Evaluating the Impact of Climate Change on the Asia Habitat Suitability of <i>Troides helena</i> Using the MaxEnt Model
Butterflies are highly sensitive to climate change, and <i>Troides helena</i>, as an endangered butterfly species, is also affected by these changes. To enhance the conservation of <i>T. helena</i> and effectively plan its protected areas, it is crucial to understand the pote...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Insects |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/16/1/79 |
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| Summary: | Butterflies are highly sensitive to climate change, and <i>Troides helena</i>, as an endangered butterfly species, is also affected by these changes. To enhance the conservation of <i>T. helena</i> and effectively plan its protected areas, it is crucial to understand the potential impacts of climate change on its distribution. This study utilized a MaxEnt model in combination with ArcGIS technology to predict the global potential suitable habitats of <i>T. helena</i> under current and future climate conditions, using the species’ distribution data and relevant environmental variables. The results indicated that the MaxEnt model provided a good prediction accuracy for the distribution of <i>T. helena</i>. Under the current climate scenario, the species is primarily distributed in tropical regions, with high suitability areas concentrated in tropical rainforest climates. In future climate scenarios, the suitable habitat areas for <i>T. helena</i> in medium and high suitability categories generally show an expansion trend, which increases over time. Especially under the SSP5-8.5 scenario, by the 2090s, the area of high suitability for <i>T. helena</i> is projected to increase by 42.85%. The analysis of key environmental factors revealed that precipitation of the wettest quarter (Bio16) was the most significant environmental factor affecting the distribution of <i>T. helena</i>. The species has high demands for precipitation and temperature and can adapt to future climate warming. This study is valuable for identifying the optimal conservation areas for <i>T. helena</i> and provides a reference for future conservation efforts. |
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| ISSN: | 2075-4450 |