Lowland tapir distribution and habitat loss in South America

10.7287/peerj.preprints.1579v1 ◽

2015 ◽

Author(s):

Jose Luis Passos Cordeiro ◽

José MV Fragoso ◽

Danielle Crawshaw ◽

Luiz Flamarion B Oliveira

Keyword(s):

South America ◽

Protected Areas ◽

Habitat Loss ◽

Habitat Suitability ◽

Distribution Patterns ◽

Distribution Models ◽

Potential Habitat ◽

Geographical Regions ◽

Suitability Maps ◽

Complex Relationships

The development of species distribution models (SDMs) can help conservation efforts by generating potential distributions and identifying areas of high environmental suitability for protection. Our study presents a rigorously derived distribution and habitat map for lowland tapir in South America. We also describe the potential habitat suitability of various geographical regions and habitat loss, inside and outside of protected areas network. Two different SDM approaches, MAXENT and ENFA, produced relative different Habitat Suitability Maps for the lowland tapir. While MAXENT was efficient at identifying areas as suitable or unsuitable, it was less efficient (when compared to the results by ENFA) at identifying the gradient of habitat suitability. MAXENT is a more multifaceted technique that establishes more complex relationships between dependent and independent variables. Our results demonstrate that for at least one species, the lowland tapir, the use of a simple consensual approach (average of ENFA and MAXENT models outputs) better reflected its current distribution patterns. The Brazilian ecoregions have the highest habitat loss for the tapir. Cerrado and Atlantic Forest account for nearly half (48.19%) of the total area lost. The Amazon region contains the largest area under protection, and the most extensive remaining habitat for the tapir, but also showed high levels of habitat loss outside protected areas, which increases the importance of support for proper management.

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Lowland tapir distribution and habitat loss in South America

10.7287/peerj.preprints.1579v2 ◽

2016 ◽

Author(s):

Jose Luis Passos Cordeiro ◽

José MV Fragoso ◽

Danielle Crawshaw ◽

Luiz Flamarion B Oliveira

Keyword(s):

South America ◽

Protected Areas ◽

Habitat Loss ◽

Habitat Suitability ◽

Distribution Patterns ◽

Distribution Models ◽

Potential Habitat ◽

Geographical Regions ◽

Suitability Maps ◽

Complex Relationships

The development of species distribution models (SDMs) can help conservation efforts by generating potential distributions and identifying areas of high environmental suitability for protection. Our study presents a rigorously derived distribution and habitat map for lowland tapir in South America. We also describe the potential habitat suitability of various geographical regions and habitat loss, inside and outside of protected areas network. Two different SDM approaches, MAXENT and ENFA, produced relative different Habitat Suitability Maps for the lowland tapir. While MAXENT was efficient at identifying areas as suitable or unsuitable, it was less efficient (when compared to the results by ENFA) at identifying the gradient of habitat suitability. MAXENT is a more multifaceted technique that establishes more complex relationships between dependent and independent variables. Our results demonstrate that for at least one species, the lowland tapir, the use of a simple consensual approach (average of ENFA and MAXENT models outputs) better reflected its current distribution patterns. The Brazilian ecoregions have the highest habitat loss for the tapir. Cerrado and Atlantic Forest account for nearly half (48.19%) of the total area lost. The Amazon region contains the largest area under protection, and the most extensive remaining habitat for the tapir, but also showed high levels of habitat loss outside protected areas, which increases the importance of support for proper management.

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Lowland tapir distribution and habitat loss in South America

PeerJ ◽

10.7717/peerj.2456 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 4 ◽

pp. e2456 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Jose Luis Passos Cordeiro ◽

José M.V. Fragoso ◽

Danielle Crawshaw ◽

Luiz Flamarion B. Oliveira

Keyword(s):

South America ◽

Protected Areas ◽

Habitat Loss ◽

Habitat Suitability ◽

Distribution Patterns ◽

Distribution Models ◽

Potential Habitat ◽

Geographical Regions ◽

Suitability Maps ◽

Complex Relationships

The development of species distribution models (SDMs) can help conservation efforts by generating potential distributions and identifying areas of high environmental suitability for protection. Our study presents a distribution and habitat map for lowland tapir in South America. We also describe the potential habitat suitability of various geographical regions and habitat loss, inside and outside of protected areas network. Two different SDM approaches, MAXENT and ENFA, produced relative different Habitat Suitability Maps for the lowland tapir. While MAXENT was efficient at identifying areas as suitable or unsuitable, it was less efficient (when compared to the results by ENFA) at identifying the gradient of habitat suitability. MAXENT is a more multifaceted technique that establishes more complex relationships between dependent and independent variables. Our results demonstrate that for at least one species, the lowland tapir, the use of a simple consensual approach (average of ENFA and MAXENT models outputs) better reflected its current distribution patterns. The Brazilian ecoregions have the highest habitat loss for the tapir. Cerrado and Atlantic Forest account for nearly half (48.19%) of the total area lost. The Amazon region contains the largest area under protection, and the most extensive remaining habitat for the tapir, but also showed high levels of habitat loss outside protected areas, which increases the importance of support for proper management.

