Ecological Niche Modelling and Density of Sings as Conservation Tools of Taxidea Taxus Berlandieri in Central – Northern Mexico

Abstract

Abstract The American badger o tlalcoyote (Taxidea taxus berlandieri) is a subspecies that inhabits north-central Mexico; its population and conservation status are unknown, and there is no precise information about its habitat. The objectives of our study were to model the ecological niche suitability for T. t. berlandieri, to estimate the population density by signs km-2 and to identify the habitat variables that contribute to their occurrence in north-central Mexico. We modeled ecological niche using MaxEnt and KUENM, with 13 predictor variables and 43 occurrence records obtained from 177 sites sampled between the total or partial extension of nine physiographic subprovinces in 5 states in the north-central region of Mexico. Our model showed a high suitability probability (P > 0.75) in Llanuras y Sierras Postosino - Zacatecanas, Sierras Transversales and Sierras y Lomeríos de Aldama y Río Grande in parts of the states of Durango, San Luis Potosí, and Zacatecas. The variables with the highest contribution to occurrence probability were slope (plains and plateaus), topography (from flat to undulating), and types of vegetation (dominated by scrub). With the records, we estimated an average density of 0.019 signs km-2 for tlalcoyote in the total extension of the study area. According to our findings, it is possible that the population status of T. t. berlandieri, as a subspecies, is below desirable density levels, and its suitable ecological niche is limited. Therefore, we argued to focus more studies on conservation for this subspecies, using these results as the basis for delimiting its distribution area.