ABSTRACT

The genus Leptospermum (Myrtaceae) is widespread in Australia and contains several species that are of increasing interest to produce bioactive honey. Here, we used the Maxent algorithm to investigate bioclimatic, climatic, and soil variables as predictors for potential distributions of seven Leptospermum species that have been identified as useful for bioactive honey production in Australia (L. lanigerum, L. liversidgei, L. nitens, L. polygalifolium, L. scoparium, L. speciosum, and L. whitei). Bioclimatic and climatic variables, mainly those related to moist conditions, were the best predictors for the distribution of the species. Leptospermum lanigerum and L. scoparium were suitable species in areas in southwestern Australia and Tasmania, while L. polygalifolium was suitable for eastern Australia. For L. nitens, appropriate areas were found only in western and southern regions, whereas only border ranges in Queensland and New South Wales were considered suitable for L. liversidgei, L. speciosum, and L. whitei. Notably, the latter areas were identified as a potential ‘hotspot’ for Leptospermum species. Our study can assist the incipient Leptospermum honey industry in Australia in identifying suitable local species and the local maintenance requirements for the species chosen.

摘要

Leptospermum 属（桃金娘科）广泛分布于澳大利亚，其中包含几个对生产生物活性蜂蜜越来越感兴趣的物种。在这里，我们使用 Maxent 算法研究生物气候、气候和土壤变量，作为七种Leptospermum物种潜在分布的预测因子，这些物种已被确定为对澳大利亚的生物活性蜂蜜生产有用（L. lanigerum、L. liversidgei、L. nitens、L. polygalifolium、L. scoparium、L. speciosum和L. whitei). 生物气候和气候变量，主要是与潮湿条件有关的变量，是物种分布的最佳预测因子。Leptospermum lanigerum和L. scoparium适合澳大利亚西南部和塔斯马尼亚地区，而L. polygalifolium适合澳大利亚东部地区。对于L. nitens，仅在西部和南部地区发现了合适的区域，而只有昆士兰和新南威尔士州的边界范围被认为适合L. liversidgei、L. speciosum和L. whitei。值得注意的是，后者被确定为Leptospermum的潜在“热点”物种。我们的研究可以帮助澳大利亚刚刚起步的Leptospermum蜂蜜产业确定合适的当地物种和所选物种的当地维护要求。