MaxEnt modelling the Dotterel Mountains

Wader Study ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 128 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Deborah M. Buehler
Keyword(s):  
2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mercia Rasoanoro ◽  
Steven M. Goodman ◽  
Milijaona Randrianarivelojosia ◽  
Mbola Rakotondratsimba ◽  
Koussay Dellagi ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Numerous studies have been undertaken to advance knowledge of apicomplexan parasites infecting vertebrates, including humans. Of these parasites, the genus Plasmodium has been most extensively studied because of the socio-economic and public health impacts of malaria. In non-human vertebrates, studies on malaria or malaria-like parasite groups have been conducted but information is far from complete. In Madagascar, recent studies on bat blood parasites indicate that three chiropteran families (Miniopteridae, Rhinonycteridae, and Vespertilionidae) are infected by the genus Polychromophilus with pronounced host specificity: Miniopterus spp. (Miniopteridae) harbour Polychromophilus melanipherus and Myotis goudoti (Vespertilionidae) is infected by Polychromophilus murinus. However, most of the individuals analysed in previous studies were sampled on the western and central portions of the island. The aims of this study are (1) to add new information on bat blood parasites in eastern Madagascar, and (2) to highlight biotic and abiotic variables driving prevalence across the island. Methods Fieldworks were undertaken from 2014 to 2016 in four sites in the eastern portion of Madagascar to capture bats and collect biological samples. Morphological and molecular techniques were used to identify the presence of haemosporidian parasites. Further, a MaxEnt modelling was undertaken using data from Polychromophilus melanipherus to identify variables influencing the presence of this parasite Results In total, 222 individual bats belonging to 17 species and seven families were analysed. Polychromophilus infections were identified in two families: Miniopteridae and Vespertilionidae. Molecular data showed that Polychromophilus spp. parasitizing Malagasy bats form a monophyletic group composed of three distinct clades displaying marked host specificity. In addition to P. melanipherus and P. murinus, hosted by Miniopterus spp. and Myotis goudoti, respectively, a novel Polychromophilus lineage was identified from a single individual of Scotophilus robustus. Based on the present study and the literature, different biotic and abiotic factors are shown to influence Polychromophilus infection in bats, which are correlated based on MaxEnt modelling. Conclusions The present study improves current knowledge on Polychromophilus blood parasites infecting Malagasy bats and confirms the existence of a novel Polychromophilus lineage in Scotophilus bats. Additional studies are needed to obtain additional material of this novel lineage to resolve its taxonomic relationship with known members of the genus. Further, the transmission mode of Polychromophilus in bats as well as its potential effect on bat populations should be investigated to complement the results provided by MaxEnt modelling and eventually provide a comprehensive picture of the biology of host-parasite interactions.


Zootaxa ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 4282 (2) ◽  
pp. 374 ◽  
Author(s):  
MING KAI TAN ◽  
SIGFRID INGRISCH ◽  
RODZAY BIN HAJI ABDUL WAHAB

Based on newly collected specimens from Brunei, a new species of Velarifictorus Randell, 1964 is described: Velarifictorus temburongensis sp. nov. This represents the first species of the genus Velarifictorus to be described from Borneo. Unexpectedly, the more widespread species Velarifictorus aspersus aspersus (Walker, 1869) was found together with the new species in the same locality, representing a new locality record for V. aspersus in Brunei. We used MaxEnt modelling to test if it was likely that this species occurs in Ulu Temburong and Borneo based on a set of bioclimatic predictors. While MaxEnt modelling showed that V. aspersus can occur in Borneo, it did not convincingly predict its occurrence in Ulu Temburong where it was found. Based on the model, maximum temperature of warmest month, minimum temperature of coldest month and annual precipitation are important bioclimatic variables to predict the distribution. 


Forests ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 126
Author(s):  
Lijuan Zhang ◽  
Lianqi Zhu ◽  
Yanhong Li ◽  
Wenbo Zhu ◽  
Yingyong Chen

Climate change has caused substantial shifts in the geographical distribution of many species. There is growing evidence that many species are migrating in response to climate change. Changes in the distribution of dominant tree species induced by climate change can have an impact not only on organisms such as epiphytes and understory vegetation, but also on the whole ecosystem. Cyclobalanopsis glauca is a dominant tree species in the mingled evergreen and deciduous broadleaf forests of China. Understanding their adaptive strategies against climate change is important for understanding the future community structure. We employed the Maxent framework to model current suitable habitats of C. glauca under current climate conditions and predicted it onto the climate scenarios for 2041–2060 and 2081–2100 using 315 occurrence data. Our results showed that annual precipitation was the most critical factor for the distribution of C. glauca. In the future, increasing precipitation would reduce the limitation of water on habitats, leading to an expansion of the distribution to a higher latitude and higher altitude. At the same time, there were habitat contractions at the junction of the Jiangxi and Fujian Provinces. This study can provide vital information for the management of C. glauca, and serve as a reminder for managers to protect C. glauca in the range contraction areas.


2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 1263-1273
Author(s):  
Xiang Luo ◽  
Liang Liang ◽  
Zhixiao Liu ◽  
Jiahui Wang ◽  
Ting Huang ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Vol 157 (5) ◽  
pp. 375-381 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Q. Li ◽  
X. H. Liu ◽  
J. H. Wang ◽  
L.G. Xing ◽  
Y. Y. Fu

AbstractPotential planting area for tuber mustard was simulated using the Maxent model under current and future conditions based on 591 coordinates and 22 environmental layers. Model accuracy was excellent, with area under the receiving operator curve values of 0.967 and 0.958 for model training and testing, respectively. Dominant factors were mean diurnal range, mean temperature of the coldest quarter, annual mean temperature and minimum temperature of the coldest month, with thresholds of 6.5–7.5, 5.5–9, 16–19 and 2.0–6.5 °C, respectively. Under current conditions, suitable habitat areas (2.16% of total land in China) were concentrated mainly in Central, Southwest and East China, which can be defined as three occurrence and diffusion centres. In the 2050s and 2070s, suitable habitat areas are predicted to change to 3.72 and 3.92%, and 3.60 and 3.73% under scenarios RCP4.5 and RCP6.0, respectively, indicating that suitable habitat areas will increase slightly. However, future distribution of tuber mustard was predicted to differ among provinces or cities, i.e. predicted suitable habitat areas in Sichuan Province increased up to the 2050s but remained relatively unchanged between the 2050s and 2070s; in Chongqing city they first increased and then decreased; in Hunan, Anhui, Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Fujian Provinces they increased continuously; and in Guizhou, Hubei, Jiangxi Provinces and Shanghai city they first decreased, and then increased. The results from the current study provide useful information for management decisions of tuber mustard.


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