Utilization of Environmental Factor Modeling in Habitat Suitability Assessment of Ferula assa-foetida in Hormozgan Province

Iranm, Mahdiyeh; , Yahya; , Hamid; , Navazollah

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Volume 13, Issue 26 (9-2025)

PEC 2025, 13(26): 28-38

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Utilization of Environmental Factor Modeling in Habitat Suitability Assessment of Ferula assa-foetida in Hormozgan Province

Mahdiyeh Iranm

Abstract: (1084 Views)

Ferula assa-foetida is a plant native to Asia that adapts well to Iran’s climate. It is valued not only for its medicinal properties but also for its strong root system and ability to produce significant organic matter, which helps protect the soil. The current study aims to assess the potential habitats where this plant can thrive. In Hormozgan Province, due to the large size of the area, presence points were sampled through field visits conducted in 2019, resulting in 503 usable locations where the plant was recorded. The modeling process used the Biomod 2 package, incorporating 19 bioclimatic variables and 7 additional environmental factors related to NDVI and topography. The data were split into 70% for model training and 30% for testing model accuracy. Among the various algorithms available in the Biomod 2 package, the most effective was selected based on ROC and TSS scores. The results showed that the random forest algorithm performed best, with a TSS score of 0.96 and an ROC score of 0.99. The most influential factor affecting the plant's distribution was identified as Bio19, which measures rainfall during the coldest quarter, accounting for 31% of the model's predictive power. The least influential factor was geographical aspect, contributing less than 1% to the model. Overall, the findings indicate that climate factors, especially rainfall, play a crucial role in determining suitable habitats for Ferula assa-foetida. The areas with the highest potential for this species are the mountainous northern and western parts of Hormozgan Province, which receive heavy rainfall. These results provide a scientific basis for conservation, promotion, and sustainable cultivation of Ferula assa-foetida in Hormozgan.

Article number: 3

Keywords: Assa-foetida, Precipitation, Distribution, NDVI, Medicinal Plants

Full-Text [PDF 1253 kb] (548 Downloads)

Type of Study: Research | Subject: Special
Received: 2024/06/9 | Accepted: 2024/08/12 | Published: 2025/09/15

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Iranm M. Utilization of Environmental Factor Modeling in Habitat Suitability Assessment of Ferula assa-foetida in Hormozgan Province. PEC 2025; 13 (26) : 3
URL: http://pec.gonbad.ac.ir/article-1-982-en.html

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