Species Distribution Models

We present the first photographic record of a mainland clouded leopard Neofelis nebulosa predating on a Bengal slow loris Nycticebus bengalensis in Dehing Patkai National Park, Assam, India. This finding, made through camera trapping, contributes to our understanding of predatory behavior and diet, highlighting the significance of conservation efforts for both species. The mainland clouded leopard, a medium-sized felid in the family Pantherinae, is categorized as 'Vulnerable' by the IUCN and listed under CITES Appendix I, reflecting threats from poaching and illegal trade (Hearn et al., 2013; Gray et al., 2021). Due to their elusive nature, it becomes difficult to ascertain the preferred prey species of clouded leopards (Nowell & Jackson, 1996). During a camera trapping study to assess the population of clouded leopards in its distribution range in India, a clouded leopard was photo captured carrying a Bengal slow loris (Nycticebus bengalensis) held by its nape on a broad forest trail (20:58 hrs; December 07, 2024; 164 m asl) (Figure 1). Earlier, its congener, the Greater slow loris (Nycticebus coucang), was recorded as a prey species of the clouded leopard by Grassman Jr. et al. (2005) based on scat analysis in Thailand, which was erroneously cited by another study (Rasphone et al., 2022) as Bengal slow loris. The habitat comprised a tropical wet evergreen forest characterized by the dominance of tree species including Dipterocarpus retusus, Mesua ferrea, and Dysoxylum gotadhora, with an approximate canopy cover of 60%. The location is 1.1 km from the nearest tea garden (Tarajan Tea Garden) and 2.5 km from the closest human habitation. In this report, we provide the first photographic evidence of a Bengal slow loris being preyed upon by a mainland clouded leopard, confirming it as a prey species for this felid. The Bengal slow loris is the only strepsirrhine primate in northeast India and is categorized as 'Endangered' by the IUCN (Nekaris et al., 2020). It exhibits distinct foraging behavior characterized by the repeated use of the same foraging routes and relatively slow locomotion. Among all the species of Nycticebus, the Bengal slow loris is the most specialized exudativore, dedicating approximately 86.5% of its total feeding time to consuming plant exudates in arboreal habitats (Swapna et al., 2010). Considering the Bengal slow loris' weight ranges from 850 to 2100 g (Nekaris et al., 2010), and it is arboreal and nocturnal, it is likely that clouded leopards in this area may target this species as relatively easy to hunt prey. The available literature highlights the diverse range of prey species preferred by clouded leopards, including small and medium sized ungulates, primates, porcupines, pangolins, birds, rodents, and even domestic animals (Davies

Predicting distribution has become a fundamental component in conservation or wildlife management. Modelling is increasingly used to identify important areas (e.g. those areas more suitable for a species or more likely to hold high densities). Models often use presence/absence rather than abundance data, partly because measuring abundance is more difficult than measuring presence. We aimed to test if the relationship between occurrence models and predicted abundance varied for two sibling species that differ in the level of nest aggregation: the Montagu's harrier (a semi-colonial raptor species) and the hen harrier (more territorial). We modelled presence/absence distribution and the number of pairs of each species with GLM and large-scale environmental variables, and compared predicted results of both sets of models. In the case of the hen harrier, predictions of the presence/absence model reliably identified areas with highest densities for the species. In contrast, in the Montagu´s harrier, there were large apparently favourable areas where predicted breeding density was low. Our results indicate that breeding system is likely to shape the relationship between presence/absence vs density models. In species that are randomly or evenly spaced, even if spatial variations in density occur, using results of presence/absence models is likely to be adequate for population monitoring. In contrast, in the case of semi-colonial species, it is necessary to take into account both occurrence and abundance models to identify areas of conservation importance or concern. There are a considerable number of birds which are semi-colonial or aggregated species, thus these results have general implications.

Predicting distribution has become a fundamental component in conservation or wildlife management. Modelling is increasingly used to identify important areas (e.g. those areas more suitable for a species or more likely to hold high densities). Models often use presence/absence rather than abundance data, partly because measuring abundance is more difficult than measuring presence. We aimed to test if the relationship between occurrence models and predicted abundance varied for two sibling species that differ in the level of nest aggregation: the Montagu's harrier (a semi-colonial raptor species) and the hen harrier (more territorial). We modelled presence/absence distribution and the number of pairs of each species with GLM and large-scale environmental variables, and compared predicted results of both sets of models. In the case of the hen harrier, predictions of the presence/absence model reliably identified areas with highest densities for the species. In contrast, in the Montagu´s harrier, there were large apparently favourable areas where predicted breeding density was low. Our results indicate that breeding system is likely to shape the relationship between presence/absence vs density models. In species that are randomly or evenly spaced, even if spatial variations in density occur, using results of presence/absence models is likely to be adequate for population monitoring. In contrast, in the case of semi-colonial species, it is necessary to take into account both occurrence and abundance models to identify areas of conservation importance or concern. There are a considerable number of birds which are semi-colonial or aggregated species, thus these results have general implications.

