Identifying refugia and corridors under climate change conditions for the Sichuan snub‐nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus roxellana) in Hubei Province,China

Using a case study of an isolated management unit of Sichuan snub‐nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus roxellana), we assess the extent that climate change will impact the species’ habitat distribution in the current period and projected into the 2050s. We identify refugia that could maintain the population under climate change and determine dispersal paths for movement of the population to future suitable habitats. Hubei Province, China. We identified climate refugia and potential movements by integrating bioclimatic models with circuit theory and least‐cost model for the current period (1960–1990) and the 2050s (2041–2060). We coupled a maximum entropy algorithm to predict suitable habitat for the current and projected future periods. Suitable habitat areas that were identified during both time periods and that also satisfied home range and dispersal distance conditions were delineated as refugia. We mapped potential movements measured as current flow and linked current and future habitats using least‐cost corridors. Our results indicate up to 1,119 km² of currently suitable habitat within the study range. Based on our projections, a habitat loss of 67.2% due to climate change may occur by the 2050s, resulting in a reduced suitable habitat area of 406 km² and very little new habitat. The refugia areas amounted to 286 km² and were located in Shennongjia National Park and Badong Natural Reserve. Several connecting corridors between the current and future habitats, which are important for potential movements, were identified. Our assessment of the species predicted a trajectory of habitat loss following anticipated future climate change. We believe conservation efforts should focus on refugia and corridors when planning for future species management. This study will assist conservationists in determining high‐priority regions for effective maintenance of the endangered population under climate change and will encourage increased habitat connectivity.     

The impact of climate change on the distribution of rare and endangered tree Firmiana kwangsiensis using the Maxent modeling

The upsurge in anthropogenic climate change has accelerated the habitat loss and fragmentation of wild animals and plants. The rare and endangered plants are important biodiversity elements. However, the lack of comprehensive and reliable information on the spatial distribution of these organisms has hampered holistic and efficient conservation management measures. We explored the consequences of climate change on the geographical distribution of Firmiana kwangsiensis (Malvaceae), an endangered species, to provide a reference for conservation, introduction, and cultivation of this species in new ecological zones. Modeling of the potential distribution of F. kwangsiensis under the current and two future climate scenarios in maximum entropy was performed based on 30 occurrence records and 27 environmental variables of the plant. We found that precipitation‐associated and temperature‐associated variables limited the potentially suitable habitats for F. kwangsiensis. Our model predicted 259,504 km² of F. kwangsiensis habitat based on 25 percentile thresholds. However, the high suitable habitat for F. kwangsiensis is only about 41,027 km². F. kwangsiensis is most distributed in Guangxi''s protected areas. However, the existing reserves are only 2.7% of the total suitable habitat and 4.2% of the high suitable habitat for the plant, lower than the average protection area in Guangxi (7.2%). This means the current protected areas network is insufficient, underlining the need for alternative conservation mechanisms to protect the plant habitat. Our findings will help identify additional F. kwangsiensis localities and potential habitats and inform the development and implementation of conservation, management, and cultivation practices of such rare tree species.     

气候变化对丹顶鹤秋季迁徙路线潜在生境适宜性的影响

目前全球变暖趋势的加剧对丹顶鹤等大型濒危水禽的栖息地造成了严重的威胁。由于监测方法和技术手段的限制,丹顶鹤在迁徙路线上潜在生境的分布范围尚不清楚,气候变化对丹顶鹤迁徙路线生境适宜性的影响机理有待进一步研究。基于138个丹顶鹤样本分布信息和19种环境变量数据,利用 BIOMOD2 软件包构建了丹顶鹤潜在生境评价的组合模型,对丹顶鹤在亚洲东部秋季迁徙路线上的生境适宜性进行数值模拟,并预测SSP1.2-6气候背景下2021-2040年、2041-2060年、2061-2080年、2081-2100年四个不同阶段的丹顶鹤潜在生境范围的变化趋势。研究结果表明:与单模型的模拟结果相比,集成9种单模型的BIOMOD2组合模型预测精度更高。集成模型的重要性分析表明,气温日较差是丹顶鹤生境适宜性变化的最重要的影响因子。受气候变化的影响2021-2040年、2041-2060年、2061-2080年、2081-2100年丹顶鹤潜在生境的面积将分别减少到2.60×10⁵km²、2.58×10⁵km²、2.75×10⁵km²、2.56×10⁵km²,迁徙路线上胶东半岛和环渤海地区适栖生境面积减少的最为显著。本研究对于迁徙路线上珍稀水禽潜在适宜生境的模拟及全球变化背景下珍稀水禽栖息地的保育和修复具有重要意义。     

