Journal of Threatened
Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 March 2026 | 18(3): 28455–28467
ISSN 0974-7907 (Online) | ISSN 0974-7893 (Print)
https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.9958.18.3.28455-28467
#9958 | Received 27 May 2025 | Final received 18 February 2026| Finally
accepted 03 March 2026
Predicting the potential habitat
of Tragopan blythii (Jerdon, 1870) (Aves: Galliformes: Phasianidae) in Mehao
Wildlife Sanctuary of Arunachal Pradesh, India
1,2 Department of Geography, Rajiv
Gandhi University, Rono Hills, Doimukh, Arunachal Pradesh 791112, India.
1 eba.tapo@rgu.ac.in, 2 gibji.nimasow@rgu.ac.in
(corresponding author)
Abstract: The Blyth’s Tragopan Tragopan
blythii is a medium-sized pheasant endemic to the eastern Himalaya and is
classified as ‘Vulnerable’. This species thrives in dense forest ecosystems at
higher altitudes. Species distribution modelling (SDM) helps identify potential
suitable habitats by relating species occurrence to key environmental
variables, especially in areas with limited field data. The present study aims
to predict the potential habitat of T. blythii in Mehao Wildlife
Sanctuary, Arunachal Pradesh, using the maximum entropy (MaxEnt) method. The
study offers valuable insights into the ecological and environmental conditions
necessary for the survival of this vulnerable species. The results showed 3.93%
(11.09 km²) of the total area as suitable, followed by 4.94% (13.91 km²) as
moderately suitable, 18.55% (52.22 km²) as least suitable, and 72.58% (204.30
km²) as unsuitable. Model performance was good with a mean area under the curve
(AUC) of 0.915 (SD = 0.040) and a true skill statistic (TSS) value of 0.798.
The jackknife test revealed that the distribution of T. blythii is
primarily determined by the mean diurnal range (BIO2), with additional
influence from the temperature annual range (BIO7) and precipitation
seasonality (BIO15). An analysis of the model output revealed a restricted
distribution of T. blythii in the northern parts of the study area.
These results support habitat prioritization and conservation planning for the
long-term protection of the species. Thus, the model results can be used in
further investigation to explore the natural habitat of this vulnerable
species.
Keywords: Climate change, community
awareness, conservation, eastern Himalaya, endemic, environmental variables,
habitat, pheasant, species distribution modelling, vulnerable.
Editor: Aditya Srinivasulu,
Zoo Outreach Organisation, Hyderabad, India. Date of publication: 26 March 2026 (online & print)
Citation: Tapo,
E. & G. Nimasow (2026). Predicting
the potential habitat of Tragopan blythii (Jerdon, 1870) (Aves:
Galliformes: Phasianidae) in Mehao Wildlife Sanctuary of Arunachal Pradesh,
India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 18(3): 28455–28467. https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.9958.18.3.28455-28467
Copyright: © Tapo & Nimasow 2026. Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
JoTT allows unrestricted use, reproduction, and distribution of this article in
any medium by providing adequate credit to the author(s) and the source of
publication.
Funding: The study does not receive any funding.
Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.
Author details: Eba Tapo is currently pursuing a PhD at the
Department of Geography, Rajiv Gandhi University, Arunachal Pradesh, on the
topic “Status of population, habitat occupancy and conservation of Tragopan
blythii in Mehao Wildlife Sanctuary, Lower Dibang Valley District of Arunachal
Pradesh”. His research interest is in biogeography, specifically
ornithogeography. Gibji Nimasow is currently
a professor and head of the Department of Geography at Rajiv Gandhi University,
Arunachal Pradesh. He has guided around ten Ph.D. theses and published about 60
research articles in reputed journals. His research interests include
biogeography, mountain ecology, human geography, forest
resources, traditional ecological knowledge, and remote sensing & GIS.
Author contributions: ET conceived, designed, and drafted the paper. GN interpreted, edited
the language/ grammar, and revised the manuscript. Both authors read the revised manuscript and approved the submitted version.
