Decreasing brown bear (Ursus arctos) habitat due to climate change in Central Asia and the Asian Highlands.

ABSTRACT: Around the world, climate change has impacted many species. In this study, we used bioclimatic variables and biophysical layers of Central Asia and the Asian Highlands combined with presence data of brown bear (Ursus arctos) to understand their current distribution and predict their future distribution under the current rate of climate change. Our bioclimatic model showed that the current suitable habitat of brown bear encompasses 3,430,493 km² in the study area, the majority of which (>65%) located in China. Our analyses demonstrated that suitable habitat will be reduced by 11% (378,861.30 km²) across Central Asia and the Asian Highlands by 2,050 due to climate change, predominantly (>90%) due to the changes in temperature and precipitation. The spatially aver

SUBMITTER: Su J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6303720 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature