Study on the ecological suitability and Medicinal component zoning of Ardisia crenata (Myrsinaceae) Based on ArcGIS and MaxEnt Model

Ardisia crenata Sims, a plant of considerable medicinal importance, exhibits notable geographical variation in the distribution of ecologically suitable habitats and the mechanisms underlying its medicinal quality. Our comprehensive analysis, utilizing 366 distribution points and 36 ecological factors, identified vegetation type as the primary constraint on its distribution both nationally and within Guizhou Province, with contribution rates of 48.1% and 28.9%, respectively. At the national scale, precipitation of coldest quarter (25.4%) and annual precipitation (10%) emerged as critical determinants of suitable habitats, with the model demonstrating high predictive accuracy (AUC = 0.941). In Guizhou Province, mean temperature of driest quarter (16.1%) and mean temperature of warmest quarter (10.3%) were identified as the principal limiting factors. Quantitative analysis of the bioactive components in A. crenata , conducted using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and spatial analysis via MaxEnt and ArcGIS, revealed a significant correlation between the accumulation of bioactive compounds and mean temperature of warmest quarter, mean diurnal range, and iso-thermality. Spatial analysis reveals that nationally suitable areas are predominantly located in the southeastern coastal regions and the middle-lower reaches of the Yangtze River. Within Guizhou Province, the distribution exhibits a "higher in the south, lower in the north" pattern. The primary suitable zones are identified in the three autonomous prefectures of Qianxinan, Qiandongnan, and Qiannan, as well as in Tongren City. Advanced co-kriging interpolation analysis has pinpointed Congjiang, Liping, Rongjiang, and Jianhe in Qiandongnan Prefecture; Songtao in Tongren City; and Libo in Qiannan Prefecture as optimal regions for the production of high-quality medicinal materials, attributed to their exceptional ecological suitability and favorable conditions for the accumulation of active components. These regions are recommended as priority sites for the establishment of standardized cultivation bases. This study elucidates the ecological factors influencing medicinal quality formation and provides a spatial decision-making framework for resource development.