Niche modelling with vegetation inputs for Grinnellian and Eltonian niche factors in niche specific conservation and ecorestoration planning
摘要
A niche model incorporating WorldClim bioclimatic spatial data and more factors of landuse, vegetation, and geographical zonation standardised for the Western Ghats mountain part of the Western Ghats-Sri Lanka biodiversity hotspot was experimented here with four threatened and endemic trees of the genus Goniothalamus (Annonaceae). This brought more precise and refined predictions, with an average predicted potential area of 2.25 km2, compared to 16.5 km2 in normal niche modelling. The differential prediction pattern obtained here for congeneric taxa that share similar vegetation and habits endemic to this tropical monsoonal mountain suggests niche modelling as the most simple and niche-specific method to predict potential areas of tree species, where the inclusion of classified vegetation parameters as a biotic input in the niche model gives more precision considering both the Grinnellian and Eltonian niche factors. This could be useful in site-specific conservation and ecorestoration planning for threatened trees.