Ecological Niche Modelling and Potential Distribution of <i>Artemisia sieberi</i> in the Iranian Steppe Vegetation
<i>Artemisia sieberi</i> Besser occurs in many parts of the Irano-Turanian floristic region, which is mostly distributed throughout the Iranian plateau, especially in Iran. This study aimed to identify the effect of the soil and topography variables on <i>A. sieberi</i> distr...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2022-12-01
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| Series: | Land |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/11/12/2315 |
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| author | Hamidreza Mirdavoudi Darush Ghorbanian Sedigheh Zarekia Javad Miri Soleiman Mashaalaah Ghonchepur Eileen Mac Sweeney Andrea Mastinu |
| author_facet | Hamidreza Mirdavoudi Darush Ghorbanian Sedigheh Zarekia Javad Miri Soleiman Mashaalaah Ghonchepur Eileen Mac Sweeney Andrea Mastinu |
| author_sort | Hamidreza Mirdavoudi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <i>Artemisia sieberi</i> Besser occurs in many parts of the Irano-Turanian floristic region, which is mostly distributed throughout the Iranian plateau, especially in Iran. This study aimed to identify the effect of the soil and topography variables on <i>A. sieberi</i> distribution. We used canopy cover data to fit models using generalized additive models (GAMs). The results showed that the response pattern of <i>A. sieberi</i> along with the gradient of soil clay, soil saturation moisture, soil nitrogen and soil acidity followed the monotonic increase model, and its canopy cover percentage augmented by increasing the values of the factors. Conversely, the <i>A. sieberi</i> canopy cover percentage decreased by increasing the amount of soil sand, bare soil and the geographic aspect. The <i>A. sieberi</i> responses are in contrast to the niche theory. The relationship between the species response pattern and the gradients of soil silt, soil salinity, lime percentage, organic carbon, altitude, land slope, litter, gravel percentage, stone percentage, mean annual precipitation and mean annual temperature followed a unimodal model (consistent with the niche theory). The optimal growth limits for these factors were 32%, 1.75 ds/m, 35%, 1.3%, 2000 m, 43%, 10%, 32%, 250 mm and 15 °C, respectively. Our results highlight that environmental factors, such as soil texture, amount of soil lime, mean annual precipitation, altitude and land slope, had quantifiable effects on the performance of <i>A. sieberi</i>. Our findings could provide useful information for improvement, restoration and conservation programs. However, a further comprehension of the species–environment relationship is needed to predict the effects of climate change on the species habitat. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T16:11:45Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-325be87d925c4ece8afcd6a48b1534c8 |
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| issn | 2073-445X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T16:11:45Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Land |
| spelling | doaj.art-325be87d925c4ece8afcd6a48b1534c82023-11-24T16:09:06ZengMDPI AGLand2073-445X2022-12-011112231510.3390/land11122315Ecological Niche Modelling and Potential Distribution of <i>Artemisia sieberi</i> in the Iranian Steppe VegetationHamidreza Mirdavoudi0Darush Ghorbanian1Sedigheh Zarekia2Javad Miri Soleiman3Mashaalaah Ghonchepur4Eileen Mac Sweeney5Andrea Mastinu6Forests and Rangelands Research Department, Markazi Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, AREEO, Arak 38135, IranForests and Rangelands Research Department, Semnan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, AREEO, Semnan 35131, IranForests and Rangelands Research Department, Yazd Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, AREEO, Yazd 89158, IranForests and Rangelands Research Department, North Khorasan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, AREEO, Bojnord 94714, IranForests and Rangelands Research Department, Kerman Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, AREEO, Kerman 78514, IranDepartment of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Division of Pharmacology, University of Brescia, Viale Europa 11, 25123 Brescia, ItalyDepartment of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Division of Pharmacology, University of Brescia, Viale Europa 11, 25123 Brescia, Italy<i>Artemisia sieberi</i> Besser occurs in many parts of the Irano-Turanian floristic region, which is mostly distributed throughout the Iranian plateau, especially in Iran. This study aimed to identify the effect of the soil and topography variables on <i>A. sieberi</i> distribution. We used canopy cover data to fit models using generalized additive models (GAMs). The results showed that the response pattern of <i>A. sieberi</i> along with the gradient of soil clay, soil saturation moisture, soil nitrogen and soil acidity followed the monotonic increase model, and its canopy cover percentage augmented by increasing the values of the factors. Conversely, the <i>A. sieberi</i> canopy cover percentage decreased by increasing the amount of soil sand, bare soil and the geographic aspect. The <i>A. sieberi</i> responses are in contrast to the niche theory. The relationship between the species response pattern and the gradients of soil silt, soil salinity, lime percentage, organic carbon, altitude, land slope, litter, gravel percentage, stone percentage, mean annual precipitation and mean annual temperature followed a unimodal model (consistent with the niche theory). The optimal growth limits for these factors were 32%, 1.75 ds/m, 35%, 1.3%, 2000 m, 43%, 10%, 32%, 250 mm and 15 °C, respectively. Our results highlight that environmental factors, such as soil texture, amount of soil lime, mean annual precipitation, altitude and land slope, had quantifiable effects on the performance of <i>A. sieberi</i>. Our findings could provide useful information for improvement, restoration and conservation programs. However, a further comprehension of the species–environment relationship is needed to predict the effects of climate change on the species habitat.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/11/12/2315canopy coverecological factorsGeneralized Additive ModelsIrano-Turanian regionoptimum growthspecies distribution |
| spellingShingle | Hamidreza Mirdavoudi Darush Ghorbanian Sedigheh Zarekia Javad Miri Soleiman Mashaalaah Ghonchepur Eileen Mac Sweeney Andrea Mastinu Ecological Niche Modelling and Potential Distribution of <i>Artemisia sieberi</i> in the Iranian Steppe Vegetation Land canopy cover ecological factors Generalized Additive Models Irano-Turanian region optimum growth species distribution |
| title | Ecological Niche Modelling and Potential Distribution of <i>Artemisia sieberi</i> in the Iranian Steppe Vegetation |
| title_full | Ecological Niche Modelling and Potential Distribution of <i>Artemisia sieberi</i> in the Iranian Steppe Vegetation |
| title_fullStr | Ecological Niche Modelling and Potential Distribution of <i>Artemisia sieberi</i> in the Iranian Steppe Vegetation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ecological Niche Modelling and Potential Distribution of <i>Artemisia sieberi</i> in the Iranian Steppe Vegetation |
| title_short | Ecological Niche Modelling and Potential Distribution of <i>Artemisia sieberi</i> in the Iranian Steppe Vegetation |
| title_sort | ecological niche modelling and potential distribution of i artemisia sieberi i in the iranian steppe vegetation |
| topic | canopy cover ecological factors Generalized Additive Models Irano-Turanian region optimum growth species distribution |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/11/12/2315 |
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