Non-adaptedness and vulnerability to climate change threaten Plathymenia trees (Fabaceae) from the Cerrado and Atlantic Forest

Plathymenia trees, comprising P. reticulata from the Cerrado and P. foliolosa from the Atlantic Forest, face significant extinction risks due to climate change. Research combining species distribution models with genomic data reveals a high potential for non-adaptedness, particularly under pessimistic climate scenarios, indicating that these species may struggle to cope with future environmental shifts. The study highlights distinct vulnerabilities between the two lineages, with P. reticulata and P. foliolosa showing adaptations to different precipitation and temperature regimes, respectively. These findings underscore the need for reevaluating extinction risks and tailoring conservation strategies for Plathymenia species based on their unique vulnerability profiles.

Muniz, A. C., de Lemos-Filho, J. P., & Lovato, M. B. (2024). Non-adaptedness and vulnerability to climate change threaten Plathymenia trees (Fabaceae) from the Cerrado and Atlantic Forest. Scientific Reports, 14(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-75664-y