Predicting geographic distribution and habitat suitability of Opuntia streptacantha in paleoclimatic, current, and future scenarios in Mexico.

ABSTRACT: Mexican territory is one of the centers of origin and dispersion of the genus Opuntia, where several of its species have been an important plant resource for people in arid and semiarid zones. Opuntia streptacantha is widely distributed in Mexico; however, precise aspects of its geographic distribution and ecological status are still unknown. Here, we modeled its potential distribution under paleoclimatic, current, and future conditions through maximum entropy and predictions from 824 records and seven environmental variables. Potential distribution of O. streptacantha in the interglacial period was contracted and slightly north than current distribution, with 44,773 km² of optimal habitat. In other past periods, the central location of potential distributio

SUBMITTER: Cruz-Jimenez I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10151206 | biostudies-literature | 2023 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature