TY - JOUR AU - Lorenzo, Consuelo AU - Carrillo-Reyes, Arturo AU - Rioja-Paradela, Tamara AU - Sántiz-López, Eugenia AU - Bolaños-Citalán, Jorge PY - 2019/12/01 Y2 - 2024/03/29 TI - Projected impact of global warming on the distribution of two pocket mouse species with implications on the conservation of Heteromys nelsoni (Rodentia: Heteromyidae) JF - Revista de Biología Tropical JA - Rev. Biol. Trop. VL - 67 IS - 6 SE - Articles DO - 10.15517/rbt.v67i6.36321 UR - https://revistas.ucr.ac.cr/index.php/rbt/article/view/36321 SP - 1210–1219 AB - <p>We explain through potential distributions and changes in altitudinal variation, the possible impacts of climate change in an endangered micro-endemic rodent of Mexico with narrow altitudinal range, <em>Heteromys nelsoni</em> and a rodent with a wide distributional and altitudinal range, <em>Heteromys goldmani</em>. We obtained historical and current records of both <em>Heteromys</em> species. Potential distribution models were generated using Maxent, including altitudes for each species and bioclimatic layers. We determined the Extent of Occurrence and Area of Occupancy for <em>H. nelsoni</em> according to the criteria of the IUCN in order to generate information about its risk status. The altitude is not a variable that determines a shift in the distribution caused by climate change. In contrast, the temperature and precipitation are important for the potential distribution of both <em>Heteromys</em> species. The future changes in climatic conditions will reduce the area of suitable habitat for <em>H. nelsoni</em> and will favor the presence of <em>H. goldmani</em>. The distribution surface is not greater than 33.44 km<sup>2</sup> for <em>H. nelsoni</em>. Therefore, is urgent to re-evaluate their conservation status by the IUCN, mainly in its B criterion, and to take specific actions for their conservation. We suggest the creation of a terrestrial protected area.</p> ER -