Semi-arid African savanna habitat suitability for two Vachellia species

The habitat suitability of <i>Vachellia</i> <i>stuhlmannii</i> and <i>Vachellia</i> <i>tortilis</i> was assessed using Maximum Entropy model. Location data was collected and nineteen bioclimatic variables data for 1950 to 2000 downloaded from the WorldClim database. Soils were analyzed to investigate their influence on habitat suitability of the two species. MaxEnt effectively predicted current habitat suitability with an average test Area Under Curve value of 0.936 for <i>V. stuhlmannii</i> and 0.689 for <i>V. tortilis</i>. Key influential variables were BIO-1 (Annual mean temperature) with 71.7% highest gain for <i>V. stuhlmannii</i> and BIO-17 (Precipitation of driest quarter) with 65.3% highest gain for <i>V. tortilis</i>. However, BIO-14 (Precipitation of driest month) exhibited limited influence in predicting habitat suitability for both species.<i> </i><i>V. stuhlmannii</i> occupies twenty-nine hectares and <i>V. tortilis</i> covers 102 hectares. Both species predominantly occur on Prismacutanic/pedocutanic B-horizons. <i>V. tortilis</i> also thrive on Glenrosa and Mispah soils, which are crucial for diverse plant and animal life. These findings have practical implications for conservation efforts aimed at protecting both species. Identifying suitable habitats and preserving soil types is crucial as soil affects microclimate conditions and influences moisture retention. Overall, this study provides insights for the conservation of <i>V. stuhlmannii</i><i> </i>and<i> </i><i>V. tortilis</i> in the semi-arid African savanna.