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=Volume 14 - 2023 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=Agastache rugosa (Fisch. & C. A. Mey.) Kuntze has been widely studied because of its high medicinal and edible value. Establishing the priority protected area of wild Agastache rugosa (Fisch. & C. A. Mey.) KuntzeA. rugosa can provide scientific basis for the protection of wild Agastache rugosa (Fisch. & C. A. Mey.) Kuntze and its germplasm resources. In this study, we predicted the potential suitability distribution area of Agastache rugosa (Fisch. & C. A. Mey.) KuntzeA. rugosa under the current and future climate scenarios with the MaxEnt model, and the dominant climate factors affecting the distribution of Agastache rugosa (Fisch. & C. A. Mey.) KuntzeA. rugosa were analyzed. Based on the above prediction results, we predicted the priority protected areas of Agastache rugosa (Fisch. & C. A. Mey.) KuntzeA. rugosa with the Marxan model. The results showed that Agastache rugosa (Fisch. & C. A. Mey.) KuntzeA. rugosa is mainly distributed in the eastern and central regions of China at present. In the future, the suitable area of Agastache rugosa (Fisch. & C. A. Mey.) KuntzeA. rugosa 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 Agastache rugosa (Fisch. & C. A. Mey.) KuntzeA. rugosa. The priority protected areas of Agastache rugosa (Fisch. & C. A. Mey.) KuntzeA. rugosa 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.