Species distribution modeling
Using Maxent in GRASS
Welcome
Species distribution models (SDM), also known as niche models, combine observations of species occurrence or abundance with environmental estimates. They are used to gain ecological and evolutionary insights and to predict distributions across landscapes [1]. They have become an important tool in the toolbox of ecologists and professionals involved in e.g., nature conservation, biodiversity monitoring and environmental impact assessment.
Maxent [3] is one of the more popular algorithms for species distribution modeling. Unlike many other algorithms, it focuses specifically on presence-only data, which is typically the type of data available. Maxent is available, among others, as a stand-alone program [4] and as a R package [5]. This tutorial focuses on the use of Maxent addons for GRASS [6]. As an example, we will use this to map the potential distribution of the Almond-eyed Ringlet (Erebia alberganus), a butterfly found in parts of Austria, Bulgaria, France, Italy, Serbia, and Switzerland [7].