Modeling Habitat Suitability for Clouded Leopard and Sambar Deer in the Far Eastern Himalayas

Abstract:

Identification of large-scale conservation priorities is required to sustain populations of target species. This novel study aims to assess the spatial pattern of habitat suitability for vulnerable predictor and prey viz. Clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa) and Sambar deer (Rusa unicolor) in data deficit transboundary Landscape Initiative for Far Eastern Himalayas (HI-LIFE) of China, India and Myanmar.

We used the biophysical and anthropogenic factors, i.e. land cover, digital elevation model, slope, topographic position and network of road and settlement layers, published literature related to these animal behaviours and food habits for the modeling habitat suitability. Geospatial data analysis was performed in ArcGIS using Corridor Designer Tool for modeling habitat suitability and Landscape Fragmentation Tool for analyzing habitat condition concerning forest fragmentation.

The result showed that the optimal, breeding and absolute non-habitat for N. nebulosa was greater than R. unicolor whereas non-breeding and strongly avoided habitat for R. unicolor was greater than N. nebulosa across the landscape. The R. unicolor habitat was sparse than N. nebulosa habitat and tended to be impacted by land use for anthropogenic activities. The optimal habitat overlap was predicted >10% of the landscape area. Fragmentation status observed that >70% of the landscape consists of core large forest patches that are >1 km².

The potential and overlap habitat of both the species stretched far beyond the existing protected areas and across national boundaries from central to western as well as northern to southern part of the landscape with the highest survival possibility. It was revealed that there are high potential and adequate remaining natural areas for ecological corridor development among the existing protected areas and other forests patches. Hence, there is a strong rationale and opportunity to strengthen regional cooperation to safeguard vulnerable biota of the HI-LIFE.