Coupling genetic structure analysis and ecological-niche modeling in Kersting’s groundnut in West Africa

Abstract

Orphan legume crops play an important role in smallholder farmers’ food systems. Though less documented, they have the potential to contribute to adequate nutrition in vulnerable communities. Unfortunately, data are scarce about the potential of those crops to withstand current and future climate variations. Using Macrotyloma geocarpum as an example, we used ecological niche modeling to explore the role of ecology on the current and future distributions of genetic populations of Kersting’s groundnut. Our findings showed that: (1) the models had good predictive power, indicating that M. geocarpum’s distribution was correlated with both climatic and soil layers; (2) identity and similarity tests revealed that the two genetic groups have identical and similar environmental niches; (3) by integrating the genetic information in niche modeling, niches projections show divergence in the response of the species and genetic populations to ongoing climate change. This study highlights the importance of incorporating genetic data into Ecological Niche Modeling (ENM) approaches to obtain a finer information of species’ future distribution, and explores the implications for agricultural adaptation, with a particular focus on identifying priority actions in orphan crops conservation and breeding.

Habitat range shift and prediction of the potential future distribution of Ricinodendron heudelotii (Baill.) Heckel in Benin (West Africa)

“…It can however be deduced that these predictors discriminated highly the habitats of R. heudelotii , and confirms its preference for humid habitats benefiting from an annual rainfall greater than 1000 mm and fairly modest temperature [ 41 ]. Such results trends were reported for Macrotyloma geocarpum (Harms) Maréchal and Baudet [ 42 ], Cochlospermum planchonii Hook. f [ 43 ].…”

Modified Niche Modelling for Niche Specific Conservation and Ecorestoration Planning of Threatened Tree Species: A Case Study on Four Goniothalamus Species in the Western Ghats

“…4). The results indicate the WorldClim bioclimatic parameters can well differentiate niches of closely related species or their populations in space and time (Boria et al 2021;Coulibaly, 2022).…”

Exploiting genetic and genomic resources to enhance productivity and abiotic stress adaptation of underutilized pulses

“…Hierarchical cluster analysis using 19 morphological descriptors grouped 297 Kersting's groundnuts from across diverse ecological zones in Benin and Togo, into four clusters (Akohoue et al, 2019). Coulibaly et al (2022a) integrated ecological niche modeling (ENM) and genetic information to understand the current and future distributions of Kersting's groundnut populations. Both climatic and soil variables influenced the distribution of Kersting's groundnut.…”