Aplicación de modelos de nicho ecológico y sistemas de información geográfica para la conservación de la biodiversidad

Abstract

ABSTRACT Due to the current situation of global environmental degradation, biodiversity is suffering an important damage, thus it is necessary to design efficient strategies in order to protect it. In this way, this thesis project presents novel proposals to address specific issues currently related to species conservation field. The methodology is transversal to all the chapters and consists on the application of Ecological Niche Models (ENM) jointly with the Geographic Information Systems (GIS), in order to analyze / interpret questions about the distribution and conservation of species. The chapters include the following topics: (i) comparison between geo-referenced biological databases corresponding to an invasive species using ENM; (ii) application of the ENM in the study of the distribution patterns of threatened species; (iii) to analyze the effects of geographical marginality on habitat suitability; (iv) evaluation of habitat suitability patterns in the distribution areas of European endemic species, corresponding to different groups of organisms. The results achieved here, serve as a theoretical basis on which to rely when designing conservation strategies.