title: Remote Sensing Derived Fire Frequency, Soil Moisture and Ecosystem Productivity Explain Regional Movements in Emu over Australia.
abstract: Species distribution modeling has been widely used in studying habitat relationships and for conservation purposes. However, neglecting ecological knowledge about species, e.g. their seasonal movements, and ignoring the proper environmental factors that can explain key elements for species survival (shelter, food and water) increase model uncertainty. This study exemplifies how these ecological gaps in species distribution modeling can be addressed by modeling the distribution of the emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae) in Australia. Emus cover a large area during the austral winter. However, their habitat shrinks during the summer months. We show evidence of emu summer habitat shrinkage due to higher fire frequency, and low water and food availability in northern regions. Our findings indicate that emus prefer areas with higher vegetation productivity and low fire recurrence, while their distribution is linked to an optimal intermediate (~0.12 m3 m(-3)) soil moisture range. We propose that the application of three geospatial data products derived from satellite remote sensing, namely fire frequency, ecosystem productivity, and soil water content, provides an effective representation of emu general habitat requirements, and substantially improves species distribution modeling and representation of the species' ecological habitat niche across Australia.
authors.affiliation: Numerical Terradynamic Simulation Group, College of Forestry & Conservation, University of Montana, 32 Campus Drive Missoula, MT, 59812, United States of America.
authors.forename: Nima
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Madani
authors.affiliation: Numerical Terradynamic Simulation Group, College of Forestry & Conservation, University of Montana, 32 Campus Drive Missoula, MT, 59812, United States of America.
authors.forename: John S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Kimball
authors.affiliation: School of Journalism, Department of Environmental Journalism, University of Montana, 32 Campus Drive, Missoula, MT, 59812, United States of America.
authors.forename: Mona
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nazeri
authors.affiliation: Ecosystem Management, School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Ring Road, Armidale, New South Wales, 2351, Australia.
authors.forename: Lalit
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: College of Forestry and Conservation, University of Montana, 32 Campus Drive, Missoula, MT, 59812, United States of America.
authors.forename: David L R
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Affleck
mesh_terms: D025041:Animal Migration / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001315:Australia; D004190:Disasters; D020312:Dromaiidae / Q000502:physiology*; D017753:Ecosystem; D005390:Fires / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005843:Geography; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D058998:Remote Sensing Technology; D063809:Satellite Imagery; D012621:Seasons; D012987:Soil / Q000145:classification*; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D012987:Soil; D014867:Water