Although vanilla is one of the most popular flavours in the world, there is still uncertainty concerning the native distribution of the species that produces it, Vanilla planifolia. To circumscribe the native geographical extent of this economically important species more precisely, we propose a new landscape-based approach to incorporate information from open-source databases and validate occurrences. In this approach, we include metrics to account for habitat suitability and population sustainability in terms of the biotic (co-occurrence of pollinators and dispersers) and abiotic (habitat quality) factors limiting plant distributions. To further validate occurrences within the resulting distribution, we compare the presence of morphologically similar wild relatives, assess the heterogeneity of ecological niches and verify the correct identification of herbarium specimens. Results from this approach suggest that V. planifolia has a larger geographical distribution than previously recognized; we hypothesize that populations naturally dispersed from Mesoamerica and became established in South America (with a south-eastern limit in Brazil). The recognition of an improved estimate of the distribution of this species will increase the accuracy of predictive models, promote further species circumscription, improve the efficacy of conservation strategies, and help to ensure the sustainability of a valuable, sought-after spice.

中文翻译：

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利用大规模的生物多样性数据来推断香草（兰科）的当前分布

尽管香草是世界上最受欢迎的口味之一，但生产香草的香草（Vanilla planifolia）的原生分布仍然存在不确定性。为了更精确地限制这一具有重要经济意义的物种的原生地理范围，我们提出了一种新的基于景观的方法来整合来自开源数据库的信息并验证其发生情况。在这种方法中，我们根据限制植物分布的生物（传粉媒介和传播者的共存​​）和非生物（栖息地质量）因素，纳入了衡量栖息地适宜性和种群可持续性的指标。为了进一步验证结果分布中的发生情况，我们比较了形态相似的野生近缘种的存在，评估生态位的异质性并验证植物标本的正确识别。这种方法的结果表明 V. planifolia 的地理分布比以前认识的要大。我们假设人口从中美洲自然分散并在南美洲建立（在巴西的东南部限制）。认识到对该物种分布的改进估计将提高预测模型的准确性，促进进一步的物种限制，提高保护策略的有效性，并有助于确保有价值的、广受欢迎的香料的可持续性。我们假设人口从中美洲自然分散并在南美洲建立（在巴西的东南部限制）。认识到对该物种分布的改进估计将提高预测模型的准确性，促进进一步的物种限制，提高保护策略的有效性，并有助于确保有价值的、广受欢迎的香料的可持续性。我们假设人口从中美洲自然分散并在南美洲建立（在巴西的东南部限制）。认识到对该物种分布的改进估计将提高预测模型的准确性，促进进一步的物种限制，提高保护策略的有效性，并有助于确保有价值的、广受欢迎的香料的可持续性。