Abstract Ebola virus disease (EVD) is a contagious, severe and often lethal form of hemorrhagic fever in humans. The association EVD outbreaks with forest clearance has been suggested previously but many aspects remained uncharacterized. We used remote sensing techniques to investigate the between deforestation time space, Central West Africa. Favorability modeling, centered on 27 outbreak sites 280 comparable control sites, revealed that located along limits rainforest biome were...

Bluetongue (BT) is still present in Europe and the introduction of new serotypes from endemic areas African continent a possible threat. Culicoides imicola remains one most relevant BT vectors Spain research on environmental determinants driving its life cycle key to preventing controlling BT. Our aim was improve our understanding biotic abiotic C. by modelling abundance, studying spatial pattern predicted abundance relation outbreaks, investigating how current distribution patterns might...

Abstract We studied links between human malnutrition and wild meat availability within the Rainforest Biotic Zone in central Africa. distinguished two distinct hunted mammalian diversity distributions, one rainforest areas (Deep Diversity, DRD) containing taxa of lower hunting sustainability, other northern rainforest-savanna mosaic, with species greater potential (Marginal MRD). Wild availability, assessed by standing crop biomass, was MRD than DRD areas. Predicted bushmeat extraction also...

Species distribution models (SDMs) are basic tools in ecology, biogeography, and biodiversity. The usefulness of SDMs has expanded beyond the realm ecological sciences, their application other research areas is currently frequent, e.g., spatial epidemiology. In any area, principal interest these resides capacity to predict species response new scenarios, i.e., models’ transferability. Although transferability been subject for many years, only 2000s did this topic gain particular attention....

We used data on number of carcasses wildlife species sold in 79 bushmeat markets a region Nigeria and Cameroon to assess whether composition market could be explained by anthropogenic pressures environmental variables around each market. More than 45 mammal from 9 orders were traded across all markets; mostly ungulates rodents. For market, we determined median body mass, diversity (game diversity), taxa that principal contributors the total for sale dominance). Human population density...

We compared the effect of general circulation models and greenhouse gas emission scenarios on uncertainty associated with predicting changes in areas favourable to animal species. Given that mountain species are particularly at risk due climate warming, we selected one amphibian (Baetic midwife toad), reptile (Lataste's viper), bird (Bonelli's eagle), mammal (Iberian wild goat) present Spanish mountains model their distributional response change during this century. Climate forecasts for...

Abstract Ebola virus is responsible for the fatal disease ( EVD ). Identifying distribution area of crucial understanding risk factors conditioning emergence new cases. Existing models have underrepresented potential contribution that reservoir species and vulnerable make in sustaining presence virus. In this paper, we map favourable areas Africa according to environmental zoogeographical descriptors, independent human‐to‐human transmissions. We combine two different biogeographical...

We use data on game harvest from 60 Pygmy and non-Pygmy settlements in the Congo Basin forests to examine whether hunting patterns prey profiles differ between two hunter groups. For each group, we calculate hunted animal numbers biomass available per inhabitant, P, year (harvest rates) killed hunter, H, (extraction rates). assess impact of both groups estimates species square kilometre, by examining proportion taxa low, medium high population growth rates as a measure their vulnerability...

Abstract The trade of bushmeat from rural areas to supply burgeoning cities is a major conservation and livelihood concern. Using whole-city sampling strategy we mapped the distribution numbers meat outlets in Kinshasa–Brazzaville metropolitan area, two neighboring capital Central Africa. We show that both differ number density outlets, with more Brazzaville per area sampled inhabitants. related human population densities primarily concentrated along banks Congo River, affluent cities....

Abstract Aim The partition of the geographical variation in Argentinian terrestrial mammal species richness (SR) into environmentally, human and spatially induced variation. Location Argentina, using twenty‐three administrative provinces as units. Methods We recorded number each province, belonging to particular groups (Marsupialia, Placentaria, among latter, Xenarthra, Carnivora, Ungulates Rodentia). performed multiple regressions group's SR on environmental, spatial variables, determine...