As developing countries give priority to economic growth, the effects of development threaten natural habitats and species distributions. Over the course of two decades, Vietnam has rapidly developed, especially in the expansion of agricultural production. However, no study has quantitatively measured the effects of recent human impact on the effects of past species distributions in Vietnam. We use locality data collected from multiple natural history collections, including several in Vietnam, to infer past species distributions. We assess habitat availability of five common babbler species (Aves: Timaliidae) using distribution models with data prior to rapid development that followed political reform. Overlaying the Global Human Influence Index with predicted distributions highlights the human impact on these distributions. Three important patterns emerge: (1) human impact influences common Timaliidae distributions similarly, (2) widespread species distributions show higher fragmen...

The spotted lanternfly (SLF), Lycorma delicatula (White, 1845) (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae), is expected to cause major disruptions to fruit, ornamental, and forest industries in the United States and other countries. We present a model that predicts the seasonal development (phenology) of the SLF in areas that are climatically suitable for establishment. The model was developed using previously published data and presence records from the native range. An independent set of presence records and phenological observations was used for the model validation. The model performed well but needs further validation using monitoring data from across the SLF's distribution in North America. Cold and heat stresses may be insufficient to exclude the SLF in most parts of the conterminous United States; however, an inability for the pest to complete its life cycle in cold areas may hinder establishment. Feeding pressure on host plants may be greater in warm regions owing to the earlier appearance of adults. The near-real-time forecasts produced by the model are available at two websites to support decision making for the surveillance and management of the SLF.

The study was carried out to investigate the diversity and distribution of ants in agriculture, grassland, forest and human habitats located around Gautala Autramghat Sanctuary Dist. Aurangabad during February 2010 to January 2012. The ants were randomly collected from the study area, by all out search method. A total 17 species of ants belonging to thirteen genera and six subfamilies such as Formicinae, Myrmicinae, Ponerinae, Dolichoderinae, Aenictinae and Pseudomyrmicinae were reported from four different habitats of present study area. The subfamily Myrmicinae was found to be more diverse with 6 species, and then followed by Formicinae with 4 species, Pseudomyrmicinae with 3 species, Ponerinae with 6 species and Dolichoderinae & Aenictinae were found least diverse with only one species each. Members of Formicinae, Myrmicinae and Dolichoderinae were reported from all habitats but members of subfamily Ponerinae, Aenictinae and Pseudomyrmicinae were only reported from grassland and forest habitats. A Genus Tetraponera is most diverse comprising three species then followed by Monomorium and Camponotus comprising two species each from the present study area were reported. A genus Tetraponera is most diverse with three species and is followed by Monomorium and Camponotus each with two species. The Shannon Weiner diversity index of forest and grassland habitat was found highest as compared to human and agricultural habitats. The genus Crematogaster was found to be most abundant.

Morphology is very important approach to biologists for unique recognition of insect species as compared to close relative. The present study deals with the morphology and taxonomy of ant species Leptogenys processionalis from of Aurangabad city with the help of scanning electron microscopy. The Scanning electron microscopy facilitates to confiscate confusions in morphological features in related species with better resolution and clarity. Based on the body profile such as head, antennal scrobe over the eye, thorax, abdomen etc. species are recognized. Thus during present study SEM imaging detected the detailed morphological features such as size, coloration, pilosity on the body and details of head features, structure of alitrunk and gaster. The study recorded in details the features like broad head with small eyes, 12 segmented antenna, broad mandibles, narrow alitrunk, sutures on thorax, convex petiole, tibial spur, pectinate claw. This helped to confirm that the ant specimen obs...

Food habits of the polecat (Mustela putorius) were studied by the analysis of 50 scats collected in riverine habitats of northern Italy from 1985 to 1988. Data were expressed as percent frequency of occurrcncc (F%) and relative pcrcentage of frequency (Fr%). Rodents (Fr% = 48.4), mainly Apodemus sp. (Fr% = 25.0) and Clethrionomys glareolus (Fr% = 15.6), lagomorphs (Fr% = 23.4) and birds (Fr% = 12.5) wcrc the main components of the diet. Falconiformes, probably consumed as carrion, and Ralliformes wcrc recorded for the first time in the polecat diet in Europe. Fruit, amphibians and reptiles wcrc scarcely exploited by the polecat.

