Updated global maps for the oak (Quercus spp.) sections

Poster presented at the XX International Botanical Conference, Madrid, Spain, July 21–27, 2024.

Authors:

Kristel van Zuijlen¹, Jan Borgelt², Thomas Denk¹

Affiliations:

1. Swedish Museum of Natural History, Stockholm, Sweden
2. Industrial Ecology Programme, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway

Abstract:

The more than 400 species of oaks (Quercus L., Fagaceae) are organized in two subgenera, Cerris and Quercus, which in turn are categorized in 8 different sections: Cyclobalanopsis, Cerris, Ilex, Lobatae, Protobalanus, Ponticae, Virentes and Quercus. With the recently updated oak phylogeny, we are able to provide updated maps and climate envelopes for each of the sections. We utilized open-access data on species' native ranges in conjunction with geographic occurrence records to extract relevant bioclimatic variables and generated species distribution models (SDMs) for each species. Here, we present these distribution maps and explore their implications for forest management practices, focusing on risk assessment and the development of sustainable afforestation strategies amid global climate change.