Habitat Suitability Analysis of Dendrobium flexicaule Using MaxEnt and InVEST Models

Wei Lin^1,2Chenjuan Ye²Xingjia Ming²Junsheng Qi¹Xiang Liu³Guochun Fan^1,2Jiaxin Liao⁴Yongde Wang^2*Xue Liu^2*

• ¹College of Life Science and Food Engineering, Chongqing Three Gorges University, Wanzhou, China
• ²Chongqing Key Laboratory of special Chinese Materia medica resources utilization and evaluation, Endangered Medicinal Breeding National Engineering Laboratory, Chongqing Academy of Chinese Materia Medica, Chongqing, China
• ³Chongqing Key Laboratory of special Chinese Materia medica resources utilization and evaluation, Endangered Medicinal Breeding National Engineering Laboratory，Daba mountain Medicinal Animals and Plants of Chengkou Observation and Research Station,, Chongqing Academy of Chinese Materia Medica, Chongqing, China
• ⁴Chongqing Daba Mountain National Nature Reserve Administration Center, Chongqing, China

The orchid species Dendrobium flexicaule (Z.H. Tsi et al.), endemic to China, is distinguished by its notable medicinal applications in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Determining priority conservation and development areas for D. flexicaule is essential for both safeguarding the species and guiding industry-related initiatives. This study employed the MaxEnt model to predict suitable habitats for D.flexicaule under varying climatic conditions. Building upon the high-suitability areas identified by Manxet, we further utilized the InVEST model to delineate high-quality habitat zones as key areas for conservation and development planning. Results revealed that D. flexicaule is primarily found in Sichuan, Chongqing, Guizhou, Henan, and Hubei. Future scenarios suggest an expansion of suitable habitats, with precipitation, temperature, and slope emerging as the dominant environmental drivers. Priority conservation zones cluster along the southern foothills of the Daba Mountains and the eastern edge of the Qinba Mountains, whereas priority development areas concentrate in the northern foothills of the Daba Mountains. Our analysis highlighted the critical influence of precipitation and temperature on the species' distribution, ultimately identifying priority conservation areas. This integrated approach provides a scientific foundation for the sustainable development of D. flexicaule.