Using environmental niche modeling to find suitable habitats for the Hard-ground Barasingha in Madhya Pradesh, India
<p>The subspecies of Swamp Deer, the Hard-ground Barasingha (<em>Rucervus duvaucelii branderi</em> Pocock), is presently found only in Kanha Tiger Reserve (KTR) in Madhya Pradesh, India. This subspecies is highly vulnerable to extinction, and reintroduction in suitable sites is the...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wildlife Information Liaison Development Society
2015-09-01
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| Series: | Journal of Threatened Taxa |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://threatenedtaxa.org/index.php/JoTT/article/view/2319 |
| Summary: | <p>The subspecies of Swamp Deer, the Hard-ground Barasingha (<em>Rucervus duvaucelii branderi</em> Pocock), is presently found only in Kanha Tiger Reserve (KTR) in Madhya Pradesh, India. This subspecies is highly vulnerable to extinction, and reintroduction in suitable sites is the need of the hour. Environmental niche models (GARP, SVM, ED, CSM) aimed at providing a detailed prediction of species distribution by relating presence of species to 19 bioclimatic indices were developed, using swamp deer occurrence records in KTR. The predictions were appropriately weighted with the prevailing LU/LC classes to identify suitable habitats in Madhya Pradesh, India. The result shows that the southern region of Madhya Pradesh is suitable for the sustenance of Barasingha with varying degrees of habitability. Vicarious validation shows that most of these forest areas were the same as that of historical records dating back to 50 years. However, land use maps can help identify areas where this subspecies can be reintroduced.</p><div> </div> |
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| ISSN: | 0974-7893 0974-7907 |