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Donald PF, Fernando E, Brown L, Busana M, Butchart SHM, Chng S, de la Colina A, Ferreira JM, Jain A, Jones VR, Lapido R, Malsch K, McDougall A, Muccio C, Nguyen D, Outhwaite W, Petrovan SO, Stafford C, Sutherland WJ, Tallowin O, Safford R. Assessing the global prevalence of wild birds in trade. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2024; 38:e14350. [PMID: 39248745 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.14350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Revised: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 09/10/2024]
Abstract
Trade represents a significant threat to many wild species and is often clandestine and poorly monitored. Information on which species are most prevalent in trade and potentially threatened by it therefore remains fragmentary. We used 7 global data sets on birds in trade to identify species or groups of species at particular risk and assessed the extent to which they were congruent in terms of the species recorded in trade. We used the frequency with which species were recorded in the data sets as the basis for a trade prevalence score that was applied to all bird species globally. Literature searches and questionnaire surveys were used to develop a list of species known to be heavily traded to validate the trade prevalence score. The score was modeled to identify significant predictors of trade. Although the data sets sampled different parts of the broad trade spectrum, congruence among them was statistically strong in all comparisons. Furthermore, the frequency with which species were recorded within data sets was positively correlated with their occurrence across data sets, indicating that the trade prevalence score captured information on trade volume. The trade prevalence score discriminated well between species identified from semi-independent assessments as heavily or unsustainably traded and all other species. Globally, 45.1% of all bird species and 36.7% of globally threatened bird species had trade prevalence scores ≥1. Species listed in Appendices I or II of CITES, species with large geographical distributions, and nonpasserines tended to have high trade prevalence scores. Speciose orders with high mean trade prevalence scores included Falconiformes, Psittaciformes, Accipitriformes, Anseriformes, Bucerotiformes, and Strigiformes. Despite their low mean prevalence score, Passeriformes accounted for the highest overall number of traded species of any order but had low representation in CITES appendices. Geographical hotspots where large numbers of traded species co-occur differed among passerines (Southeast Asia and Eurasia) and nonpasserines (central South America, sub-Saharan Africa, and India). This first attempt to quantify and map the relative prevalence in trade of all bird species globally can be used to identify species and groups of species that may be at particular risk of harm from trade and can inform conservation and policy interventions to reduce its adverse impacts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul F Donald
- BirdLife International, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | | | | | | | - Stuart H M Butchart
- BirdLife International, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | | | | | | | - Anuj Jain
- BirdLife International, Singapore, Singapore
| | | | - Rocio Lapido
- Aves Argentinas, Asociación Ornitológica del Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Kelly Malsch
- UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Colum Muccio
- ARCAS Gautemala, San Lucas Sacatepéquez, Guatemala
| | | | | | | | - Ciara Stafford
- UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre, Cambridge, UK
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Bald L, Gottwald J, Hillen J, Adorf F, Zeuss D. The devil is in the detail: Environmental variables frequently used for habitat suitability modeling lack information for forest-dwelling bats in Germany. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e11571. [PMID: 38932971 PMCID: PMC11199919 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.11571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2024] [Revised: 05/24/2024] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
In response to the pressing challenges of the ongoing biodiversity crisis, the protection of endangered species and their habitats, as well as the monitoring of invasive species are crucial. Habitat suitability modeling (HSM) is often treated as the silver bullet to address these challenges, commonly relying on generic variables sourced from widely available datasets. However, for species with high habitat requirements, or for modeling the suitability of habitats within the geographic range of a species, variables at a coarse level of detail may fall short. Consequently, there is potential value in considering the incorporation of more targeted data, which may extend beyond readily available land cover and climate datasets. In this study, we investigate the impact of incorporating targeted land cover variables (specifically tree species composition) and vertical structure information (derived from LiDAR data) on HSM outcomes for three forest specialist bat species (Barbastella barbastellus, Myotis bechsteinii, and Plecotus auritus) in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, compared to commonly utilized environmental variables, such as generic land-cover classifications (e.g., Corine Land Cover) and climate variables (e.g., Bioclim). The integration of targeted variables enhanced the performance of habitat suitability models for all three bat species. Furthermore, our results showed a high difference in the distribution maps that resulted from using different levels of detail in environmental variables. This underscores the importance of making the effort to generate the appropriate variables, rather than simply relying on commonly used ones, and the necessity of exercising caution when using habitat models as a tool to inform conservation strategies and spatial planning efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Bald
- Department of Geography, Environmental InformaticsPhilipps‐University MarburgMarburgGermany
| | | | - Jessica Hillen
- Büro für Faunistik und LandschaftsökologieRümmelsheimGermany
| | - Frank Adorf
- Büro für Faunistik und LandschaftsökologieRümmelsheimGermany
| | - Dirk Zeuss
- Department of Geography, Environmental InformaticsPhilipps‐University MarburgMarburgGermany
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3
