Getting the big picture: Landscape‐scale occupancy patterns of two Annamite endemics among multiple protected areas. Issue 3 (18th January 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Nguyen, Thanh V.; Wilting, Andreas; Niedballa, Jürgen; Nguyen, An; Rawson, Benjamin M.; Nguyen, Anh Q. H.; Cao, Trung T.; Wearn, Oliver R.; Dao, Anh C.; Tilker, Andrew
• Is Part Of: Conservation science and practice. Volume 4:Issue 3(2022)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2022-01-18
• Subjects: Annamite dark muntjac -- Annamite striped rabbit -- camera‐trapping -- endemic species -- Laos -- occupancy modeling -- tropical rainforest -- Vietnam; Biodiversity conservation -- Periodicals; Biodiversity conservation; Periodicals; 333.951605
• DOI: 10.1111/csp2.620
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2578-4854

Abstract

Abstract: The Annamite mountains of Vietnam and Laos are a global biodiversity hotspot harboring several threatened endemic species. Conservation efforts to protect these endemics are hampered by a lack of knowledge on their ecology and distribution. We conducted landscape scale camera‐trapping across six study areas in the Annamites to assess distribution patterns of two endemics: the Annamite dark muntjac species complex Muntiacus rooseveltorum / truongsonensis and the Annamite striped rabbit Nesolagus timminsi . We used a Bayesian single‐species occupancy framework to estimate occupancy as a function of ecological and anthropogenic factors. Our study showed that Annamite dark muntjac was predominantly found at higher elevations (>1000 m) and in areas that were more inaccessible to people and had lower surrounding village density. Annamite striped rabbit exhibited both positive and negative responses to elevation among study areas, with no clear response to the anthropogenic covariates. Our results showed that covariate responses varied among the study areas when random effects were included on study areas. We discuss the application of random effects to investigate species occupancies across large spatial scales, and the risk of not accounting for variation among study areas. Our prediction maps provide the first comprehensive overview of the distribution of these endemic species across a substantial part of their range and can be used to help stakeholders focus conservation efforts on priority areas. Abstract : We conducted landscape‐scale camera‐trapping across the Annamite mountains, a global biodiversity hotspot, and used the Bayesian single‐species occupancy framework to estimate occupancy and distribution patterns of two endemics: the Annamite dark muntjac species complex and the Annamite striped rabbit. Our study indicated that Annamite dark muntjac was predominantly found at higher elevations, and in areas that were more inaccessible and had lower surrounding village density; Annamite striped rabbit exhibited both positive and negative responses to elevation among sites, with no clear response to the anthropogenic covariates. We also provided predicted distribution maps for these two endemics that support stakeholders to improve their conservation efforts.