Abstract:

【Objective】 Dogwoods (Cornus) are tree species with highly ornamental values that is highly popular in gardening, while species in group of East Asian grow extensively in natural in China. Ecological niche modeling can be used to analyze the distribution and the limiting environmental factors of East Asian dogwoods, which can provide a basis for protection and utilization of these resources. 【Method】 In this study, the MaxEnt model based on the data of 343 locations of East Asian dogwood samples and 19 environmental factors was used to predict the accuracy of the distribution area of this tree. 【Result】 According to the analysis results, the area under the curve (AUC) value was as high as 0.933, providing a high degree of accuracy. Regions with high distribution of East Asian dogwoods included the border of Sichuan and Yunnan (100°-104°E, 26°-27°N); western Sichuan (102°-103°E, 29°-32.5°N); southern Shannxi and the border areas of Shaanxi, Sichuan, Gansu and northern Guangxi (108°-112°E, 29°-32°N); the border areas of Hunan, Hubei and Chongqing (108°-112°E, 29°-32°N); the border areas of Fujian, Jiangxi and Zhejiang (117°-122°E, 25°-28°N); the border areas of Sichuan, Yunnan, and Guizhou (105°-108°E, 26°-27°N); and northern Guangdong, northern Guangxi, southern Hunan, and southern Jiangxi (110°-118°E, 25°-26°N). We found that the distribution of East Asian dogwoods in China were mainly influenced by environmental factors including seasonal precipitation, seasonal temperature variation, and low temperatures. 【Conclusion】 With the warming of the climate, area of distribution of East Asian dogwoods tends to be fragmented and reduced instead of continuous distribution. Our prediction may provide a scientific basis for germplasm protection, collection, and suitable area division of East Asian dogwoods.

Key words: Cornus, potential distribution region, environmental factor, MaxEnt modeling