![]() ![]() The impacts of climate change on animal-specific interaction remain inadequately reported. Well known at landscape regions, the environmental change will influence the mountain ecosystem around the globe. Our results help inform management plans and conservation strategies for mitigating the impacts of climate change on three indicator Galliforms species in the NHP. (iii) The maximum area of climate refugia was projected between the altitudinal range of 2000 to 4000 m and predicted to shift towards higher altitudes primarily > 3000 m in the future. (ii) Across the provinces in the NHP, the species were predicted to average lose around one-third (35%) in 2050 and one-half (47%) by 2070 of the current suitable habitat. Our results indicated that (i) under all three climate scenarios, species distribution was predicted to both reduce and shift towards higher altitudes. ![]() ![]() ![]() For this study, we used Maximum Entropy Model (Ma圎nt) to simulate the current (average for 1960–1990) and future (in 20) distributions of the species using three General Circulation Models (GCMs) and two climate change scenarios, i.e., RCP4.5 (moderate carbon emission scenario) and RCP8.5 (peak carbon emission scenario). Three Galliformes (e.g., Lophophorus impejanus, Pucrasia macrolopha, and Tragopan melanocephalus) are indicator species of the environment and currently distributed in NHP. Range shifts and range reduction in the forested landscapes will dramatically affect the distribution of forest-dwelling species, including the Galliformes (ground birds). The negative impacts of climate change on the northern highlands of Pakistan (NHP) could change the species composition. The rise in global temperature is one of the main threats of extinction to many vulnerable species by the twenty-first century. Areas identified as core zone/hotspot and suitable habitat for the pheasant species should be legally protected for the conservation of pheasants. Bar Palas region of Koli Palas district, Jalkot and Kandia valley of district upper Kohistan and Kayal valley of district lower Kohistan were identified as core zones or hot spots for these pheasant species. km), followed by moderately suitable (2551.3 sq. Whereas, highly suitable habitat for Koklass pheasant was (611.5 sq. The topographical variables, altitude, slope, and distance to settlements contributed 15.2%, 2.6%, and 16% in the Monal habitat prediction model while 8.4%, 10.5%, and 15.8% for the Koklass habitat prediction model respectively. The climatic parameters including temperature, precipitation of the warmest quarter (bio_18) contributed the maximum 21.3% and 23.5%, followed by annual precipitation (bio_12) 12.3% and 8.9% for habitat prediction of Monal and Koklass. The area under cover (AUC) values quantified for the replicate runs were 0.994 (☐.001) and 0.991 (☐.005) for Himalayan Monal and Koklass pheasant respectively. Ma圎nt model displayed excellent predictive performance showing a strong prediction of the probability distribution and habitat. Ma圎nt and Cringing models were used to document habitat suitability and to identify valleys with most suitable habitat. This study aims to investigate habitat suitability of these pheasants in the western Himalayas and Hindukush. Himalayan Monal (Lophophorus impejanus) and Koklass (Pucrasia macrolopha) are endemic to the Himalayas and Hindukush mountains. Quantifying geographical range and suitable habitat of a species can help in better management and conservation decisions. The Himalayan pheasants are under the greatest threat due to habitat degradation, and loss. ![]()
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