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Assessing the Fate of Sphagnum Moss in the Hengduan Mountains under Climate Change
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  • Ning Shi,
  • Binghui Tian,
  • Jinniu Wang,
  • Xianlin Guo,
  • Lin Zhang,
  • Ning Wu,
  • Huai Chen,
  • Yan WU,
  • WenTao Du
Ning Shi
Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Binghui Tian
Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
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Jinniu Wang
Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Xianlin Guo
Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
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Lin Zhang
Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences
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Ning Wu
Chengdu Institute of Biology
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Huai Chen
Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
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Yan WU
Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
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WenTao Du
Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou
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Abstract

Climate change is one of the most serious challenges facing mankind. Sphagnum moss plays an important role in the carbon sink of peatland. Understanding the potential distribution of Sphagnum moss under climate change scenarios is critical for the conservation and rational exploitation of it. In this study, we divided the Hengduan Mountains (HDM) into east (EHDM) and west (WHDM) parts to see the difference between the whole and the parts, and understand the effects of integrity and connectivity of the landscape on species distribution. Since no enough occurrence data in EHDM, we applied the occurrence data in WHDM. Then, MaxEnt model was employed to predict the potential distribution of Sphagnum moss and computed the migratory paths of the distribution center points. We found precipitation in the coldest quarter, daily range of average temperature, isothermality and slope were the main factors affecting the suitable habitat for Sphagnum moss in HDM and WHDM. In HDM, the current potential suitable habitat is 2.6×104 km2, and will increase over 8 times and tend to shift northeastward and higher elevations in the future. In WHDM, the suitable area is 1.06×104 km2, but will decline exceeds 70% under most future climate scenarios, and tend to shift southward and lower elevations. Landscape integrity and connectivity have a great impact on the distribution of HDM Sphagnum moss species. Overall, our findings provide a reference for the conservation and management of Sphagnum moss.
07 Jun 2023Submitted to ESS Open Archive
07 Jun 2023Published in ESS Open Archive