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. 2022 Apr 23;12(4):e8857.
doi: 10.1002/ece3.8857. eCollection 2022 Apr.

Fishing cat Prionailurus viverrinus distribution and habitat suitability in Nepal

Rama Mishra  1   2 , Hans H de Iongh  1   3 , Hewig Leirs  1 , Babu Ram Lamichhane  4 , Naresh Subedi  4 , Shekhar S Kolipaka  3
Affiliations

Fishing cat Prionailurus viverrinus distribution and habitat suitability in Nepal

Rama Mishra et al. Ecol Evol. .

Abstract

The fishing cat Prionailurus viverrinus is a wetland specialist species endemic to South and Southeast Asia. Nepal represents the northern limit of its biogeographic range, but comprehensive information on fishing cat distribution in Nepal is lacking. To assess their distribution, we compiled fishing cat occurrence records (n = 154) from Nepal, available in published literature and unpublished data (2009-2020). Bioclimatic and environmental variables associated with their occurrence were used to predict the fishing cat habitat suitability using MaxEnt modeling. Fishing cat habitat suitability was associated with elevation (152-302 m), precipitation of the warmest quarter, i.e., April-June (668-1014 mm), precipitation of the driest month (4-7 mm), and land cover (forest/grassland and wetland). The model predicted an area of 4.4% (6679 km2) of Nepal as potential habitat for the fishing cat. About two-thirds of the predicted potentially suitable habitat lies outside protected areas; however, a large part of the highly suitable habitat (67%) falls within protected areas. The predicted habitat suitability map serves as a reference for future investigation into fishing cat distribution as well as formulating and implementing effective conservation programs in Nepal. Fishing cat conservation initiatives should include habitats inside and outside the protected areas to ensure long-term survival. We recommend conservation of wetland sites, surveys of fishing cats in the identified potential habitats, and studying their genetic connectivity and population status.

Keywords: MaxEnt; Nepal; fishing cat; habitat modeling; protected areas; species distribution.

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Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinus) photographed in camera trap in Shuklaphanta National Park, Nepal
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Map of Nepal showing fishing cat records, major rivers, Ramsar sites, and protected areas
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of MaxEnt prediction. The high value (closer to 1) represents better prediction
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4
Importance of environment variables to fishing cat by Jackknife analysis, where 14_bio = Precipitation of Driest Month, 18_bio = Precipitation of Warmest Quarter, 19_bio = Precipitation of Coldest Quarter, 1_bio = Annual Mean Temperature, 2_boi = Mean Diurnal Range (Mean of monthly max temp – min temp), 6_bio = Min Temperature of Coldest Month, and 8_bio = Mean Temperature of Wettest Quarter. (Black bar = importance of each variable in explaining the variation in the data when use separately. Grey bar = loss in total model gain when the particular variable was omitted, indicating the presence of unique information necessary for explaining the model. Bar with lines pattern = total model gain)
FIGURE 5
FIGURE 5
Map of fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinus) habitat suitability in Nepal's Terai and Chure region (NP = National Park)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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