Distribution Of Plants Research Articles

Old meets new: Innovative and evolving uses of herbaria over time as revealed by a literature review

Societal Impact StatementHerbaria, as collections of preserved plants, contain large amounts of data both in the labels and the specimens themselves, which can be applied in different study fields. A literature review was conducted to discover how the uses of herbaria have evolved over time since records began. This analysis revealed insights into how herbaria are presently used. Uses include traditional taxonomic review, as well as advanced technological tools, which are being applied to herbaria material to address societal and global challenges and therefore contribute to decision‐making in conservation.SummaryHerbaria as collections of preserved plants contain large amounts of data and prominent information, both on the labels and on the specimens themselves. There are 400 million specimens preserved in herbaria worldwide, with great potential for studies in conservation and effects of global change on plants. (1) In this paper, we investigate the array of herbaria uses through a systematic review of the scientific literature in SCOPUS covering the period 1842–2022. (2) We reviewed a total of 2900 papers and classified them in different areas of knowledge, as well as the taxonomic level studied. (3) Our results show that taxonomic use is the most relevant over time. This taxonomic use, together with the use as primary source of plant diversity data, is essential for documenting, planning, and acting on the conservation of threatened plants. Furthermore, our results have shown that new and diverse uses have emerged since 1990, mostly related to ecological issues, as herbaria provide a historical record of plant diversity and distribution, as well as their ecological and evolutionary responses, allowing scientists to track changes over time. (4) This contributes to improve the knowledge of biodiversity and to increase the effectiveness of conservation strategies and policies, which are a priority to address on going global change. Therefore, our study shows the relevance and potential of herbaria in ecology, including new or forthcoming uses, which are different from the uses originally intended by collectors. Thus, their preservation is critical as the unique and exceptional record for the knowledge of changes in biodiversity over space and time.

Biogeography of freshwater plants in four major lakes in Kenya

Freshwater plants play a pivotal role in the health and functioning of freshwater ecosystems, and they also offer a variety of benefits to humans. Despite their importance, there is a significant gap in our understanding of the macroecology of freshwater plants in tropical regions, where biodiversity is typically high, and ecosystems face substantial pressures from human activities. To bridge this knowledge gap, we conducted extensive field surveys and applied statistical methods to understand the patterns of distribution, density, and diversity of freshwater plants and their relationship with abiotic components in four freshwater lakes in Kenya. We aimed to answer four key questions: (1) How many freshwater plant species occur in these lakes? (2) What proportion of these freshwater plant species are native and alien to Kenya? (3) What proportion of these species have a history of being invasive somewhere in the world, including in Kenya? (4) Which water and sediment characteristics are significantly associated with the presence, density, and diversity of freshwater plants in the lakes? We inventoried a total of 163 freshwater plant species, of which 114 were native to Kenya and 49 were alien. Online database searches revealed that 114 species had a history of invasion globally, with 22 species already invasive in Kenya. Our statistical analysis showed that the presence and density of plant species were positively correlated with pH and turbidity, but negatively correlated with soluble reactive phosphorus in both water and sediments, ammonia-nitrogen in sediments, and nitrate-nitrogen in water. Shannon-Wiener diversity of the plant species was positively correlated with ammonia-nitrogen in water and nitrate-nitrogen in sediments but negatively correlated with longitude and electrical conductivity of the water. Pielou’s evenness within the communities showed positive correlations with soluble reactive phosphorus in both water and sediments, ammonia-nitrogen in sediments, and nitrate-nitrogen in water but was negatively correlated with water turbidity and pH. The number of species with a history of invasion was positively correlated with longitude and electrical conductivity but negatively correlated with ammonia-nitrogen and nitrate-nitrogen in water. This extensive inventory not only enriches our understanding of the biodiversity within these freshwater plant communities but also highlights the potential risks posed by species with a history of being invasive. The findings regarding environmental variables linked to the presence, density, diversity, and invasive potential of these species underscore the complexity of freshwater ecosystems and the array of factors influencing the composition of freshwater plant communities.

History of studying essential oil crops

The article provides a historical overview of the formation and development of the essential oil industry. The main attention is paid to the history of scientific research of essential oil and medicinal plants. Our ancestors may have instinctively selected certain herbs for healing, just as sick animals today seek out plants they wouldn't normally eat. Based on an analysis of the current state, the need has been determined and the priority tasks have been formed for a full-scale revival of essential oil production in the Russian Federation.The problem tatement: in the republics of the former USSR, a number of essential oil plants were cultivated: coriander, lavender, essential oil rose, sage and others. In the 1970-80s the area of cultivation of essential oil plants exceeded 200 thousand hectares. At the same time, the demand for essential oils and other essential oil products was not fully satisfied. With the collapse of the USSR, the essential oil industry declined. The growing areas for most of the essential oil crops ended up on the territory of the newly formed independent states. The cultivation and processing of essential oils in Russia decreased significantly.The goal of the research is substantiation and acquisition of knowledge about the history of emergence and development of essential oil plants, herbal medicine, active substances as a tool for developing a common problem and combining the scientific, industrial and innovative potential of all interested parties.The research methods used are source study, historical-typological and biographical methods. The research results: the opportunity to gain new knowledge about the history of the origin and distribution of essential oil plants, and the creation of a huge food base for animals and people.

Deciphering the impact of nitrogen morphologies distribution on nitrogen and biomass accumulation in tobacco plants.

Nitrogen (N) distribution in plants is intricately linked to key physiological functions, including respiration, photosynthesis, structural development, and nitrogen storage. However, the specific effects of different N morphologies on N accumulation and plant growth are poorly understood. Our research specifically focused on determining how different N morphologies affect N absorption and biomass accumulation. This study elucidated the impact of different application rates (CK: 0 g N/plant; T1: 4 g N/plant; T2: 8 g N/plant) of N fertilizer on N and biomass accumulation in tobacco cultivars Hongda and K326 at different growth stages. Our findings emphasize the critical role of N distribution in various plant parts, including leaves, stems, and roots, in determining the complex mechanisms of N and biomass accumulation in tobacco. We found that in relation to total N, a greater ratio of water-soluble N (N w) in leaves facilitated N accumulation in leaves. In contrast, an increased ratio of SDS (detergent)-insoluble N (N in-SDS) in leaves and non-protein N (N np) in roots hindered this increase. Additionally, our results indicate that a greater proportion of N np in leaves has a negative impact on biomass accumulation in leaves. Furthermore, elevated levels of N in-SDS, N w, and N np in roots, and N np in leaves adversely affected biomass accumulation in tobacco leaves. The Hongda cultivar exhibited greater biomass and N accumulation abilities as compared to K326. Our findings highlight the significant role of distribution of N morphologies on plant growth, as well as N and biomass accumulation in tobacco plants. Understanding N distribution allows farmers to optimize N application, minimizing environmental losses and maximizing yield for specific cultivars. These insights advance sustainable agriculture by promoting efficient resource use and reducing environmental impact.

Plant silicon content as a proxy for understanding plant community properties and ecosystem structure

AbstractSilicon (Si) content in plant tissues is considered a functional trait that can provide multiple morpho‐physiological benefits to plant individuals. However, it is still unclear whether and how these individual benefits extend to plant community processes and ecosystem functioning. Here we investigated how plant Si content is associated with plant community properties and the ecosystem structure of herbaceous communities in Israel. We sampled 15 sites across the Mediterranean and desert ecosystems and built models to evaluate how plant silicon content (community‐weighted mean and standard variation) is associated with variables such as species richness, biomass production, plant cover, and functional diversity. Finally, we used model selection techniques to test whether models depicting plant Si content perform better than models using data on soil Si instead. Sites with lower susceptibility to drought had significantly more Si‐accumulating grass species and higher soils Si content. Models with plant Si content instead of soil Si, always performed better, although those considering Si content variation had overall stronger associations with community properties than only mean Si content. For instance, up to 51% of plant Si content variation was explained by climate, biomass production, and species richness, combined. Still, mean plant Si content and plant cover combined explained up to 42% of plant functional diversity. Our results suggest the that plant Si content serves as a proxy for understanding the ecological properties and functioning of arid and Mediterranean ecosystems. Nevertheless, the significance of Si has not been fully explored in other ecosystem types, where its influence may be less pronounced compared with the ecosystems examined in this study. In light of various global change scenarios, enhancing our understanding of Si as a plant functional trait could help bridge existing knowledge gaps and improve ecological modeling, thus enabling more accurate forecasts of changes in plant distributions.

