2:45 PM - 3:00 PM
[AHW27-17] MODELING THE DISTRIBUTION OF COMMON CRANEFLY SPECIES (DIPTERA:TIPULOIDEA) OF MONGOLIA
Keywords:Species distribution, Niche modelling, Crane fly diversity, Mongolia
Species distribution models are increasingly used to explore the patterns and processes behind the observed distribution of species to support conservation decision-making. Threats to biodiversity are not studied equally among taxa, leaving some groups like insects typically understudied in conservation and management research. Crane flies (Diptera: Tipuloidea) are diverse and important members of aquatic and terrestrial biotic communities. Crane flies are vulnerable to habitat loss and degradation due to their semi-terrestrial larval habitat preferences, especially as a result of climate change and livestock grazing.
The main objectives of this study were as follows: 1) to document the biodiversity of crane flies, 2) predict the potential distribution of five common crane fly species in Mongolia, and 3) determine the main factors limiting their distribution using the Maximum Entropy model. The study of crane flies was carried out throughout Mongolia, covering a total of 454 sampling points. A total of 329 crane fly species were recorded in Mongolia. Based on the Chao 1 estimator, 95% of the overall fauna were discovered. The diversity of crane flies was highest in Khangai (S=250, H’=2.68), while it was lowest in Mongol-Altay (S=186, H’=2.48).
Five species including Nephrotoma stackelbergi (Savchenko, 1957), Tipula winthemi Lackschewitz, 1932, Rhabdomastix laeta (Loew, 1873), Dicranomyia frontalis (Staeger, 1840), and Limonia fusciceps Alexander, 1924, were the most common, and the environmental factors affecting the distribution of each species differed. Parameters such as average temperature in the warm season, average annual temperature, annual precipitation, elevation, slope, and human disturbance index were selected as the main factors for the species distribution.The probability distribution varied among species but generally ranged between 60% and 75%. The parameters that had the greatest influence on the distribution were the average temperature of the warm season and elevation, which is the main factor limiting the distribution of the common crane fly species. An understanding of species distribution patterns is essential to gain insight into ecological processes in aquatic ecosystems and ecosystem management strategies.
The main objectives of this study were as follows: 1) to document the biodiversity of crane flies, 2) predict the potential distribution of five common crane fly species in Mongolia, and 3) determine the main factors limiting their distribution using the Maximum Entropy model. The study of crane flies was carried out throughout Mongolia, covering a total of 454 sampling points. A total of 329 crane fly species were recorded in Mongolia. Based on the Chao 1 estimator, 95% of the overall fauna were discovered. The diversity of crane flies was highest in Khangai (S=250, H’=2.68), while it was lowest in Mongol-Altay (S=186, H’=2.48).
Five species including Nephrotoma stackelbergi (Savchenko, 1957), Tipula winthemi Lackschewitz, 1932, Rhabdomastix laeta (Loew, 1873), Dicranomyia frontalis (Staeger, 1840), and Limonia fusciceps Alexander, 1924, were the most common, and the environmental factors affecting the distribution of each species differed. Parameters such as average temperature in the warm season, average annual temperature, annual precipitation, elevation, slope, and human disturbance index were selected as the main factors for the species distribution.The probability distribution varied among species but generally ranged between 60% and 75%. The parameters that had the greatest influence on the distribution were the average temperature of the warm season and elevation, which is the main factor limiting the distribution of the common crane fly species. An understanding of species distribution patterns is essential to gain insight into ecological processes in aquatic ecosystems and ecosystem management strategies.