Modeling the past and current distribution and habitat suitability for vulnerable Lorestan newt (Neurergus kaiseri)

Study of the climate variability in the past and present, and correlating those with changes in the distribution range of the vulnerable species has attracted considerable research interest. The genus Neurergus consists of four recognized species, of which N. crocatus, N. derjugini, and N. kaiseri are documented from Iran. In the present study, modeled and determined the potential distribution areas and the suitable habitats in past (mid-Holocene [MH], and the Last Interglacial [LIG]) and its current distribution for the vulnerable species, Lorestan newt N. kaiseri by with MaxEnt. Models of the species indicated good fit by the average high area under the curve (AUC) values (0.998 ± 0.001). The variables: annual temperature, topography, slope, and annual precipitation of the year made important contributions to current distribution of N. kaiseri. The variables: precipitation of coldest quarter of the year, precipitation of driest quarter of the year, precipitation of warmest quarter of the year, and annual temperature of the year made important contributions to mid-Holocene [MH], and the Last Interglacial [LIG]) distribution in N. kaiseri.

کلیدواژه ها:

Climatic fluctuations ، Potential habitat and distribution ، Mid-Holocene ، Last Interglacial