Acknowledgements: The authors are grateful to Rajiv
Gandhi University, Rono Hills, Doimukh, Arunachal Pradesh, for providing
necessary infrastructural support to carry out doctoral-related work of the first author. The authors are also thankful to Dr. Dhoni
Bushi and Dr. Ranjit Mahato for their invaluable assistance in making this
study successful. Finally, we acknowledge the Soil and Limnological Laboratory,
Department of Geography, for providing essential laboratory
facilities to accomplish this study.
Introduction
Species distribution modelling
(SDM) has become a powerful tool for understanding the spatial patterns of bird
species, informing conservation efforts, and predicting responses to
environmental changes. This approach combines species occurrence data with
environmental variables to predict where species are likely to be found. SDMs
rely on high-quality data obtained from various sources like eBird and bird
atlases, telemetry data from tracked migratory birds, museum historical
records, and satellite imagery (Papeş 2007; Jiguet et al. 2011; Santos et al.
2023; Shirley et al. 2013). The commonly used predictors include bioclimatic
variables such as temperature, precipitation, climate extremes, elevation,
slope, terrain complexity, forest structure, wetland extent, agricultural
areas, and the availability of prey species or competitors (Heikkinen et al.
2007; Shirley et al. 2013; Prosser et al. 2018; Pshegusov & Chadaeva 2023;
Tamang et al. 2023). SDMs have been applied to a wide range of bird species,
from migratory waterfowl to threatened vultures, and have proven essential in addressing
conservation challenges (Papeș 2007; Prosser et al. 2018; Pshegusov &
Chadaeva 2023). SDM is a cornerstone of conservation planning, helping to
identify priority areas for habitat protection, assess the coverage of
protected areas, identify gaps, and predict future habitat shifts due to
climate change (Papeş 2007; Wu et al. 2014; Briscoe et al. 2021). By assessing
habitat suitability, SDMs help design protected areas and corridors, support
restoration efforts for degraded habitats, and aid in managing human-impact
landscapes, viz., agricultural regions (Pshegusov & Chadaeva 2023; Tamang
et al. 2023). SDMs can estimate population trends by modelling how
environmental changes influence species distributions and predict areas
susceptible to invasion by non-native bird species, allowing for pre-emptive
control measures (Prosser et al. 2018; Briscoe et al. 2021).
Various SDM techniques are
applied in birds, with maximum entropy (MaxEnt) being a prominent presence-only
method known for its simplicity and effectiveness (Pshegusov & Chadaeva
2023; Tamang et al. 2023). MaxEnt enables researchers to conduct analyses with
little programming expertise. It promotes reproducible research and offers
features for model comparison and cross-validation (Mayer et al. 2024). It is
also used to forecast invasive species and to predict future habitat expansions
due to climate change scenarios (Schmid et al. 2024). Recent developments in
MaxEnt modelling feature innovative optimisation algorithms that effectively
manage large-scale, non-smooth data, especially in wildfire science. These
algorithms greatly enhance convergence rates and computational efficiency
(Langlois et al. 2024).
Tragopan blythii (Image 1) is listed as
‘Vulnerable’ under criterion ‘C2a(i)’ by the IUCN Red List of Threatened
Species in 2020 (BirdLife International 2020a). Tragopan blythii is
distributed from Bhutan through Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram, and
Manipur in northeastern India, extending into northern Myanmar and
southeastern Tibet, as well as northwestern Yunnan, China (Birdlife
International 2001). The adult male T. blythii differs from other
species within the tragopan group by having a restricted patch of red on its
upper breast (Madge & McGowan 2002). It is vulnerable primarily due to its
declining population size across small subpopulations (BirdLife International
2020b). In some regions, its population is estimated to comprise around 38
individuals only (Ghose et al. 2003). Tragopan blythii inhabits moist,
evergreen, broadleaf forests featuring thick understorey, dense scrub, and
montane bamboo on steep slopes, typically occurring either singly or in pairs
or small groups of four to five individuals (Sathyakumar & Kaul 2007). The
documented altitudinal range of the species is from 1,400 m (winter) to
3,300 m (summer), but the majority of records come from a narrower range
of 1,800–2,400 m (BirdLife International 2020b). The vocalisations of T.
