Current and Future Potential Distribution of Wild Strawberry Species in the Biodiversity Hotspot of Yunnan Province, China

Abstract

Based on 243 current valid distribution records for six wild strawberry species in China and data on 20 environmental variables, the geographical distributions of and potentially suitable areas for the wild strawberry species in Yunnan Province (China) under the current climate scenario were explored using the MaxEnt model and ArcGIS software, and major environmental variables affecting their geographical distributions were evaluated. In addition, the spatio-temporal dynamic patterns of the suitable areas for the six wild strawberry species in Yunnan Province in the 2050s and 2070s under the two climate models of RCP2.6 and RCP8.5 were predicted. Under the current climate scenario, the six wild strawberry species have suitable areas in Yunnan Province, which were mainly distributed in the high-altitude and low-temperature regions in the northwest and northeast, such as Diqing and Zhaotong. In addition, the average size of the highly suitable area for diploid wild strawberry species was greater than that for tetraploid species. Under the future climate scenarios, the average size of the highly suitable area for diploid species showed a tendency to expand, while that of tetraploid species showed a tendency to shrink. Altitude was a critical variable affecting the distribution of tetraploid species. Under the two future climate models of RCP2.6 and RCP8.5, the suitable areas for wild strawberry species shifted to the regions of high latitude, high altitude, and low temperature. In addition, the average distance in the shift of the suitable area for tetraploid strawberry species was greater than that for the suitable area for diploid strawberry species. The above results provide valuable information for the management and protection of the germplasm resources of Fragaria.