Detecting Range Shrinking From Historical Amphibian Species Occurrences Under Influence of Human Impacts: A Case Study Using the Chinese Giant Salamander, Andrias davidianus.

ABSTRACT: Amphibian declines, driven by climate change (e.g., shifting temperatures, altered precipitation) and human activities like deforestation, agriculture, and urbanization, may lead to local extinctions. Quantifying the relative impact of climate change versus human influence remains challenging. This study uses species distribution models (SDMs) and nearly 1000 years of historical distribution data from ancient texts and local archives to reconstruct the past distribution range of the Chinese giant salamander (Andrias davidianus) and to assess the spatiotemporal shifts in its range over time. The results reveal that over the past millennium, the potential distribution range of the Chinese giant salamander consistently contracted, decreasing by 10% from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) to

SUBMITTER: Li S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11576131 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature