Distribution and future projections for Schinopsis brasiliensis Engler (Anacardiaceae) in the semi-arid region of Brazil

Abstract

The advanced degradation and desertification processes, resulting from the anthropization of the semi-arid region of Brazil has led to an increasing need for research on the status of the occurrence of plant species. Schinopsis brasiliensis Engler, popularly known as "barauna", is recognized both for its exuberance and the use of its wood for different purposes. This species occurs in the Northeast and Midwest regions of Brazil and can be found in the Cerrado and Caatinga phytogeographic domains. This study aimed to analyze the local and regional distribution and abundance of S. brasiliensis in six municipalities in different regions of Paraíba State, as well as to perform the current and predictive modeling of the ecological niche of this species in the northeast region of Brazil, considering bioclimatic variables. On a state scale, this research was conducted in six rural communities, previously selected from studies already carried out by the Ethnobiology and Environmental Sciences Laboratory of the Federal University of Paraíba. On a regional scale, current and predictive modeling of the species' ecological niche was used, considering bioclimatic variables, based on data obtained from the WorldClim database (www.worldclim.org). The data showed a heterogeneous distribution in the populations of S. brasiliensis. The high number of adult specimens may indicate low resource extraction. Climate change, in different scenarios, does not significantly affect the distribution of the study species in the Northeastern Region of Brazil.