Honeybees (Apis mellifera) are principal insect pollinators, whose worldwide distribution and abundance is known to largely depend on climatic conditions. However, the presence records dataset on potential distribution of honeybees in Indian Ocean Islands remain less documented. Presence records in shape format and probability of occurrence of honeybees with different temperature change scenarios is provided in this article across Zanzibar Island. Maximum entropy (Maxent) package was used to analyse the potential distribution of honeybees. The dataset provides information on the current and future distribution of the honey bees in Zanzibar Island. The dataset is of great importance for improving stakeholders understanding of the role of temperature change on the spatial distribution of honeybees.

Species Distribution Models are widely used to predict single and multiple species distribution based on different environmental parameters concerned. Such a framework often ignores distribution overlapping of associated species of the same taxon or genus which may lead to high-cost conservation for the concerned authority. Cost effective conservation management can be practiced by prioritizing areas of high suitability, shared by one or more related species. Here, we proposed the concept of the high probable distribution area shared by at least two species i.e. Synergistic potential distribution area in Assam. Analysis of the synergistic distribution map showed that the average combined high potential area of all the species is 3140 km 2 , and the average synergistic distribution area shared by at least two species accounts for 1367.63 km 2 (Falco severus + Gyps tenuirostris = 1446.19 km 2 , Falco severus + Haliaeetus leucoryphys = 1404.75 km 2 , Gyps tenuirostris + Haliaeetus leucoryphus = 1251.95 km 2). We found that the highly suitable areas of raptors in Assam were mostly concentrated in the Manas Tiger Reserve landscape, Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong landscape and Upper Brahmaputra valley. This concept would definitely help to identify areas shared by raptors and prioritize cost effective conservation efforts.

Ecological barriers are important determinants of the evolution and distributions marine organisms, and a challenge for evolutionary ecologists seeking to understand population structure in the sea. Dasyatis marianae is an endemic Brazilian species that indicates certain restrictions on its distribution probably due to marine barriers. In this study, Bayesian hierarchical spatial models, jointly with environmental and occurrence species data, are used to identify, which elements could generate these barriers on Dasyatis marianae distribution. Results show that salinity and temperature are the most important drivers that play an essential role to limit the distribution of this species. Indeed, low salinity values restrict Dasyatis marianae distribution in the north of the Brazilian coast, while in the south are colder temperatures. These results highlight the need to better define the distribution of marine species, especially for the ones affected by ecological barriers that are more sensitive to environmental changes.

Aim: Species distribution models (SDMs) are an important tool for conservation efforts, and when constructed using highquality predictor and response data could be useful for identifying portions of a species' range that could serve as refugia from risks that are influenced by environmental conditions, such as pathogens. Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) is a fungal pathogen that causes lethal disease in amphibians but is also sensitive to environmental factors including temperature and humidity. SDMs built using high spatial and temporal resolution environmental data may be able to help identify environmental refugia from Bd for amphibians. In this study, we create our own high-resolution remotely sensed environmental dataset and use highquality presence/absence survey data to build new Bd SDMs of Panama. Location: Panama. Taxa: The amphibian chytrid fungus Bd and amphibian communities. Methods: We used environmental values from various time periods prior to Bd testing (lag of 2, 7, 15, 30 days) and levels of Bd infection intensity from survey swabs (present, medium intensity, high intensity) to run multiple Boosted Regression Trees to model environmental suitability for Bd and evaluated their performance. Results: Our results indicated that the 15-day period prior to testing was the most predictive time-period for Bd environmental suitability in Panama. Additionally, we found that we could not only model the distribution of the pathogen itself but discern This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

La especie Pleurozia paradoxa es una hepática de hábitat generalmente paramuno que se encuentra en estado vulnerable según el libro rojo de briófitas de Colombia debido a su poca presencia y su minúscula área de ocupación en el país. Mediante la aplicación de modelos de distribución de especies podemos estimar áreas de idoneidad que dan cuenta de la presencia probable de una especie. En este caso se usó un algoritmo de aprendizaje de máquinas denominado máxima entropía y el software Maxent, con el fin de obtener mapas de distribución potencial. Se emplearon varios registros de presencia y distintos juegos de variables climáticas para el modelamiento, además de un umbral de maximización de la especificidad y sensibilidad en el mapeo. Como resultado, la distribución potencial de P. paradoxa en Colombia se concentró en los departamentos del Cauca, Huila y Nariño a lo largo de la cordillera Central, extendiéndose levemente hacia el Valle del Cauca y Tolima, y en marcada relación con la ...

