Population Assessments of Federally Threatened Everglades Bully in Big Cypress National Preserve, Florida, USA, Using Habitat Suitability Modeling and Micromorphology
In Big Cypress National Preserve, the federally threatened Everglades bully (<i>Sideroxylon reclinatum</i> subsp. <i>austrofloridense</i>) is sympatric with its conspecific, more widespread relative, the Florida bully (<i>Sideroxylon reclinatum</i> subsp. <i>...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-03-01
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| Series: | Plants |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/12/7/1430 |
| _version_ | 1797607207495270400 |
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| author | James J. Lange Courtney L. Angelo Erick Revuelta Jennifer Possley |
| author_facet | James J. Lange Courtney L. Angelo Erick Revuelta Jennifer Possley |
| author_sort | James J. Lange |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In Big Cypress National Preserve, the federally threatened Everglades bully (<i>Sideroxylon reclinatum</i> subsp. <i>austrofloridense</i>) is sympatric with its conspecific, more widespread relative, the Florida bully (<i>Sideroxylon reclinatum</i> subsp. <i>reclinatum</i>). In this area of overlap, the only reliable characters to distinguish the two are cryptic, micromorphological traits of the abaxial laminar surface. In order to better understand the distribution of the federally threatened taxon, we used a combination of habitat suitability modeling (HSM), field surveys, and microscopy. Using models to inform initial surveys, we collected leaf material of 96 individuals in the field, 86 of which we were able to identify to subspecies. Of these, 73 (85%) were identified as the threatened taxon, expanding both the known range and population size within Big Cypress. We used these 73 new occurrences to rerun HSMs to create a more accurate picture of where the taxon is likely to occur. A total of 15,015 hectares were predicted to be suitable habitat within Big Cypress, with 34,069 hectares across the entire study area. These model results could be used to inform the critical habitat designation for this taxon. For at-risk, cryptic taxa, such as the Everglades bully, multiple approaches are needed to inform management and conservation priorities, including the consideration of a hybridization zone. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T05:27:59Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9b82e94366b545588a7d4b646b09cb07 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2223-7747 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T05:27:59Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Plants |
| spelling | doaj.art-9b82e94366b545588a7d4b646b09cb072023-11-17T17:22:24ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472023-03-01127143010.3390/plants12071430Population Assessments of Federally Threatened Everglades Bully in Big Cypress National Preserve, Florida, USA, Using Habitat Suitability Modeling and MicromorphologyJames J. Lange0Courtney L. Angelo1Erick Revuelta2Jennifer Possley3Smart-Sciences, Inc., 330 SW 27th Ave STE 504, Miami, FL 33135, USABig Cypress National Preserve, 33100 Tamiami Trail E, Ochopee, FL 34141, USAFairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, 10901 Old Cutler Rd., Miami, FL 33156, USAFairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, 10901 Old Cutler Rd., Miami, FL 33156, USAIn Big Cypress National Preserve, the federally threatened Everglades bully (<i>Sideroxylon reclinatum</i> subsp. <i>austrofloridense</i>) is sympatric with its conspecific, more widespread relative, the Florida bully (<i>Sideroxylon reclinatum</i> subsp. <i>reclinatum</i>). In this area of overlap, the only reliable characters to distinguish the two are cryptic, micromorphological traits of the abaxial laminar surface. In order to better understand the distribution of the federally threatened taxon, we used a combination of habitat suitability modeling (HSM), field surveys, and microscopy. Using models to inform initial surveys, we collected leaf material of 96 individuals in the field, 86 of which we were able to identify to subspecies. Of these, 73 (85%) were identified as the threatened taxon, expanding both the known range and population size within Big Cypress. We used these 73 new occurrences to rerun HSMs to create a more accurate picture of where the taxon is likely to occur. A total of 15,015 hectares were predicted to be suitable habitat within Big Cypress, with 34,069 hectares across the entire study area. These model results could be used to inform the critical habitat designation for this taxon. For at-risk, cryptic taxa, such as the Everglades bully, multiple approaches are needed to inform management and conservation priorities, including the consideration of a hybridization zone.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/12/7/1430habitat suitability modelingEverglades bully (<i>Sideroxylon reclinatum</i> subsp. <i>austrofloridense</i>)Big Cypress National Preserve scanning electron microscopeplant conservationcryptic speciation |
| spellingShingle | James J. Lange Courtney L. Angelo Erick Revuelta Jennifer Possley Population Assessments of Federally Threatened Everglades Bully in Big Cypress National Preserve, Florida, USA, Using Habitat Suitability Modeling and Micromorphology Plants habitat suitability modeling Everglades bully (<i>Sideroxylon reclinatum</i> subsp. <i>austrofloridense</i>) Big Cypress National Preserve scanning electron microscope plant conservation cryptic speciation |
| title | Population Assessments of Federally Threatened Everglades Bully in Big Cypress National Preserve, Florida, USA, Using Habitat Suitability Modeling and Micromorphology |
| title_full | Population Assessments of Federally Threatened Everglades Bully in Big Cypress National Preserve, Florida, USA, Using Habitat Suitability Modeling and Micromorphology |
| title_fullStr | Population Assessments of Federally Threatened Everglades Bully in Big Cypress National Preserve, Florida, USA, Using Habitat Suitability Modeling and Micromorphology |
| title_full_unstemmed | Population Assessments of Federally Threatened Everglades Bully in Big Cypress National Preserve, Florida, USA, Using Habitat Suitability Modeling and Micromorphology |
| title_short | Population Assessments of Federally Threatened Everglades Bully in Big Cypress National Preserve, Florida, USA, Using Habitat Suitability Modeling and Micromorphology |
| title_sort | population assessments of federally threatened everglades bully in big cypress national preserve florida usa using habitat suitability modeling and micromorphology |
| topic | habitat suitability modeling Everglades bully (<i>Sideroxylon reclinatum</i> subsp. <i>austrofloridense</i>) Big Cypress National Preserve scanning electron microscope plant conservation cryptic speciation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/12/7/1430 |
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