Endangered or not? Potential distribution of the liverwort Pleurozia paradoxa in Colombia

Abstract

Pleurozia paradoxa is a vulnerable liverwort from upper montane and paramo habitats in Colombia according to the Red Book of Bryophytes of Colombia due to its scarce presence and a small area of occupation in the country. Using species distribution models, it is possible to assess suitability areas accounting for the probable presence of species. We used a maximum entropy machine-learning algorithm to obtain potential distribution maps based on field records and climatic variables. The potential distribution of P. paradoxa in Colombia appeared to be concentrated in the Cordillera Central, departments of Cauca, Huila, and Nariño, extending slightly northwards to Valle del Cauca and Tolima, in strong correlation with altitude and climate.