Potential distribution of Blumea balsamifera in China using MaxEnt and the ex situ conservation based on its effective components and fresh leaf yield

Blumea balsamifera is a famous Chinese Minority Medicine, which has a long history in Miao, Li, Zhuang, and other minority areas. In recent years, due to the influence of natural and human factors, the distribution area of B. balsamifera resources has a decreasing trend. Therefore, it is very important to analyze the suitability of B. balsamifera in China. Following three climate change scenarios (SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5, and SSP5-8.5) under 2050s and 2070s, geographic information technology (GIS) and maximum entropy model (MaxEnt) were used to simulate the ecological suitability of B. balsamifera. The contents of L-borneol and total flavonoids of B. balsamifera in different populations were determined by gas chromatography (GC) and ultraviolet spectrophotometry (UV). The results showed that the key environmental variables affecting the distribution of B. balsamifera were mean temperature of coldest quarter (6.18-26.57 celcius), precipitation of driest quarter (22.46-169.7 mm), annual precipitation (518.36-1845.29 mm), and temperature seasonality (291.31-878.87). Under current climate situation, the highly suitable habitat was mainly located western Guangxi, southern Yunnan, most of Hainan, southwestern Guizhou, southwestern Guangdong, southeastern Fujian, and western Taiwan, with a total area of 24.1 x 10(4) km(2). The areas of the moderately and poorly suitable habitats were 27.57 x 10(4) km(2) and 42.43 x 10(4) km(2), respectively. Under the future climate change scenarios, the areas of the highly, moderately, and poorly suitable habitats of B. balsamifera showed a significant increasing trend, the geometric center of the total suitable habitats of B. balsamifera would move to the northeast. In recent years, the planting area of B. balsamifera has been reduced on a large scale in Guizhou, and its ex situ protection is imperative. By comparison, the content of L-borneol, total flavonoids and fresh leaf yield had no significant difference between Guizhou and Hainan (P > 0.05), which indicated that Hainan is one of the best choice for ex situ protection of B. balsamifera.

Automated summary

This study used geographic information technology and maximum entropy model to analyze the ecological suitability of Blumea balsamifera under different climate scenarios. The results showed that the distribution of B. balsamifera is influenced by temperature, precipitation, and temperature seasonality. Under future climate change, the suitable habitats of B. balsamifera will increase and shift to the northeast. The study also found that Hainan is the best choice for ex situ protection of B. balsamifera.