Species ranges and distributions

 

Species distributions feature heavily in conservation assessments. GRIN scientists are developing methods to estimate species' ranges using many different sources of data.

GRIN Data Revises Estimate of Harpy Eagle (Harpia harpyja) Range

To protect a threatened species, one must know where it occurs—but determining a species' range is not an easy task. For wide-ranging species, such as the Harpy Eagle (Harpia harpyja), a lack of data and a rapidly changing environment have left conservationists with little information. A recent study by Sutton et al., published in the journal Ecology and Evolution, addressed these limitations using GRIN data and sophisticated geospatial analyses. Sutton et al. revealed that the Harpy Eagle’s range is 11% smaller than originally thought, making the protection of existing populations and suitable habitat all the more important. This study is hopefully the first of many using GRIN data to refine the range estimates of raptor species.