Using environmental niche model to study the distribution of Tonkin snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus avunculus) in the Nordeastern Vietnam under some climate change scenarios

Abstract

Environmental niche modeling is a very effective tool for discovery species distribution with only limited observed data. It is used to generate a potential distribution of species in environmental space, which can helps the managers to define the distribution area, make decision for field study and conservation. In this paper, we made effort to apply environmental niche modeling for Tonkin snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus avunculus) - an endemic primate animals of Vietnam. We used the BIOCLIM model which is embeded in DIVA-GIS. The research is implemented in the Northeastern Vietnam, which is considered habitat of Rhinopithecus avunculus. The result was displayed in potential distribution maps by DIVA-GIS. We have generated three distribution maps with two climate conditions (i.e. current climate and future climate with climate change scenario). According to the output of model, the potential distribution of Tonkin snub-nosed is mostly covered the Northeastern of Vietnam , classified into 6 levels. The suitable area is narrow (36,806 km2) and will smaller under the climate change scenario (decrease to about 29,000 km2). The model also shows that, the distribution area of Tonkin snub-nosed monkey is moving to the North in the future climate condition.