Species distribution models

Opterećenje: 15+15+0

Sadržaj predmeta: Lectures (1 hour each): 1. Concept and theory of ecological niches 2. From ecological niche to species distribution 3. Basic principles and steps in species distribution modeling 4. Assumptions of the species distribution model 5. Input data - data on the distribution of species (sources, filtering, data on the presence and absence of species) 6. Input data – Environmental variables (sources, selection, resolution, extent) 7. Methods of Modeling the distribution of species 8. Model calibration (parameters) 9. Model evaluation (errors, reliability) 10. Model projections in space and time (extrapolations) 11. Model application - discovery of new populations and species, invasive species (examples) 12. Application of the model - conservation measures (examples of design of protected areas, translocation and reintroduction) 13. Application of the model - climate change (examples of changes in the range of species in the future) 14. Assessment of model uncertainty 15. Presentations of seminar papers Through the exercises, students will go through all the steps necessary to independently create a simple species distribution model using the Maximum Entropy Method (Maxent), from collecting and preparing the necessary input data, through parameters and model evaluation to model projections and their interpretation. Maxent is one of the most frequently used methods for modeling species distribution. Exercises (2 block hours each): 1. Preparation of input data for model creation - Sources and collection of data on the distribution of species (download data from online databases FCD and/or GBIF, review, check and, if necessary, filter points, create .shp layer) 2. Preparation of input data - climate variables (WorldClim base) - prepare climate variables to a given extent 3. Prepare the input file for the creation of the model - Associate the values ​​of the climate variables to each point of the distribution of the species 4. Introduction to Maxent - Create a species distribution model using the maximum entropy method (Maxent) - installation, settings and starting the program with input data 5. Maxent – ​​review and interpretation of results, evaluation of models, contribution of predictors 6. Editing of the results - project the model into geographic space, creating maps of the potential distribution of species 7. Projection of models into the future using climate change scenarios, Creation of maps of the potential future distribution of species