IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jlands/v14y2025i4p872-d1635576.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Distribution and Habitat Suitability of the Malabar Slender Loris ( Loris lydekkerianus malabaricus ) in the Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary, India

Author

Listed:
  • Smitha D. Gnanaolivu

    (Department of Advanced Zoology and Biotechnology, Loyola College, University of Madras, 24, 9, Nelson Manickam Rd, Nungambakkam, Chennai 600034, India
    Biopsychology Laboratory, University of Mysore, Mysore 570006, India)

  • Joseph J. Erinjery

    (Department of Zoology, Kannur University, Mananthavady Campus, Wayanad 670645, India)

  • Marco Campera

    (Sustainable Agroforestry Research Group, School of Biological and Medical Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford OX3 0BP, UK)

  • Mewa Singh

    (Biopsychology Laboratory, University of Mysore, Mysore 570006, India)

Abstract

Understanding how mammals respond to climate change is critical for predicting future biogeographic shifts and implementing effective conservation strategies. In this study, we applied MaxEnt modeling to identify key determinants of the distribution of the Malabar slender loris ( Loris lydekkerianus malabaricus ), a nocturnal primate endemic to the Western Ghats of India. Using 416 slender loris sightings, spatially thinned at 0.5 km intervals to reduce spatial autocorrelation, we evaluated 19 present bioclimatic variables alongside 10 additional climatic variables. From these, 14 predictor variables with Pearson correlation values above 0.75 were selected for analysis. Future distribution models employed bioclimatic projections from the CNRM-CM5 global climate models under three Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs): 2.6, 4.5, and 8.5. The current distribution models identified 23 km 2 as a suitable habitat for slender lorises, with 3 km 2 suitable for males and 12 km 2 for females. Projections for 2070 under RCP 2.6, 4.5, and 8.5 scenarios predict habitat reductions of 52%, 13%, and 8%, respectively, signaling significant vulnerability under changing climatic conditions. Precipitation of the warmest quarter, precipitation of the driest month, distance from roads, and elevation were identified as the most influential variables shaping the species’ distribution. This study underscores the pressing need for targeted conservation efforts to mitigate habitat loss and fragmentation, particularly in the context of climate change. By providing a detailed analysis of current and future habitat suitability, it lays the groundwork for similar predictive studies on nocturnal small mammals. As climate change accelerates, the integration of species–specific ecological insights and advanced modeling techniques will be vital in guiding conservation actions and preserving biodiversity in vulnerable ecosystems like the Western Ghats.

