Prediction of suitable Solanum rostratum growth areas in Horqin Sandy Land based on the Maximum Entropy Model

To determine the characteristics of suitable habitats for Solanum rostratum, an alien invasive plant, in Horqin Sandy Land, geographic data matching S. rostratum distribution were analyzed. Suitable habitat requirements were predicted based on recorded S. rostratum locations and 19 environmental variables, using the Maximum Entropy Model and Geographic Information System (ArcGIS). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis validated the predictions. The areas under the characteristic curve values of the training and validation data were 0.849 and 0.950, respectively, indicating that the prediction results were relatively accurate. The main environmental variables affecting S. rostratum distribution included the highest temperature in the warmest month, the average temperature in the coldest season, the amount of precipitation in the driest month, and the daily average temperature difference between day and night. The most adaptable area for S. rostratum in Horqin Sandy Land spans approximately 39,000 km², primarily distributed in the central region.