Future spatial distribution of Diaphorina citri in Mexico under climate change models

Climate change may modify environmental conditions creating suitable environments for phytopathogen vectors in places that were not suitable before. The present study aimed to contrast current and future spatial distribution of Diaphorina citri in Mexico under two climate change scenarios, Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSP) 4.5 and 8.5 for years 2050 and 2070. Non-correlated bioclimatic variables from eight General Circulation Models derived from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project-6 and presence point data were used to generate distribution models with MaxEnt. Future projections showed that current suitable areas, equivalent to a 38.6% of coverage persist across all scenarios, new suitability areas appear, and no reduction is expected. All the models coincide on a potential increase in relation to the current national distribution of 11.1, 14.8, 13.8 and 25.5% for SSP2 4.5–50 SSP2 4.5–70 SSP5 8.5–50, and SSP5 8.5–70 respectively. Most of the new areas are not currently dedicated to citriculture; however, an increase in the risk of Huanglongbing is expected because most of the new areas are contiguous to the current presence areas, and cover urban zones where there may exist rutaceous hosts, from which the vector may spread the disease to the production zones.     

The impact of climate change and potential distribution of the endangered white winged wood duck (Asarcornis scutulata, 1882) in Indian eastern Himalaya

The White-Winged Wood duck (Asarcornis scutulata) is an endangered forest wetland bird currently on the verge of extinction due to an array of anthropogenic pressures. It has been reported that global climate change could affect the distribution of many bird species globally. Therefore, an understanding the potential distribution of the White-Winged Wood duck in future climate scenarios could facilitate the creation of immediate conservation plans and the mitigation of subsequent threats. This is the first ever study on the distribution of White-Winged Wood Duck (WWWD) where Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 8.5 scenario was used to forecast the distribution of the WWWD in the Indian Eastern Himalayan region in the 2050s and 2070s. The study revealed that 1.87 % of the total area of IEH has the high potential distribution of WWWD. The state of Assam alone includes 1.68 % of the highly potential habitat in the region. It was predicted that 436.61 km² of highly potential habitat would be lost by 2070. Changes in the annual temperature range, precipitation in the wettest months (June to September), and precipitation decrease in the warmest quarter (October to December) would result in the loss of highly potential habitats. Under the influence of climate change, the habitat of WWWD in the eastern part of the region is likely to shift towards the western part. It was found that there will be a decline in potential habitat in the Indian states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Nagaland, and Tripura located in the IEH under future climate scenarios. The potential of areas located at the Bhutan and Assam border would increase for supporting WWWD as this species' requires the average annual precipitation about 1000–1200 mm. However, the simultaneous anthropogenic activity would further destroy potential habitats in the future. The current study has provided baseline data on the potential distribution of WWWD in the IEH region for immediate conservation management plans.     

Evaluation of habitat sustainability and vulnerability for beech (Fagus crenata) forests under 110 hypothetical climatic change scenarios in Japan

Questions: Are there any sustainable or vulnerable habitats in which beech (Fagus crenata) forests could survive in Japan under 110 hypothetical climate change scenarios? Location: Six islands of Japan on which beech grows naturally. Methods: An ecological habitat model was used to simulate the potential habitat shifts of beech forests under 110 climate change scenarios. The amount of suitable habitat loss and gain was calculated with three migration options and risk surfaces. Vulnerable and sustainable habitats were identified to evaluate the potential risks and survival of beech forests. Results: The total areas of potential suitable habitats differed considerably depending on the future temperature and precipitation changes. Some areas on the Sea of Japan (SOJ) side showed higher probability of maintaining suitable habitats, whereas there were wider areas in which suitable habitats could not persist under any of the 110 climate change scenarios. Conclusions: The risk surfaces of the suitable habitats showed that decreases in precipitation along with increases in temperature reduced the total areas of suitable habitats. Increases in precipitation with increases in temperature of more than or equal to 2°C always reduce the areas of suitable habitats. Under increased precipitation with a temperature increase of <2°C, the areas of suitable habitats showed an increase, maintenance of the status quo or a decrease, depending on the size of the increase in precipitation. Beech forests in western Japan are predicted to be vulnerable to climate change, whereas some mountains on the SOJ side are predicted to be possible future refugia.     

Identifying the habitat suitability and built-in corridors for Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus) movement in the northern highlands of Pakistan

Identifying habitat suitability and potential corridors are important tools for biodiversity conservation in the face of climate change. We modeled habitat suitability and simulated possible corridors for movement and gene flow among the Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus) population in the Northern Highlands of Pakistan (NHP). Results indicated that the areas of 13,923 km² and 21,931 km² suitable for the Asiatic black bear under current and future scenarios respectively. Under the future scenario, we found an area of 12,657 km² (57.21%) as increase in suitable habitat (ISH_f) and 4649 km² (33.39%) area as a decrease in current suitable habitat (DSH_c). Our model predicted that about >65% (9274 km²) of the current suitable habitat as a climate refugia which is projected from the center to southeast east and northwest of the NHP primarily in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) and Pakistan Administered Kashmir (PAK). The attitudinal range of refugia was projected from 688 m to 4483 m with >56% at the elevations between 2001 m to 3000 m. A very small portion of suitable habitats (current suitable habitat = 2.75%, future suitable habitat = 5.11%) were projected under the protected areas. Maps connecting suitable habitats identified different regions delineated as important for the dispersal of Asiatic black bears, which mainly distributed in the PAK and KPK. Our results help informs conservation strategies and management plans for mitigating the impacts of climate change on Asiatic black bears in the NHP.     

Will climate change favor exotic grasses over native ecosystem engineer species in the Amazon Basin?

Several anthropic disturbances, including deforestation, fires, the building of roads and dams, have intensified in Amazon in last decades. These disturbances contribute to an increase in the occurrence and intensity of extreme events, such as more frequent floods and more severe droughts, due to climate change. Along the Amazonian rivers, aquatic herbaceous plants, mainly of the Poaceae family, are very abundant and produce up to three times more biomass than the adjacent flooded forests, and some are considered ecosystem engineers given their structuring role in these environments. Invasive grasses have spread through the Neotropics and are gradually entering the Amazon via the Arc of Deforestation. These invasive species often attain high coverage, suppress other species, and become dominant in both disturbed and pristine habitats. The aim of this study was to establish the current and future distribution patterns of two native ecosystem engineer species (Echinochloa polystachya and Paspalum fasciculatum) and two invasive species (Urochloa brizantha and Urochloa decumbens) in the Amazon Basin. To predict the future climate, we used three scenarios, namely SSP1–2.6, SSP3–7.0 and SSP5–8.5 for the years 2040, 2080 and 2100, to project climatically suitable areas. The current climatically suitable range for the native ecosystem engineer species was estimated at 33–35% of the Amazon Basin, while the invasive ones have a range of 53–84% in potential climatically suitable areas. A decrease in the areas of suitability of the two ecosystem engineer species, E. polystachya and P. fasciculatum, was observed in all scenarios and years, while only the invasive U. brizantha showed an increase in suitable areas in all years. These results raise concerns about the invasion of grasses with high aggressive potential that could result in the exclusion of native ecosystem engineer species and their ecological roles.     

气候变化和人类活动干扰下骆驼刺潜在分布格局变化特征

气候变化和人类活动是影响物种分布的最重要因素。骆驼刺是我国荒漠区的重要建群种,建群种的丧失将对荒漠生态系统产生严重损伤。因此预测气候变化和人类活动影响下骆驼刺适宜生境的变化特点对保护我国荒漠生态系统具有重要的意义。本研究采用61个骆驼分布点数据,和21个环境因子数据,运用最大熵模型（MaxEnt）预测骆驼刺当前在有、无人类活动干扰下的适宜生境分布,对影响其分布的环境因素进行了评估。并预测未来（2021-2040,2041-2060,2061-2080,2081-2100）四条共享社会经济路径（SSP126,SSP245,SSP370,SSP585）情景下,骆驼刺潜在分布区的变化特点。研究结果表明,在无人类活动干扰的情况下,骆驼刺适生区面积达132.29万km²,覆盖我国西北干旱区的大部分面积。年均降水量、最冷季度平均温、平均气温日较差、年均温、温度季节性、降水的季节性和高程被确定为影响骆驼刺潜在分布区的最重要因素。而在加入人类活动强度因素之后,骆驼刺适生区面积显著下降至71.31万km²,且呈现出破碎化状态。此时,年降水量、人类活动强度和高程是影响骆驼刺分布的最重要原因。在未来气候情景下,骆驼刺的适生区将产生一定的扩张。尤其在中高强迫（SSP370）和高强迫（SSP585）情景下,骆驼刺的适生面积将随时间推移产生显著的增加,且这种扩张主要向高纬度和高海拔地区发展。骆驼刺能保留大部分原有生境,仅在内蒙古中西部地区发生少量收缩。在气候变化条件下,骆驼刺能够在西北干旱区生存并扩张,故可将其作为防沙治沙的优良物种进行保护与开发。     

Habitat distribution modeling of endangered medicinal plant Picrorhiza kurroa (Royle ex Benth) under climate change scenarios in Uttarakhand Himalaya,India

Climate change has been the key factor in changing the alpine vegetation's habitat and causing it to migrate to higher latitudes. The present study aims to model the current and future potential habitat distribution of endangered medicinal plant Picrorhiza kurroa Royle ex Benth in Uttarakhand Himalaya using the maximum entropy (MaxEnt) modeling. We initially select twenty-two environmental variables (bioclimatic + topographic) got from the Fifty-four (54) species occurrence points, which were further reduced to nine variables to prevent multicollinearity. Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSP1–2.6 and SSP2–4.5) from the CMIP6 (BCC-CSM2-MR) climate model for the periods 2041–60 and 2061–80 were used to predict the current and future habitat distribution of P. kurroa. Results showed that the precipitation of the driest month (Bio 14; 33.8%), isothermality (Bio 3; 20.2%), mean temperature of warmest quarter (Bio 10; 12.7%), and temperature annual range (Bio 7; 12.2%) were the important bioclimatic variables influencing the habitat of P. kurroa. Overall, there is a decrease in the habitat of P. kurroa under climate change scenarios. The present results may prove insightful for the decision-makers to identify suitable sites in the wild for the further propagation of P. kurroa.     

中国东北地区12个建群树种对气候变化响应的MaxEnt模型分析

气候变化是当前全球生物多样性面临的最大威胁之一,对物种地理分布格局具有较大影响。东北森林物种丰富度较高,目前尚缺乏基于主要树种、未来不同气候模式的综合研究。基于12种建群树种的分布数据及23个环境变量（19个生物气候因子、土地利用类型、海拔、坡度、坡向）数据,应用MaxEnt模型首次对东北地区乔木树种在3种气候变化情景下（SSP126可持续路径、SSP245中间路径、SSP585化石燃料为主发展路径）的潜在丰富度分布格局、主导环境变量以及树种损失、获得和周转情况进行了预测。结果表明：不同未来气候情景下东北地区各树种的潜在分布变化存在差异,适生区面积减小的树种有：兴安落叶松、山杨、春榆、白桦、水曲柳、胡桃楸、蒙古栎、辽东桤木,减小幅度达到10%-30%;适生区面积变化不大的树种有：红皮云杉、樟子松、黄檗,多数情况下低、中和高适生区面积变化发生了抵消,导致总适生区面积变化不大;适生区增加的树种有：红松,增加幅度达20%左右。环境因素将影响东北地区乔木树种潜在适宜性分布,其中,降水因素对东北地区树种分布格局起关键作用,尤其是降水量季节性变化,是影响东北地区50%左右树种分布格局的主导环境因子。东北地区乔木树种在无迁移和SSP585气候情景下受威胁程度相对较高,而在SSP126气候情景下大多处于低风险状态;物种迁移假设的对物种受威胁程度的影响先于气候变化情景的影响,树种发生适度迁移能够缓解树种受威胁的状况。网格单元中物种损失和周转的预测表明,东北地区树种高周转率主要由树种高损失率造成,损失率较高的地区往往树种周转率也相对较高。预测气候变化对东北地区树木分布格局的影响,有助于制定更有效的气候变化适应策略,以促进东北地区树木的可持续发展。     

Climate change aggravates anthropogenic threats of the endangered savanna tree Pterocarpus erinaceus (Fabaceae) in Burkina Faso