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Pacifici M, Cristiano A, Lumbierres M, Lucherini M, Mallon D, Meijaard E, Solari S, Tognelli MF, Belant JL, Butynski TM, Cronin D, d'Huart JP, Da Re D, de Jong YA, Dheer A, Fei L, Gallina S, Goodrich JM, Harihar A, Lopez Gonzalez CA, King SRB, Lewison RL, de Melo FR, Napolitano C, Rahman DA, Robinson PT, Robinson T, Rondinini C, Semiadi G, Strier K, Talebi M, Taylor WA, Thiel-Bender C, Ting N, Wiesel I. Drivers of habitat availability for terrestrial mammals: Unravelling the role of livestock, land conversion and intrinsic traits in the past 50 years. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2023; 29:6900-6911. [PMID: 37804212 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/09/2023]
Abstract
The global decline of terrestrial species is largely due to the degradation, loss and fragmentation of their habitats. The conversion of natural ecosystems for cropland, rangeland, forest products and human infrastructure are the primary causes of habitat deterioration. Due to the paucity of data on the past distribution of species and the scarcity of fine-scale habitat conversion maps, however, accurate assessment of the recent effects of habitat degradation, loss and fragmentation on the range of mammals has been near impossible. We aim to assess the proportions of available habitat within the lost and retained parts of mammals' distribution ranges, and to identify the drivers of habitat availability. We produced distribution maps for 475 terrestrial mammals for the range they occupied 50 years ago and compared them to current range maps. We then calculated the differences in the percentage of 'area of habitat' (habitat available to a species within its range) between the lost and retained range areas. Finally, we ran generalized linear mixed models to identify which variables were more influential in determining habitat availability in the lost and retained parts of the distribution ranges. We found that 59% of species had a lower proportion of available habitat in the lost range compared to the retained range, thus hypothesizing that habitat loss could have contributed to range declines. The most important factors negatively affecting habitat availability were the conversion of land to rangeland and high density of livestock. Significant intrinsic traits were those related to reproductive timing and output, habitat breadth and medium body size. Our findings emphasize the importance of implementing conservation strategies to mitigate the impacts caused by human activities on the habitats of mammals, and offer evidence indicating which species have the potential to reoccupy portions of their former range if other threats cease to occur.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michela Pacifici
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology "Charles Darwin", Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Cristiano
- Department of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Maria Lumbierres
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology "Charles Darwin", Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Mauro Lucherini
- GECM (Grupo de Ecología comportamental de Mamíferos), INBIOSUR, CONICET-UNS, Dpto. de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, UNS, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | | | - Erik Meijaard
- Borneo Futures, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam
| | - Sergio Solari
- Instituto de Biología, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | | | - Jerrold L Belant
- SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, New York, USA
| | - Thomas M Butynski
- Eastern Africa Primate Diversity and Conservation Program, Nanyuki, Kenya
| | - Drew Cronin
- North Carolina Zoo, Asheboro, North Carolina, USA
| | | | - Daniele Da Re
- Georges Lemaître Center for Earth and Climate Research, Earth and Life Institute, UCLouvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Yvonne A de Jong
- Eastern Africa Primate Diversity and Conservation Program, Nanyuki, Kenya
| | - Arjun Dheer
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany
| | - Li Fei
- Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden, Hong Kong, China
| | | | | | - Abishek Harihar
- Panthera, New York, New York, USA
- Nature Conservation Foundation, Mysore, Karnataka, India
| | | | - Sarah R B King
- Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
- IUCN/SSC Equid Specialist Group, Arusha, Tanzania
| | | | - Fabiano R de Melo
- Departamento de Engenharia Florestal Avenida Purdue, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Constanza Napolitano
- Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas y Biodiversidad, Universidad de Los Lagos, Osorno, Chile
- Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity (IEB), Concepción, Chile
- Cape Horn International Center (CHIC), Puerto Williams, Chile
| | - Dede Aulia Rahman
- Department of Forest Resources Conservation and Ecotourism, Faculty of Forestry and Environment, Kampus IPB Dramaga, IPB University, Bogor, Indonesia
- Primate Research Center, Institute of Research and Community Service, Kampus IPB Lodaya, IPB University, Bogor, Indonesia
| | | | - Timothy Robinson
- Animal Production and Health Division, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Rome, Italy
| | - Carlo Rondinini
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology "Charles Darwin", Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Gono Semiadi
- Research Centre for Applied Zoology, National Research and Innovation Agency, Cibinong, Indonesia
| | - Karen Strier
- Department of Anthropology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Mauricio Talebi
- Departamento de Ciências Ambientais, Programa de Pós Graduação Análise Ambiental Integrada, Campus Diadema, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Diadema, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | | | | | - Ingrid Wiesel
- Brown Hyena Research Project, Luderitz, Namibia
- University of Pretoria, Mammal Research Institute, Hatfield, South Africa
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Cazalis V, Santini L, Lucas PM, González-Suárez M, Hoffmann M, Benítez-López A, Pacifici M, Schipper AM, Böhm M, Zizka A, Clausnitzer V, Meyer C, Jung M, Butchart SHM, Cardoso P, Mancini G, Akçakaya HR, Young BE, Patoine G, Di Marco M. Prioritizing the reassessment of data-deficient species on the IUCN Red List. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2023; 37:e14139. [PMID: 37394972 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.14139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2022] [Revised: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
