Abstract
ContextUnderstanding the environmental and anthropogenic factors influencing habitat selection of multiple species is a foundation for quantifying human impacts on biodiversity and developing effective conservation measures.ObjectivesTo determine the effect of multiple scales of environmental/topographic and anthropogenic variables and landscape patterns on habitat suitability of terrestrial mammals in Bhutan, assess the effectiveness of the current protected area network, identify areas of high species richness outside of the existing protected area, and evaluate the potential effectiveness of indicator and umbrella species for conservation planning.MethodsWe modelled multi-scale habitat selection of sixteen species of terrestrial mammals across Bhutan using data from a nation-wide camera trap survey. We used the predicted species distribution maps to assess the multi-species conservation effectiveness of the existing protected area network. We performed simulations to identify high priority areas for multiple species based on their habitat suitability, proximity to existing protected areas and overall connectivity within the predicted distribution of species. We used correlation analysis among predicted occurrence maps and multivariate cluster analysis to identify potential indicator species. We evaluated the potential utility of each species as umbrella species by assessing how well optimal protected areas for that species would protect suitable habitat for all 16 species simultaneously.ResultsProtected areas and forest cover were strongly associated with habitat use of most modelled species. Additionally, topographical features, like terrain roughness and slope position, contributed to habitat selection of multiple species, but often in different ways. Environmental and topographical variables were mostly selected at medium to broad scales. Anthropogenic variables (agriculture and built-up areas) were negatively associated with habitat suitability of most species at both fine and broad scales. Conservation effectiveness assessment of existing protected areas found protected areas in south-central Bhutan have high effectiveness in terms of both mean and total richness protected. Similarly, biological corridors in the south-central region offered high mean richness protection. Our simulation of optimal areas for additional protection found areas abutting protected areas in southern Bhutan offered high relative species richness protection. Our umbrella species analysis found muntjac, wild pig, serow, sambar and Asian golden cat are the most effective umbrella species for broader biodiversity protection. Our indicator species analysis found tiger, gaur, dhole, clouded leopard, Asian black bear and common leopard as effective indicator species.ConclusionsThis study highlights the need to protect optimally located species-rich areas outside the current protected areas. This kind of multi-species habitat assessment provides important information to optimize future conservation and development plans at national and regional scales.
Highlights
Humans have impacted biodiversity for millennia and are linked to the decline of megafauna and prehistoric extinctions (Bartlett et al 2016)
We define indicator species as those whose presence indicates the presence or absence of other species, and umbrella species as those whose protection would simultaneously protect optimal habitat for many other species. To address these knowledge gaps and management needs, this study aims to: (1) investigate the multiple scale habitat relationships of 16 terrestrial mammal species of conservation importance and predict their distribution across Bhutan, (2) evaluate the effectiveness of the existing PAN based on the amount of total species richness protected, (3) identify areas of conservation importance outside of the existing PAN that could be chosen to optimally expand the protected area network, and (4) evaluate the efficacy of each of the 16 focal species as conservation umbrella and indicator species
The naïve occupancy was highly variable among the study species with highest observed for muntjac Muntiacus muntjak (0.58) and lowest for Asian elephant Elephas maximus (0.10)
Summary
Humans have impacted biodiversity for millennia and are linked to the decline of megafauna and prehistoric extinctions (Bartlett et al 2016). The recent explosion in human populations, coupled with increasing per capita resource consumption, has accelerated these impacts, with more than 50% of global land cover altered by human activities (McGill et al 2015). These rapid land-use changes have driven large declines in wildlife populations worldwide (WWF 2016). Global initiatives to address the extinction crisis and improve biodiversity conservation have produced ambitious visions.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.