Predicting potential distribution and identifying priority areas for conservation of the lowland tapir (Tapirus terrestris) in Peruvian Amazon

Abstract

A key conservation biology tool is the information on the geographic distribution of species as well as the variables driving those patterns. Here, we used maximum entropy modeling, MaxEnt, to model the total potential distribution of Tapirus terrestris, classified as “Vulnerable” on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. In this study, we recorded 117 occurrence records and considered 18 environmental variables. The total potential distribution area covers 96,055.6 km2, meaning 12.3 % of the territory of the Peruvian Amazon, with “high potential” habitat covering 3,891.36 km2, “moderate potential” habitat covering 22,849.5 km2, and “low potential” habitat covering 69,314.7 km2. Natural Protected Areas (NPAs) shelter 32.2 % (30,966.2 km2) of the total potential distribution area of the species, being the Bahuaja Sonene and Manu National Parks, the NPAs with the largest total potential distribution, 8,220.2 km2 and 7,619.7 km2 respectively. Eventually, 67.8 % (65,089.4 km2) of the total potential distribution were identified without any type of protection category by SINANPE and its complementary categories; therefore, we consider this area as a priority for the conservation of T. terrestris in Peru.