Presenter: Ciro Mattina
Authors: Ciro Mattina, Clayton Visger, Ashley Egan
Faculty Advisor: Ashley Egan
Institution: Utah Valley University
Pediomelumparienseis a plant species native to the Grande Escalante Staircase region of southern Utah and is endemic to 13 known populations in two counties, Kane and Garfield, where it lives exclusively on the Carmel and Claron limestone formations. Our research aimed to answer the questions why doesparienseonly growin such a specific area? and what will happen to this species when affected by climate change? We addressedthese questions by compiling location data records ofpariensealong with more recent location informationto investigate the relative roles of climate, soil, and geographical features in theecological nicheof this species.Thishelpedgive us a better understanding of what features bestinfluencesthe distribution ofpariense,and usingthisknowledge,discusshow climate change mayaffect the future distribution and survivability of this species.Through our research,we not only give insightintothe nature of endemism,butalso createatemplate that other scientists can follow when studying plant species with a small data set.