The niche through time: Considering phenology and demographic stages in plant distribution models

Abstract Species distribution models (SDMs) are widely used to infer species–environment relationships, predict spatial distributions and characterise species' environmental niches. While the importance of space and spatial scales is widely acknowledged in SDM applications, temporal components of the niche are rarely addressed. We discuss how phenology and demographic stages affect model inference in plant SDMs. Ignoring conspicuousness and timing of phenological stages may bias niche estimates through increased observer bias, while ignoring stand age may bias niche estimates through temporal mismatches with environmental variables, especially during times of rapid global warming. We present different methods to consider phenology and demographic stages in plant SDMs, including the selection of causal, spatiotemporally explicit predictors and the calibration of stage‐specific SDMs. Based on a case study with citizen science data, we illustrate how spatiotemporal SDMs provide deeper insights on the coincidence of range and phenological shifts under climate change. The proliferation of digitally available biodiversity and citizen science data increasingly allows considering time explicitly in SDMs. This offers a more mechanistic understanding of plant distributions, and more robust predictions under global change, especially if the reporting of phenological stages and age is facilitated and promoted by relevant data portals.

Current and future patterns of vascular plant species richness across a forest–grassland–desert transect in East Asia

AbstractQuestionsRapid climate change has profoundly altered the spatial distribution of terrestrial plants especially in arid and semi‐arid biomes. However, it remains poorly documented how climate shapes the current and future patterns of plant diversity within and across these vulnerable vegetation types.LocationParts of Mongolia, southeastern Russia, and northern China (94.78°–126.78°E, 34.60°–54.27°N).MethodsUsing a random forest model trained by a comprehensively compiled database on vascular plant species richness (i.e., the number of species within a defined plot area) and corresponding climate variables, soil conditions and vegetation types (forest, grassland, desert), we assessed the current pattern of vascular plant species richness across a typical forest–grassland–desert transect in East Asia. We further predicted future changes in vascular plant species richness under three climate scenarios (SSP1‐2.6, SSP3‐7.0, and SSP5‐8.5).ResultsVascular plant species richness generally showed a decrease from northeast to southwest across the transect, mainly explained by spatial variations in growing‐season precipitation and the minimum temperature of the coldest month. More than half of the transect area will likely experience a loss in vascular plant species richness in 2041–2070 under all three scenarios. The decrease in vascular plant species richness will likely occur in a smaller area under the low‐emission scenario (SSP1‐2.6). We also predict distinct changes in vascular plant species richness for different vegetation types, including a slight increase in forests but an overall decrease in both grasslands and deserts.ConclusionsOur findings suggest a dominant role of growing‐season precipitation in shaping the spatiotemporal patterns of vascular plant species richness across the forest–grassland–desert transect and highlight a risk of plant diversity loss in the regional dryland ecosystems in response to future climate change.

Spatial and Temporal Distribution of Water Plant Based on Satellite Imagery and the Effect in Jatiluhur Reservoir

Spatial and Temporal Distribution of Water Plant Based on Satellite Imagery and the Effect in Jatiluhur Reservoir

The Influence of Soil Physico-Mechanical Properties on Plant Growth and Subsoil Water Movement

Abstract Within the cutting-edge realm of Geotechnical Biology, the interplay between soil mechanics and biological systems has unveiled profound insights that align with the rural sustainability, forestry and agroecosystems. This inquiry, encompassing the role of soil characteristics and parameters in shaping plant behavior and root growth, creating a suction effect that draws water towards them and underscores the intricate relationships that govern soil-plant interactions. A numerical simulation was expertly dissected using Plaxis 2D software, particularly focused on understanding the complex behavior of root water uptake over time and the changing level of groundwater and its dynamics rhythm affected by the evolution of plants. The output results in our study have important implications for understanding the soil-plant system and the role of geotechnical processes in biological analyses. Our findings suggest that the stability and behavior of geotechnical systems can have a significant impact on plant growth and distribution, underscoring the importance of considering geotechnical processes in biological analyses.