blythii are significant for courtship and territorial displays, featuring
distinct calls that assist in species identification. Acoustic analyses reveal
that these calls are subject to sexual selection pressure, acting as a
mechanism for species isolation (Islam & Crawford 2010). Recent research
has concentrated on the phylogenetic analysis of T. blythii using
mitochondrial DNA and multi-locus analyses (Randi et al. 2000; Zou et al.
2021), resulting in the discovery of a new phylogeographic population of T.
blythii in Mount Kennedy, Myanmar (Zou et al. 2021). These findings
underscore the need to comprehend the genetic diversity and population
structure of T. blythii for effective conservation strategies. It is
rare throughout much of India, with an estimated 50% of the population in the
Nagaland area (Eastern Mirror Nagaland 2017). Studies on T. blythii
emphasize the necessity of genetic analyses, population, and conservation
measures to safeguard this vulnerable species and its unique populations (Randi
et al. 2000; Zou et al. 2021). To ensure long-term survival, further research
is essential to understand its phylogeography, behaviour, and ecology.
Arunachal Pradesh is the largest
state in North East India and falls within the Himalayan global biodiversity
hotspots (Sen & Mukhopadhyay 1999; Meyers et al. 2000; Sinha et al. 2005).
The state is also considered India’s biodiversity frontier (Borges 2005; Mishra
& Datta 2007; Borang et al. 2008). However, due to its remote location and
mountainous topography, the rich terrestrial biodiversity, including wildlife,
has been inadequately documented or relatively unexplored. The state is home to
over 850 bird species, representing nearly two-thirds of India’s avifauna. In
particular, the Dihang Dibang Biosphere Reserve is noted for 492 species,
including 37 that are globally threatened (Rangini et al. 2014). The population
of Tragopan blythii is small, declining, and fragmented into minor
subpopulations within the heavily disrupted habitat. Thus, the species is
designated as a Schedule I bird under the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972 (2022
amendment), India. The vulnerability is likely to intensify due to hunting
practices and habitat degradation. As per reports, Tragopan blythii have
been sighted in the Mishmi Hills of Arunachal Pradesh (King et al. 2008).
Hence, this study attempts to understand the habitat and predict the
distribution of Tragopan blythii in Mehao Wildlife Sanctuary,
Arunachal Pradesh, which falls under the Mishmi Hills, using field methods and
geospatial technology.
Materials
and Methods
Study area
The study area, Mehao Wildlife
Sanctuary (MWS), is located between 28º 05ʹ to 28º 15ʹN and 93º 30ʹ to 95º 45ʹ
E in the Lower Dibang Valley District of Arunachal Pradesh (Figure 1). It spans
approximately 282 km2 and features a diverse topography with
elevations of 500–3,000 m. The climate is predominantly temperate, with
significant rainfall and various vegetation types, including subtropical
forests, bamboo groves, and temperate forests. MWS is one of the oldest of the
13 sanctuaries in Arunachal Pradesh. Koronu, Injuno, Balek, Cheta, Ejengo,
Rayang, and Tiwarigaon villages are located on the periphery of the sanctuary.
The sanctuary hosts vital plant species such as Terminalia myriocarpa,
Duabanga grandiflora, Phoebe cooperiana, Bombax ceiba,
Canarium strictum, Lagerstroemia speciosa, Michelia champaca,
Gmelina arborea, Coptis teeta, Messua ferrea, Dillenia
indica, Castanopsis indica, and Bischofia
javanica, along with various orchids. The wildlife includes Tigers, Black
Bear, Leopards, Elephants, Wild Boar, Capped Langur, White-browed Gibbon, Musk
Deer, and Mishmi Takin. Furthermore, numerous bird species inhabit the area,
such as hornbills, babblers, bulbuls, warblers, flycatchers, pigeons, and a
range of reptiles, snakes, insects, and leeches (Murali et al. 2012).
