Flyway-Scale Assessment of Habitat Suitability and Key Environmental Drivers for Waterbirds in Southern China.

ABSTRACT: Climate change and anthropogenic activities have caused widespread loss and degradation of waterbird habitats, posing a critical global conservation challenge. This study focuses on eastern and southern China, specifically the area south of the 800 mm isohyet, and examines 47 waterbird species. Using the MaxEnt species distribution model, we integrated multi-source environmental variables-including climate, topography, vegetation, land use, and population density-to evaluate the habitat suitability of different ecological groups and identify spatial gaps in the current protection system. The results reveal a clear coastal-to-inland gradient in the distribution of suitable habitats, with high-suitability hotspots concentrated in coastal regions and radiating inland along major river systems

SUBMITTER: Fan J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12723443 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature