Application of Ecological Niche Modelling in the analysis of environmental suitability and risk of extinction in Cnidaria: a case study of Ceriantharia

Abstract

The phylum Cnidaria (Hatschek, 1888) is one of the most diverse group of marine invertebrates containing more than 10000 species, subdivided into Anthozoa and Medusozoa. The phylum is marked by peculiar ecological, behavioral, and life cycle characteristics, making the study of the group complex. One example of complexity is the distribution of the Ceriantharia subgroup, which, although widely distributed, has species with little or no information regarding life cycle, distribution and niche patterns. Given this problem, this project aims to apply the technique of Ecological Niche Modeling to five genera of Ceriantharia distributed in the Atlantic Ocean in order to trace the important environmental components for their distribution, as well as to assess the potential risk of extinction of the species based on the projection of models on future scenarios of climate change. The results are expected to contribute not only to the conservation of Ceriantharia, but also to increase the knowledge of distribution patterns and environmental determinants for the group.