Author(s): Yujun Yi, Yang Zhou
Linked Author(s): Yujun Yi
Keywords: Climate change, habitat suitability simulation, Maxent, Homonoia riparia Lour, dam
Abstract: Climate change and dam construction give pressure on riparian plants. Here, a quantitative prediction of their influence on riparian species was executed. Homonoia riparia (H. riparia) Lour, a medicinal plant with high ecological and economic value, is a riparian plant and native to Yunnan Province, China. Its population has declined significantly and the species has become locally endangered in recent decades. In order to evaluate the habitat of H. riparia Lour, a habitat suitability model was established. Based on the habitat requirements of this species, the key eco-factors influencing species distribution were selected. One positional variable, three topographic variables and eight bioclimatic variables were employed to model its distribution and potential habitat. Owing to the advantages of using presence-only data, small sample sizes and gaps, and performing well with incomplete data, a MAXENT model was employed to simulate the habitat suitability distribution. The results show that seven variables, namely, annual mean temperature, altitude, precipitation seasonality, precipitation of coldest quarter, the distance to the nearest river, temperature seasonality, and precipitation during the driest month, are the significant factors to determine H. riparia Lour's suitable habitat. Habitat suitability for three historical periods and two future climate warming scenarios were calculated. The habitat suitability of H. riparia Lour in Yunnan Province is predicted to improve with global warming. The number of dams, backwater area, and water level fluctuation range were the key factors influencing the habitat fragmentation
Year: 2017