Predictive Mapping of Soil Micronutrients Using Geographic Information System for Site Specific Management Interventions in a Semiarid Farm, India

Deficiency of soil micronutrients has an adverse impact on crop productivity in intensive agriculture. Plant availability, spatial pattern and distribution of soil micronutrients such as iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) content in surface soils were evaluated for an agricultural farm in semiarid region of India. Other soil properties viz. soil pH, electrical conductivity (EC), soil organic carbon (SOC) content and equivalent calcium carbonate (CaCO3) content at the farm were also analysed to depict the soil chemical environment, controlling micronutrient availability. Plant available micronutrient contents within farm soils had very high data variability (coefficient of variation >30%). Soil available micronutrients content were negatively correlated with soil pH and positively correlated with SOC content. As per semivariogram analysis, plant available Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu content within farm soils had moderate spatial dependency as indicated by nugget to sill ratio between 0.30 and 0.50 and had spatial parameter ranges of 404, 801, 954 and 1529 m, respectively. Prediction map of plant available Fe content by inverse distance weightage (IDW) method showed a few patches of iron deficiency (< 4.50 mg kg-1) and a marginal level (4.50 - 9.00 mg kg-1). Spatial distribution map of plant available Zn content through lognormal ordinary kriging method indicated a patch of marginal Zn level (0.60 - 1.20 mg kg-1) within the farm soils. Farm scale spatial variability maps of plant available Mn and Cu content, generated by ordinary kriging method with good accuracy and effectiveness, indicated its adequate level with respect to crop nutrition. The spatial distribution maps of soil available micronutrients content for the farm could be served as reference for its precise and site specific management for intensive crop cultivation, higher productivity and profitability.

Evaluating sustainability of Thalictrum petaloideum L., a peripheral population in Korea

Conservation of rare plants, both at the national level and the regional level is important to maintain and conserve plant diversity. This study focused on Thalictrum petaloideum L., an endangered species, for which the Korean peninsula represents the rear edge of the global distribution. T. petaloideum is distributed in isolated populations across four regions. Yeongwol, in Gangwon, had the largest extent of distribution (27,663 m2), the highest number of sub-populations (204), and the highest total population size (87,681), followed by Danyang, in Chungbuk (3970 m2/28/10,285), Samcheok, in Gangwon (3390 m2/13/3871), and Yeosu, in Jeolanam (800 m2/10/816), in descending order. The most stable population structure was found in Yeongwol. Yeosu was found to have the most unstable population structure and the highest risk of extinction. To ensure the sustainability of the population in Yeosu, artificial management of climbing plants, such as Pueraria lobata, is recommended to maintain spaces suitable for regeneration. In Yeongwol, the population is likely to be sustained over a long period. The maintenance of traditional graveyards is necessary to ensure the population’s sustainability. Further studies should assess the genetic characteristics of each regional population for an in-depth characterization of plant distribution on the Korean peninsula.

BiFPN-KPointNet-CBAM: Application of 3D Point Cloud Technology Based on Deep Learning in Measuring Vegetation

The results of traditional vegetation-measuring methods are mostly two-dimensional data, which can only convey limited information. The greening situation of many cities or regions in the world cannot be fully assessed by these results. In this regard, this paper proposes the use of the air–ground integrated point cloud data acquisition mode for measuring vegetation. This mode combines a backpack-mounted laser scanning system, a vehicle-mounted laser scanning system, and UAV tilt photography technology to collect greening data in a comprehensive park and along a municipal road in Guangzhou, China. To classify the collected greening data, we propose the BiFPN-KPointNet-CBAM model, which was derived from PointNet. The model was introduced to analyze the distribution of green plants in study areas. The experimental findings indicate that our model achieved a notable enhancement in the overall accuracy by approximately 8% compared with other state-of-the-art models. Compared with the traditional greening survey method, this method obtained three-dimensional and more accurate greening data, and thus, provides higher quality greening data for urban managers.

