Bird Conservation International
- Bird Conservation International / Volume 23 / Issue 02 / June 2013, pp 247-258
- Copyright © BirdLife International 2012
- DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0959270912000330 (About DOI), Published online: 06 August 2012
Research Articles
Rapid decline and shift in the future distribution predicted for the endangered Sokoke Scops Owl Otus ireneae due to climate change
ARA MONADJEMa1 c1, MUNIR Z. VIRANIa2, COLIN JACKSONa3 and APRIL RESIDEa4
a1 All Out Africa Research Unit, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Swaziland, Private Bag 4, Kwaluseni, Swaziland.
a2 The Peregrine Fund, 5668 West Flying Hawk Lane, Boise Idaho 83709 USA and Ornithology Section, Department of Zoology, National Museums of Kenya, P.O Box 40658-00100 Nairobi, Kenya.
a3 A Rocha Kenya, PO Box 383, Watamu, Kenya and Ornithology Section, Department of Zoology, National Museums of Kenya, P.O Box 40658-00100 Nairobi, Kenya.
a4 Centre for Tropical Biodiversity and Climate Change, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia.
Summary
Climate change is predicted to have serious impacts on the conservation status of numerous species of birds, particularly low-density, range-restricted species occupying narrow habitats. One such species is the globally “Endangered” Sokoke Scops Owl Otus ireneae that currently survives in just two or three small pockets of forest in coastal Kenya and north-eastern Tanzania. We assessed the potential impact of changes in future climate on this species using predictive niche modelling. Distributional data were obtained from various published and unpublished sources, and field surveys. Maximum Entropy (Maxent) was used to model the current distribution of Sokoke Scops Owl. A general circulation model was used to predict the distribution of this species in 2080. This scenario predicts a southward shift in the future distribution of this species in Kenya and a complete disappearance from the Usambara mountains in Tanzania, with a concomitant 64% reduction in areas of high environmental suitability. Considering the isolated nature of the forest fragments in which this owl survives and the sea of inhospitable human-modified habitat which surrounds these fragments, the future conservation prospects of this species are bleak. Close monitoring of the species is strongly recommended and potential conservation interventions are discussed.
(Received October 21 2011)
(Accepted April 26 2012)
(Online publication August 06 2012)
Correspondence
c1 Author for correspondence; email: ara@uniswa.sz