Species distribution modelling is gaining popularity due to significant habitat shifts in many plant and animal species caused by climate change. This issue is particularly pressing for species that provide significant ecosystem goods and services. A prominent case is the valuable African rosewood tree (Pterocarpus erinaceus) that is threatened in sub-Saharan Africa, while its present distribution, habitat requirements and the impact of climate change are not fully understood. This native species naturally occurs in various savanna types, but anthropogenic interventions have considerably reduced its natural populations in the past decades. In this study, ensemble modelling was used to predict the current and future distribution potential of the species in Burkina Faso. Fifty-four environmental variables were selected to describe its distribution in the years 2050 and 2070 based on the greenhouse gas concentration trajectories RCP4.5 and 8.5, and the general circulation models CNRM-CM5 and HadGEM2-CC. A network of protected areas in Burkina Faso was also included to assess how many of the suitable habitats may contribute to the conservation of the species. The factors isothermality (31%), minimum temperature of coldest month (31%), pH in H₂O at horizon 0–5 cm (11%), silt content at horizon 60–100 cm (9.2%) and precipitation of warmest quarter (8%) were the most influential distribution drivers for the species. Under current climate conditions, potentially highly suitable habitats cover an area of 129,695 km², i.e., 47% of Burkina Faso. The projected distribution under RCP4.5 and 8.5 showed that this area will decrease, and that the decline of the species will be pronounced. The two models used in this study, forecast a habitat loss of up to 61% for P. erinaceus. Hence, development and implementation of a conservation programme are required to save the species in its native range. This study will help land managers prioritise areas for protection of the species, and avoid introducing it to inappropriate areas unless suitable conditions are artificially created through the management options applied.     

Predicting impacts of climate change on habitat connectivity of Kalopanax septemlobus in South Korea

Understanding the drivers of habitat distribution patterns and assessing habitat connectivity are crucial for conservation in the face of climate change. In this study, we examined a sparsely distributed tree species, Kalopanax septemlobus (Araliaceae), which has been heavily disturbed by human use in temperate forests of South Korea. We used maximum entropy distribution modeling (MaxEnt) to identify the climatic and topographic factors driving the distribution of the species. Then, we constructed habitat models under current and projected climate conditions for the year 2050 and evaluated changes in the extent and connectivity of the K. septemlobus habitat. Annual mean temperature and terrain slope were the two most important predictors of species distribution. Our models predicted the range shift of K. septemlobus toward higher elevations under medium-low and high emissions scenarios for 2050, with dramatic reductions in suitable habitat (51% and 85%, respectively). In addition, connectivity analysis indicated that climate change is expected to reduce future levels of habitat connectivity. Even under the Representative Construction Pathway (RCP) 4.5 medium-low warming scenario, the projected climate conditions will decrease habitat connectivity by 78%. Overall, suitable habitats for K. septemlobus populations will likely become more isolated depending on the severity of global warming. The approach presented here can be used to efficiently assess species and habitat vulnerability to climate change.     

气候变化情景下裸冠菊在中国的潜在适生区分布预测

外来入侵植物裸冠菊(Gymnocoronis spilanthoides)具有较强的入侵适应性能快速繁殖扩散,会对本土物种的生长繁殖及本地生态安全、景观格局等产生不良影响。基于265个有效分布点和7个环境变量,调整优化预测模型的调控倍频和特征组合参数,应用MaxEnt、ArcGIS、R软件预测当前和未来(2050s, 2070s)不同气候情景(SSP126, SSP245,SSP370, SSP585)下裸冠菊在中国的潜在地理分布,定量分析其适生区的空间变化及质心移动轨迹,最后采用受试者工作特征(ROC)曲线下面积(AUC)和测试遗漏率评估模型的精确性。未来气候模式选择中国国家气候中心开发的CMIP6中BCC-CSM2-MR。结果表明：(1)模型预测结果极准确,各组模型的AUC值均高于0.97;(2)最干季降水量(bio17)、最冷季度平均温(bio11)、温度季节性变化(bio4)和最暖季度平均降雨量(bio18)是影响裸冠菊地理分布的主导气候因子;(3)当前气候条件下,裸冠菊的总适生区面积达到191.18×10⁴km²,约占国土总面积的1...     