Despite being central to the implementation of conservation policies, the usefulness of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species is hampered by the 14% of species classified as data-deficient (DD) because information to evaluate these species' extinction risk was lacking when they were last assessed or because assessors did not appropriately account for uncertainty. Robust methods are needed to identify which DD species are more likely to be reclassified in one of the data-sufficient IUCN Red List categories. We devised a reproducible method to help red-list assessors prioritize reassessment of DD species and tested it with 6887 DD species of mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fishes, and Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies). For each DD species in these groups, we calculated its probability of being classified in a data-sufficient category if reassessed today from covariates measuring available knowledge (e.g., number of occurrence records or published articles available), knowledge proxies (e.g., remoteness of the range), and species characteristics (e.g., nocturnality); calculated change in such probability since last assessment from the increase in available knowledge (e.g., new occurrence records); and determined whether the species might qualify as threatened based on recent rate of habitat loss determined from global land-cover maps. We identified 1907 species with a probability of being reassessed in a data-sufficient category of >0.5; 624 species for which this probability increased by >0.25 since last assessment; and 77 species that could be reassessed as near threatened or threatened based on habitat loss. Combining these 3 elements, our results provided a list of species likely to be data-sufficient such that the comprehensiveness and representativeness of the IUCN Red List can be improved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor Cazalis
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Luca Santini
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies "Charles Darwin", Sapienza Università di Roma, Rome, Italy
| | - Pablo M Lucas
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies "Charles Darwin", Sapienza Università di Roma, Rome, Italy
| | - Manuela González-Suárez
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, UK
| | | | - Ana Benítez-López
- Integrative Ecology Group, Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD-CSIC), Sevilla, Spain
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Michela Pacifici
- Global Mammal Assessment Programme, Department of Biology and Biotechnologies "Charles Darwin", Sapienza Università di Roma, Rome, Italy
| | - Aafke M Schipper
- Department of Environmental Science, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences (RIBES), Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency, The Hague, The Netherlands
| | - Monika Böhm
- Global Center for Species Survival, Indianapolis Zoological Society, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Alexander Zizka
- Department of Biology, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | | | - Carsten Meyer
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- Institute of Geosciences and Geography, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany
- Institute of Biology, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Martin Jung
- Biodiversity, Ecology and Conservation Group, Biodiversity and Natural Resources Management Programme, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Laxenburg, Austria
| | - Stuart H M Butchart
- BirdLife International, David Attenborough Building, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Pedro Cardoso
- Laboratory for Integrative Biodiversity Research (LIBRe), Finnish Museum of Natural History Luomus, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Giordano Mancini
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies "Charles Darwin", Sapienza Università di Roma, Rome, Italy
| | - H Reşit Akçakaya
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
- IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC), Gland, Switzerland
| | | | - Guillaume Patoine
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- Institute of Biology, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Moreno Di Marco
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies "Charles Darwin", Sapienza Università di Roma, Rome, Italy
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5
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Park D, Jeong H, Park J, Park IK. Distribution and habitat assessments of the Slender racer, Orientocoluber spinalis, for the registration of nationally endangered species in the Republic of Korea. Sci Rep 2023; 13:12025. [PMID: 37491466 PMCID: PMC10368646 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-39018-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Conservation assessments are essential for preserving biodiversity. However, many reptile species have not been evaluated owing to data deficiencies. The Slender racer (Orientocoluber spinalis) is threatened in four out of six inhabiting countries. However, despite its apparent rarity and data deficiency, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has classified it as a Least Concern. In this study, we combined field surveys, habitat analysis, and ecological niche models (ENMs) to identify the critical habitat characteristics of O. spinalis, evaluate its distribution status in the Republic of Korea, and register it as a nationally endangered species. Across the country, we found a few small populations on the mainland but large populations on the islands. Orientocoluber spinalis is mainly found in low-altitude ecotone habitats between grasslands and forests. Based on previous genetic and climatic studies, we propose designating it as an endangered species to conserve this species in protected areas such as national parks, and its non-isolated mainland populations can be preserved as source populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daesik Park
- Division of Science Education, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Gangwon, 24341, Republic of Korea
| | - Hojun Jeong
- Division of Science Education, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Gangwon, 24341, Republic of Korea
| | - Jaejin Park
- Division of Science Education, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Gangwon, 24341, Republic of Korea
| | - Il-Kook Park
- Division of Science Education, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Gangwon, 24341, Republic of Korea.
