Possible Shift in Distribution Range of Himalayan Vulture viz a viz of Future Bioclimatic Variables

Author: Sachin Kumar* and Tejdeep Kaur Kler

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Abstract

Himalayan Vulture (Gyps himalayensis Hume, 1869) has been categorized under the near-threatened list by IUCN. The current investigation was done to predict the present and future species distribution range under various bioclimatic variables using MaxEnt modelling in the Himalayan range of Indian subcontinent. Present study provides preliminary information about the present and future distribution range of G. himalayensis. The study reveals that the suitable distribution range for G. himalayensis will increase in near future i.e. 2021-40 while the highly suitable range will decrease slightly from 2041-60 with overall increase towards the north-eastern Himalayas. The region already has rich biodiversity and also facing elevation range shifts by many other species due to climate warming, therefore, the coming finest hours need a proactive approach to conserve the declining population of G. himalayensis by developing an effective conservation strategy by using stacked species distribution

Keywords

G. himalayensis, Bioclimatic Variables, MaxEnt, Distribution Range shift, Indian subcontinent.