VACCINIUM OVALIFOLIUM SMITH. IN NATURAL CENOPOPULATIONS OF SAKHALIN

Background. Identification and study of selected forms of oval-leaved blueberry in natural coenopopulations of Sakhalin Island will create a favorable basis for modern breeding work. Purpose. The goal was to isolate and study selected forms of Vaccinium ovalifolium Smith. in natural coenopopulations of Sakhalin Island. Material and methods. The object of research was natural populations of Vaccinium ovalifolium growing on Sakhalin Island. The study of blueberries in natural habitats was carried out during expeditionary trips to the central and southern regions of Sakhalin in the period 2020-2022. Plants from 2 cenopopulations were studied for the distribution of blueberries in hard-to-reach places. Geobotanical descriptions of the vegetation of phytocenoses were carried out according to the generally accepted method of A.A. Poniatovskaya “Taking into account the abundance and nature of the distribution of plants in communities” (1964). The species composition of plant communities was determined within the detection area. The total projective cover (TPC) of the grass stand and the projective cover of the dominant species were determined by eye method, in %. We studied the endogenous variability of the following traits: the number of berries, the weight and size of one berry, the length and width of the leaf blade, the height and age of the bushes. A correlation analysis was carried out between morphological characteristics and yield characteristics in the trial plots. Height, age, maximum and minimum crown diameter, degree of fruiting, and number of berries were analyzed. Mathematical and statistical processing of research results was carried out according to generally accepted methods using Excel software. Results. The article is devoted to a new promising shrub for Russia, Vaccinium ovalifolium - a species of deciduous shrub from the genus Vaccinium of the Ericaceae family, a shrub up to 1.5-2 m tall. It blooms in May–June, the flowers are pink, up to 6 mm in size, the fruits are dark blue, often black with a waxy coating, ripen in August–September, the juice in the berries is clear, the taste is sweet and sour. The leaves are oblong - round or ovate, entire-marginal or with small ciliated teeth 2-5 cm long and 1-2.5 cm wide, matte, light green. Polymorphism of natural cenopopulations of V. ovalifolium during expeditionary surveys made it possible to identify several promising forms with economically valuable traits. In the process of phylogenesis of V. ovalifolium, ecologically resistant populations to the unfavorable environmental factors of Sakhalin Island were formed. Selected samples of V. ovalifolium with valuable pomological traits are currently propagated and grown on the territory of the Botanical Garden of the city of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk at the site of primary variety testing, to compare the resource value of local natural eco-genetic lines with the introduced, most common modern varieties of V. corymbosum. Experience has been laid in assessing selected forms of oval-leaved blueberries for agrotechnical techniques and agricultural conditions, with the subsequent development of technological recommendations for cultivation in an industrial garden in the conditions of Sakhalin Island. Conclusion. The polymorphism of natural cenopopulations of V. ovalifolium on Sakhalin Island was studied with the selection of promising forms that can be used for breeding purposes.

A dataset of the sugarcane planting distribution with the spatial resolution of 10 m in Guangxi from 2018 to 2020

The extraction of sugarcane planting distribution is the basis of crop monitoring. The extraction of timely and accurate sugarcane planting distribution is of great significance for monitoring sugarcane crops and making adjustments to the planting structure. Based on Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 data, in this paper, we adopted the active and passive remote sensing collaborative method and decision tree classification method to carry out research on the extraction method of sugarcane planting distribution in Guangxi. Then we verified the data by referring to multi-year survey ground sample data. On this basis, we produced dataset of the sugarcane planting distribution with the spatial resolution of 10 m in Guangxi from 2018 to 2020. The remote sensing extraction-based method yielded an overall accuracy of 92% for sugarcane planting distribution in Guangxi in 2018, with a Kappa coefficient of 0.8. The overall accuracy of sugarcane planting distribution in Guangxi in 2019 is 94%, with a Kappa coefficient 0.88; the overall accuracy of sugarcane planting distribution in Guangxi in 2020 is 94%, with a Kappa coefficient of 0.88. This dataset can be used as the basic data for the analysis of temporal and spatial changes of sugarcane in Guangxi. And it can also provide basic data support for the optimization and adjustment of sugarcane production management and planting structure in Guangxi.

