Using MAXENT to create a species distribution model for Spectacled Bears

MAXENT distribution model showing species niches for Spectacled Bears in South America

During my internship at Spectacled Bear Conservation I had the opportunity to take part in several different aspects of their work. One of my first projects was to create a species distribution model for the Spectacled Bear species that would show the likely areas of South America that are suitable for the species. The image above shows likely areas for Spectacled Bears in red and the most unlikely locations in blue.

Until recently the dry forest, where Spectacled Bear Conservation is located, was not considered part of the the Bears’ habitat. Once the species was discovered in the dry forest, the NGO was formed to conserve and protect Spectacled Bears and their habitat and update the current understanding of the ecology of the local Spectacled Bears.

In order to create a species distribution model with the MAXENT program, you must first gather and prepare the data that affects the species distribution. Vector files with data pertaining to cloud cover, temperature, precipitation, radiation, wind and other factors were collected for all of South America. We collected and colalated all available and reliable gps data about Spectacled Bear sightings from many different sources including online databases, scientific studies from other ecologists working with the Spectacled Bear populations. In addition we incorporated gps data of Sapote tree locations because Sapote fruit is the Spectacled Bears’ main source of food in the dry forest locations.

The incorporation of species distribution of the Sapote tree is significant. Until recently the dry forest was not considered part of the Spectacled Bears range. Updating the species distribution model to take into account the Sapote tree distribution creates a wider range of environments for the Spectacled Bear and updates the current species distribution models to more accurately reflect the possible locations where Spectacled Bears could be found.