Potential distribution of Euphorbia antisyphilitica Zucc. In Mexico

Knowing the distribution of species concerning biotic and abiotic conditions allows us to identify the possible responses of species to changes due to abiotic factors using the concept of the ecological niche and to identify the geographic distribution of important species subject to commercial exploitation such as Euphorbia antisyphilitica Zucc. The current study aimed to identify bioclimatic variables that determine the distribution of E. antisyphilitica populations and to estimate the potential distribution in arid zones of Mexico using the methods Maxent and Bioclim. Bioclimatic data from areas of the presence of E. antisyphilitica were processed with Bioclim of Diva-Gis 7.5®, and with the maximum entropy method with Maxent® 3.4.1. Temperature and precipitation requirements were analyzed by comparing bioclimatic variables, predicting distribution modeling, and geographic output. Precipitation variables influence more than temperature variables on the distribution of E. antisyphilitica, in a precipitation range of 200 to 500 mm. Modeling and geographic output performed with Maxent had better quality than those carried out with Diva-Gis® Bioclim. The annual precipitation variable determines more the conditions for the distribution of E. antisyphilitica than temperature variables.