Occurrence data
The occurrence data were
collected from both primary and secondary sources. Field surveys were conducted
for two years (2022–2024) following the point count methods by strategically selecting the
survey sites and using handheld Garmin global positioning system (GPS) devices
(Volpato et al. 2009). The point counts were spaced at least 200 m apart, and
each count captured species seen or heard within a radius of approximately 20
m. The survey covered various altitudinal zones and seasons during the morning
hours when birds were most active. The surveys were conducted seasonally, in 18
locations during autumn (September), winter (December), spring (March), and
summer (June) each year, totalling 144 counts over two years. Additionally,
camera trapping techniques were employed to record T. blythii and assess
its habitat conditions. The bird was identified in consultation with the
ornithologists from the Department of Zoology, Rajiv Gandhi University. To
limit spatial autocorrelation and sampling bias, occurrence records were
filtered using the spThin package in R by applying a 10 km minimum distance
between points. This reduced clustering caused by uneven sampling effort and
improved the reliability of the species distribution model (Kramer-Schadt et
al. 2013; Aiello-Lammens et al. 2015). After removing the coordinates falling
outside boundary of MWS, only 36 occurrence records were used to run the final
model.
Environmental parameters
To predict the distribution of T.
blythii, a set of environmental data, such as topographical (12.5 m) and
climatic (30 arc-second) spatial resolution, has been acquired from various
sources using ArcGIS 10.3. The elevation data was sourced from the Alaska
Satellite Facility (n.d.), which provided key topographic parameters, including
altitude, slope, and aspect. This high-resolution DEM provides a detailed
dataset that offers insights into earth’s surface, capturing the elevation data
for producing topographic attributes. Additionally, 19 bioclimatic variables
were downloaded from the WorldClim website (Fick & Hijmans 2017). These variables offer extensive global
climate layers for various applications, such as mapping and spatial modelling.
Multicollinearity among predictor variables was evaluated using the Variance
Inflation Factor (VIF) in R, and variables with VIF values greater than seven
were excluded to reduce redundancy and improve model performance (Zuur et al.
2010; Dormann et al. 2013; James et al. 2013; Manzoor et al. 2018). According
to Parolo et al. (2008), Dormann et al. (2013), Merow et al. (2013), and
Manzoor et al. (2018), highly correlated parameters affect model performance
negatively and lead to inaccurate predictions. Hence, such parameters were
removed by performing a multicollinearity (Pearson’s R) test using the usdm
package in R (Naimi & Araújo 2016). After the test, 12 predictor
variables, namely Mean diurnal range (BIO2), isothermality (BIO3), temperature
seasonality (BIO4), minimum temperature of the coldest month (BIO6),
temperature annual range (BIO7), mean temperature of the coldest quarter (BIO11),
precipitation seasonality (BIO15), precipitation of the driest quarter (BIO17),
precipitation of the warmest quarter (BIO18), altitude, slope, and aspect were
included in the final model (Figure 2).
Model settings and evaluation
The species distribution model of
T. blythii was generated using MaxEnt (version 3.4.1). MaxEnt (Phillips
et al. 2006; Phillips & Dudík 2008) is regarded as one of the leading
species distribution modelling techniques and has been widely used (Elith et
al. 2011). It is deterministic and approaches the probability distribution
linked to maximum entropy (Berger et al. 1996; Phillips et al. 2006; Baldwin
2009). All model parameters were kept at their default settings in MaxEnt.
Variable importance was assessed using the jackknife test, which evaluates the
relative contribution of each environmental predictor by sequentially excluding
individual variables and by running models with each variable in isolation.
This approach helps identify variables that contain unique information and
those that most strongly influence model performance, based on changes in
training gain. The jackknife test is particularly important for understanding
predictor relevance and reducing redundancy among correlated variables in
species distribution modelling (Phillips et al. 2006; Baldwin 2009; Elith et
al. 2011). Five replicate runs were used with cross-validation to ensure and
evaluate the model’s reliability (Pearson et al. 2004). Model performance was
assessed using the threshold-independent area under the curve (AUC) of the
receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, and true skill statistic (TSS).
The values of AUC range from models with no predictive ability (AUC ≤ 0.5) to
models having perfect predictions (AUC = 1.0), where 0.9–1 = excellent; 0.8–0.9
= good; 0.7–0.8 = satisfactory; 0.6–0.7 = poor and < 0.6 = very poor or
model failed (Araújo et al. 2005; Lissovsky & Dudov 2021). The TSS takes into account both omission and commission errors, and
success due to random guessing, and ranges from -1 to +1, where +1 indicates
perfect agreement and values of zero or less indicate a performance no better
than random (Allouche et al. 2006). The methodology applied is shown in Figure
3.
Results
Model performance
The model results showed that the
distribution of T. blythii is mostly influenced by the mean diurnal
range of temperature (33.7%), temperature annual range (17.8%), precipitation
seasonality (15.1%), altitude (11.1%), and temperature seasonality (9.2%).
Slope (4.7%), aspect (2.7%), precipitation of the driest quarter (2.5%), and
precipitation of the warmest quarter (2.25%) also exerted some influence on the
distribution of T. blythii. Model evaluation indicated excellent
predictive performance, with a mean AUC of 0.915 (SD = 0.040) and a high TSS
value of 0.798, reflecting robust model reliability and classification accuracy
(Figure 4). The jackknife test revealed that the distribution of T. blythii was
primarily influenced by the mean diurnal range of temperature (BIO2), which
accounted for 33.7% of the explained variable, followed by temperature annual
range (BIO7) and precipitation seasonality (BIO15) with 17.8% and 15.1%,
respectively. The contribution of other parameters was relatively lesser with
altitude (11.1%), temperature seasonality (9.2%), slope (4.7%), aspect (2.7%),
precipitation of the driest quarter (2.5%), and precipitation of the warmest
quarter (2.2%). Isothermality (BIO3), minimum temperature of the coldest month
(BIO6), and mean temperature of the coldest quarter (BIO11) showed meagre
influence on the distribution of T. blythii (Table 1).
Species distribution modelling of
T. blythii
The model predicted the potential
distribution of T. blythii in the MWS within a range of 0–0.9, which was
categorised into five suitability categories, viz. highly suitable (>0.8),
suitable (0.6–0.8), moderately suitable (0.4–0.6), least suitable (0.2–0.4),
and not suitable (< 0.2). The results showed an area of 2.48 km² (0.88%) as
highly suitable and 8.59 km² (3.05%) as suitable. Further, the model predicted
an area of 13.91 km² (4.94%) as moderately suitable, 52.22 km² (18.55%) as
least suitable, and the largest area of 204.30 km² (72.58%) as not suitable
(Table 2). An examination of the final model revealed that the northern parts
of the study area are suitable for T. blythii, owing to higher altitude,
thick understorey, pronounced slopes, and cooler temperatures. On the other
hand, the southern parts, mostly characterized by lower elevations, dense
canopy, and hot temperatures, have been predicted as unsuitable habitat for T.
blythii. The suitable habitats are mostly found throughout the
Mayodia Pass, which is characterized by higher elevation, cooler temperatures,
and winter snowfall (Image 2).
Discussion
Model performance was high, with
a mean AUC of 0.924 and a TSS value of 0.798, indicating excellent
discriminatory power and reliable prediction of suitable habitats for T.
blythii (Swets 1988; Elith et al. 2006; Phillips et al. 2006). Among the
predictor variables, mean diurnal temperature range, annual temperature range,
and precipitation seasonality emerged as the most influential climatic factors
shaping the species’ distribution. The results support earlier findings of
climate as a primary determinant of species’ geographic limits, especially for
montane and habitat-specialist birds (Parmesan & Yohe 2003; Root et al.
