Combining the Optimized Maximum Entropy Model to Detect Key Factors in the Occurrence of Oedaleus decorus asiaticus in the Typical Grasslands of Central and Eastern Inner Mongolia

• Published in: Insects (Basel, Switzerland) Vol. 15; no. 7; p. 488
• Main Authors: Ding, Xiaolong, Du, Bobo, Lu, Longhui, Lin, Kejian, Sa, Rina, Gao, Yang, Guo, Jing, Wang, Ning, Huang, Wenjiang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 29-06-2024
• Subjects: Altitude; Breeding; Breeding sites; Control; Diseases and pests; Dominant species; Environmental factors; Environmental management; Environmental monitoring; Geographical distribution; grasshopper; Grasshoppers; Grasslands; Humidity; Insect pests; Machine learning; MaxEnt; Maximum entropy; Moisture content; Pests; Precipitation; Remote control; Remote sensing; Soil investigations; Soil temperature; Soil types; Spatial data; Spatial distribution; Steppes; Sustainable development; Temperature; typical steppe; Vegetation; China; Mongolia; grasshopper; remote sensing; MaxEnt; typical steppe
• ISSN: 2075-4450; 2075-4450
• DOI: 10.3390/insects15070488

Grasshoppers pose a significant threat to both natural grassland vegetation and crops. Therefore, comprehending the relationship between environmental factors and grasshopper occurrence is of paramount importance. This study integrated machine learning models (Maxent) using the kuenm package to screen MaxEnt models for grasshopper species selection, while simultaneously fitting remote sensing data of major grasshopper breeding areas in Inner Mongolia, China. It investigated the spatial distribution and key factors influencing the occurrence of typical grasshopper species in grassland ecosystems. The modelling results indicate that a typical steppe has a larger suitable area. The soil type, above biomass, altitude, and temperature, predominantly determine the grasshopper occurrence in typical steppes. This study explicitly delineates the disparate impacts of key environmental factors (meteorology, vegetation, soil, and topography) on grasshopper occurrence in typical steppes. Furthermore, it provides a methodology to guide early warning and precautions for grasshopper pest prevention. The findings of this study will be instrumental in formulating future management measures to guarantee grass ecological environment security and the sustainable development of grassland.