The Bale Mountains of Ethiopia contain the largest contiguous area of alpine habitat in Africa. The region provides critical water resources and other essential environmental services to highland communities, endemic wildlife, and millions of downstream people in East Africa. Increasing land use change has created concern over degradation to headwater wetlands and potential impacts on hydrologic regimes. Baseline understanding of wetland dynamics is lacking, however, and little is known about their function in the regional hydrologic system. We used remote sensing, machine learning, and field surveys to map the distribution of Afroalpine wetlands in the Bale Mountains. We developed a wetland typology based on hydrogeomorphic characteristics and a conceptual model of surface-groundwater flow. Our results show that wetland extent more than doubles between wet and dry seasons and that only 4 percent of the Afroalpine zone is saturated year-round. We also found evidence of a hydrologic continuum based on volcanic and glacial legacies, with wetlands at elevations above approximately 3,800 m asl likely to be ephemeral and wetlands at lower elevations tending to be perennial. Further interpretation suggests that local geology is a principal control on wetland distribution and hydrologic attenuation in the Bale Mountains. This lays the foundation for further research into surface-groundwater connectivity, climate change impacts, and conservation planning.

Understanding changes in species distributions is essential to disentangle the mechanisms that drive their responses to anthropogenic habitat modification. Here we analyse the past (1970s) and current (2017) distribution of 204 species of terrestrial non-volant mammals to identify drivers of recent contraction and expansion in their range. We find 106 species lost part of their past range, and 40 of them declined by >50%. The key correlates of this contraction are large body mass, increase in air temperature, loss of natural land, and high human population density. At the same time, 44 species have some expansion in their range, which correlates with small body size, generalist diet, and high reproductive rates. Our findings clearly show that human activity and life history interact to influence range changes in mammals. While the former plays a major role in determining contraction in species' distribution, the latter is important for both contraction and expansion.

Central to the development of an inventory of marine life and improved conceptual understanding of the mechanisms that dynamically shape species distribution patterns is the implementation of strategies aimed at enhancing assimilation and access to existing biogeographical information. Using the Internet as a medium, the Gulf of Maine Biogeographic Information System (GMBIS) project provides a framework and a set of reusable tools for the integration, visualization, analysis and dissemination of diverse types of biogeographical and oceanographic information. End-to-end viability of this approach is demonstrated in the context of a series of scientific storylines and a pilot application for the Gulf of Maine (GoM), a well-studied ecosystem that has been subject to large-scale perturbation due to overfishing. Databases at the core of the information system include those of the DFO Bedford Institution of Oceanography and Atlantic Reference Center, which are the product of multidisciplinary research efforts over the last several decades. Development of GMBIS may serve not only as a model for OBIS, but it may also provide a tool supporting new international and Canadian directives for integrated marine resource management. This paper summarizes the status of the GMBIS project, currently in its final phase, and outlines possible future directions in information system development for the CoML.

Changes in species diversity following volcanic eruptions have been studied extensively, but our knowledge on functional diversity and community assembly under such conditions is very limited. Here, we study the processes following the destruction of vegetation after a volcanic eruption. Specifically, we investigate (1) the temporal patterns of taxonomic and functional diversity over time since a previous eruption (alpha diversity) and beta diversity, (2) the temporal patterns of 26 individual traits (vegetative characteristics, plant taxa ecological preferences, and regenerative characteristics) providing more detailed information on species strategies at the initial and later stages of succession, and (3) the processes driving species assembly and whether they changed over time since the eruption an eruption. We analyzed data recorded during five floristic censuses that took place between 1911 and 2011, calculated alpha and beta facets of taxonomic and functional diversity and exa...

Photo‐identification and conventional tagging were used to estimate population size and structure of the whale shark Rhincodon typus near Holbox Island, Mexico. From 2005 to 2008, photographs of spot patterns behind the last gill slit and in a lateral view on the left side of each animal were used to identify individuals. Additionally, 578 R. typus were tagged using conventional marker tags. Of these and the 350 R. typus that were identified from 1184 photographs, 65% were male; 27%, female and 8%, indeterminate sex. Photographed R. typus ranged in size from 2·5 to 9·5 m total length. Size was bimodal with a large peak at 6 m and a smaller peak at 7 m. Photo‐identification showed that there was considerable loss of marker tags. Few of these remained on the animals for more than a year, so that interannual re‐sights using tagging could not be used in population modelling. Forty six interannual re‐sightings were found in the photographic library; the interval between these re‐sighting...

