Modelling the potential ecological niche of domesticated buckwheat in China: archaeological evidence, environmental constraints and climate change

Abstract We present a species distribution model (SDM) of Fagopyrum esculentum (buckwheat) in China using data and estimates for the past based on palaeoclimatic reconstructions. Our potential area suitable buckwheat cultivation over last 8,000 years, with northeast consistently showing highest suitability, providing insights discrepancy between location earliest archaeobotanical records its origins southwest biogeographic genetic data. The suggests little to no variation time spatial extent cultivation. In northern parts China, limits ecological niche largely fall within borders study area, while west it never extends into main Tibetan plateau, explaining lack fossil evidence from Central Asia. southwest, overlaps modern which supports this direction as viable route westward dispersal. comparison prediction sites indicates that environmental occupied remained stable time. This may contrast dispersal pattern characterised by continuous adaptations new environments facilitated human activity, be suggested other major minor crops.