Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:
https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/18617
Title: | Remote Sensing Derived Fire Frequency, Soil Moisture and Ecosystem Productivity Explain Regional Movements in Emu over Australia | Contributor(s): | Madani, Nima (author); Kimball, John S (author); Nazeri, Mona (author); Kumar, Lalit (author) ; Affleck, David L R (author) | Publication Date: | 2016 | Open Access: | Yes | DOI: | 10.1371/journal.pone.0147285 | Handle Link: | https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/18617 | Abstract: | Species distribution modeling has been widely used in studying habitat relationships and for conservation purposes. However, neglecting ecological knowledge about species, e.g. their seasonal movements, and ignoring the proper environmental factors that can explain key elements for species survival (shelter, food and water) increase model uncertainty. This study exemplifies how these ecological gaps in species distribution modeling can be addressed by modeling the distribution of the emu ('Dromaius novaehollandiae') in Australia. Emus cover a large area during the austral winter. However, their habitat shrinks during the summer months. We show evidence of emu summer habitat shrinkage due to higher fire frequency, and low water and food availability in northern regions. Our findings indicate that emus prefer areas with higher vegetation productivity and low fire recurrence, while their distribution is linked to an optimal intermediate (~0.12 m³ m⁻³) soil moisture range. We propose that the application of three geospatial data products derived from satellite remote sensing, namely fire frequency, ecosystem productivity, and soil water content, provides an effective representation of emu general habitat requirements, and substantially improves species distribution modeling and representation of the species' ecological habitat niche across Australia. | Publication Type: | Journal Article | Source of Publication: | PLoS One, 11(1), p. 1-11 | Publisher: | Public Library of Science | Place of Publication: | United States of America | ISSN: | 1932-6203 | Fields of Research (FoR) 2008: | 090903 Geospatial Information Systems 090905 Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing 050104 Landscape Ecology |
Fields of Research (FoR) 2020: | 401302 Geospatial information systems and geospatial data modelling 401304 Photogrammetry and remote sensing 410206 Landscape ecology |
Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2008: | 960805 Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity at Regional or Larger Scales 960501 Ecosystem Assessment and Management at Regional or Larger Scales 960604 Environmental Management Systems |
Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2020: | 180403 Assessment and management of Antarctic and Southern Ocean ecosystems 189999 Other environmental management not elsewhere classified |
Peer Reviewed: | Yes | HERDC Category Description: | C1 Refereed Article in a Scholarly Journal |
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Appears in Collections: | Journal Article |
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