Remote sensing and field information aid in predicting the presence of the terrestrial orchid Cyclopogon lute-albus

Tropical montane cloud forest is one of the most threatened ecosystems, in
central Veracruz, Mexico. Within this ecosystem, terrestrial orchids are
strongly dependent on forest conditions and may be sensitive to
environmental change. We applied field surveys of abiotic and biotic
factors associated with the presence of the terrestrial orchid Cyclopogon
luteo-albus and combined this with correlative niche modeling approaches
to evaluate its potential distribution under two different environmental
sets and two different extents. Layers of environmental information were
obtained from Landsat imagery and interpolated bioclimatic and soil
property layers. Existing species records were used as training data by
sampling five forest fragments in central Veracruz, utilizing herbarium
and global biodiversity information facility databases. The resulting
predictions were tested by sampling at 15 sites of potential distribution.
The model predicted the presence of C. luteo-albus with a reliability of
80%. The most important variables of models derived from interpolated
layers coincide with site-relevant parameters suggesting the utility of
these tools to further explore species suitabilities at larger geographic
extents. Potential distribution mapping is an important tool to identify
key areas for conservation and priority areas for future studies of
species and partially resolves the lack of records of many orchid species.