Modelling the effects of climate and land-cover changes on the potential distribution and landscape connectivity of three earth snakes (Genus Conopsis, Günther 1858) in central Mexico

• Published in: Die Naturwissenschaften 2023-12, Vol.110 (6), p.52-52, Article 52
• Main Authors: Sunny, Armando, Manjarrez, Javier, Caballero-Viñas, Carmen, Bolom-Huet, René, Gómez-Ortiz, Yuriana, Domínguez-Vega, Hublester, Heredia-Bobadilla, Rosa Laura, Torres-Romero, Erik Joaquín, González-Fernández, Andrea
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anthropogenic factors; Biodiversity; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Climate Change; Climate effects; Climate models; Conopsis; Earth; Ecology; Ecosystem; Endangered animals; Endangered species; Environment; Environment models; Geographical distribution; Global warming; Human influences; Land cover; Land use; Life Sciences; Mexico; Mountains; Niche overlap; Niches; Original Article; Reptiles; Snakes; Threatened species
• ISSN: 0028-1042; 1432-1904
• DOI: 10.1007/s00114-023-01880-7

Anthropogenic land use and climate change are the greatest threats to biodiversity, especially for many globally endangered reptile species. Earth snakes ( Conopsis spp.) are a poorly studied group endemic to Mexico. They have limited dispersal abilities and specialized niches, making them particularly vulnerable to anthropogenic threats. Species distribution models (SDMs) were used to assess how future climate and land-cover change scenarios might influence the distribution and habitat connectivity of three earth snakes: Conopsis biserialis (Taylor and Smith), C. lineata (Kennicott), and C. nasus (Günther). Two climate models, CNRM-CM5 (CN) and MPI-ESM-LR (MP) (Representative Concentration Pathway 85), were explored with ENMeval Maxent modelling. Important SDM environmental variables and environmental niche overlap between species were also examined. We found that C. biserialis and C. lineata were restricted by maximum temperatures whereas C. nasus was restricted by minimum ones and was more tolerant to arid vegetation. C. biserialis and C. lineata were primarily distributed in the valleys and mountains of the highlands of the TMBV, while C. nasus was mainly distributed in the Altiplano Sur (Zacatecano-Potosino). C. lineata  had the smallest potential distribution and suffered the greatest contraction in the future whereas C. nasus was the least affected species in future scenarios. The Sierra de las Cruces and the Sierra Chichinautzin were identified as very important areas for connectivity. Our results suggest that C. lineata may be the most vulnerable of the three species to anthropogenic and climate changes whereas C. nasus seems to be less affected by global warming than the other species.