Oral Paper

         Conservation Biology

Distribution patterns and ecological niche modelling of endemic plant genus Stemonoporus in Sri Lanka

Presenting Author
malith viduranga
Description
Sri Lanka is an island in the Indian Ocean, which is renowned for its unparalleled species diversity and high endemism. An angiosperm group, Stemonoporus Thw. is the most species-rich (26 species) endemic genus in the family Dipterocarpaceae in Sri Lanka. All its members are categorized as critically endangered or endangered species and confined to the lowland and montane wet zone in the island. The species occurrence data were gathered mainly from the specimens deposited in the National Herbarium, Peradeniya, national and international databases like GBIF. Suitable habitats of each species were estimated and the current and future potential distribution was projected under two Shared Socioeconomic Pathways; SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5. Highly correlated bioclimatic variables were removed and Isothermality (bio 3), temperature seasonality (bio 4), precipitation of the coldest quarter (bio 19) and elevation were selected to analyse current suitable habitats. Prepared models were then thresholded to a 95% suitability score and the percent of suitable habitat change in 2070 was calculated. Niche specialists were identified using restricted niche width and range size. Endemic Species Stemonoporus marginalis, S. petiolaris, S. gracilis, S. mooni and S. latisepalum showed a limited distribution identified as range restricted species. However, Stemonoporus marginalis, S. bullatus and S. mooni were identified as species that represent both the low range size and narrow niche breadth. The present study revealed a reduction of suitable habitats of all 26species under both current and future climate projections. The major abiotic variable affected the distribution of the endemic species Stemonoporus cordifolius, S. gardneri, and S. oblongifolius was elevation. The distribution of Stemonoporus affinis is mostly determined by the coldest quarter's precipitation parameter (bio19). The remainder Stemonoporus species showed a significant correlation with temperature seasonality (bio4). The findings of the study are expected to apply in the conservation of Stemonoporus species by suitable habitat prediction and mapping.