Forest Orchids under Future Climate Scenarios: Habitat Suitability Modelling to Inform Conservation Strategies.

Orchidaceae is one of the largest and most diverse families of flowering plants in the world but also one of the most threatened. Climate change is a global driver of plant distribution and may be the cause of their disappearance in some regions. Forest orchids are associated with specific biotic and abiotic environmental factors, that influence their local presence/absence. Changes in these conditions can lead to significant differences in species distribution. We studied three forest orchids belonging to different genera (Cephalanthera, Epipactis and Limodorum) for their potential current and future distribution in a protected area (PA) of the Northern Apennines. A Habitat Suitability Model was constructed for each species based on presence-only data and the Maximum Entropy algorithm (MaxEnt) was used for the modelling. Climatic, edaphic, topographic, anthropogenic and land cover variables were used as environmental predictors and processed in the model. The aim is to identify the environmental factors that most influence the current species distribution and the areas that are likely to contain habitats suitable for providing refuge for forest orchids and ensuring their survival under future scenarios. This will allow PA authorities to decide whether to invest more resources in conserving areas that are potential refuges for threatened species.

Plant distribution, ecological traits and diversity patterns of vegetation in subtropical managed forests as guidelines for forest management policy

Plant distribution, ecological traits and diversity patterns of vegetation in subtropical managed forests as guidelines for forest management policy

Integrated assessment of crop planting suitability: A case study in the Hetao Irrigation District of China using HJ-1A/1B satellite data

The increasing demand for food due to population growth and climate change poses significant challenges to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal of zero hunger by 2030. A key aspect in overcoming these challenges is to determine appropriate planting patterns for various crops, aimed at enhancing regional-scale crop water productivity despite the constraints of limited water and land resources. Remote sensing data and models provide the possibility for accurately estimating water productivity of different crops on a regional scale, but studies on remote sensing-based assessments of regional crop water productivity and its applications in agricultural management are still limited. In this study, we present a satellite-based integrated approach to assess crop planting suitability based on regional crop water productivity estimation. Focusing on the Hetao Irrigation District (HID) in the upper Yellow River basin, a representative irrigation district in arid region of Northwest China, we first use remote sensing data (HJ-1A/1B) to estimate water productivity for the two major crops, maize and sunflower, within the HID from evapotranspiration and yield estimates. Additionally, we introduce a novel crop planting suitability index based on the frequency distribution of crop water productivity, facilitating the determination of appropriate crop planting patterns. Our findings reveal that Dengkou, the periphery of Hangjinhouqi, and the southern part of Linhe are optimal for maize cultivation, while Wuyuan and the northern part of Linhe are ideal for sunflower cultivation. This is attributed to higher water productivity levels for maize in Dengkou (2.46 kg/m³) and Linhe (2.15 kg/m³), and for sunflower in Wuyuan (0.86 kg/m³). Following the optimization of crop planting distribution, the average water productivity for maize and sunflower increases by 7.6 % and 5.0 %, respectively. The proposed method can be generalized to other regions, and the results offer valuable insights for local governments in decision-making to regulate cropping pattern and maximize regional crop water productivity.

Insights into the invasion of the moth catcher vine, Araujia sericifera (Apocynaceae), in South Africa

