Using GIS and MaxEnt to predict global distribution of Saxifraga catalaunica (Saxifragaceae)

Resumen

Knowledge about species occurrence is essential in terms of biogeographical and conservation research. Species distribution models provide basic information so as to predict vulnerability to local or global extinction or design nature preservation policies. GIS technologies and MaxEnt application have demonstrated respectively efficacy in terms of working with explicit spatial data and modelling species distributions. This paper takes advantage of GIS and MaxEnt to generate a global distribution model of a plant endemic to North-eastern Iberian Peninsula: the queen crown (Saxifraga catalaunica). This botanical taxon is listed as Near Threatened according with International Union for Conservation of Nature criteria. We produced a consistent model of queen crown distribution by working with only-presence data of target species and a set of five environmental layers. Our prediction reveals deep existing differences between two only known regions with presence of the taxon, as potential distribution is spatially heterogeneous both within and between studied natural parks. Future conservation efforts could focus on most isolated, vulnerable populations of this Iberian endemic taxon