Forecasting of Grasslands Distribution on Mount Zireia Using Ecological Niche Modeling and Future Climatic Scenarios
Grassland ecosystems cover a high percentage of the terrestrial habitats of Earth and support the livelihood and well-being of at least one-fifth of the human population. Climate change and human activities are causing increasing pressure on arid and semi-arid regions. Land use/cover change signific...
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MDPI AG
2024-12-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/12/2126 |
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| author | Maria Karatassiou Afroditi Stergiou Dimitrios Chouvardas Mohamed Tarhouni Athanasios Ragkos |
| author_facet | Maria Karatassiou Afroditi Stergiou Dimitrios Chouvardas Mohamed Tarhouni Athanasios Ragkos |
| author_sort | Maria Karatassiou |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Grassland ecosystems cover a high percentage of the terrestrial habitats of Earth and support the livelihood and well-being of at least one-fifth of the human population. Climate change and human activities are causing increasing pressure on arid and semi-arid regions. Land use/cover change significantly affects the function and distribution of grasslands, showing diverse patterns across space and time. The study investigated the spatial distribution of grasslands of Mount Zireia (Peloponnesus, Greece) using MaxEnt modeling based on CMIP6 models (CNRM-CM6 and CCMCC-ESM2) and two Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSP 245 and SSP 585) covering the period of 1970–2100. The results from the current (1970–2000) and several future periods (2020–2100) revealed that the MaxEnt model provided highly accurate forecasts. The grassland distribution was found to be significantly impacted by climate change, with impacts varying by period, scenario, and climate model used. In particular, the CNRM-CM6-1 model forecasts a substantial increase in grasslands at higher elevations up to 2100 m asl. The research emphasizes the importance of exploring the combined impacts of climate change and grazing intensity on land use and cover changes in mountainous grasslands. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8a7aa6e16cf84e8b8608ae189f961ee8 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2073-445X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Land |
| spelling | doaj-art-8a7aa6e16cf84e8b8608ae189f961ee82025-08-20T02:53:34ZengMDPI AGLand2073-445X2024-12-011312212610.3390/land13122126Forecasting of Grasslands Distribution on Mount Zireia Using Ecological Niche Modeling and Future Climatic ScenariosMaria Karatassiou0Afroditi Stergiou1Dimitrios Chouvardas2Mohamed Tarhouni3Athanasios Ragkos4Laboratory of Rangeland Ecology, School of Forestry and Natural Environment, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, P.O. Box 286, 54124 Thessaloniki, GreeceLaboratory of Rangeland Ecology, School of Forestry and Natural Environment, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, P.O. Box 286, 54124 Thessaloniki, GreeceLaboratory of Rangeland Ecology, School of Forestry and Natural Environment, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, P.O. Box 286, 54124 Thessaloniki, GreecePastoral Ecosystems Spontaneous Plants and Associated Microorganisms Laboratory, Arid Regions Institute, University of Gabes, Route of Djerba km 22.5, Medenine 4100, TunisiaAgricultural Economics Research Institute, Hellenic Agricultural Organization—DIMITRA, Kourtidou 56–58, 11145 Athens, GreeceGrassland ecosystems cover a high percentage of the terrestrial habitats of Earth and support the livelihood and well-being of at least one-fifth of the human population. Climate change and human activities are causing increasing pressure on arid and semi-arid regions. Land use/cover change significantly affects the function and distribution of grasslands, showing diverse patterns across space and time. The study investigated the spatial distribution of grasslands of Mount Zireia (Peloponnesus, Greece) using MaxEnt modeling based on CMIP6 models (CNRM-CM6 and CCMCC-ESM2) and two Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSP 245 and SSP 585) covering the period of 1970–2100. The results from the current (1970–2000) and several future periods (2020–2100) revealed that the MaxEnt model provided highly accurate forecasts. The grassland distribution was found to be significantly impacted by climate change, with impacts varying by period, scenario, and climate model used. In particular, the CNRM-CM6-1 model forecasts a substantial increase in grasslands at higher elevations up to 2100 m asl. The research emphasizes the importance of exploring the combined impacts of climate change and grazing intensity on land use and cover changes in mountainous grasslands.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/12/2126MaxEnt modelShared Socioeconomic Pathwaysland use/cover changeclimate change |
| spellingShingle | Maria Karatassiou Afroditi Stergiou Dimitrios Chouvardas Mohamed Tarhouni Athanasios Ragkos Forecasting of Grasslands Distribution on Mount Zireia Using Ecological Niche Modeling and Future Climatic Scenarios Land MaxEnt model Shared Socioeconomic Pathways land use/cover change climate change |
| title | Forecasting of Grasslands Distribution on Mount Zireia Using Ecological Niche Modeling and Future Climatic Scenarios |
| title_full | Forecasting of Grasslands Distribution on Mount Zireia Using Ecological Niche Modeling and Future Climatic Scenarios |
| title_fullStr | Forecasting of Grasslands Distribution on Mount Zireia Using Ecological Niche Modeling and Future Climatic Scenarios |
| title_full_unstemmed | Forecasting of Grasslands Distribution on Mount Zireia Using Ecological Niche Modeling and Future Climatic Scenarios |
| title_short | Forecasting of Grasslands Distribution on Mount Zireia Using Ecological Niche Modeling and Future Climatic Scenarios |
| title_sort | forecasting of grasslands distribution on mount zireia using ecological niche modeling and future climatic scenarios |
| topic | MaxEnt model Shared Socioeconomic Pathways land use/cover change climate change |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/12/2126 |
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