The present work is part of a process to create a Catalogue of the Freshwater Fishes of Colombia and consisted in the depuration and updating of the taxonomic and geographic components of the checklist of the freshwater fishes of Colombia. An exhaustive revision of the 1435 species recorded in 2008 was necessary to: 1. Add new species described since 2009 and species originally described from Colombia but inadvertently omitted in 2008; 2. Add new records of already described species; 3. Delete species whose presence in Colombia was not supported by voucher specimens in ichthyological collections; and 4. Revise the geographic distribution of the species listed in 2008. This process resulted in the following numbers: 1. Total number of freshwater fish species in Colombia: 1494; 2. Number of species recorded by hydrographic region -Amazon: 706, Orinoco: 663, Caribbean: 223, Magdalena-Cauca: 220, Pacific: 130; and 3. Number of endemic species: 374 (76% from the trans-Andean region). Updating the current checklist is a fundamental requirement to ensure its incorporation in the decision-making process with regard to the conservation of Colombian aquatic species and ecosystems, which are facing transformation

1. The Amazon floodplains represent important surfaces of highly valuable ecosystems, yet they remain neglected from protected areas. Although the efficiency of the protected area network of the Amazon basin may be jeopardized by climate change, floodplains are exposed to important consequences of climate change but are omitted from species distribution models and protection gap analyses. 2. The present and future (2070) distribution of the giant bony-tongue fish Arapaima spp. (Arapaimidae) was modelled accounting for climate and habitat requirements, and with a consideration of dam presence (already existing and planned constructions) and hydroperiod (high-and low-water stages). The amount of suitable environment that falls inside and outside the current network of protected areas was quantified to identify spatial conservation gaps. 3. We predict that climate change will cause a decline in environmental suitability by 16.6% during the high-water stage, and by 19.4% during the low-water stage. About 70% of the suitable environments of Arapaima spp. remain currently unprotected. The gap is higher by 0.7% during the low-water stage. The lack of protection is likely to increase by 5% with future climate change effects. Both existing and projected dam constructions may hamper population flows between the central, Bolivian and Peruvian parts of the basin. 4. We highlight protection gaps mostly in the south-western part of the basin and recommend the extension of the current network of protected areas in the floodplains of the upper Ucayali, Juruà and Purus rivers and their tributaries. This study has shown the importance of integrating hydroperiod and dispersal barriers in forecasting the distribution of freshwater fish species, and stresses the urgent need to integrate floodplains within the protected area networks.

Background Despite the ecological and agricultural significance of bumble bees in Alaska, very little is known and published about this important group at the regional level. The objectives of this study were to provide baseline data on species composition, distribution, seasonal biology, and parasites of the genus Bombus at three major agricultural locations within Alaska: Fairbanks, Delta Junction, and Palmer, to lay the groundwork for future research on bumble bee pollination in Alaska. © Pampell R et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY

One of the core challenges of functional diversity is the identification of traits that can accurately be linked to ecological processes. Trait-based metrics have been used to detect and quantify the effects of deterministic processes, such as niche filtering and co-occurrence mechanisms. However, most functional studies have simplified the measured attributes, especially for fish species. Here, we aimed to test the influence of trait resolution and surrogates on the accuracy in expressing resource partitioning among tropical fish species. We assessed pairwise species similarity between distinct ways of express resource use by species (through increasing trait resolution), and tested whether differences in resolutions are strong enough to provide different patterns in the functional structure of tropical fish assemblages. Our study shows that distinct ways of expressing resource partitioning among species may provide different ecological interpretations of this process as different resolutions or surrogates can change pairwise species, similarity.

Knowledge of the spatial distribution and habitat associations of species in relation to the environment is essential for their management and conservation. Habitat suitability models are useful in quantifying species-environment relationships and predicting species distribution patterns. Little is known, however, about the stability and performance of habitat suitability models when projected into new areas (spatial transferability) and how this can inform resource management. The aims of this study were to model habitat suitability of Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus) in five fished areas of the Northeast Atlantic (Aran ground, Irish Sea, Celtic Sea, Scotland Inshore and Fladen ground), and to test for spatial transferability of habitat models among multiple regions. Nephrops burrow density was modelled using generalised additive models (GAMs) with predictors selected from four environmental variables (depth, slope, sediment and rugosity). Models were evaluated and tested for s...

