Using species distribution models as a tool to discover new populations of Phaedranassa brevifolia Meerow, 1987 (Liliopsida: Amaryllidaceae) in Northern Ecuador

Abstract

Phaedranassa brevifolia Meerow (1987) is an endangered plant species endemic to Ecuador. Until recently, this species was only known by the type location and four other adjacent subpopulations in a restricted area of less than four km2. We combined geo-referenced occurrences of this species and bioclimatic variables to generate a prospective species distribution model. Using the resulting map as a guide for field work, we found three new populations of P. brevifolia, increasing its geographic distribution to 16 km2.