated the efficacy of the Brazilian protected network to conserve this species. Ecological niche models were built using the maximum entropy method based on occurrence records and environmental predictors. Models predicted a reduction of climatically suitable areas for P. edulis in all evaluated scenarios in the coming years. Furthermore, we observed that Brazilian protected areas (PAs) are ineffective to conserve this species. Given the fact that P. edulis is a promising tree species rarely found within Brazilian PAs and threatened by global climate change, we strongly recommend the cultivation of this multipurpose species in agroforestry systems, landscaping and homegardens in order to promote its conservation through sustainable use.