AUTHOR=Wang Yongji , Zhao Ruxia , Zhou Xueyong , Zhang Xiaolong , Zhao Guanghua , Zhang Fenguo 

TITLE=Prediction of potential distribution areas and priority protected areas of Agastache rugosa based on Maxent model and Marxan model

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Plant Science

VOLUME=14

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2023.1200796

DOI=10.3389/fpls.2023.1200796

ISSN=1664-462X

ABSTRACT=<p><italic>Agastache rugosa</italic> (Fisch. &amp; C. A. Mey.) Kuntze has been widely studied because of its high medicinal and edible value. Establishing the priority protected area of wild <italic>A. rugosa</italic> can provide scientific basis for the protection of germplasm resources. In this study, we predicted the potential suitability distribution area of <italic>A. rugosa</italic> under the current and future climate scenarios with the MaxEnt model, and the dominant climate factors affecting the distribution of <italic>A. rugosa</italic> were analyzed. Based on the above results, we predicted the priority protected areas of <italic>A. rugosa</italic> with the Marxan model. The results showed that <italic>A. rugosa</italic> is mainly distributed in the eastern and central regions of China at present. In future, the suitable area of <italic>A. rugosa</italic> will increase, otherwise a few areas will shrink back and migrate to the high latitude areas as a whole. Hydrothermal conditions are the main environmental factors affecting the distribution of <italic>A. rugosa</italic>. The priority protected areas of <italic>A. rugosa</italic> are mainly distributed in Chongqing, eastern Sichuan, southern Guizhou, western Hunan and Hubei and southwestern Shaanxi, which are basically consistent with the highly suitable areas predicted by Maxent model. The results of this study are of great significance for the protection and rational utilization of species of Agastache.</p>