Predicting the potential distribution of Taxussumatrana using Maximum Entropy Model

Abstract

Taxussumatrana as the medicinal plant is noted as endangered species. As a potential medicinal plant, conservation act is important. This study aims to identify the environmental variablesthat contributes to T. sumatrana distribution and predict the potential areas for T.sumatrana conservation area. The Maximum Entropy (Maxent) was applied to model the species distribution. The presence of T. sumatrana was collected from 77 locations across the Sumatra. Climate and biophysical variables were used to determine the potential distribution of species. The results showed that a minimum temperature of coldest months has the highest permutation importanceby 66.3% while the highest contribution variable was altitude by 48.1%. Soil type has an important value that is not presented in other variables. Potential regions for T. sumatrana distribution were: North Sumatra (Karo, Dairi, Toba Samosir, and Simalungun District), West Sumatra (Agam, Tanah Datar, SawahLunto and Solok District), Jambi (Bungo, Merangin and Kerinci District), Bengkulu (Bengkulu Utara), and South Sumatra (Lahat District). The potential environmental condition for T. sumatranais 1,500m above sea level and upper, minimum temperature of the coldest month below 100C with precipitation in the driest month between 50-70 mm/month. The species is potentially found in Humid Andosol and Vitric Andosol soil types.