Poster by Megan M. Friggens and Deborah M. Finch documenting a maximum entropy (maxent) model to predict future habitat along the Rio Grande for SWFL, yellow-billed cuckoo, and Lucy’s warbler.
Future expected changes in climate and human activity threaten many riparian habitats, particularly in the southwestern U.S. As part of an ongoing project to assess future climate, fire and hydrological change for riparian species along the Rio Grande, New Mexico, we report the results of an ecological niche model analysis for three bird species: Lucy’s warbler (Oreothlypis luciae), the Southwestern willow flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus) and the Yellow-billed cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus). Our objective was to identify areas important for species’ conservation into the future. Specifically, we ask: 1.Does the availability of suitable habitat change under future conditions? 2.What lands and areas show the most promise for providing habitat for these species in the future?