Biodiversity Hotspots for Conservation of Hancornia speciosa GOMES

Abstract Hancornia speciosa is the target of research on genetic diversity, ethnobotanical and medicinal studies. However, information on the genetic variability of populations associated with modeling the potential distribution in the state of Sergipe has not yet been performed. The objective of this study was to predict the potential occurrence of H. speciosa in areas of high use of their fruits. The maximum entropy method was used to detect the distribution patterns of H. speciosa in variable environments. The diversity of four natural populations, situated in areas of extractivist, was determined by ISSR molecular markers. The species occurs more densely in the coastal regions of Sergipe. The prediction of occurrence indicates that the species reduces areas of occurrence, mainly due to anthropic actions. It is suggested that the species needs public policies aimed at its conservation and the priority populations for conservation.