The moth catcher vine, Araujia sericifera Brotero (Apocynaceae), is a prevalent invader in many countries worldwide, where it has been reported to be a significant threat to biodiversity and agriculture. However, limited knowledge exists surrounding the ecology, invasion and impacts of A. sericifera in South Africa, challenging the implementation of management efforts. Therefore, this study sought to understand the vine's invasion within a South African context. To determine the density of A. sericifera in response to ecological and socio-economic predictors, its abundance along roads in 42 Johannesburg suburbs was measured. Additionally, A. sericifera abundance was recorded on foot within two nature reserves in Johannesburg, where density estimates were found to be 29 times higher than those obtained via roadside surveys. At a local scale, there was no evidence to indicate that vegetation, urban cover, and median household income influence A. sericifera density, suggesting that the vine establishes indiscriminately across Johannesburg. To determine whether this opportunistic behaviour was reflected in the vine's recruitment, its emergence rates in response to shaded and full-sun conditions were investigated. Seedling emergence was higher under shaded conditions (47.8%) than under full-sun (11%). Using MaxEnt models, environmental variables affecting the plant's distribution in South Africa were identified. Human disturbance had a permutation importance of 85.6%, indicating that A. sericifera's establishment is largely driven by disturbance. While A. sericifera appears to be in its lag phase of invasion and is unlikely to invade natural ecosystems in the short term, its abundance in the two nature reserves suggests that management should be prioritised during this lag phase, prior to its potential expansion into less-disturbed areas.

Ecological Adaptation and Sustainable Cultivation of Citrus reticulata by Applying Mixed Design Principles under Changing Climate in China

Climate change is heavily altering plant distributions, posing significant challenges to conventional agricultural practices and ecological balance. Meanwhile, mixed species planting emerges as a potent strategy to enhance agricultural resilience, counteract climate change, preserve ecological balance, and provide a solution to economic instability. The MaxEnt model was used to predict the suitable area of Citrus reticulata under five climate scenarios and to explore affecting environmental factors. Litchi chinensis, Punica granatum, and Lycium chinense were selected as mixed species to analyze the spatial distribution and centroid migration trend of potentially suitable areas. The research results show the following: (1) The primary environmental factors impacting C. reticulata distribution are annual precipitation (1000–4000 mm), precipitation of driest quarter over 100 mm, and mean temperature of coldest quarter (12–28 °C). Crucially, the mixed species exhibited similar environmental sensitivities, indicating mutual mixing suitability. (2) Currently, the C. reticulata suitable area is of 240.21 × 104 km2, primarily in South, East, Central, and Southwest China, with potential for expansion to 265.41 × 104 km2 under the 2090s SSP1-2.6 scenario. (3) The geometric center of the moderately-to-highly suitable areas for C. reticulata is located in Hunan Province. Future scenarios show the C. reticulata’s centroid migrating northwest, with distances of less than 110 km. Mixed planting trends toward higher latitudes, fluctuating from 6 km to 210 km. (4) Mixed planting area planning: C. reticulata and L. chinensis are suitable for mixed planting in South China. C. reticulata and P. granatum, C. reticulata and L. chinense are suitable for mixed planting in most areas of Central, East, Southwest, and South China. This research presents a new perspective on using mixed design principles for ecological adaptation and the sustainable mixed planting of C. reticulata, in response to China’s changing climate. This approach is expected to help the economic fruit tree industry enhance ecological resilience and economic stability in the face of future climate change challenges.

Land-cover change in Cuba and implications for the area of distribution of a specialist's host-plant.

Changes in land cover directly affect biodiversity. Here, we assessed land-cover change in Cuba in the past 35 years and analyzed how this change may affect the distribution of Omphalea plants and Urania boisduvalii moths. We analyzed the vegetation cover of the Cuban archipelago for 1985 and 2020. We used Google Earth Engine to classify two satellite image compositions into seven cover types: forest and shrubs, mangrove, soil without vegetation cover, wetlands, pine forest, agriculture, and water bodies. We considered four different areas for quantifications of land-cover change: (1) Cuban archipelago, (2) protected areas, (3) areas of potential distribution of Omphalea, and (4) areas of potential distribution of the plant within the protected areas. We found that "forest and shrubs", which is cover type in which Omphalea populations have been reported, has increased significantly in Cuba in the past 35 years, and that most of the gained forest and shrub areas were agricultural land in the past. This same pattern was observed in the areas of potential distribution of Omphalea; whereas almost all cover types were mostly stable inside the protected areas. The transformation of agricultural areas into forest and shrubs could represent an interesting opportunity for biodiversity conservation in Cuba. Other detailed studies about biodiversity composition in areas of forest and shrubs gain would greatly benefit our understanding of the value of such areas for conservation.