Remote Sensing Based Habitat Suitability Modelling - A Case Study for Red Kite (Milvus milvus)

摘要

Assessment and evaluation of habitat potential for selected species are important elements of biodiversity management and protection. Remote sensing is a central information source in such habitat suitability analyses when larger areas (landscape level) are at stake. The paper is on an empirical multivariate approach to evaluate habitat suitability for red kite, a raptor species with large home range size. Environmental variables at presence locations (nesting sites) of red kite are compared with the mean values of these variables for the entire study area. The assumption viz. hypothesis is that the species' demands regarding these variables will differ significantly from the means. Results indicate that landscape configuration (structure measures and distances to relevant habitat elements) plays an important role in breeding habitat choice of red kite. The empirical model applied proved to be a suitable tool in the identification of locally influential habitat preferences of the focal species.