Modeling the spatial distribution of the endemic and threatened palm shrub Syagrus glaucescens (Arecaceae)

Abstract

This study tests the use of accessible geoprocessing techniques to identify and describe the distribution of Syagrus glaucescens, a threatened palm shrub endemic to rupestrian fields (high-altitude grasslands) of the southern Espinhaço Range, in Minas Gerais, Brazil. A hundred and ninety five occurrence points and 24 absence points of S. glaucescens were recorded on a GPS device during field trips. Free databases of eight abiotic variables for the surveyed area were also used. Ninety-eight of the occurrence points were used to generate a spectral signature in ArcView to identify variables best characterizing S. glaucescens' distribution area and produce a probability map. The species' distribution was strongly associated to rocky outcrops whose geological composition is Quartzite Filite and Conglomerates, above 1.000 m of altitude, with declivities of 5-30%. When the accuracy of the probability map was tested, 87.63% of the 97 occurrence points used fitted areas of very high occurrence probability on the map, while 100% of the 24 non-occurrence points matched areas of null probability; therefore confirming the high accuracy of the model in predicting the occurrence of S. glaucescens. Although the altitudinal grasslands of Espinhaço are areas of great biodiversity and high degree of plant species endemism, they remain poorly studied. Thus, this model can be a helpful tool in designing management and conservation strategies not only for S. glaucescens but also for other species associated to rocky outcrops of such environment.

Phenology of Copernicia alba in Flooded and Not Flooded Environments

“…In addition, understanding the reproductive cycles of plants is of fundamental importance for the conservation and management of native and endangered species. However, phenological studies on plants of the Pantanal biome are scarce, especially in endemic species, such as the carandá (Coelho & Machado, 2009;Conceição et al, 2007;Dutra et al, 2009;Miola et al, 2011).…”

PHENOLOGY OF Copernicia alba IN FLOODED AND NOT FLOODED ENVIRONMENTS

“…In addition, understanding the reproductive cycles of plants is of fundamental importance for the conservation and management of native and endangered species. However, phenological studies on plants of the Pantanal biome are scarce, especially in endemic species, such as the carandá (DUTRA et al, 2009;MIOLA et al, 2011).…”

Growing straight versus growing decumbent: soil quality and allometry in Syagrus glaucescens Becc. (Arecaceae), an endemic and threatened palm of the Espinhaço Mountains, Brazil

“…It was included in the list of threatened species of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (Vulnerable category) as a result of its small distributional area and high destruction of its native habitat (Noblick 1998). Despite this fact, the few studies on S. glaucescens are restricted the phenology (Miola et al 2010;Belo et al 2013) and spatial distribution (Miola et al 2011). Miola et al (2010) also observed resistance and increased flowering after fire.…”

“…Syagrus glaucescens is a small palm with distribution strongly associated with quartzite outcrops that occurs in the rupestrian grasslands from Serra do Cipó to Diamantina (Miola et al 2011). It was included in the list of threatened species of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (Vulnerable category) as a result of its small distributional area and high destruction of its native habitat (Noblick 1998).…”