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Lumbierres M, Dahal PR, Soria CD, Di Marco M, Butchart SHM, Donald PF, Rondinini C. Area of Habitat maps for the world's terrestrial birds and mammals. Sci Data 2022; 9:749. [PMID: 36463270 PMCID: PMC9719530 DOI: 10.1038/s41597-022-01838-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Area of Habitat (AOH) is "the habitat available to a species, that is, habitat within its range". It complements a geographic range map for a species by showing potential occupancy and reducing commission errors. AOH maps are produced by subtracting areas considered unsuitable for the species from their range map, using information on each species' associations with habitat and elevation. We present AOH maps for 5,481 terrestrial mammal and 10,651 terrestrial bird species (including 1,816 migratory bird species for which we present separate maps for the resident, breeding and non-breeding areas). Our maps have a resolution of 100 m. On average, AOH covered 66 ± 28% of the range maps for mammals and 64 ± 27% for birds. The AOH maps were validated independently, following a novel two-step methodology: a modelling approach to identify outliers and a species-level approach based on point localities. We used AOH maps to produce global maps of the species richness of mammals, birds, globally threatened mammals and globally threatened birds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Lumbierres
- Global Mammal Assessment Program, Department of Biology and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale dell'Università 32, 00185, Rome, Italy.
- BirdLife International, David Attenborough Building, Pembroke Street, Cambridge, CB2 3QZ, UK.
| | - Prabhat Raj Dahal
- Global Mammal Assessment Program, Department of Biology and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale dell'Università 32, 00185, Rome, Italy
- BirdLife International, David Attenborough Building, Pembroke Street, Cambridge, CB2 3QZ, UK
| | - Carmen D Soria
- Global Mammal Assessment Program, Department of Biology and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale dell'Università 32, 00185, Rome, Italy
- BirdLife International, David Attenborough Building, Pembroke Street, Cambridge, CB2 3QZ, UK
| | - Moreno Di Marco
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale dell'Università 32, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Stuart H M Butchart
- BirdLife International, David Attenborough Building, Pembroke Street, Cambridge, CB2 3QZ, UK
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EJ, UK
| | - Paul F Donald
- BirdLife International, David Attenborough Building, Pembroke Street, Cambridge, CB2 3QZ, UK
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EJ, UK
| | - Carlo Rondinini
- Global Mammal Assessment Program, Department of Biology and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale dell'Università 32, 00185, Rome, Italy
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7
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Nania D, Lumbierres M, Ficetola GF, Falaschi M, Pacifici M, Rondinini C. Maps of area of habitat for Italian amphibians and reptiles. NATURE CONSERVATION 2022. [DOI: 10.3897/natureconservation.49.82931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Planning conservation actions requires detailed information on species’ geographic distribution. Species distribution data are most needed in areas hosting unique or endangered biodiversity. Italy is one of the European countries with the highest levels of herpetological diversity and endemism and is home to several threatened species of amphibians and reptiles. Information on the distribution of species’ habitats can help identify sites where the species is most likely to thrive, as viable populations depend on it. Area of Habitat (AOH) maps reveal the distribution of the habitat available to the species within their geographic range. We produced high resolution, freely accessible global area of habitat maps for 60 species of reptiles and amphibians distributed in Italy, which represent 60% of all Italian amphibian and reptile species. We validated a total of 44 AOH maps through a presence-only based evaluation method, with 86% of these maps showing a performance better than expected by chance. AOH maps can be used as a reference for conservation planning, as well as to investigate macroecological patterns of Italian herpetofauna. Furthermore, AOH maps can help monitoring habitat loss, which is known to be a major threat to many reptile and amphibian species in Europe.
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