2003; Reside et al. 2010; Hill & Preston 2015).
The diurnal temperature range,
representing the difference between daytime and nighttime temperatures, is
biologically important because it influences metabolic expenditure,
thermoregulation, and activity patterns in birds (McKechnie & Wolf 2010;
Wang et al. 2023). Large fluctuations in daily temperature can impose
physiological stress and reduce habitat suitability for forest-dwelling
pheasants adapted to stable microclimatic conditions. Similar patterns have
been reported for the Western Tragopan Tragopan melanocephalus in the
western Himalayas, where diurnal temperature range strongly influenced habitat
suitability (Singh et al. 2020). Experimental and field studies further
indicate that increased thermal variability can negatively affect growth,
survival, and reproductive success across taxa (Vasseur et al. 2014; Stoks et
al. 2017), suggesting that T. blythii may be particularly vulnerable to
ongoing climatic instability.
Precipitation seasonality also
played a major role in determining habitat suitability. Rainfall regimes
regulate forest structure, understorey density, and availability of food
resources such as seeds, shoots, and invertebrates (Choudhury 2001; Guisan
& Thuiller 2005; Sathyakumar & Kaul 2007). High seasonal variability in
precipitation may disrupt breeding cycles and reduce nesting success through
habitat degradation and changes in vegetation phenology (Both et al. 2006;
Soria-Auza et al. 2010). Comparable relationships between precipitation
patterns and habitat suitability have been documented for pheasants and other
montane birds across the Himalayas and southeastern Asia (Chhetri et al. 2018;
Cohen et al. 2020; Li et al. 2022).
Topographic variables,
particularly altitude and slope, were also significant predictors of T.
blythii distribution. The species was predicted to occur primarily at
1,000–2,500 m, which closely matches earlier observations ranging 1,400–3,300 m
(BirdLife International 2008; Ghosh 2003). Altitude integrates multiple
environmental gradients such as temperature, humidity, vegetation type, and
human disturbance, all of which influence species occupancy (Körner 2007; Elsen
& Tingley 2015). Steeper slopes may provide refugia from anthropogenic
pressures such as agriculture and logging, thereby enhancing habitat
persistence for forest-dependent species (Jetz et al. 2007; Laurance et al.
2011). The strong association of T. blythii with primary evergreen
broadleaf forests observed in this study corroborates previous findings
emphasizing its dependence on intact forest ecosystems (Choudhury 1997; Ghose
et al. 2003; Sathyakumar & Kaul 2007).
Model projections revealed that
only a small fraction of the study area was classified as highly suitable
(0.88%) or suitable (3.05%), whereas most regions were categorized as least
suitable (18.55%) or unsuitable (72.58%). This limited availability of suitable
habitat corresponds with the species’ current vulnerability status and narrow
ecological niche requirements (BirdLife International 2020b; IUCN 2023). Narrow
climatic tolerances have been associated with heightened extinction risk under
climate change, particularly for montane endemics (Thomas et al. 2004; Freeman
et al. 2018). The results, therefore, suggest that even modest climatic shifts
could lead to further habitat contraction and population decline in T.
blythii.
Although this study employed
MaxEnt due to its robustness with presence-only data and small sample sizes
(Phillips et al. 2006; Elith et al. 2011), recent studies emphasize the
advantages of ensemble ecological niche models that combine multiple algorithms
such as random forest, generalized linear models, and boosted regression trees
(Araújo & New 2007; Marmion et al. 2009). Ensemble approaches reduce
uncertainty and improve predictive performance, particularly for rare and
elusive species with limited occurrence records (Thuiller et al. 2009; Feng et
al. 2019). Such methods have already been applied successfully to forecast
habitat shifts of Himalayan pheasants under climate change scenarios (Chhetri
et al. 2018; Singh et al. 2020).
