Global climate change has the potential to modify the habitats of plant species, thereby exerting a direct impact on biodiversity. Betula species, belonging to the Betulaceae family and commonly known as birch trees, are widely distributed in China. They possess crucial ecological and economic value. However, few studies have examined the potentially suitable distribution of Betula species in China under the influence of climate change. Therefore, it is of great significance to explore the biodiversity patterns of Betula species in China in response to future climate change. In this study, we selected five representative Betula species and collected their distribution records from China. Based on 19 climate variables, the main environmental factors for each species were identified and optimal parameter combinations were determined. The MaxEnt model was employed to construct potentially suitable distribution models for these Betula species, both currently and in the future. The results indicated that the AUC and TSS values for the five species models were greater than 0.903, suggesting a high level of accuracy. The most important climate variable impacting the distribution of Betula species is the temperature seasonality standard deviation. Among the five species, Betula utilis possesses the largest total suitable distribution area, covering 313.42 × 10⁴ km². Additionally, under future climate warming, the distribution of the studied Betula species will shift toward higher latitudes and altitudes. Species in the southwestern region may migrate toward habitats where the effects of climate change are mitigated, whereas Betula species in the low-latitude southern regions face a substantial threat due to climate change. In the northern areas, under high greenhouse gas emission scenarios, the region experiencing species expansion was much smaller compared to the area of species contraction predicted. Our findings reveal the responses of Betula species to future climate change and provide valuable insights for guiding the future conservation and utilization of Betula forest resources.

Climate change poses significant challenges to forest biodiversity by altering species distributions. This study employed the MaxEnt model to predict the current and potential future suitable habitats of five Alnus species in China under four Shared Socioeconomic Pathways. Model accuracy was high, with temperature seasonality identified as the most influential variable. In addition, predicted range shifts showed species-specific patterns, with most species expanding toward higher latitudes and elevations. In contrast, Alnus ferdinandi-coburgii exhibited consistent habitat contraction. These findings enhance understanding of the climatic responses of Alnus species and provide a scientific basis for targeted conservation and management strategies under future climate change, and may offer insights into habitat responses of Alnus species in other temperate regions.

Chengiodendron marginatum, an evergreen tree or shrub belonging to the Oleaceae family, represents a critical germplasm resource with considerable potential for novel cultivar breeding. To elucidate the adaptive responses of C. marginatum to climate change and provide strategic guidance for its conservation, this study investigates the changing patterns in its potential suitable habitats under various climate scenarios. We employed an integrated approach combining maximum entropy (Maxent) modeling with GIS spatial analysis, utilizing current occurrence records and paleoclimatic data spanning from the mid-Holocene to future projections (2041–2060 [2050s] and 2061–2080 [2070s]). Climate scenarios SSP126 and SSP585 were selected to represent contrasting emission pathways. The model demonstrated excellent predictive accuracy with an AUC value of 0.942, identifying precipitation-related variables (particularly the precipitation of driest month and annual precipitation) as the primary environmental factors shaping the geographical distribution of C. marginatum. Current suitable habitats encompass approximately 98.38 × 10⁴ km², primarily located in East, Central, and South China, with high-suitability habitats restricted to southern Hainan, Taiwan, and northeastern Guangxi. Since the mid-Holocene, an expansion of suitable habitats occurred despite localized contractions in Southwest China. Future projections revealed moderate habitat reduction under both scenarios, and high-suitability areas decreased substantially. Importantly, under both scenarios, persistent high-suitability habitats were maintained in southern Hainan, Taiwan, and northeastern Guangxi, which are identified as essential climate refugia for the species. These findings provide a basis for understanding the response of the species to climate change and offer valuable guidance for its conservation.

Balanophora xinfeniae C.L.Fu, M.Li & B.Xu, a new species discovered in Xizang, China, is described and illustrated here. Molecular phylogenetic analyses and morphological comparisons strongly support B. xinfeniae as a new species within the genus Balanophora . The most distinctive characteristic of the new species is its dioecious sexual system, with male flowers having a 3-lobed perianth, opposite leaves with serrated tips, and yellow scapes. Although it shares morphological similarities with B. henryi , B. xinfeniae can be distinguished by its flat spheroid tubers without stellate lenticels, yellow scape, prominently serrated apical leaf margins, and nearly spherical or ovoid-ellipsoid female inflorescences.

Understanding large-scale patterns of biodiversity and their drivers remains significant in biogeography. Cherries species (Prunus subgenus Cerasus, Rosaceae) are economically and ecologically important in ecosystems and human agricultural activities. However, the mechanisms underlying the patterns of the species richness–environment relationship in Cerasus remain poorly understood. We collected and filtered worldwide specimen data to map the species richness of Cerasus at the global scale. The map of Cerasus species richness was created using 21,043 reliable recorded specimens. The center of Cerasus diversity was determined using spatial cluster analysis. Stepwise regression analysis was carried out using five groups of 21 environmental variables and an integrated model was included to assess the impact of the overall environment. We calibrated each of the four integrated models and used them to predict the global Cerasus species richness and that of the other continents. Our results revealed that Cerasus species have two centers of diversity (the southwest of China and Honshu Island in Japan) with differing environmental variables influencing the distribution patterns of these two centers. In the southwest of China, hygrothermal conditions are the main driving factor while in Japan, habitat heterogeneity is the main driving factor. The relationship between the abundance of Cerasus and the various groups of factors generally supports both the productivity and the habitat heterogeneity hypotheses. However, these hypotheses do not fully explain the Cerasus species richness pattern, indicating that other factors such as historical environment, topography, and human activities likely played a role in pattern formation. The high level of habitat heterogeneity and better hygrothermal conditions may have played an important role in the establishment of its globally consistent richness–climate relationship. Our results can provide valuable information for the classification and conservation of Cerasus natural resources as well as contribute to furthering our understanding of biogeography at a global scale.

Climate change is reshaping the distribution of forest species globally, yet its effects on the temperate tree genus Carpinus in China remain understudied. This study used an ensemble species distribution modeling framework to predict current and future suitable habitats for 32 Carpinus taxa under three shared socioeconomic pathway (SSP) climate scenarios for the 2090s. Five algorithms were integrated, and models with high predictive performance (AUC > 0.9) were used to generate ensemble forecasts. The ensemble models achieved AUC values no lower than 0.987 and TSS values no lower than 0.904. The results showed a clear trend of northwestward and upslope range shifts, with substantial habitat contractions under high-emission scenarios. Temperature seasonality and annual precipitation were identified as key environmental drivers. Two narrowly distributed species, C. omeiensis and C. londoniana var. lanceolata, are projected to lose all suitable habitats under SSP585, indicating a high extinction risk. These findings emphasize the importance of integrating climate-based risk assessments into conservation strategies and highlight the need to prioritize vulnerable species and high-elevation refugia to safeguard the long-term persistence of Carpinus diversity in China.