Modeling wintering habitat distribution of migratory raptor “Oriental Honey-buzzards” based on satellite tracking data in West Java.

Abstract

Raptors are at the top of the food chain, so their health depends on the health of the ecosystems they live in or migrate through. Thus, declines in raptor populations can indicate a problem in an ecosystem that raptors depend on. This study aims : 1) to build the distribution model of the OHB wintering habitat based on the data of satellite tracking in Talaga Bodas and surrounding areas; 2) to extrapolate the model for the entire province of West Java; 3) to analyze specific aspects of vegetation microhabitats in Talaga Bodas; 4) to develop wintering habitat management implications of OHB in West Java. This project was conducted in Talaga Bodas and surrounding areas then the model were validated in the other areas in West Java Province. Main methodology was combining satellite-tracking data of OHB with the GIS/remote sensing analysis, spatial modeling and vegetation analysis. Analyses were based on the comparison features (environmental variables) at the presence and pseudo-absence sites of OHB, which were detected from satellite-tracking data. Vegetation analysis to count Important Value Index and Diversity - Shanon Wiener Index in Talaga Bodas. The result, from 18 environmental variables, only 7 variables were detected as important variable for characteririzing the distribution of wintering habitat. Wintering habitat distribution model were predominantly influenced by slope 25%-40% (DS5), elevation 0-100 m (DE1), elevation 100-300 m (DE2), elevation >1000 m (DE5), forest (DFT), paddy field (DPF) and water body (DWB). Before the logistic regression model extrapolated in West Java, has been validated beforehand. Validation results showed that this model has an ommision error of 20,34%. 24 patches were detected from model extrapolation which is scattered in the region of West Java. The results of the vegetation analysis’s known that the core habitat biodiversity tend to have slightly less variable than the edge habitats. Results of this study suggested four implications for wintering habitat management of OHB.