The four antelope species on the Qinghai-Tibet plateau face habitat loss and redistribution to higher latitudes under climate change

• DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolind.2021.107337
• Publication Date: 2021-01-14T20:18:23Z
• Authors: Jingjie Zhang; Feng Jiang; Guangying Li; Wen Qin; Tong Wu; Feng Xu; Yuansheng Hou; Pengfei Song; Zhenyuan Cai; Tongzuo Zhang
• Keywords: Species distribution

Climate change is predicted to directly or indirectly affect species distribution and abundance, especially the that live on Qinghai-Tibet plateau highly sensitive climate change. The Przewalski's gazelle (Procapra przewalskii), Goitered (Gazella subgutturosa), Tibetan picticaudata) antelope (Pantholops hodgsonii) are only four existing antelopes living plateau. They play indispensable roles in regulating structure function of ecosystem. To understand how affects spatial migration direction these ungulates, we applied maximum entropy (MaxEnt) model used 82, 57, 397 324 GPS points gazelle, antelope, respectively. These were mainly obtained through survey line transect method a small part from database, then combined with related environmental variables, afterwards evaluated predict habitat shift geographic range under three scenarios 2050s 2070s. Additionally, potential paths future simulated by Minimal Cumulative Resistance (MCR) model. results showed would cause loss for all species. was lose over 50% its current inhabited area most severe scenario. Also, suitable higher latitudes. In particular, as an endangered occupies narrow face more challenges future. Therefore, habitats should be considered important protection areas, our also provide reference designing optimal corridors investigated