Identifying Priority Habitat for Conservation of the Australian Bustard Under Climate Change Scenarios.

ABSTRACT: Birds are widely regarded as important indicators of environmental change, and identifying areas that are critical for their conservation is pivotal. The Australian bustard (Ardeotis australis), a wide-ranging species of ecological and cultural significance, faces ongoing habitat modifications, yet its future distribution under changing climatic conditions remains uncertain. This study applies ensemble Species Distribution Modelling (SDM) to quantify the species' current and future habitat suitability under four climate scenarios (SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5, SSP3-7.0, SSP5-8.5) for 2050 and 2070. Results indicate that 69.7% of Australia is currently suitable for Australian bustards, primarily in arid and semi-arid regions. Future projections show moderate habitat contraction, with losses ma

SUBMITTER: Lamichhane S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12711596 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature