Modelling the Distribution of Forest-Dependent Species in Human-Dominated Landscapes: Patterns for the Pine Marten in Intensively Cultivated Lowlands

摘要: In recent years, the "forest-specialist" pine marten Martes martes has been reported to also occur in largely fragmented, lowland landscapes of north-western Italy. The colonization such an apparently unsuitable area provided opportunity for investigating ecological requirements and predicting its potential south- eastwards expansion. We collected available occurrence data flood plain River Po (N Italy) relate them 11 environmental variables by developing nine Species Distribution Models. To account inter-model variability we used average ensemble predictions (EP). EP predicted a total 482 suitable patches (8.31% study area) marten. main factors driving western were distance from watercourses woods. suggested that may further expand lowland, whilst negligible residual wood cover large areas central eastern makes habitat marten, except some riparian corridors bordering Adriatic coast. Based on our results, conservation strategies should seek preserve remnant forest enhance functional connectivity corridors.