Where they are, why they are there, and where they are going: using niche models to assess impacts of disturbance on the distribution of three endemic rare subtropical rainforest trees of Macadamia (Proteaceae) species

Michael A Powell; Arnon Accad; Alison Shapcott

doi:10.1071/BT14056

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Where they are, why they are there, and where they are going: using niche models to assess impacts of disturbance on the distribution of three endemic rare subtropical rainforest trees of Macadamia (Proteaceae) species

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Where they are, why they are there, and where they are going: using niche models to assess impacts of disturbance on the distribution of three endemic rare subtropical rainforest trees of Macadamia (Proteaceae) species

Michael A Powell, Arnon Accad and Alison Shapcott

Australian Journal of Botany, Vol.62(4), pp.322-334

2014

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1071/BT14056

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Abstract

climate change

spatial predictions

threatened species

vegetation management

Species within the Macadamia genus (Proteaceae) are rare and threatened narrowly distributed inhabitants of subtropical lowland rainforests of eastern Australia. Despite their strong cultural links and economic importance as a source of germplasm for the macadamia nut industry, a comprehensive assessment of factors contributing to their conservation status, or the potential impacts of climate change, is lacking. We used maximum entropy models to identify the respective niche of the following three Macadamia species with overlapping extant distributions: M. integrifolia, M. ternifolia and M. tetraphylla. We used model predictions to identify and prioritise respective areas of habitat, together with change in geographic distribution of habitats between 1990 and 2070 climates. Results reveal considerable overlap in the geographic extent of habitat among the three species; however, the extent of current occupation of habitat by any individual species is limited. Relatively high levels of clearing of ecological communities strongly associated with M. integrifolia or M. ternifolia have occurred within the extent of their respective habitats, with M. tetraphylla less affected within the Queensland extent of its range. Response to climate change varies among the three species, with a general trend of shift in respective niche to areas that currently experience relatively high precipitation and lower temperature regimes.

Details

Title: Where they are, why they are there, and where they are going: using niche models to assess impacts of disturbance on the distribution of three endemic rare subtropical rainforest trees of Macadamia (Proteaceae) species
Authors: Michael A Powell (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering
Arnon Accad (Author) - Queensland Herbarium
Alison Shapcott (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering
Publication details: Australian Journal of Botany, Vol.62(4), pp.322-334
Publisher: C S I R O Publishing
Date published: 2014
DOI: 10.1071/BT14056
ISSN: 0067-1924
Organisation Unit: Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering; School of Science and Engineering - Legacy; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Science, Technology and Engineering; Centre for Bioinnovation
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99448992102621
Output Type: Journal article

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