Many research and monitoring networks in recent decades have provided publicly available data documenting environmental and ecological change, but little is known about the status of efforts to synthesize this information across networks. We convened a working group to assess ongoing and potential cross‐network synthesis research and outline opportunities and challenges for the future, focusing on the US‐based research network (the US Long‐Term Ecological Research network, LTER) and monitoring network (the National Ecological Observatory Network, NEON). LTER‐NEON cross‐network research synergies arise from the potentials for LTER measurements, experiments, models, and observational studies to provide context and mechanisms for interpreting NEON data, and for NEON measurements to provide standardization and broad scale coverage that complement LTER studies. Initial cross‐network syntheses at co‐located sites in the LTER and NEON networks are addressing six broad topics: how long‐term...

Protected areas (PAs) in southern Africa provide refuge to important megafauna such as the savannah elephant (Loxodonta africana). Sections of these protected areas are often transfrontier conservation complexes, whose objective is to facilitate historic patterns of animal dispersal. Knowledge of megafauna home ranges, habitat use, and dispersal in key PAs can inform vital decision-making for elephant conservation. Location data were derived from satellite collars fitted on 26 savannah elephants from 2016 to 2022 in Gonarezhou National Park, Zimbabwe to investigate seasonal and sex differences in elephants' home range sizes, home range overlap, and their interaction with environmental variables. Differences in the size of home ranges between sexes in all seasons were not significant. Both male and female elephants had high site fidelity, retaining 60% of their home ranges between consecutive seasons. Only females, possibly tracking forage quality, showed reduced overlap of home ranges between the hot dry and hot wet seasons. Male elephants preferred vegetation types dominated by Colophospermum mopane, whereas females used more diverse upland vegetation types, showing a preference for higher elevations than males over all seasons. In areas where elephant movement is restricted by fences and human settlements, continuous monitoring of elephant space use is recommended, and research dynamics should be taken into account when developing sitespecific management plans.

The reproductive behaviour of Mygalomorph spiders in the wild is scarce, due to their nocturnal and cryptic habits. The current study describes and interprets the courtship behaviour exhibited by Smith‘s tiger spider Poecilotheria smithi in the wild. Behavioural observations were conducted in the area of Ranamure (GPS coordinates are 7°24'0" N and 80°48'0" E) in the Knuckles region of Sri Lanka. Observations began at 19.45 hours and continued until the behaviour was over. The same mating couple was observed throughout the observation period, which lasted for four consecutive days from 10th November 2013 to 14th November 2013. We selected scan sampling as the sampling rule and instantaneous sampling as the recording rule, mating behaviour was observed following Martin and Bateson 1993. Behavioural transitions were calculated in one of the two ways depending on whether the transition occurred only once during the reproduction. An ethogram of 20 behavioural acts was c...

La mode actuelle des grands herbivores indigènes "primitifs" va de pair avec le discours social sur la nature, la généralisation des procédures d'inventaire des espèces, et l'affirmation d'un point de vue patrimonial qui défend la nécessité de gérer un héritage dangereusement fragilisé. Ces "brouteurs archaïques" apparaissent comme les emblèmes des nouveaux rapports, à la fois symboliques et concrets, que les éco-/ogues praticiens entretiennent avec l'animal, la nature, et le territoire. On peut tenter de les résumer en quelques mots : une fabrication du sauvage et une restauration des systèmes naturels disparus. Nous avons suivi la piste du Tarpan-Konik polski (petit cheval polonais) et en approfondissant la problématique déjà développée dans le cadre du colloque interdisciplinaire intitulé: "Crise de /'environnement: éthique, science, politique" (1994). Dans la Pologne de l'entre-deux guerres, on découvrira le rôle qu'ont joué des scientifiques, par /'entremise du petit cheval des origines re-fabriqué, dans la création d'un mythe national.

The project investigates where in Austria wolves (Canis lupus) could find suitable habitats, particularly within protected areas, using modern species distribution modeling (SDM) methods. The aim is to assess the potential of conservation areas for supporting wolf populations and to inform nature conservation planning in the context of biodiversity and large predator recovery.

