Modelado de Maxent, predicción de la distribución espacial de la vicuña en Ecuador

Abstract

Introduction. In 1988 South American camelids were reintroduced in the Chimborazo Fauna Production Reserve, the emblematic species being the vicugna vicugna. Objective. Determine the current and potential spatial distribution of the vicuña and evaluate the contribution of the variables to establish the suitability of the habitat. Methodology. The research was non-experimental, field, evaluative level and proposes environmental, topographic and anthropic guidelines and criteria for a sustainable management of the species. At first the presences of the individuals were geo-referenced, then the layers of the variables were prepared: NDVI, NDWI, DEM, precipitation, land use, temperature and type of ecosystems and finally the Maxent software model was run and evaluated contributions. Results. 63.7% of the RPFCH has sites that are not suitable for vicuña, 26.1% are considered potential distribution areas, 10.1% occupy moderately suitable habitat and finally only 0.1% corresponds to highly suitable habitat. adequate since it meets the favorable conditions for the survival and reproduction of the species. Conclusions. The variable that most contributes to establishing the suitability of the habitat is the NDVI, this detects areas with low biomass density, but with nutritional quality of the forage. 63.7% of the RPFCh are sites that are not suitable for the species, while only 36.3% correspond to highly suitable, moderately suitable and moderately low areas, which calls for the establishment of medium and long-term measures for the management of the species.