Numbers and distribution of grassland waders in Polissian part of Sluch and Goryn valleys: analysis by modeling in Maxent

Abstract

Location of breeding colonies and numbers of Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus), Redshank (Tringa totanus) and Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa) in valleys of Sluch and Goryn rivers (Rivne region, Ukraine) were analyzed, making emphasis on modeling approach in Maxent. Using open GIS data and satellite imagery as background layers distribution models for all three species were built. According to the results of ROC statistics, we achieved models with AUC in the range from 0,837 to 0,913 on test data. Analysis of the contribution of individual predictors into models shows that most important were layers of forest and shrub coverage, arable lands, MNDWI and NDVI indices, elevation and distance to rivers. It was shown, that using only data in open access it is possible to build good distribution models for Lapwing, Redshank and Black-tailed Godwit in circumstances of Polissia.