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Potential plant ranges are determined by algorithm, and known ranges are determined by records, including herbarium specimens and observations.
For each occurrence of a plant within an ecoregion, the Calflora algorithm collects these values:
- elevation
- precipitation
- summer high temperature
- winter low temperature
- temperature range
- accumulated temperature
- wet season
- growing season
- hardiness zone
This then produces a set of ecoregion-specific tolerances. The algorithm then considers every 30 arcsecond (approximately 170 acre) cell in that ecoregion. When the values of a cell are within ecoregion-specific tolerances, that cell is included in the potential habitat, or range.
Both methods involve extrapolating a plant's potential distribution from its current known distribution (blue dots on this map).
To see the potential range for any species, search for your plant of interest here, go to its Calflora taxon page, and click "Plant Range."
More on Calflora Plant Ranges.
Quiz: What does it mean when a watershed is highlighted in yellow vs. orange? Reply to this email with your response!
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