Distribution models for koalas in South Australia using citizen science-collected data.

ABSTRACT: The koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) occurs in the eucalypt forests of eastern and southern Australia and is currently threatened by habitat fragmentation, climate change, sexually transmitted diseases, and low genetic variability throughout most of its range. Using data collected during the Great Koala Count (a 1-day citizen science project in the state of South Australia), we developed generalized linear mixed-effects models to predict habitat suitability across South Australia accounting for potential errors associated with the dataset. We derived spatial environmental predictors for vegetation (based on dominant species of Eucalyptus or other vegetation), topographic water features, rain, elevation, and temperature range. We also included predictors accounting for human disturbance based

SUBMITTER: Sequeira AM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4201425 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature