MaxEnt Modeling and Effects of Climate Change on Shifts in Habitat Suitability for <i>Sorbus alnifolia</i> in China

Anthropogenic climate change stands out as one of the primary forces expected to reshape Earth’s ecosystems and global biodiversity in the coming decades. <i>Sorbus alnifolia</i>, which occurs in deciduous forests, is valued for its ornamental appeal and practical uses but is reported to...

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Main Authors: Yan Luo, Jingshi Yang, Luping Liu, Keliang Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Plants
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/5/677
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author Yan Luo
Jingshi Yang
Luping Liu
Keliang Zhang
author_facet Yan Luo
Jingshi Yang
Luping Liu
Keliang Zhang
author_sort Yan Luo
collection DOAJ
description Anthropogenic climate change stands out as one of the primary forces expected to reshape Earth’s ecosystems and global biodiversity in the coming decades. <i>Sorbus alnifolia</i>, which occurs in deciduous forests, is valued for its ornamental appeal and practical uses but is reported to be declining in the wild. Nevertheless, the distribution of this species’ suitable range, along with the key ecological and environmental drivers that shape its habitat suitability, remains largely unknown. By analyzing 198 occurrence records and 54 environmental factors, we employed MaxEnt to project <i>S. alnifolia</i>’s current and future habitat suitability. Our results showed that annual precipitation (37.4%), normalized difference vegetation index (30.0%), August water vapor pressure (20.8%), and temperature annual range (3.4%) were the most significant variables explaining <i>S. alnifolia</i>’s environmental requirements. The suitable habitats were primarily scattered across eastern and central China. Under projected future climatic conditions, the total expanse of potential habitat is expected to increase. However, most of this expansion involves low-suitability habitats, whereas moderately and highly suitable habitats are likely to shrink, especially in southern and lower-altitude regions of China. Based on these findings, we propose several conservation strategies to support the long-term sustainability of <i>S. alnifolia</i>.
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spelling doaj-art-e96513bc76204267868e484cff5dff142025-08-20T02:52:48ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472025-02-0114567710.3390/plants14050677MaxEnt Modeling and Effects of Climate Change on Shifts in Habitat Suitability for <i>Sorbus alnifolia</i> in ChinaYan Luo0Jingshi Yang1Luping Liu2Keliang Zhang3College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, ChinaCollege of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, ChinaCollege of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, ChinaCollege of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, ChinaAnthropogenic climate change stands out as one of the primary forces expected to reshape Earth’s ecosystems and global biodiversity in the coming decades. <i>Sorbus alnifolia</i>, which occurs in deciduous forests, is valued for its ornamental appeal and practical uses but is reported to be declining in the wild. Nevertheless, the distribution of this species’ suitable range, along with the key ecological and environmental drivers that shape its habitat suitability, remains largely unknown. By analyzing 198 occurrence records and 54 environmental factors, we employed MaxEnt to project <i>S. alnifolia</i>’s current and future habitat suitability. Our results showed that annual precipitation (37.4%), normalized difference vegetation index (30.0%), August water vapor pressure (20.8%), and temperature annual range (3.4%) were the most significant variables explaining <i>S. alnifolia</i>’s environmental requirements. The suitable habitats were primarily scattered across eastern and central China. Under projected future climatic conditions, the total expanse of potential habitat is expected to increase. However, most of this expansion involves low-suitability habitats, whereas moderately and highly suitable habitats are likely to shrink, especially in southern and lower-altitude regions of China. Based on these findings, we propose several conservation strategies to support the long-term sustainability of <i>S. alnifolia</i>.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/5/677conservation strategiesenvironmental factorsfuture habitat shiftsRosaceaespecies distribution modeling
spellingShingle Yan Luo
Jingshi Yang
Luping Liu
Keliang Zhang
MaxEnt Modeling and Effects of Climate Change on Shifts in Habitat Suitability for <i>Sorbus alnifolia</i> in China
Plants
conservation strategies
environmental factors
future habitat shifts
Rosaceae
species distribution modeling
title MaxEnt Modeling and Effects of Climate Change on Shifts in Habitat Suitability for <i>Sorbus alnifolia</i> in China
title_full MaxEnt Modeling and Effects of Climate Change on Shifts in Habitat Suitability for <i>Sorbus alnifolia</i> in China
title_fullStr MaxEnt Modeling and Effects of Climate Change on Shifts in Habitat Suitability for <i>Sorbus alnifolia</i> in China
title_full_unstemmed MaxEnt Modeling and Effects of Climate Change on Shifts in Habitat Suitability for <i>Sorbus alnifolia</i> in China
title_short MaxEnt Modeling and Effects of Climate Change on Shifts in Habitat Suitability for <i>Sorbus alnifolia</i> in China
title_sort maxent modeling and effects of climate change on shifts in habitat suitability for i sorbus alnifolia i in china
topic conservation strategies
environmental factors
future habitat shifts
Rosaceae
species distribution modeling
url https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/5/677
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AT lupingliu maxentmodelingandeffectsofclimatechangeonshiftsinhabitatsuitabilityforisorbusalnifoliaiinchina
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