Predicting the distribution of the crested-tinamous Eudromia spp (Aves, Tinamiformes)

ECHARRI, F.; TAMBUSSI, C.; ACOSTA HOSPITALECHE, C .

JOURNAL FUR ORNITHOLOGIE

WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC

Año: 2009 vol. 150 p. 75 - 84

0021-8375

Aim. A bioclimatic analysis of the crested tinamous was conducted to explore climatic factors underpinning the distribution of both Eudromia elegans and E. formosa and to evaluate its potential application in paleontological studies.Location. The study utilized records throughout the entire known range of Eudromia spp in southern South America.Methods. Relationships between twenty environmental parameters and the presence of Eudromia species, mapped were established, mapping and characterizing their spatial distribution in a Geographic Information System using BIOCLIM and MAXENT algorithms.Results. The MAXENT prediction map shows a more homogeneous pattern while BIOCLIM showed a patchier pattern. The models applied here generated maps that adjust to the well-known previous distributions of both species. Nevertheless, for Eudromia elegans the distribution predicted by MAXENT includes areas where it is absent, and on the contrary, the BIOCLIM prediction does not include some areas where it is really distributed.Eudromia formosa were found in warmer and wetter sites than E. elegans. Low precipitations areas were identified as suitable for Eudromia elegans.Main conclusions. Strong differences between the climatic profiles for both Eudromia spp distributions occurred, being the precipitations the most important influence over them. E. formosa tolerates highest maximum temperatures, whereas E. elegans supports the lowest temperatures. Our results highlight the importance of including climatic variables in the analysis of the past distributions.