Response of abundance distribution of five species of Quercus to climate change in northern China

Abstract

Aims To develop a statistically appropriate species distribution model for the abundance of five species from Quercus in the northern China, and to predict the change of abundance under climate change. Methods We surveyed abundance data of five Quercus species from 1 045 plots in the northern China, and then fit the abundance with climatic variables using random forest model (RF). We then predict the abundance of these five Quercus species in 2050 and 2070 under Representation Concentration Pathways (RCP) 2.6 and 8.5. Important findings The change magnitudes of abundance for all 5 species under RCP 8.5 were larger than under RCP 2.6. Except for Quercus variabilis, abundances of other four species declined under climate change to 2050 and 2070 in more than half of the current distribution areas. Moreover, the northeastern part of Nei Mongol and the northern part of Heilongjiang will be the hotspots of decrease of abundance. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen the monitoring and species protection in the areas mentioned above with the increasing threaten of climate change.