All that glitters is not gold: A projected distribution of the endemic Indian Golden Gecko Calodactylodes aureus (Reptilia: Squamata: Gekkonidae) indicates a major range shrinkage due to future climate change.

Main Article Content

Aditya Srinivasulu
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1586-1930
Chelmala Srinivasulu
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4331-8580

Abstract

Climate change has a perceived threat on biodiversity due to its effect on species range.  Species with narrow ranges and highly specific climatic and habitat requirements are at higher risk.  To understand the influence of climate change on the Indian endemic gekkonid, the Indian Golden Gecko Calodactylodes aureus (Beddome, 1870) we model the present and future predicted distribution (2050 and 2070) under the CMIP5 RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios using MaxEnt under the HadGEM3-ES Model.  Our analysis revealed the negative impact of climate change on the Indian Golden Gecko with a decrease in the amount of climatically suitable areas in the future, and an almost total range shrinkage by 2070.  Despite its wide distribution in the eastern Deccan Peninsula, according to our predictions, the species is threatened by a shrinkage in the future range due to climate change.

 

Article Details

Section
Communications
Author Biographies

Aditya Srinivasulu, Biodiversity Research and Conservation Society, Hyderabad, Telangana State 500015, India

Aditya Srinivasulu is an independent researcher associated with the Biodiversity Research and Conservation Society, Hyderabad, and is working on application and integration of modern technology with taxonomy, biogeography and conservation biology of South Asian tetrapods. 

 

Chelmala Srinivasulu, Natural History Museum and Wildlife Biology & Taxonomy Lab, Department of Zoology, Osmania University, Hyderabad, Telangana State 500007, India Systematics, Ecology & Conservation Laboratory, Zoo Outreach Organization (ZOO), 96 Kumudham Nagar, Vilankurichi Road, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu 641035, India

Chelmala Srinivasulu heads the Wildlife Biology and Taxonomy Lab at Department of Zoology, Osmania University and is working on molecular phylogenetics, taxonomy, ecology, biogeography and effect of climate change on tetrapods of South Asia.

 

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