A Neighborhood Approach for Using Remotely Sensed Data to Estimate Current Ranges for Conservation Assessments.

ABSTRACT: Species distribution modeling can be used to predict environmental suitability, and removing areas currently lacking appropriate vegetation can refine range estimates for conservation assessments. However, the uncertainty around geographic coordinates can exceed the fine resolution of remotely sensed habitat data. Here, we present a novel methodological approach to reflect this reality by processing habitat data to maintain its fine resolution, but with new values characterizing a larger surrounding area (the "neighborhood"). We implement its use for a forest-dwelling species (Handleyomys chapmani) considered threatened by the IUCN. We determined deforestation tolerance threshold values by matching occurrence records with forest cover data using two methods: (1) extracting the exact

SUBMITTER: Johnson BA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12204810 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature