Uso de modelos de distribución de especies para evaluar el estado de conservación de murciélagos amenazados de la región Tumbesina

Abstract

Abstract: In a Tropical region where human disturbance is widespread and ecological research is limited, tools such as species distribution models (SDMs) have been widely used to improve knowledge about the conservation status of species. Our objectives were i) to determine to what extent the potential distribution predicted by SDMs differs from the maps reported by the IUCN for eight species of threatened bats in the Tumbes region; ii) clarify your area of endemism; and iii) evaluate the importance of the Tumbes region in the conservation of each species. Our results showed that the areas estimated by SDMs were 35-78% smaller for four species while for three species they were between 26-1600% larger than the areas reported by the IUCN. The SMDs coincided for two species with previously reported endemisms, but were substantially different in most cases. The Tumbesina region represents between (40-96%) of the global distribution of seven species. Our results clarify the distribution of the assessed species and provide an important basis for proposing conservation measures.