Análise biogeográfica de Microlicia cataphracta (DC.) Versiane & Romero (Melastomataceae).

Abstract

Microlicia cataphracta is one of the most widely distributed and polymorphic taxa of Lavoisiereae (Melastomataceae). This species has been described as an ochlospecies with some 20 described taxonomic entities. This circumscription includes a wide continuum of morphological variation exhibited by the species throughout its geographic range. This study attempts to verify if there are environmental variables that predict the occurrence of M. cataphracta and its ecophenotypes and determine whether there are morphological variations associated with environmental variables to corroborate the ochlospecies designation for this species. Occurrences of M. cataphracta and its named ecophenotypes were extracted from the GBIF and speciesLink databases, together with climatic and edaphic variables from online databases. Importance tests with environmental variables that did not show collinearity. These variables were rescaled to a geographic grid with the three biomes where the species occurs and modeled for the present time. Morphological data were also extracted from the original descriptions. Our results show that the most important variables determining the distribution of the species are the minimum temperature and the amount of sand in the soil. Other tested variables showed lower values of statistical importance. However, when analyzed together with morphology, for example, it appears that morphological variations such as the color of the petals are related to soil pH values, and configurations in the shape and size of leaves, and calyx lobes can be related to precipitation. Based on environmental variables, our analysis also showed that M. cataphracta could potentially grow in other in the states of Mato Grosso, Tocantins, Santa Catarina, and Rio de Grande do Sul. However, its environmental optimum remains in the comparatively widespread area where it is currently found. The analyses presented here using climatic and edaphic variables, associated with the morphological data, corroborate the designation of M. cataphracta as an ochlospecies.