Distribution, richness and conservation of the genus Salvia (Lamiaceae) in the State of Michoacán, Mexico

Abstract

Little attention has been paid in Mexico to species’ geographical distribution, particularly documenting geographic ranges, as a tool to estimate their conservation status. The objective of this study was to review known species distribution and propose potential and conservation status for Salvia species in Michoacán sState using Ecological Niche Models (ENM). We reviewed taxonomic studies for Salvia in Michoacán to compile an initial species checklist, built upon with recently-described species; all the specimens deposited in the National Herbarium were reviewed. The collection data allowed us to build niche models of Salvia species reported for Michoacán. ENM were generated for the species listed using Maxent. In order to minimise collinearity, environmental variables were selected using a Pearson correlation test. Individual models were statistically evaluated and the potential distribution models for each individual species were stacked to obtain the map of richness potential distribution in the State. A total of 66 species of Salvia are listed for Michoacán; however, ENM could only be constructed for 42 of those with ≥ 5 specimens. The environmental variable that most strongly contributed to the models was annual average temperature. The models estimated that Salvia species occupy an area of 23,541 km in the State, 72% in the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt and a second richest ecoregion is the Sierra Madre del Sur. Although only 3% of the potential distribution area for Salvia in Michoacán is within Protected Areas (PAs), nonetheless, no PA includes rare species. It will therefore be necessary to consider new protection areas or expand existing ones in order to adequately conserve Salvia richness and rarity in the State.