Limitations to the Use of Species-Distribution Models for Environmental-Impact Assessments in the Amazon.

ABSTRACT: Species-distribution models (SDM) are tools with potential to inform environmental-impact studies (EIA). However, they are not always appropriate and may result in improper and expensive mitigation and compensation if their limitations are not understood by decision makers. Here, we examine the use of SDM for frogs that were used in impact assessment using data obtained from the EIA of a hydroelectric project located in the Amazon Basin in Brazil. The results show that lack of knowledge of species distributions limits the appropriate use of SDM in the Amazon region for most target species. Because most of these targets are newly described and their distributions poorly known, data about their distributions are insufficient to be effectively used in SDM. Surveys that are mandatory for the E

SUBMITTER: Carneiro LR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4718640 | biostudies-literature | 2016

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature