Predictive Distribution Modeling of the Medicinal Leech <i>Hirudo verbana</i> Carena, 1820 (Hirudinea, Hirudinidae) in Sicily: Implications for Conservation.

ABSTRACT: Hirudo verbana, a medicinal leech species of conservation concern, has long been considered rare and fragmented across its distribution range due to overexploitation and habitat alteration. In this study, we present the first predictive distribution model for H. verbana in Sicily, combining field occurrence data (time: 1980-2024) with environmental variables using an ensemble species distribution modeling (SDM) framework. Unlike its typical occurrence in temperate lowland wetlands of central-eastern Europe, the species in Sicily shows a marked shift toward upper hill and montane zones. Species presence was strongly associated with high NDVI values, reflecting a preference for areas with dense and structurally complex vegetation. In contrast, presence probability declined shar

SUBMITTER: Liuzzo M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12580294 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature