Chin J Plant Ecol ›› 2008, Vol. 32 ›› Issue (5): 1134-1145.DOI: 10.3773/j.issn.1005-264x.2008.05.018

• Original article • Previous Articles     Next Articles

GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION AND POTENTIAL DISTRIBUTION ESTIMATION OF PSEUDOTAXUS CHIENII

XU Xiao-Ting1,2, YANG Yong1,*(), WANG Li-Song1   

  1. 1State Key Laboratory of Systematic & Evolutionary Botany, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100093, China
    2Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
  • Received:2008-02-25 Accepted:2008-06-11 Online:2008-02-25 Published:2008-09-30
  • Contact: YANG Yong

Abstract:

Aims Estimating species potential distribution based on observed occurrence records in combination with environmental variables is very important for conservation of rare and endangered species. Pseudotaxus chienii, endemic to southeastern China, is a relic species with a restricted distribution. Our object is to use the specimen records to study the distribution of P. chienii and estimate the potential distribution with the climate data.

Methods Diva-Gis software is used to describe the distribution and abundance of P. chienii with altitude layer and land vegetation layer. Bioclim and Domain models embed in the Diva-Gis software are used to estimate the potential distribution of P. chieniiwith the specimen occurrence and bioclimate data.

Important findings Pseudotaxus chienii is distributed in the low to medium altitude mountain forests of southeast China. Its resource is enriched in particular in Zhejiang Province. The geographical distribution of P. chieniiis strikingly correlated with vegetation and altitude. It shows preference to evergreen shrub, evergreen broad-leaved, evergreen broad-leaved and needle leaved mixed forest; the lowest elevation rises but the range of elevation in a certain place narrows from east to west. Potential distribution estimation indicates that the Nanling mountains, the mountain area in NW Hubei province, and the mountain area border between Hubei and Jiangxi are the optimum places for P. chienii to survive. Future climate warming will fragment the optimum distribution and thus negatively affect the distribution of P. chienii. It suggests that habitat conservation is crucial to P. chienii.

Key words: Diva-Gis, Pseudotaxus chienii, potential distribution estimation, geographic distribution, conservation