A habitat quality indicator for common birds in Europe based on species distribution models

摘要: Abstract The EU 2020 Biodiversity Strategy requires the gathering of information on biodiversity to aid in monitoring progress towards its main targets. Common species are good proxies for diversity and integrity ecosystems, since they key elements biomass, structure, functioning therefore supply ecosystem services. In this sense, we aimed develop a spatially-explicit indicator habitat quality (HQI) at European level based included Bird Index, also grouped into their major types (farmland forest). Using occurrences from Breeding Birds Atlas (at 50 km × 50 km) maximum entropy algorithm, derived distribution maps using refined occurrence data ecology. This allowed us cope with limitations arising modelling common widespread species, obtaining suitability each finer spatial resolution (10 km × 10 km grid), which provided higher model accuracy. Analysis patterns local relative richness (defined as ratio between given location average regional context) birds analysed demonstrated that development HQI needs account pool order make objective comparisons regions. way, proved compensated bias caused by inherent heterogeneous distributions was yielding larger areas where most target have core range. method presented study provides robust innovative can be used regions scale, potentially applied measure Finally, models breeding birds, interpreted capacity ecosystems provide maintain nursery/reproductive habitats terrestrial maintenance regulation service.