气候变化背景下青藏高原藏羚羊生境时空格局演变

气候变化可能导致物种分布范围变化甚至导致物种灭绝。为了解气候变化对青藏高原旗舰种和濒危种-藏羚羊（Pantholops hodgsonii）的潜在分布区影响,收集了316个藏羚羊实际点位分布数据和70个文献点位分布数据与温度季节性变化（Bio4）,海拔,最干月降雨（Bio14）等9个影响因子,采用最大熵模型（MaxEnt）进行建模,预测SSP126、SSP585极端压迫情景和SSP245中间压迫情景下的T1（2001-2018年）,T2（2021-2040年）,T3（2041-2060年）,T4（2061-2080年）,T5（2081-2100年）5个时期的潜在分布区。研究结果表明：（1）在不同气候变化情景下,藏羚羊核心生境主要分布在可可西里、羌塘、阿尔金国家级自然保护区和三江源国家公园;（2）温度季节性变化（Bio4）和海拔被认为是最关键的两个环境因子;（3）随着温室气体排放强度的增强,藏羚羊的核心区生境向高海拔和高纬度地区扩张;（4）有43.18%的保护空缺区在保护区外,未受到有效保护。总之,研究藏羚羊的地理分布对于气候变化的响应与适应,根据适宜生境演变规律做出有效的保护措施,对藏羚羊种群的长期监测、保护、有效管理甚至重建具有重要现实意义。     

Predicting the distributions of predator (snow leopard) and prey (blue sheep) under climate change in the Himalaya

Future climate change is likely to affect distributions of species, disrupt biotic interactions, and cause spatial incongruity of predator–prey habitats. Understanding the impacts of future climate change on species distribution will help in the formulation of conservation policies to reduce the risks of future biodiversity losses. Using a species distribution modeling approach by MaxEnt, we modeled current and future distributions of snow leopard (Panthera uncia) and its common prey, blue sheep (Pseudois nayaur), and observed the changes in niche overlap in the Nepal Himalaya. Annual mean temperature is the major climatic factor responsible for the snow leopard and blue sheep distributions in the energy‐deficient environments of high altitudes. Currently, about 15.32% and 15.93% area of the Nepal Himalaya are suitable for snow leopard and blue sheep habitats, respectively. The bioclimatic models show that the current suitable habitats of both snow leopard and blue sheep will be reduced under future climate change. The predicted suitable habitat of the snow leopard is decreased when blue sheep habitats is incorporated in the model. Our climate‐only model shows that only 11.64% (17,190 km²) area of Nepal is suitable for the snow leopard under current climate and the suitable habitat reduces to 5,435 km² (reduced by 24.02%) after incorporating the predicted distribution of blue sheep. The predicted distribution of snow leopard reduces by 14.57% in 2030 and by 21.57% in 2050 when the predicted distribution of blue sheep is included as compared to 1.98% reduction in 2030 and 3.80% reduction in 2050 based on the climate‐only model. It is predicted that future climate may alter the predator–prey spatial interaction inducing a lower degree of overlap and a higher degree of mismatch between snow leopard and blue sheep niches. This suggests increased energetic costs of finding preferred prey for snow leopards – a species already facing energetic constraints due to the limited dietary resources in its alpine habitat. Our findings provide valuable information for extension of protected areas in future.     

Habitat assessment of Marco Polo sheep (Ovis ammon polii) in Eastern Tajikistan: Modeling the effects of climate change

Identifying the factors predicting the high‐elevation suitable habitats of Central Asian argali wild sheep and how these suitable habitats are affected by the changing climate regimes could help address conservation and management efforts and identify future critical habitat for the species in eastern Tajikistan. This study used environmental niche models (ENMs) to map and compare potential present and future distributions of suitable environmental conditions for Marco Polo argali. Argali occurrence points were collected during field surveys conducted from 2009 to 2016. Our models showed that terrain ruggedness and annual mean temperature had strong correlations on argali distribution. We then used two greenhouse gas concentration trajectories (RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5) for two future time periods (2050 and 2070) to model the impacts of climate change on Marco Polo argali habitat. Results indicated a decline of suitable habitat with majority of losses observed at lower elevations (3,300–4,300 m). Models that considered all variables (climatic and nonclimatic) predicted losses of present suitable areas of 60.6% (6,928 km²) and 63.2% (7,219 km²) by 2050 and 2070, respectively. Results also showed averaged habitat gains of 46.2% (6,106 km²) at much higher elevations (4,500–6,900 m) and that elevational shifts of habitat use could occur in the future. Our results could provide information for conservation planning for this near threatened species in the region.     

