Assessing the potential suitability of forest stands as Kirengeshoma koreana habitat using MaxEnt

The objective of this study was to assess the potential suitability of forest stands of the Mt. Baek-un region in South Korea as habitats for Kirengeshoma koreana by determining essential biotic and abiotic environmental factors using MaxEnt. Presence data were collected from 16 plots in the study area, and a forest stand map was used to assess the potential suitability of the plot as habitat for the species. The topographic site characteristics were analyzed using GIS, and the terrain relief conditions were measured using the topographic position index. The site environmental factors that significantly influenced the potential suitability of the forest stands as habitats for K. koreana were chosen using MaxEnt. The results indicated that landform types, soil depth, and water and light availability at the forest floor were the factors that most strongly influenced K. koreana habitat suitability. These significant environmental factors were assessed to determine the forest stand sites that were most suitable as potential habitats for the species in the study area.