Predicting the Distribution of Oxytropis ochrocephala Bunge in the Source Region of the Yellow River (China) Based on UAV Sampling Data and Species Distribution Model

Oxytropis ochrocephala Bunge is an herbaceous perennial poisonous weed. It severely affects the production of local animal husbandry and ecosystem stability in source region Yellow River (SRYR), China. To date, however, spatiotemporal distribution O. still unclear, mainly due to lack high-precision observation data effective methods at a regional scale. In this study, efficient sampling method, based on unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), was proposed supply basic for species models (SDMs, BIOMOD study). A total 3232 photographs were obtained, from 2018 2020, SRYR, potential future predicted by ensemble model, consisting six BIOMOD. The results showed that: (1) distributed southwest, middle, northeast high suitable habitat accounted 3.19%; (2) annual precipitation mean temperature two most important factors that affect ochrocephala, with cumulative importance 60.45%; (3) probability tends increase now 2070s, while spatial ranges will remain SRYR. This study shows UAVs can potentially be used obtain modeling; are both beneficial establishing reasonable management practices alpine grassland systems.