Climate change could restrict habitat availability for Western Ghats birds such as The Nilgiri Wood Pigeon, warn researchers
GS3Economy · S&T · Environment · Security· Biodiversity & conservation· Prelims + Mains·
Why in news
Researchers warned that climate change will cause a net contraction of suitable habitats for the Nilgiri Wood Pigeon (NWP) in the Western Ghats by the end of the century.
Background
The study, published in 'Proceedings of the Indian National Science Academy', used MaxEnt modeling and 9,757 eBird occurrence records to predict habitat suitability. It found that while initial warming might expand the range, continued warming will lead to sharp declines in suitable areas for the species.
Facts for Prelims
- EnvironmentNilgiri Wood Pigeon (NWP): An endemic bird species found in the Western Ghats.
- S&TMaxEnt modeling: A method used in the study to predict habitat suitability based on environmental variables.
For Mains
Q. Discuss how climate change poses a threat to the biodiversity of the Western Ghats and suggest measures for climate-resilient conservation of endemic species.
Dimensions to cover in your answer
- Habitat fragmentation: Loss of specific micro-climates required by endemic avian species
- Conservation trade-offs: Balancing immediate range expansion with long-term habitat contraction
- Policy gap: Need for integrating climate-modeling data into regional biodiversity conservation plans
Keywords: Endemic species · Climate-resilient conservation · Habitat suitability · Biodiversity loss · MaxEnt modeling
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