Batch-produced, GIS-informed range maps for birds based on provenanced, crowd-sourced data inform conservation...

Area of Science:

• Ornithology
• Conservation Biology
• Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

Background:

• Accurate species range maps are vital for conservation efforts but are time-consuming to produce and update.
• Shifting species distributions due to climate change and land use necessitate rapid mapping techniques.
• Existing methods often underestimate the true Area of Habitat (AoH) within defined species ranges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a systematic, batch-processing approach for mapping Area of Habitat (AoH) for terrestrial birds in Central and South America.
• To integrate crowd-sourced eBird data with satellite imagery for enhanced range and AoH mapping.
• To compare AoH estimates with published species ranges, particularly for threatened taxa.

Main Methods:

• Developed a systematic approach for batch-processing range maps and Area of Habitat (AoH) maps.
• Combined existing range maps with eBird presence/absence data and high-resolution satellite data (forest cover, elevation).
• Focused on terrestrial bird species with published ranges under 125,000 km² in Central and South America.

Main Results:

• Area of Habitat (AoH) maps were generated for numerous terrestrial bird species.
• On average, AoH estimates were 12% larger than previously published species ranges, driven by eBird data expansions.
• Threatened species (Critically Endangered, Endangered, Vulnerable) showed a higher proportion with AoH exceeding published ranges compared to Near Threatened and Least Concern species.

Conclusions:

• The developed method provides timely and efficient mapping of Area of Habitat (AoH), crucial for conservation planning.
• Crowd-sourced data significantly expands the known distribution of species, impacting AoH estimates.
• Threatened species are often more widely distributed than previously recognized, a key finding for conservation prioritization and resource allocation.