Evaluating the species distribution patterns of the genus Saurauia Willd. in the Philippines using geospatial analysis
From Firenze University Press Journal: Journal of Plant Taxonomy and Geography (Webbia)
Bernard Peter O. Daipan, Department of Forest Biological Science, College of Forestry, Benguet State University
Inocencio E. Buot, Jr., Institute of Biological Sciences, University of the Philippines Los Baños
Nelson M. Pampolina, Department of Forest Biological Science, College of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of the Philippines Los Baños
Saurauia Willd. is one of the three (3) genera included in the family Actinidiaceae Gilg & Werderm. (WFO, 2022), the other two being the Acti-nidia Lindl. and Clematoclethra (Franch.) Maxim. Based on the Plants of the World Online (POWO) (2022), there are currently about 391 accepted Saurauia species worldwide, with the majority of them found in Asia and the Americas’ tropical and subtropi-cal countries. In the Philippines, the Co’s Digital Flora of the Philippines (CDFP) website, a digital checklist of Philippine vascular plants, currently lists 56 species under this genus (Pelser et al. 2011), and all of these are endemic to the Philippines (POWO, 2022) or found nowhere else on the planet. Many species of Saurauia have long been used to treat a wide range of ailments worldwide by the indige-nous communities (Pasaribu et al. 2020), which includes digestive problems (Silalahi et al. 2015), asthma, boils, bronchitis, depression of the central nervous system, fever, hepatitis B, piles, rheumatism, skin problems, sei-zure disorders, and ulcers (Uddin and Rahman 2006; Ahmed et al. 2013). In the Philippines, the fruit of S. bontocensis is edible and used as raw materials for the food processing center that was built for enhancing live-lihood opportunities for the Ikalahan Indigenous Peo-ples (Rice 2002).
Other products that can be derived from these species include raisins from dried fruits, juice, jelly, spread, vinegar, and wine (Subilla and Bao-anan 2020; Tacloy et al. 2021). Despite their significant economic potential and therapeutic properties, the Sau-rauia species in the country, if not in the world, have been understudied (Fabelico 2020), not only in terms of their medicinal properties but also in terms of their dis-tribution, taxonomy, and conservation status. At present, however, no studies have been conducted or published yet concerning the species distribution of all the Saurauia in the Philippines, which is also true for other frequently overlooked endemic and threatened flo-ral species in the country. Typically, the most convenient way to determine the distribution of Saurauia or other plant species in the country is to use online plant data-bases and checklists like the CDFP. Although this digital checklist includes the general distribution data of different floral species from other countries down to the provincial level and some specific mountains in the country where the species occurred, one limitation of this digital database is that it does not show any spatially explicit distribution maps of these species unlike the other websites such as the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), wherein the species distribution or occurrence was projected in a worldwide map.
This lack of information and studies regarding the distribution of many plant species in the country, like the Saurauia, limits their conservation and protection strategies. Moreover, prior to engaging in any type of biological research that has the potential to bring limitless advantages and/or benefits to human development, one must first compre-hend the taxonomy and systematics as well as distribution of the organism with which one would be working (Narendran 2000). With the advent of Geographic Information Sys-tem (GIS) technology in the early 80s’, numerous stud-ies relative to the species distribution have already been carried out (Corsi et al. 2000) worldwide. The GIS technology is a powerful tool that can handle, manipulate, and analyze huge amount of spatial and temporal data (Burrough et al. 2015), which is very relevant in species distribution studies. In the Philippines, numerous studies have examined the distribution of other floral species using GIS-assisted methodologies and related technologies such as the Musa balbisiana (Rabara et al. 2020), sago palm (Santillan and Makinano-Santillan 2016), Shorea guiso (Blanco) Blume and Parashorea malaanon-an (Blanco) Merr. (Tumaneng et al. 2019), among others. Mapping the distribution of the different species using the GIS, based on reliable dataset, could provide better understanding of species diversity and richness, which is a vital component in the forest functioning (Paquette and Messier 2011).
In addition, a species diversity map database at different levels ranging from individual trees to entire communities has the potential to under-stand functional diversity, which can aid in determining forest ecosystem productivity and stability (Schneider et al. 2017). This may offer basic information needed in conservation planning as well as forecasting the impacts of global environmental changes on species and ecosys-tem level (Franklin 2010). Species distribution maps could serve as a baseline information in evaluating the impacts of climate change on this taxon as plants can only thrive in a specified temperature and moisture condition. In oth-er words, climate factors influence species distributions in general, and thus climate change can result in changes in species distributions (Lawler et al. 2013).The general objective of this paper is to evaluate the distribution patterns of Saurauia species across the Philippine archipelago. This paper specifically aimed at generating species distribution maps using geospatial analysis for all the accepted species at the provincial and regional scale. Also, this paper will analyze the ranges of climatic types optimal for Saurauia species as an aid to species conservation.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.36253/jopt-13193
Read Full Text: https://oaj.fupress.net/index.php/webbia/article/view/13193
