Variable contribution and permutation importance for predictors used during model training.

Note high values for mean sea surface temperature, mean diffuse attenuation, and minimum chlorophyll indicating their importance as prime factors regulating the distribution and habitat suitability of amphisteginid foraminifera.Model iterations using the maximum winter surface temperatures show an increasing range expansion, but not to the extent of the model presented here. Mean SST accounts for nearly 42% of the modeled effect, while SST range contributes only 7% to the variation. Hence the model presented exhibits the maximum range extension that can be predicted but it is realized that amphisteginids may not fully occupy this potential niche in the future as they do today.Pilot studies involving the present range prediction of amphisteginids along the African coast using minimum chlorophyll α values parallel the empirical biogeographical distribution. This parameter was retained in the SDM with the understanding that maximum chlorophyll α values would impact the foraminiferal ranges.