Suggested Citation

  • Smitha D. Gnanaolivu & Joseph J. Erinjery & Marco Campera & Mewa Singh, 2025. "Distribution and Habitat Suitability of the Malabar Slender Loris ( Loris lydekkerianus malabaricus ) in the Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary, India," Land, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-16, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:14:y:2025:i:4:p:872-:d:1635576
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/14/4/872/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/14/4/872/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Sharon B. Phillips & Viney P. Aneja & Daiwen Kang & S. Pal Arya, 2006. "Modelling and analysis of the atmospheric nitrogen deposition in North Carolina," International Journal of Global Environmental Issues, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 6(2/3), pages 231-252.
    2. Riccardo De Bin & Silke Janitza & Willi Sauerbrei & Anne-Laure Boulesteix, 2016. "Subsampling versus bootstrapping in resampling-based model selection for multivariable regression," Biometrics, The International Biometric Society, vol. 72(1), pages 272-280, March.
    3. Richard H. Moss & Jae A. Edmonds & Kathy A. Hibbard & Martin R. Manning & Steven K. Rose & Detlef P. van Vuuren & Timothy R. Carter & Seita Emori & Mikiko Kainuma & Tom Kram & Gerald A. Meehl & John F, 2010. "The next generation of scenarios for climate change research and assessment," Nature, Nature, vol. 463(7282), pages 747-756, February.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Daisuke Murakami & Pavel V. Shevchenko & Tomoko Matsui & Aleksandar Arandjelovi'c & Tor A. Myrvoll, 2025. "Climate-economy projections under shared socioeconomic pathways and net-zero scenarios," Papers 2504.11721, arXiv.org.
    2. Cai, Yiyong & Newth, David & Finnigan, John & Gunasekera, Don, 2015. "A hybrid energy-economy model for global integrated assessment of climate change, carbon mitigation and energy transformation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 148(C), pages 381-395.
    3. Chateau, J. & Dellink, R. & Lanzi, E. & Magne, B., 2012. "Long-term economic growth and environmental pressure: reference scenarios for future global projections," Conference papers 332249, Purdue University, Center for Global Trade Analysis, Global Trade Analysis Project.
    4. Raquel Toste & Adriano Vasconcelos & Luiz Paulo de Freitas Assad & Luiz Landau, 2024. "Dynamically downscaled coastal flooding in Brazil’s Guanabara Bay under a future climate change scenario," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 120(8), pages 7845-7869, June.
    5. Gerald Nelson & Jessica Bogard & Keith Lividini & Joanne Arsenault & Malcolm Riley & Timothy B. Sulser & Daniel Mason-D’Croz & Brendan Power & David Gustafson & Mario Herrero & Keith Wiebe & Karen Coo, 2018. "Income growth and climate change effects on global nutrition security to mid-century," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 1(12), pages 773-781, December.
    6. Nicole Costa Resende Ferreira & Jarbas Honorio Miranda, 2021. "Projected changes in corn crop productivity and profitability in Parana, Brazil," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(3), pages 3236-3250, March.
    7. Jaewon Kwak & Huiseong Noh & Soojun Kim & Vijay P. Singh & Seung Jin Hong & Duckgil Kim & Keonhaeng Lee & Narae Kang & Hung Soo Kim, 2014. "Future Climate Data from RCP 4.5 and Occurrence of Malaria in Korea," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-19, October.
    8. Joan Pau Sierra & Ricard Castrillo & Marc Mestres & César Mösso & Piero Lionello & Luigi Marzo, 2020. "Impact of Climate Change on Wave Energy Resource in the Mediterranean Coast of Morocco," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-19, June.
    9. Marcinkowski, Paweł & Piniewski, Mikołaj, 2024. "Future changes in crop yield over Poland driven by climate change, increasing atmospheric CO2 and nitrogen stress," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 213(C).
    10. Henzler, Julia & Weise, Hanna & Enright, Neal J. & Zander, Susanne & Tietjen, Britta, 2018. "A squeeze in the suitable fire interval: Simulating the persistence of fire-killed plants in a Mediterranean-type ecosystem under drier conditions," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 389(C), pages 41-49.
    11. Abhiru Aryal & Albira Acharya & Ajay Kalra, 2022. "Assessing the Implication of Climate Change to Forecast Future Flood Using CMIP6 Climate Projections and HEC-RAS Modeling," Forecasting, MDPI, vol. 4(3), pages 1-22, June.
    12. Tamás Hajdu & Gábor Hajdu, 2022. "Temperature, climate change, and human conception rates: evidence from Hungary," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 35(4), pages 1751-1776, October.
    13. Meraj Sarwary & Senthilnathan Samiappan & Ghulam Dastgir Khan & Masaood Moahid, 2023. "Climate Change and Cereal Crops Productivity in Afghanistan: Evidence Based on Panel Regression Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-13, July.
    14. Jiufeng Wei & Hufang Zhang & Wanqing Zhao & Qing Zhao, 2017. "Niche shifts and the potential distribution of Phenacoccus solenopsis (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) under climate change," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(7), pages 1-17, July.
    15. Kokou Amega & Yendoubé Laré & Ramchandra Bhandari & Yacouba Moumouni & Aklesso Y. G. Egbendewe & Windmanagda Sawadogo & Saidou Madougou, 2022. "Solar Energy Powered Decentralized Smart-Grid for Sustainable Energy Supply in Low-Income Countries: Analysis Considering Climate Change Influences in Togo," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(24), pages 1-24, December.
    16. Md Saifur Rahman & Md Faisal Abedin Khan & Lukas Giessen, 2024. "Analysing policy changes for achieving sustainable development goals: Insights from forest, environment and climate change action plan in Bangladesh," Natural Resources Forum, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 48(2), pages 508-524, May.
    17. Heinz-Peter Witzke & Pavel Ciaian & Jacques Delince, 2014. "CAPRI long-term climate change scenario analysis: The AgMIP approach," JRC Research Reports JRC85872, Joint Research Centre.
    18. Syed Asif Ali Naqvi & Abdul Majeed Nadeem & Muhammad Amjed Iqbal & Sadia Ali & Asia Naseem, 2019. "Assessing the Vulnerabilities of Current and Future Production Systems in Punjab, Pakistan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(19), pages 1-13, September.
    19. Alexis S. Pascaris & Joshua M. Pearce, 2020. "U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emission Bottlenecks: Prioritization of Targets for Climate Liability," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-28, August.
    20. Jiban Chandra Deb & Stuart Phinn & Nathalie Butt & Clive A. McAlpine, 2019. "Adaptive management and planning for the conservation of four threatened large Asian mammals in a changing climate," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 24(2), pages 259-280, February.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:14:y:2025:i:4:p:872-:d:1635576. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.