AimSpecies–area relationships (SARs) are fundamental scaling laws in ecology although their shape is still disputed. At larger areas, power laws best represent SARs. Yet, it remains unclear whether SARs follow other shapes at finer spatial grains in continuous vegetation. We asked which function describes SARs best at small grains and explored how sampling methodology or the environment influence SAR shape.LocationPalaearctic grasslands and other non‐forested habitats.TaxaVascular plants, bryophytes and lichens.MethodsWe used the GrassPlot database, containing standardized vegetation‐plot data from vascular plants, bryophytes and lichens spanning a wide range of grassland types throughout the Palaearctic and including 2,057 nested‐plot series with at least seven grain sizes ranging from 1 cm2 to 1,024 m2. Using nonlinear regression, we assessed the appropriateness of different SAR functions (power, power quadratic, power breakpoint, logarithmic, Michaelis–Menten). Based on AICc, we ...

Volatility Forecasting is an interesting challenging topic in current financial instruments as it is directly associated with profits. There are many risks and rewards directly associated with volatility. Hence forecasting volatility becomes most dispensable topic in finance. The GARCH distributions play an important role in the risk measurement and option pricing. The min motive of this paper is to measure the performance of GARCH techniques for forecasting volatility by using different distribution model. We have used 9 variations in distribution models that are used to forecast the volatility of a stock entity. The different GARCH distribution models observed in this paper are Std, Norm, SNorm, GED, SSTD, SGED, NIG, GHYP and JSU. Volatility is forecasted for 10 days in advance and values are compared with the actual values to find out the best distribution model for volatility forecast. From the results obtain it has been observed that GARCH with GED distribution models has outperformed all models.

SummaryAustropuccinia psidii is a biotrophic rust fungus that affects species from the Myrtaceae family. In Mexico, Myrtaceae is widely distributed in temperate, tropical and semi‐arid ecosystems, and includes 20 genera and 192 endemic and exotic species. Austropuccinia psidii has been present in Mexico for the last four decades; however, little is known about the distribution of this rust or the vulnerability of native and exotic Myrtaceae to infection. In this study, we used global occurrence records for the pandemic biotype of myrtle rust to model its current and future suitable habitat using a species distribution model, Maxent. We identified regions that are highly suitable for myrtle rust establishment, now and in the future (2050). Additionally, we identified the Myrtaceae species known to be susceptible to rust infection and that are currently distributed in areas with high rust habitat suitability. Thirty‐six susceptible plant species and 142 untested species are distribute...

Myrtle rust (Austropuccinia psidii) is an invasive rust fungus that attacks species of the Myrtaceae family, one of the most dominant plant families in Australia. The potential extent of myrtle rust affected areas and the high number of potential host species make a species prioritisation scheme essential to direct conservation and management efforts. This study builds on previous work by: compiling an up-to-date list of myrtle rust occurrences and host species; mapping current and future climate suitability for myrtle rust; and identifying host species at risk based on range overlaps and susceptibility data. Suitable habitat for myrtle rust is restricted to eastern and southern coastal areas of Australia, with minor areas in the Northern Territory and Western Australia. This coastal distribution remains present under future climates, with some extension in inland New South Wales and Tasmania, and a reduction of suitable habitat in northern Queensland and Western Australia. Contrary to previous studies, our results indicate that south-west Western Australia has low climatic suitability for myrtle rust. Under current climate, 1285 Myrtaceae species are at risk of exposure to myrtle rust. This number decreases to 1224 species under future climate. We divide species exposed to myrtle rust into three priority categories, giving highest priority to species with at least 70% of their range overlapping regions climatically suitable for myrtle rust under current or future climates. We find 23 species are of high priority for conservation action. Finally, we provide a series of recommendations for management of species within each priority category.

Marine benthic ecosystems are difficult to monitor and assess, which is in contrast to modern ecosystem-based management requiring detailed information at all important ecological and anthropogenic impact levels. Ecosystem management needs to ensure a sustainable exploitation of marine resources as well as the protection of sensitive habitats, taking account of potential multiple-use conflicts and impacts over large spatial scales. The urgent need for large-scale spatial data on benthic species and communities resulted in an increasing application of distribution modelling (DM). The use of DM techniques enables to employ full spatial coverage data of environmental variables to predict benthic spatial distribution patterns. Especially, statistical DMs have opened new possibilities for ecosystem management applications, since they are straightforward and the outputs are easy to interpret and communicate. Mechanistic modelling techniques, targeting the fundamental niche of species, and ...

Species distribution models (SDMs) are increasingly proposed to support conservation decision making. However, evidence of SDMs supporting solutions for on-ground conservation problems is still scarce in the scientific literature. Here, we show that successful examples exist but are still largely hidden in the grey literature, and thus less accessible for analysis and learning. Furthermore, the decision framework within which SDMs are used is rarely made explicit. Using case studies from biological invasions, identification of critical habitats, reserve selection and translocation of endangered species, we propose that SDMs may be tailored to suit a range of decision-making contexts when used within a structured and transparent decision-making process. To construct appropriate SDMs to more effectively guide conservation actions, modellers need to better understand the decision process, and decision makers need to provide feedback to modellers regarding the actual use of SDMs to supp...

