Modelling potential distribution of the endemic ringtail (Bassariscus astutus saxicola) on an island of the Gulf ofCalifornia

Arnaud, G; Sandoval, S; Escobar Flores, J.G; Sansores-Sánchez, R

Modelling potential distribution of the endemic ringtail (Bassariscus astutus saxicola) on an island of the Gulf ofCalifornia

2022

Arnaud, G | Sandoval, S | Escobar Flores, J.G | Sansores-Sánchez, R

Objective: To analyze the topography of an island in the Gulf of California, Mexico, using digital elevation models (DEM) of 30 m spatial resolution to generate the first potential distribution model for the endemic carnivore Bassariscus astutus saxicola. Design/Methodology/Approach : Vea used Maxent software to model the potential distribution of babisuri on Isla Espiritu Santo. The demonstrations were carried out in 2015-2016 in eight bays in the west of the island where n74 individuals were captured. Results: The variables with the greatest contributions to the were high, (71.6%); heat load index (15%) and roughness (11.8%). The model predicted (p0.5) probability of presence of the carnivore in 3,018 hectares of the island. A high value of AUC (0.928) was obtained, which indicates that the model is accurate, and was later established with a value of pAUC1.917. Limitations/Implications of the study: The habitat of B. astutus saxicola was little known mainly because it is an endemic species, and there are no publications on its distribution within the island. Conclusions: This model shows that topographic variables are useful to explain the potential distribution of B. astutus saxicola, presumably because the topography is related to sites that offer refuge thermal water, sufficient food and cover to escape predators, among other characteristics of the habitat.

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