Given the high richness and importance of Paspalum for the flora of Pernambuco, this work aims to describe the distribution of species of this genus in the state and contribute to the identification and understanding of the environmental factors that influence the distribution of the species and its conservation. With the DIVA-GIS software, maps were developed of the following parameters: species distribution, overlay of species richness by phytogeographic subdivision and a model to predict the areas with favorable climatic conditions for the establishment of the examined species. The species documented with three or fewer records and/or restricted to one location were classified as rare. Paspalum occurs widely in Pernambuco, but the distribution of most species is limited by increased seasonality in the east-to-west direction. In the region that includes the restinga, mata úmida, mata seca and agreste subzones all analyzed species are found. The subzone of the mata úmida (moist forest) had the largest number of species, followed by restinga (coastal) and the subzone agreste (transition zone between moist and semi-arid regions). The modeling revealed two regions with optimal environmental conditions for the species. These areas are susceptible to human action. Twelve species were classified as rare, occurring mainly in the more humid regions where an area was identified with optimal conditions for the establishment of populations of many species.
DIVA-GIS; Geographic Information System; grasses; modeled distribution