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A distribution model for Glossina brevipalpis and Glossina austeni in Southern Mozambique, Eswatini and South Africa for enhanced area-wide integrated pest management approaches

PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases ◽

10.1371/journal.pntd.0009989 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 15 (11) ◽

pp. e0009989

Author(s):

Chantel J. de Beer ◽

Ahmadou H. Dicko ◽

Jerome Ntshangase ◽

Percy Moyaba ◽

Moeti O. Taioe ◽

...

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Protected Areas ◽

Species Distribution ◽

Habitat Suitability ◽

Species Distribution Model ◽

Distribution Model ◽

Distribution Models ◽

Glossina Austeni ◽

Suitability Maps ◽

Glossina Brevipalpis

Background Glossina austeni and Glossina brevipalpis (Diptera: Glossinidae) are the sole cyclical vectors of African trypanosomes in South Africa, Eswatini and southern Mozambique. These populations represent the southernmost distribution of tsetse flies on the African continent. Accurate knowledge of infested areas is a prerequisite to develop and implement efficient and cost-effective control strategies, and distribution models may reduce large-scale, extensive entomological surveys that are time consuming and expensive. The objective was to develop a MaxEnt species distribution model and habitat suitability maps for the southern tsetse belt of South Africa, Eswatini and southern Mozambique. Methodology/Principal findings The present study used existing entomological survey data of G. austeni and G. brevipalpis to develop a MaxEnt species distribution model and habitat suitability maps. Distribution models and a checkerboard analysis indicated an overlapping presence of the two species and the most suitable habitat for both species were protected areas and the coastal strip in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa and Maputo Province, Mozambique. The predicted presence extents, to a small degree, into communal farming areas adjacent to the protected areas and coastline, especially in the Matutuíne District of Mozambique. The quality of the MaxEnt model was assessed using an independent data set and indicated good performance with high predictive power (AUC > 0.80 for both species). Conclusions/Significance The models indicated that cattle density, land surface temperature and protected areas, in relation with vegetation are the main factors contributing to the distribution of the two tsetse species in the area. Changes in the climate, agricultural practices and land-use have had a significant and rapid impact on tsetse abundance in the area. The model predicted low habitat suitability in the Gaza and Inhambane Provinces of Mozambique, i.e., the area north of the Matutuíne District. This might indicate that the southern tsetse population is isolated from the main tsetse belt in the north of Mozambique. The updated distribution models will be useful for planning tsetse and trypanosomosis interventions in the area.

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Modeling biodiversity loss by global warming on Pantepui, northern South America: projected upward migration and potential habitat loss

Climatic Change ◽

10.1007/s10584-009-9554-x ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 94 (1-2) ◽

pp. 77-85 ◽

Cited By ~ 49

Author(s):

Sandra Nogué ◽

Valentí Rull ◽

Teresa Vegas-Vilarrúbia

Keyword(s):

Global Warming ◽

South America ◽

Habitat Loss ◽

Biodiversity Loss ◽

Upward Migration ◽

Potential Habitat ◽

Northern South America

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The Blue-cheeked Amazon Amazona dufresniana: a review

Bird Conservation International ◽

10.1017/s0959270900000678 ◽

1991 ◽

Vol 1 (4) ◽

pp. 317-328

Author(s):

D. C. Wege ◽

N. J. Collar

Keyword(s):

South America ◽

Protected Areas ◽

Habitat Loss ◽

French Guiana ◽

Subtropical Forest ◽

Target Species ◽

Coastal Regions ◽

The Past ◽

North Eastern ◽

Status Information

SummaryThe Blue-cheeked Amazon Amazona dufresniana occupies tropical and subtropical forest in north-eastern South America in eastern Venezuela, Guyana, Surinam and French Guiana, where it remains a very little known species, apparently living in scattered pairs in the interior when breeding, but with irregular movements to the coastal regions in (albeit now small) flocks in July and August. Nothing is recorded of its feeding or breeding habits, nor is it known to be at serious risk from habitat loss or trade, although both these factors may have operated against the species in the past. It occurs in two protected areas and deserves to be a target species of any fieldwork in the region aimed at obtaining status information on areas or faunas.

