Defining priority areas for conservation of poorly known species: A case study of the endemic Brazilian three-banded armadillo.

ABSTRACT: Conservation of poorly known species is challenging as lack of knowledge on their specific requirements may hamper effective strategies. Here, by integrating biogeographical and landscape analyses, we show that informed actions can be delineated for species with limited presence-only data available. We combine species distribution and connectivity models with temporal land cover changes to define priority areas for conservation of the endemic Brazilian three-banded armadillo, one of the most threatened xenarthrans that was once considered extinct in the wild. We revealed that areas of savanna and grassland are the most suitable habitats for the species and that uplands in the Caatinga ecoregion have a greater likelihood for dispersal. The few remnant armadillo populations are spatially ass

SUBMITTER: Feijo A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11895736 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature