Potential effects of climate change on members of the Palaeotropical pitcher plant family Nepenthaceae
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Issue Date
2017-08-17
Editor
Authors
Moran, Jonathan A.
Gray, Laura K.
Clarke, Charles
Wint, G. R. William
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Subject
Abstract
Anthropogenic climate change is predicted to have profound effects on species distributions
over the coming decades. In this paper, we used maximum entropy modelling (Maxent) to
estimate the effects of projected changes in climate on extent of climatically-suitable habitat
for two Nepenthes pitcher plant species in Borneo. The model results predicted an increase
in area of climatically-suitable habitat for the lowland species Nepenthes rafflesiana by
2100; in contrast, the highland species Nepenthes tentaculata was predicted to undergo significant
loss of climatically-suitable habitat over the same period. Based on the results of the
models, we recommend that research be undertaken into practical mitigation strategies, as
approximately two-thirds of Nepenthes are restricted to montane habitats. Highland species
with narrow elevational ranges will be at particularly high risk, and investigation into possible
mitigation strategies should be focused on them.