Factors associated with the distributions of orchids in the Jeseníky Mountains, Czech Republic

Abstract

Species distribution models are a useful tool and are now often used in many branches of biology, especially when dealing with threatened organisms. In combination with GIS techniques, these models are especially important and valuable for predicting the occurrence of rare species, for example orchids. Orchids are an endangered plant group, protected worldwide. Questions about their conservation are therefore highly discussed, but not all factors affecting their survival and distribution are known. Here we present an example of using SDMs for analysing orchid species occurrence data from the Jeseníky Mountains in the Czech Republic. Our data were analysed using the MaxEnt program, which produces species distribution maps and thus allows the prediction of the potential occurrence of orchids at yet unknown localities. This program also determines the environmental factors affecting species distribution. This is important for the better protection of orchids, because only by knowing these factors can new localities be found or the management plans that are crucial for maintaining orchid localities be improved. We studied the most abundant orchid species in the given region. We determined the most important factors affecting their occurrence and also areas, where new sites are most likely to be discovered and depicted them in potential distribution maps. This approach can help in finding new localities of orchids and in understanding, which environmental factors influence the occurrence of endangered orchids.

Species Richness, Ecology, and Prediction of Orchids in Central Europe: Local-Scale Study

“…The light regime is also an important factor controlling patterns of orchid distribution and abundance [17], namely solar irradiation. It was shown as an important factor for the distribution of Platanthera bifolia in the Czech Republic, where this species occurred mainly in places with low solar radiation [26,45]. Our results showed a U-shaped response of orchid richness along the solar irradiation gradient, with the highest number on both margins of the gradient and decline towards mid-solar irradiation values.…”

“…Existing European studies focusing on the relationship between diversity of terrestrial orchids and ecological factors covered mainly broad geographical ranges e.g., [18,21,24], while regional or local studies were less frequent e.g., [25,26]. Fine-scale studies have a potential to be important for better understanding of the association between species richness and environmental variables [13,24].…”

Suitability of Habitats in Nepal for Dactylorhiza hatagirea Now and under Predicted Future Changes in Climate

“…Those species that are not able to colonize these habitats before their present sites become unsuitable are likely to become extinct, e.g., alpine plants [ 11 ]. To assess the effects of climate change on species, the most widely used method is species distribution modelling (SDM), which links data on species distribution with environmental data and is able to predict potentially suitable areas and their changes over time [ 26 , 27 ].…”

Pollination Mechanisms are Driving Orchid Distribution in Space

“…There are only a few studies on the factors that determine orchid presence/absence and distribution in space and most of them include only one or a few species and/or a limited part of the distribution of the species studied, e.g. 5,6 . As a result, we lack critical information necessary for the conservation of Orchidaceae, especially the species that are known to be threatened or endangered.…”