Determining the most important physiographic factors influencing the distribution of love tree (Cercis griffithii) to model the spatial distribution

Document Type : Research Paper

Abstract

Proper and efficient management of forests requires adequate knowledge of environmental factors and their impact on vegetation. This study aimed to develop a model of the spatial distribution pattern of Cercis griffithii based on physiographic factors (slope, aspect, altitude, and distance from river and determine the most important factors influencing the distribution of physiographic love tree and prepare the spatial distribution map of this species. Therefore, the slope, altitude, and aspect maps and also waterways map in GIS environment using digital topographic maps of the study area were prepared by the scale 1/25000. To examine the effects of environmental variables and model the distribution map of the species, logistic regression was used. The results showed that altitude and the distance from waterways had significant relationship with the distribution of Cercis griffithii. Modeling was performed based on two variables that were significantly associated with the distribution of this species and coefficients obtained from the logistic regression analysis. Nagelkerke R squared and ROC of the model were 0.556 and 0.871, respectively, which demonstrate the proper accuracy and credibility of the logistic model in species distribution modeling.

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