Fishing cat Prionailurus viverrinus distribution and habitat suitability in Nepal
Abstract The fishing cat Prionailurus viverrinus is a wetland specialist species endemic to South and Southeast Asia. Nepal represents the northern limit of its biogeographic range, but comprehensive information on fishing cat distribution in Nepal is lacking. To assess their distribution, we compil...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2022-04-01
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| Series: | Ecology and Evolution |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.8857 |
| _version_ | 1797924590877409280 |
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| author | Rama Mishra Hans H. de Iongh Hewig Leirs Babu Ram Lamichhane Naresh Subedi Shekhar S. Kolipaka |
| author_facet | Rama Mishra Hans H. de Iongh Hewig Leirs Babu Ram Lamichhane Naresh Subedi Shekhar S. Kolipaka |
| author_sort | Rama Mishra |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The fishing cat Prionailurus viverrinus is a wetland specialist species endemic to South and Southeast Asia. Nepal represents the northern limit of its biogeographic range, but comprehensive information on fishing cat distribution in Nepal is lacking. To assess their distribution, we compiled fishing cat occurrence records (n = 154) from Nepal, available in published literature and unpublished data (2009–2020). Bioclimatic and environmental variables associated with their occurrence were used to predict the fishing cat habitat suitability using MaxEnt modeling. Fishing cat habitat suitability was associated with elevation (152–302 m), precipitation of the warmest quarter, i.e., April–June (668–1014 mm), precipitation of the driest month (4–7 mm), and land cover (forest/grassland and wetland). The model predicted an area of 4.4% (6679 km2) of Nepal as potential habitat for the fishing cat. About two‐thirds of the predicted potentially suitable habitat lies outside protected areas; however, a large part of the highly suitable habitat (67%) falls within protected areas. The predicted habitat suitability map serves as a reference for future investigation into fishing cat distribution as well as formulating and implementing effective conservation programs in Nepal. Fishing cat conservation initiatives should include habitats inside and outside the protected areas to ensure long‐term survival. We recommend conservation of wetland sites, surveys of fishing cats in the identified potential habitats, and studying their genetic connectivity and population status. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T15:03:24Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b4a1f3aa457a4d6696a140665bb990f8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-7758 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T15:03:24Z |
| publishDate | 2022-04-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecology and Evolution |
| spelling | doaj.art-b4a1f3aa457a4d6696a140665bb990f82023-02-15T09:01:29ZengWileyEcology and Evolution2045-77582022-04-01124n/an/a10.1002/ece3.8857Fishing cat Prionailurus viverrinus distribution and habitat suitability in NepalRama Mishra0Hans H. de Iongh1Hewig Leirs2Babu Ram Lamichhane3Naresh Subedi4Shekhar S. Kolipaka5Evolutionary Ecology Group Department of Biology Antwerp University Antwerp BelgiumEvolutionary Ecology Group Department of Biology Antwerp University Antwerp BelgiumEvolutionary Ecology Group Department of Biology Antwerp University Antwerp BelgiumNational Trust for Nature Conservation Lalitpur NepalNational Trust for Nature Conservation Lalitpur NepalLeo Foundation Wageningen The NetherlandsAbstract The fishing cat Prionailurus viverrinus is a wetland specialist species endemic to South and Southeast Asia. Nepal represents the northern limit of its biogeographic range, but comprehensive information on fishing cat distribution in Nepal is lacking. To assess their distribution, we compiled fishing cat occurrence records (n = 154) from Nepal, available in published literature and unpublished data (2009–2020). Bioclimatic and environmental variables associated with their occurrence were used to predict the fishing cat habitat suitability using MaxEnt modeling. Fishing cat habitat suitability was associated with elevation (152–302 m), precipitation of the warmest quarter, i.e., April–June (668–1014 mm), precipitation of the driest month (4–7 mm), and land cover (forest/grassland and wetland). The model predicted an area of 4.4% (6679 km2) of Nepal as potential habitat for the fishing cat. About two‐thirds of the predicted potentially suitable habitat lies outside protected areas; however, a large part of the highly suitable habitat (67%) falls within protected areas. The predicted habitat suitability map serves as a reference for future investigation into fishing cat distribution as well as formulating and implementing effective conservation programs in Nepal. Fishing cat conservation initiatives should include habitats inside and outside the protected areas to ensure long‐term survival. We recommend conservation of wetland sites, surveys of fishing cats in the identified potential habitats, and studying their genetic connectivity and population status.https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.8857fishing cathabitat modelingMaxEntNepalprotected areasspecies distribution |
| spellingShingle | Rama Mishra Hans H. de Iongh Hewig Leirs Babu Ram Lamichhane Naresh Subedi Shekhar S. Kolipaka Fishing cat Prionailurus viverrinus distribution and habitat suitability in Nepal Ecology and Evolution fishing cat habitat modeling MaxEnt Nepal protected areas species distribution |
| title | Fishing cat Prionailurus viverrinus distribution and habitat suitability in Nepal |
| title_full | Fishing cat Prionailurus viverrinus distribution and habitat suitability in Nepal |
| title_fullStr | Fishing cat Prionailurus viverrinus distribution and habitat suitability in Nepal |
| title_full_unstemmed | Fishing cat Prionailurus viverrinus distribution and habitat suitability in Nepal |
| title_short | Fishing cat Prionailurus viverrinus distribution and habitat suitability in Nepal |
| title_sort | fishing cat prionailurus viverrinus distribution and habitat suitability in nepal |
| topic | fishing cat habitat modeling MaxEnt Nepal protected areas species distribution |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.8857 |
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