Rapid decline and fragmentation of the distribution of an enigmatic small carnivore, the Owston’s Civet, in response to future climate change

Cao Thi Hong Nhung,Peter J Galante,Tuan Anh Nguyen,Minh D Le

doi:10.21425/f5fbg53201

Abstract

Indochina is known as one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots, with populations of many endangered and/or endemic species dramatically declining due to a range of threats, such as illegal hunting, habitat destruction, and global climate change. Climate change is expected to alter the region’s habitat and ecosystem conditions, force contraction of species ranges, and increase the likelihood of local extinctions. Maxent is a widely used modelling approach to predict the species’ current potential distribution, project range shifts in response to climate change, and inform conservation planning. Here, we collated known records and built models for both present and future climatically suitable habitat of the Owston’s Civet (Chrotogale owstoni), an endangered and poorly studied small carnivore occurring in Vietnam, eastern Laos, and a small part of southern China. Projections of climatically suitable habitat for the civet in most climate change scenarios and timeframes suggest significant habitat loss and fragmentation within its current range as a consequence of upward contraction. We recommend that future conservation efforts for C. owstoni focus on key refugia spreading along the Annamite Range in the border area between Vietnam and Laos. To mitigate climate-related extinction risk, close cooperation between Vietnam and Laos’ governmental agencies, research institutions, and non-governmental conservation organizations will play an important role in conserving the remaining habitat of this endangered species.

Highlights

The Owston’s Civet Chrotogale owstoni Thomas 1912, an endangered species of the family Viverridae and the only member of the monotypic genus Chrotogale, is facing a high risk of extinction in the wild (Timmins et al 2016, Willcox et al 2019)
58% were from Vietnam, 40% from Laos, and 2% from China; 28% were from an elevation of 700 m or less, 50% were between 700 m and 1.400 m, and 22% from an elevation higher than 1.400m
Since the species is known to be associated with wet evergreen forests, temperature has been considered an important deciding factor in regions with a harsher dry season (Timmins et al 2016)

Summary

Introduction

The Owston’s Civet Chrotogale owstoni Thomas 1912, an endangered species of the family Viverridae and the only member of the monotypic genus Chrotogale, is facing a high risk of extinction in the wild (Timmins et al 2016, Willcox et al 2019). Limited data from field surveys, field interviews, and reintroduction programs have shown that the Owston’s Civet is likely to be restricted to evergreen forests with a non-harsh dry season (Timmins et al 2016). This species reportedly inhabits degraded forests, some studies have suggested that it may prefer primary forest (e.g., Schreiber et al 1989, Roberton et al 2002, Long and Hoang 2006, Johnson et al 2009, Gray et al 2014). The loss, degradation, and fragmentation of evergreen forests have severely threatened its populations, in Vietnam and Laos

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