biostudies-literatureLi YNational Natural Science Foundation of Chinae2556https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC5075714biostudies-literatureUnknown4We analyzed the synchronous relationship between forest cover and species distribution to explain the contraction in the distribution range of the brown eared-pheasant (<i>Crossoptilon mantchuricum</i>) in China. Historical resources can provide effective records for reconstructing long-term distribution dynamics. The brown eared-pheasant's historical distribution from 25 to 1947 CE, which included the three provinces of Shaanxi, Shanxi, and Hebei based on this species' habitat selection criteria, the history of the forests, ancient climate change records, and fossil data. The current species distribution covers Shaanxi, Shanxi, and Hebei provinces, as well as Beijing city, while Shanxi remains the center of the distribution area. MaxEnt model indicated that the suitable conditions of the PeerJDetermining the distribution loss of brown eared-pheasant (<i>Crossoptilon mantchuricum</i>) using historical data and potential distribution estimates.PMC507571431372218Li XLi YDing CSong ZfalseDetermining the distribution loss of brown eared-pheasant (<i>Crossoptilon mantchuricum</i>) using historical data and potential distribution estimates.We analyzed the synchronous relationship between forest cover and species distribution to explain the contraction in the distribution range of the brown eared-pheasant (<i>Crossoptilon mantchuricum</i>) in China. Historical resources can provide effective records for reconstructing long-term distribution dynamics. The brown eared-pheasant's historical distribution from 25 to 1947 CE, which included the three provinces of Shaanxi, Shanxi, and Hebei based on this species' habitat selection criteria, the history of the forests, ancient climate change records, and fossil data. The current species distribution covers Shaanxi, Shanxi, and Hebei provinces, as well as Beijing city, while Shanxi remains the center of the distribution area. MaxEnt model indicated that the suitable conditions of the 2016-01-01T00:00:00Z20162025-04-04T09:20:58.683Z2019-03-27T02:27:21ZS-EPMC50757142778116110.7717/peerj.2556