Prediction of the potentially suitable areas of Eucommia ulmoides Oliver in China under climate change based on optimized Biomod2 and MaxEnt models

<i>Eucommia ulmoides</i> Oliver is a medicinal plant of significant economic importance. Its cortex has been employed for centuries to alleviate various conditions such as lumbar pain, knee pain, and osteoporosis. Additionally, <i>E. ulmoides</i> possesses substantial industrial value. With the growing demand for this medicinal herb, ensuring its sustainable supply has become imperative. Climate change has caused habitat restrictions or migration of medicinal plants. Therefore, predicting the impact of climate change on the distribution of <i>E. ulmoides</i> is crucial for its conservation and sustainable use. This study evaluated the potential distribution of <i>E. ulmoides</i> across China under various climate change scenarios since the last interglacial period by modeling suitable areas based on 257 distribution records and 19 major environmental factors related to <i>E. ulmoides</i>. The model selection process initially identified the MaxEnt model as the most suitable. The optimized MaxEnt model, with RM = 2.0 and FC = LQHPT settings, generated the most precise predictions. Results indicate that the minimum temperature of the coldest month, annual mean temperature, and annual precipitation significantly affect the distribution of <i>E. ulmoides</i>. Under current environmental conditions, highly suitable areas for <i>E. ulmoides</i> are found in Southwest and Southeast China, with a total suitable habitat area of 23.12 × 10⁴ km². However, the range of suitable habitat has shifted due to global warming's negative impact. Under different climate scenarios, suitable areas for <i>E. ulmoides</i> have either increased or decreased, with expansions primarily in high-latitude regions. Future climate scenarios predict shifts in the centroid of suitable <i>E. ulmoides</i> habitat towards Yichang City in Hubei Province. The findings of this study support the development, artificial cultivation, and conservation of <i>E. ulmoides</i> resources.