Chorotypes--statistically significant groups of coincident distribution areas--constitute biogeographic units that are fuzzy by nature. This quality has been referred to in the literature but not analyzed depth or methodologically developed. The present work redefines chorotypes as sets from a pragmatic perspective and basically focuses on methodological interpretative implications this approach. amphibian fauna Iberian Peninsula was used an example explore nature chorotypes. method which...

This study uses the amphibian species of Mediterranean basin to develop a consistent procedure based on fuzzy sets with which biogeographic regions and biotic transition zones can be objectively detected reliably mapped. Biogeographical regionalizations are abstractions geographical organization life Earth that provide frameworks for cataloguing ecosystems, answering basic questions in biogeography, evolutionary biology, systematics, assessing priorities conservation. On other hand, limits...

Wild animals are a primary source of protein (bushmeat) for people living in or near tropical forests. Ideally, the effect bushmeat harvests should be monitored closely by making regular estimates offtake rate and size stock available exploitation. However, practice, this is possible very few situations because it requires both these aspects to readily measurable, even best case, entails considerable time effort. As alternative, study, we use high-resolution, environmental favorability...

Abstract A significant link between forest loss and fragmentation outbreaks of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in humans has been documented. Deforestation may alter the natural circulation viruses change composition, abundance, behaviour possibly viral exposure reservoir species. This turn might increase contact infected animals humans. Fruit bats family Pteropodidae have suspected as reservoirs virus. At present, only evidence associating fruit with EVD is presence seropositive individuals eight...

Abstract Aim Ongoing climate change is presently influencing the distribution ranges of numerous species, with both range expansions and latitudinal shifts being observed. In southern Europe, a biogeographical border that separates African European biota, while at same time acting as migration bridge for many these changes are particular relevance. This study aimed to analyse responses nine typically birds provide information on ongoing future occupation Europe by species. Location Western...

Abstract. The aim of this quantitative biogeographical analysis is to identify the existence specific groups pteridophytes with significantly similar distribution patterns (chorotypes) in Iberian Peninsula, as well infer environmental factors that may explain such groupings. We have applied a classification method pteridophyte species and then tested significance resulting groups. This allows distinction occur together more frequently than expected at random from those which are just product...

Global climatic change exerts a generalised impact on species ranges, which could be problematic if ecologically‐related differ in their geographical response to climate change. Therefore, combination of distribution modelling protocols is required predict the future impacts global warming sets different ecologically‐dependent species. We test extent predicted distributions Spanish monophagous butterfly species, as estimated basis and physiographic variables, would depending whether...

ABSTRACT We investigated the existence of chorotypes – assemblages species with similar geographical ranges invasive in a host territory, and their potential use to advocate control or management strategies for same chorotype. analysed distribution 13 exotic terrestrial vertebrate (six birds, six mammals, one reptile) well‐known distributions mainland Spain. used presence/absence data on grid 10 km × UTM cells from Atlases vertebrates These were aggregated 50 cells, because it entailed no...

Climate is one of the main drivers species distribution. However, as different environmental factors tend to co-vary, effect climate cannot be taken at face value, it may either inflated or obscured by other correlated factors. We used favourability models four (Alytes dickhilleni, Vipera latasti, Aquila fasciata and Capra pyrenaica) inhabiting Spanish mountains case studies evaluate relative contribution in their forecasted using variation partitioning weighting relation non-climatic By...

To plan endangered species conservation and to design adequate management programmes, it is necessary predict their distributional response climate change, especially under the current situation of rapid change. However, these predictions are customarily done by relating de novo distribution with climatic conditions no regard previously available knowledge about factors affecting distribution. We propose take advantage known models, but proceeding update them variables yielded models before...

Abstract Aim The way in which environmental conditions determine the distribution and abundance of species is a crucial topic ecology, biogeography conservation. It especially important to understand nature this relationship regarding threatened species. ability forecast local densities over geographic range provides link population ecology biogeography. Particularly, our aim was test whether predictions derived from modelling data provide useful information on spatial patterns and,...

Abstract The rapid ecological shifts that are occurring due to climate change present major challenges for managers and policymakers and, therefore, one of the main concerns environmental modelers evolutionary biologists. Species distribution models ( SDM ) appropriate tools assessing relationship between species conditions, so being customarily used forecast biogeographical response change. A serious limitation when forecasting effects is they normally assume behavior climatic tolerances...