POTENTIAL DISTRIBUTION OF Chrysocyon brachyurus (BOROCHI) IN BOLIVIA

Abstract

The investigation of factors influencing organism distribution has been a fundamental objective in the field of ecology. It is recognized that various abiotic and biotic elements interact with each other, thereby restricting the distribution of each species. Through the use of ecological niche models, we can predict areas where these factors create an ideal habitat for species survival. These models allow us to identify locations with high probabilities of species presence, enabling necessary measures for future conservation and research.
The study species, the Maned Wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus), is one of the largest canids in the Americas. Due to its elusive behavior towards humans, existing scientific knowledge about this species in our country remains limited. Therefore, the objective of this study is to determine the distribution of Chrysocyon brachyurus across Bolivia using ecological niche models based on climatic data and historical sightings.
Climate data were obtained from the WorldClim database, while presence records of Chrysocyon brachyurus were sourced from The Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). These data were input into MaxEnt to generate the model.
A total of 78 records were obtained for Bolivia, which were used to create an ecological niche model for the study species along with 19 climatic variables.
The study concludes that the ecological niche model generated from climatic data shows a high concentration of presence in the department of Beni, followed by parts of La Paz and Santa Cruz. These findings are crucial for guiding conservation strategies aimed at protecting specific habitats of the Maned Wolf in Bolivia, ensuring the preservation of areas identified as critical for its survival.