AUTHOR=Xian Xiaoqing , Zhao Haoxiang , Wang Rui , Zhang Hongbin , Chen Baoxiong , Huang Hongkun , Liu Wanxue , Wan Fanghao 

TITLE=Predicting the potential geographical distribution of Ageratina adenophora in China using equilibrium occurrence data and ensemble model

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution

VOLUME=10

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/ecology-and-evolution/articles/10.3389/fevo.2022.973371

DOI=10.3389/fevo.2022.973371

ISSN=2296-701X

ABSTRACT=<p>Invasive alien plants (IAPs) pose a significant threat to the ecological environment and agricultural production in China. <italic>Ageratina adenophora</italic> is one of the most aggressive IAPs in China and poses serious ecological and socioeconomic threats. Estimating the distribution pattern of <italic>A. adenophora</italic> in China can provide baseline data for preventing damage by this weed. In the present study, based on the equilibrium occurrence data of <italic>A. adenophora</italic> in China and related environmental variables, we used an ensemble model to predict the distribution pattern of <italic>A. adenophora</italic> in China under climate change. Our findings indicated that true skill statistic (TSS), area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC), and Cohen’s Kappa (KAPPA) values for the ensemble model were 0.925, 0.993, and 0.936, respectively. The prediction results of the ensemble model were more accurate than those of the single models. Temperature variables had a significant impact on the potential geographical distribution (PGD) of <italic>A. adenophora</italic> in China. The total, high, and moderate suitability habitat areas of <italic>A. adenophora</italic> in China were 153.82 × 10<sup>4</sup>, 92.13 × 10<sup>4</sup>, and 21.04 × 10<sup>4</sup> km<sup>2</sup>, respectively, accounting for 16.02, 9.60, and 2.19% of the Chinese mainland area, respectively. The PGD of <italic>A. adenophora</italic> in China under the current climate is mainly located in southwestern and southeastern China, which are located in the tropical and subtropical zone. The high-suitability habitat areas of <italic>A. adenophora</italic> decreased under the future climate scenarios, mainly by changing to moderately suitable habitats in Southwest China. The geographical distribution of <italic>A. adenophora</italic> in southwestern China is currently saturated and will spread to southeastern China under climate change in the future. More attention should be paid to early warning and monitoring of <italic>A. adenophora</italic> in southeastern China to prevent its further spread.</p>