Species distribution model for Buxbaumia viridis, identifying new areas of presumed distribution in the Czech Republic.

Abstract

There is a large number of organisms in nature that are hard to find in the field, and one of these is also a rare bryophyte species, Buxbaumia viridis, which can also only be found in a certain part of the year in the production of sporophytes. Using distribution models, however, it is possible to predict the locations which this species is likely to be present at and to focus the field research directly on such sites. Thanks to the presented model, we have succeeded in identifying areas within the Czech Republic with an increased likelihood of its occurrence, even in some areas where no collection of B. viridis has so far been recorded. With the help of the maps created these locations can be identified with the accuracy of approximately 1 km2, making it easier for terrain research and resulting time and often financial expenses. We have also focused on the study of ecological factors that influence the occurrence of the species, and by testing variables from different categories we have come to some agreement with previously published studies. Whilst we have managed to exclude that air pollution has a major role to its occurrence, which has not yet been the subject of any study.

Population and Conservation Status of Buxbaumia viridis (DC.) Moug. & Nestl. in Romania

“…According to the results from the ensemble modeling, elevation, precipitation of the driest quarter, and mean temperature of the coldest quarter serve as the best indicators of Buxbaumia viridis occurrence. We can observe that the favored high-altitude areas typically correlate with the altitudinal range of mixed and spruce forests; hence there might be a dependence on habitat type, also supported by other studies [ 44 , 45 ]. Using maximum entropy modeling, Číhal [ 44 ] also argues that the found dependency of B. viridis to habitat type is most likely mostly connected to the species’ requirement for a sufficient quantity of decaying wood [ 46 ].…”

“…We can observe that the favored high-altitude areas typically correlate with the altitudinal range of mixed and spruce forests; hence there might be a dependence on habitat type, also supported by other studies [ 44 , 45 ]. Using maximum entropy modeling, Číhal [ 44 ] also argues that the found dependency of B. viridis to habitat type is most likely mostly connected to the species’ requirement for a sufficient quantity of decaying wood [ 46 ]. However, when focusing on desiccation, Kropik [ 47 ] found that this variable outperforms decaying wood in terms of predicting power for explaining the occurrence of this moss in Austria.…”

“…Increased precipitation (in the driest and warmest areas) has a direct influence on avoiding the desiccation of not just sporophytes [ 45 , 46 ] but also of the less tolerant spores [ 48 ]. The reason for the species’ dependency on lower average winter temperatures is uncertain, as also found and stated by Číhal [ 44 ]. Only 3 °C of winter warming in several experimental plots in the UK caused a cover increase in certain moss species and a decrease in cover in other species, under a general decrease of bryophytes species richness.…”

Possible Effects of Climate Change on the Occurrence and Distribution of the Rare Moss Buxbaumia viridis in Serbia (SE Europe)

“…Moreover, its sporophyte production, hence its finding and recording, depends on the increasingly variable climate, especially in the crucial part of the year i.e., unpredictable yearly local climate. So far, only a few studies have dealt with factors influencing its occurrence (e.g., [ 6 , 19 ]) or the identification of the potential (local) distribution of this significant species in Europe (e.g., [ 8 , 12 , 20 ]). Thus, in the research by Wiklund [ 19 ]., the number of occupied deadwood patches by B. viridis sporophyte was reduced by 73%, and the number of formed sporophytes even by 91%, during the dry year compared to the previous couple of years with higher precipitation.…”

“…Until recently, it was considered Endangered (EN) at the overall European level [ 11 ]. However, lately, it has been the subject of a number of various surveys and monitoring programs, that have resulted in many new records and increased its distribution knowledge, for example in Czechia [ 8 , 12 ], Poland [ 13 ], or Slovenia [ 14 ]. Due to the recent increase in the distribution data of the species, it was recently assessed as the Least Concern (LC) at the European continental level and so reported in the new European Red List (Hodgetts et al, 2019 a, b).…”