Assessing the impact of land use and climate change on the evergreen broad-leaved species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Quercus acuta</Emphasis> in Japan

To assess the impact of Quercus acuta, a dominant species in the evergreen broad-leaved forests of Japan, and its habitat shifts as a result of climate change, we predicted the potential habitats under the current climate and two climate change scenarios using a random forest (RF). The presence/absence records of Q. acuta were extracted from the Phytosociological Relevè Data Base as response variables, and four climatic variables (warmth index, WI; minimum temperature of the coldest month, TMC; summer precipitation, PRS; and winter precipitation, PRW) were used as predictor variables. The mean decrease in the Gini criterion revealed that WI was the most influential factor followed by TMC. The RF revealed a considerable increase in potential habitats (PHs) under the climate change scenarios for 2081–2100 (RCM20, 180,141 km²; MIROC, 175,635 km²) relative to the current climate (150,542 km²). The land use variables were used for masking PH. The PH masked by land use (PHLU) was approximately half of the PH under the current conditions (74,567 km²). Under the climate change scenarios and 1 km migration options, the PHLU were not increased relative to its value under the current conditions. The distribution of Q. acuta was restricted by the northward shift in northern Honshu, but expanded as a result of the upward shift into the mountain areas of Western Japan. Habitat fragmentation reduced the ability of migration to respond to climate change in the lowland areas of Japan.     

Modeling impacts of climate change on the potential distribution of three endemic Aloe species critically endangered in East Africa

Climate change has had a significant impact on natural ecosystems and endemic species around the world and substantial impacts are expected in the future. As a result, knowing how climate change affects endemic species can help in putting forward the necessary conservation efforts. The use of niche modeling to predict changes in species distributions under different climate change scenarios is becoming a hot topic in biological conservation. This study aimed to use the global circulation model (CMIP5) to model the current distribution of suitable habitat for three critically endangered Aloe species endemic to Kenya and Tanzania in order to determine the impact of climate change on their suitable habitat in the years 2050 and 2070. We used two representative concentration pathways scenarios (RCP4.5 and RCP8.5) to project the contraction of suitable habitats for Aloe ballyi Reynolds, A. classenii Reynolds, and A. penduliflora Baker. Precipitation, temperature and environmental variables (Potential evapotranspiration, land cover, soil sedimentary and solar radiation) have had a significant impact on the current distribution of all the three species. Although suitable habitat expansion and contraction are predicted for all the species, loss of original suitable habitat is expected to be extensive. Climate change is expected to devastate >44% and 34% of the original habitats of A. ballyi and A. classenii respectively. Based on our findings, we propose that areas predicted to contract due to climate change should be designated as key protection zones for Aloe species conservation.     

气候变化条件下曲纹紫灰蝶在中国的潜在适生区预测

曲纹紫灰蝶(Chilades pandava)是一种以幼虫危害苏铁(Cycas revolute)嫩枝嫩叶的园林害虫,对苏铁的生长繁殖、生产者的经济效益以及城市园林的美观造成严重影响。基于曲纹紫灰蝶和苏铁的现存分布点,利用最大熵模型(MaxEnt)、ArcGIS、R软件对当前和未来气候条件下曲纹紫灰蝶在中国的潜在适生区分布及当前气候条件下寄主苏铁在中国的潜在适生区分布进行了预测,其中当前气候数据基于1970—2000年的历史数据,未来气候数据(2021—2040年、2041—2060年和2061—2080年)选择第六次国际耦合模式比较计划(CMIP6)中中国北京气候中心中等分辨率气候系统模式(BCC-CSM2-MR)下的3种共享社会经济路径(SSP126(属于低强迫情景), SSP370(属于中等至高等强迫情景), SSP585(属于高强迫情景))。结果表明：(1)模型预测结果非常好,各组模型的受试者工作特征(ROC)曲线下面积(AUC)值均高于0.95,昼夜温差月均值(bio2)、等温性(bio3)、最热季平均温度(bio10)、最湿月份降水量(bio13)是影响曲纹紫灰蝶分布的主导...