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Increasing reality of species distribution models of consumers by including its food resources

Neotropical Biology and Conservation ◽

10.3897/neotropical.16.e64892 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (3) ◽

pp. 411-425

Author(s):

Gabriel Preuss ◽

André Andrian Padial

Keyword(s):

South America ◽

Species Distribution ◽

Species Distribution Models ◽

Food Resource ◽

Distribution Model ◽

Distribution Models ◽

Commission Errors ◽

Main Variable ◽

Suitability Maps ◽

Syagrus Romanzoffiana

Species distribution models are not usually calibrated with biotic predictors. Our study question is: does the use of biotic predictors matter in predicting species distribution? We aim to assess the importance of biotic predictors in the output of distribution models of the Brazilian squirrel (Sciurus aestuans) throughout South America based on fruits of Syagrus romanzoffiana – the most consumed food resource. We hypothesized that the distribution model of S. aestuans using its main food resource as a biotic predictor will be more accurate in comparison with the output of the model without the biotic predictor. We built three different distribution models: (i) distribution of S. romanzoffiana; (ii) distribution of S. aestuans without biotic predictor; and (iii) distribution of S. aestuans with biotic predictor. We evaluated performance scores, number of presence pixels and concordance between suitability maps. We found that performance scores may not vary between models with different predictors, but the output map changed significantly. We also found that models with biotic predictors seem to vary less in presence pixels. Furthermore, the main variable in the distribution model was the biotic variable. We conclude that the knowledge of a species’ biology and ecology can make better predictions of species distribution models mainly by avoiding commission errors.

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A Mountain Caribou Strategy for British Columbia

Rangifer ◽

10.7557/2.16.4.1236 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 16 (4) ◽

pp. 149

Author(s):

G.A. McKinnon

Keyword(s):

British Columbia ◽

Protected Areas ◽

Habitat Suitability ◽

Management Strategy ◽

Timber Harvesting ◽

Shared Responsibility ◽

Core Area ◽

Successful Implementation ◽

Potential Habitat ◽

Management Conflicts

Because of the declining population of mountain caribou in British Columbia and the increasing conflict between caribou management and timber harvesting, BC Environment recently has developed a new policy for mountain caribou management in the province. Three options were considered; 1) to manage habitats/populations to potential habitat suitability, 2) to manage habitats/populations to ensure that at least present levels are maintained and 3) to manage habitats/populations within a core area of the province only. The chosen strategy of managing habitats/populations to ensure that at least present levels are maintained is consistent with ministry goals and policies and will likely require that a network of protected areas, buffer areas and linking corridors be established. Initiatives to document existing mountain caribou distribution and to provide options for integrated caribou/timber solutions to management conflicts are ongoing. Successful implementation of this caribou management strategy will require the active participation of the Ministry of Forests since the protection of habitat is a shared responsibility.

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Forecasting the Cumulative Effects of Multiple Stressors on Breeding Habitat for a Steeply Declining Aerial Insectivorous Songbird, the Olive-sided Flycatcher (Contopus cooperi)

Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution ◽

10.3389/fevo.2021.635872 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 ◽

Author(s):

Andrea R. Norris ◽

Leonardo Frid ◽

Chloé Debyser ◽

Krista L. De Groot ◽

Jeffrey Thomas ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Forest Management ◽

Boreal Forest ◽

Protected Areas ◽

Habitat Loss ◽

Habitat Suitability ◽

Multiple Stressors ◽

Simulation Models ◽

Cumulative Effects ◽

Western Boreal Forest

To halt ongoing loss in biodiversity, there is a need for landscape-level management recommendations that address cumulative impacts of anthropogenic and natural disturbances on wildlife habitat. We examined the cumulative effects of logging, roads, land-use change, fire, and bark beetle outbreaks on future habitat for olive-sided flycatcher (Contopus cooperi), a steeply declining aerial insectivorous songbird, in Canada’s western boreal forest. To predict the occurrence of olive-sided flycatcher we developed a suite of habitat suitability models using point count surveys (1997–2011) spatially- and temporally-matched with forest inventory data. Flycatcher occurrence was positively associated with small (∼10 ha) 10- to 20-year-old clearcuts, and with 10–100% tree mortality due to mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae) outbreaks, but we found no association with roads or distance to water. We used the parameter estimates from the best-fit habitat suitability models to inform spatially explicit state-and-transition simulation models to project change in habitat availability from 2020 to 2050 under six alternative scenarios (three management × two fire alternatives). The simulation models projected that the cumulative effects of land use conversion, forest harvesting, and fire will reduce the area of olive-sided flycatcher habitat by 16–18% under Business As Usual management scenarios and by 11–13% under scenarios that include protection of 30% of the land base. Scenarios limiting the size of all clearcuts to ≤10 ha resulted in a median habitat loss of 4–6%, but projections were highly variable. Under all three management alternatives, a 50% increase in fire frequency (expected due to climate change) exacerbated habitat loss. The projected losses of habitat in western boreal forest, even with an increase in protected areas, imply that reversing the ongoing population declines of olive-sided flycatcher and other migratory birds will require attention to forest management beyond protected areas. Further work should examine the effects of multiple stressors on the demographic mechanisms driving change in aerial insectivore populations, including stressors on the wintering grounds in South America, and should aim to adapt the design of protected areas and forest management policies to projected climate-driven increases in the size and frequency of wildfires.

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