1. Predicting the Potential Distribution of the Szechwan Rat Snake (Euprepiophis perlacea) and Its Response to Climate Change in the Yingjing Area of the Giant Panda National Park.
- Author
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Song, Xinqiang, Jiang, Ying, Zhao, Li, Jin, Long, Yan, Chengzhi, and Liao, Wenbo
- Subjects
GIANT panda ,NATIONAL parks & reserves ,BIOLOGICAL extinction ,ECOSYSTEM management ,BIODIVERSITY conservation ,CORRIDORS (Ecology) ,WILDLIFE reintroduction - Abstract
Simple Summary: This study employs maxent models to investigate the impact of climate change on the potential distribution of the Szechwan rat snake (Euprepiophis perlacea) in the Yingjing Area of the Giant Panda National Park. The analysis reveals the significant effects of distance from the streams and slope of the geographic distribution of E. perlacea. Furthermore, this study indicates a non-significant reduction in the potential distribution area for the species by the 2050s, which is attributed to reduced anthropogenic activities and habitat fragmentation within the Yingjing Area of the Giant Panda National Park. These findings validate the development of conservation guidelines for E. perlacea. More research is needed to identify suitable protected areas and wildlife corridors for E. perlacea across its distribution regions, thus enhancing its conservation prospects. Climate change is a significant driver of changes in the distribution patterns of species and poses a threat to biodiversity, potentially resulting in species extinctions. Investigating the potential distribution of rare and endangered species is crucial for understanding their responses to climate change and for the conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem management. The Szechwan rat snake (Euprepiophis perlacea) is an endemic and endangered species co-distributed with giant pandas, and studying its potential distribution contributes to a better understanding of the distribution pattern of endangered species. In this study, we confirmed seven presence points of this species in the Yingjing Area of the Giant Panda National Park, and selected eleven key factors to predict the potential distribution of E. perlacea under current and future scenarios using MaxEnt models. Our study consistently achieved AUC values exceeding 0.79, meeting the precision requirements of the models. The results indicated that the high potential distribution area of E. perlacea is mainly located near Yunwu mountain and the giant panda rewilding and reintroduction base, accounting for approximately 12% of the protected area. Moreover, we identified the primary environmental factors influencing the distribution of E. perlacea as the distance from streams and the slope degree, with their contribution rates exceeding 41% and 31%, respectively. In comparison to the current scenario, the potential habitat range for E. perlacea did not show an overall reduction in the context of future climate scenarios. To ensure the long-term preservation of E. perlacea, it is advisable to validate its actual distribution based on the models' results. Particular attention should be given to safeguarding its core distribution areas and raising awareness among residents within the potential distribution range about the conservation of E. perlacea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
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