Abstract Detail

Ecology

Puetz, Eric [1], Latvis, Maribeth [2].

Species distribution modeling of Aquilegia brevistyla (smallflower columbine), a critically imperiled Black Hills disjunct.

As climate change accelerates, species may be at risk of local extinction if they do not have the ability to migrate to a more suitable habitat—a problem that is more likely for isolated mountain taxa. The Black Hills of South Dakota and Wyoming are a unique and isolated mountain range surrounded by the vast mixed grass prairie ecosystem of the western Great Plains. The flora of this “island in the Plains” is a stark contrast from the surrounding arid landscape and holds numerous disjunct species typical of the Rocky Mountains, northern boreal forests, and eastern deciduous forest. Relying on digitized locality information from iDigBio, GBIF, and regional herbaria, we develop a species distribution model for Aquilegia brevistyla (Ranunculaceae; smallflower columbine), a species widespread throughout northern Canada and Alaska and with a disjunct distribution in the Black Hills. This taxon is listed as Critically Imperiled by the Wyoming Natural Diversity Database, but its status has not been evaluated in South Dakota. Species distribution modeling has become a valuable tool in the preservation of rare or disjunct plant species with limited gene pools. We discuss differences between the model and known populations of A. brevistyla, implications for management in light of climate change projections, and broader future directions for plant phylogeography research in the Black Hills.

1 - South Dakota State University, Department of Natural Resource Management, 1390 College Ave. , Brookings, SD, 57007, USA
2 - South Dakota State University, Department Of Natural Resource Management, 1390 College Avenue, Box 2140B, South Dakota State University , Brookings , SD, 57006, United States

Keywords:
Niche Modeling
Distribution models
 Black Hills
disjunct species
Aquilegia
conservation.

Presentation Type: Poster
Session: P1, Ecology Posters
Location: Virtual/Virtual
Date: Monday, July 19th, 2021
Time: 5:00 PM(EDT)
Number: P1EC018
Abstract ID:719
Candidate for Awards:None