Seguramente, quien más aportó al conocimiento de los ma-míferos en Colombia fue Philip Hershkovitz, quien tuvo dos largas estadías colectando en este país, primero en la re-gión de Santa Marta y la costa del Caribe (Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC) y, después, ...

Con el presente trabajo se pretende presentar un primer listado de los rnamiferos colombianos y su distribucion zoogeografica. Para la siguiente lista se han tenido en cuenta las especies que se han citado en !a literatura dentro del territorio nacional, estes aparecen con numeros, aquellos que estan dentro del rango geografico 0 han sido citados en las cercanias fronterizas del pais, se les ha colocado asterisco, y los que se nombran por primera vez para Colombia tienen el s: En la lista se incluye su nornbre cientifico, seguido de su autor con el afio en el cual fue descrito originalmente. Se lista los sitios geogrHicos posibles de su distribucion teniendo en cuenta la literatura como las colecciones celombianas que tienen material en el pais. En los sitios geograficos que se conoce material especifico se coloca entre parentesis. Cuando el material es demasiado abundante se citan tmicamente de una manera general dandole su distribucion por zonas. Algunas siglas citadas como P. N. N. significa Parque Natural Nacional. La nomenclatura y la filogenia esta basada en el trabajo de Honacki et al. (Honacki, James H.; Kenneth E. Kinman y James W. Koeppi. 1982. Mammal Species of the World. A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. Allen Press, Inc. y The Association of Sistema tics Collections. Lawrence, Kansas. ix-694). En la lista no se incluyen nuevas especies no publicadas, ni nombres subespecificos y se han eliminado los sinonirnos.

The common lionfish Pterois miles has rapidly spread across the eastern Mediterranean Sea. We compiled occurrence data from both native and invaded range under the framework of Species Distribution Modelling (SDM). Through a construction of an environmental suitability model and estimation of spread rates we investigated the lionfish climate niche in both its native and invaded domains, this latter represented by the Mediterranean region. Model projections allowed to identify suitable areas for lionfish establishment in the Mediterranean. Spread analysis suggested that a further geographical expansion in this basin could be completed within the next years. Our results did not provide evidence for niche expansion but highlighted a high degree of niche unfilling thus prospecting a likely spread of Mediterranean lionfish invasion beyond the predictions of current SDMs. These findings provide novel inputs to forecast the future geographical evolution of the lionfish in the Mediterranean Sea and asses the related risk of invasion.

Las colecciones entomológicas constituyen un archivo histórico natural de un país o región, donde la preservación de los especímenes y su información asociada, son la base para estudios taxonómicos, ecológicos, filogenéticos y biogeográficos.

Climate change vulnerability assessments for species of conservation concern often use species distribution and ecological niche modeling to project changes in habitat. One of many assumptions of these approaches is that food web dependencies are consistent in time and environmental space. Species at higher trophic levels that rely on the availability of species at lower trophic levels as food may be sensitive to extinction cascades initiated by changes in the habitat of key food resources. Here we assess climate change vulnerability for Ursus arctos (grizzly bears) in the southern Canadian Rocky Mountains using projected changes to 17 of the most commonly consumed plant food items. We used presence–absence information from 7088 field plots to estimate ecological niches and to project changes in future distributions of each species. Model projections indicated idiosyncratic responses among food items. Many food items persisted or even increased, although several species were found t...

Los estudios de maestría que culminaron en esta tesis fueron realizados gracias a las becas otorgadas por el ITESM y el CONACYT, el proyecto "Programa de Acción ante el Cambio Climático para Nuevo León" fue financiado por la Embajada Británica en México y evaluado por el INE, por lo que les agradezco la oportunidad que me brindaron. También quiero agradecer a la UNAM, la CNA y el IRI por compartir sus bases de datos que fueron un insumo fundamental. También agradezco a mi asesor Mario Manzano por confiar en mí. A mi sinodales, Gerardo Mejía y Fabián Lozano, así como al resto de los profesores de la MSA por compartir sus enseñanzas, especialmente a la Mtra. Nelly Correa por ser una guía. Muchas gracias a mi compañera de tesis, Rubí Fernández y a David Pérez, Fabi Yépez,