Integrating presence-only and presence-absence data to model changes in species geographic ranges: An example in the Neotropics

Abstract

Anthropogenic changes such as land use and climate change affect species’ geographic ranges, causing range shifts, contractions, or expansions. However, data on range dynamics are insufficient, heterogeneous, and spatially and temporally biased in most regions. Integrated species distribution models (IDMs) offer a solution as they can complement good quality presence-absence data with opportunistically collected presence-only data, simultaneously accounting for heterogeneous sampling effort. However, these methods have seen limited use in the estimation of temporal change of geographic ranges and are not yet widespread as they have a steep learning curve. Here we present a generalisable model and case example. Using data on presence-absence and presence-only on the jaguarundi (Herpailurus yagouaroundi), we modelled the species distribution at two time periods (2000–2013 and 2014–2021) using a Bayesian model based on Poisson point process in JAGS. Our model integrates the different data types while accounting for varying sampling effort and spatial effect. We predicted the species range at the two time periods and quantified their changes. Between the two time periods, the jaguarundi has contracted its southern and northern range limits towards the equator but expanded its area of distribution over the entire species’ range. Also, our results show that modelled geographic range, of either time period, is not entirely consistent with the current expert range map from IUCN. Our modelling approach provides a working example with the potential to address data gaps and biases in other taxa and regions. Given the increasing number of incidental data being generated by community-derived initiatives in Latin America, IDMs can become a valuable source for species distribution modelling in the region. This is the first application of the IDM approach with temporal dimension and over the entire species’ geographic range.

Florencia Grattarola

Postdoc Researcher

Uruguayan biologist doing research in macroecology and biodiversity informatics.