Consequence of habitat specificity: a rising risk of habitat loss for endemic and sub-endemic woody species under climate change in the Hyrcanian ecoregion

Abstract

Endemic species are more impacted by climate change than other taxa. However, assessing the vulnerability of endemics to these changes in some regions, such as the Hyrcanian forest, is limited, despite its importance for biodiversity and ecosystem function. To address the question of expected habitat shifts under climate change across the Hyrcanian ecoregion, we built an ensemble of species distribution models (SDM) under two emission scenarios (RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5) for 15 endemic woody taxa. To identify the potential priority conservation areas, we also applied a spatial prioritization approach. Overall, our results suggest that the impacts of climate change are more severe on the eastern parts of the region (Golestan) and the Talysh Mountains (north-western Hyrcanian ecoregion) with over 85% and 34% loss of suitable habitats over the next 80 years. The central part of the Alborz Mountains (Mazandaran) and some areas in the Talysh Mountains could be potential climatic refugia under the future conditions for endemic taxa. The most prominent changes are expected for Ruscus hyrcanus, Gleditsia capsica, Acer velutinum, Frangula grandifolia, and Buxus hyrcana. The worrying predicted loss of suitable habitats for most studied taxa would dramatically affect the stability and resilience of forests, threatening thus biodiversity of the Hyrcanian ecoregion. We present the first estimation of the potential risks involved and provide useful support for regional climate-adaptation strategy, indicating potential conservation priority areas for maintaining and preserving its resources. Notably, only 13.4% of areas designated for conservation and management under climate change will be located within the current Hyrcanian protected areas, yet the majority of these areas are classified as low priority.

The potential range of west Asian apple species Malus orientalis Uglitzk. under climate change

“…Therefore, our results suggest that the crab apple will lose much of its potential range in warmer areas at lower altitudes while suitable habitats will move upslope, whilst regional trends of fragmentation will occur. This issue has been reported for a number of plant species in the Hyrcanian and Caucasian areas [ 27 , 53 , 58 – 61 ].…”

“…However, in the future this species could be pushed westward to the central and western parts of Hyrcanian forests. The withdrawal of woody species from the eastern Hyrcania region (Golestan province), associated with the environmental gradient from west to east, has also been described for other woody species [ 27 , 58 , 59 ]. Therefore, our results suggest that the crab apple will lose much of its potential range in warmer areas at lower altitudes while suitable habitats will move upslope, whilst regional trends of fragmentation will occur.…”