Following the reproducibility
checklist proposed by Feng et al. (2019), this study recognizes several
methodological limitations, including small sample size, potential sampling
bias, and reliance on a single modelling algorithm. These factors may influence
model transferability and prediction uncertainty (Warren & Seifert 2011;
Merow et al. 2013). Future research should, therefore, incorporate ensemble
modelling frameworks, bias-corrected occurrence data, and independent
validation datasets to enhance robustness and reproducibility (Araújo et al.
2019; Feng et al. 2019; Zurell et al. 2020). Despite these limitations, the
present findings provide an important baseline for understanding the climatic
and topographic drivers of T. blythii distribution and offer valuable
guidance for conservation planning and climate-adaptive management strategies.
Conclusion
The study applied the MaxEnt
method to predict the suitable habitats of T. blythii in the Mehao
Wildlife Sanctuary, located in the Lower Dibang Valley of Arunachal Pradesh.
The model used 36 occurrence records and 12 environmental variables for the
targeted species. The model performance was good. The model predicted only
3.93% of the total area as suitable, which may be due to its restricted
distribution range. Besides, the model also predicted about 5% of the area as
moderately suitable, which remains to be explored to confirm species
occurrence. The suitable areas of T. blythii were mostly located in the
northern portion of the MWS at altitudes above 1,700 m. The occurrences of the
species were most frequently observed at 1,000–2,500 m in the study area. The
study area represents a key natural habitat of the vulnerable T. blythii.
Thus, safeguarding areas recognised as suitable habitats can ensure
conservation of T. blythii in the long run. Educating local communities
on the significance of T. blythii can greatly aid such conservation
efforts. These findings indicate the need to develop effective strategies for
identifying potential habitats, supporting government policies to protect
vulnerable species, and reducing human activities like overexploitation,
hunting, and deforestation in the preferred habitats of T. blythii. The
study revealed the potential distribution range of T. blythii and laid
the groundwork for future research. There is an essential need for initiatives
to raise public awareness and build capacity by governmental agencies and NGOs,
involving the local communities, to avert further decline in the population of Blyth’s Tragopan.
Table 1. Parameter contributions
based on the MaxEnt model, codes, units, and source of the database.
|
Parameters |
Contribution (%) |
Code |
Units |
Source |
|
Mean diurnal range |
33.7 |
BIO2 |
°C |
WorldClim |
|
Temperature annual range |
17.8 |
BIO7 |
°C |
WorldClim |
|
Precipitation seasonality |
15.1 |
BIO15 |
Unitless |
WorldClim |
|
Altitude |
11.1 |
Elevation |
Meter |
ALOS PALSAR |
|
Temperature seasonality |
9.2 |
BIO4 |
Unitless |
WorldClim |
|
Slope |
4.7 |
Slope |
Degree |
ALOS PALSAR |
|
Aspect |
2.7 |
Aspect |
Degree |
ALOS PALSAR |
|
Precipitation of the driest
quarter |
2.5 |
BIO17 |
Mm |
WorldClim |
|
Precipitation of the warmest
quarter |
2.2 |
BIO18 |
Mm |
WorldClim |
|
Isothermality |
0.5 |
BIO3 |
Unitless |
WorldClim |
|
Min. temperature of the coldest
month |
0.4 |
BIO6 |
°C |
WorldClim |
|
Mean temperature of the coldest
quarter |
0.2 |
BIO11 |
°C |
WorldClim |
Table 2: Suitable categories of T.
blythii in the study area.
|
Suitable categories |
Value |
Area (km2) |
Area (%) |
|
Not Suitable |
0 - 0.20 |
204.30 |
72.58 |
|
Least Suitable |
0.20 - 0.40 |
52.22 |
18.55 |
|
Moderate Suitable |
0.40 - 0.60 |
13.91 |
4.94 |
|
Suitable |
0.60 - 0.80 |
8.59 |
3.05 |
|
Highly Suitable |
0.60 - 0.80 |
2.48 |
0.88 |
|
Total |
|
281.50 |
100.00 |
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