Habitat suitability maps for Rhododendron ponticum across Scotland as reservoir host for Phytophthora.

These spatial layers quantify the predicted habitat suitability for Rhododendron ponticum across Scotland. These layers were developed with reference to this species role as reservoir host for Phytophthora plant pathogens, but should have value for management of Rhododendron ponticum as a problematic invasive species. The models were developed by combining biological records of R. ponticum with climate, soil, elevation and woodland cover data. The dataset contains averaged estimates for R. ponticum presence, associated standard deviation for each estimate and locations where environmental conditions in the study region strayed too far from the training set data. This research was funded by the Scottish Government under research contract CR/2008/55, “Study of the epidemiology of Phytophthora ramorum and Phytophthora kernoviae in managed gardens and heathlands in Scotland“ and involved collaborators from St Andrews University, Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture (SASA), Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), Forest Research, Forestry Commission and Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (CEH).