Separating Fundamental from Realized Habitat: A Transferable Dual-Model Framework for Quantifying Anthropogenic Constraints on Species Distributions in Human-Dominated Landscapes

Separating Fundamental from Realized Habitat: A Transferable Dual-Model Framework for Quantifying Anthropogenic Constraints on Species Distributions in Human-Dominated Landscapes | Authorea try { document.documentElement.classList.add('js'); } catch (e) { } var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'G-8VDV14Y67G']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 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Data may be preliminary. 12 May 2026 V1 Latest version Share on Separating Fundamental from Realized Habitat: A Transferable Dual-Model Framework for Quantifying Anthropogenic Constraints on Species Distributions in Human-Dominated Landscapes Authors : Wangdi Wangdi 0009-0007-7726-1742 [email protected] , Tshering Dorji [email protected] , Jigme Tenzin [email protected] , and Tashi Choden [email protected] Authors Info & Affiliations https://doi.org/10.22541/authorea.15003033/v1 40 views 16 downloads Contents Abstract Information & Authors Metrics & Citations View Options References Figures Tables Media Share Abstract Conservation planning for large-bodied species in human-dominated landscapes is undermined by a persistent error in species distribution models (SDMs): the conflation of fundamental environmental suitability with realized habitat availability constrained by anthropogenic barriers. This leads to systematic overestimation of accessible habitat, misallocation of restoration priorities, and ineffective targeting of mitigation efforts. A transferable dual-model framework is developed to resolve this limitation by pairing an environment-only SDM (Ideal Model, representing the fundamental niche) with a model incorporating anthropogenic predictors (Full Model, approximating the realized niche). The pixel-wise difference between these outputs yields a spatially explicit anthropogenic constraint surface with direct management relevance. Applied to Asian elephants across a 2,607 km² landscape in south-central Bhutan, the Full Model significantly outperformed the Ideal Model (AUC = 0.896 ± 0.014 vs. 0.848 ± 0.017), demonstrating that anthropogenic variables capture critical distributional constraints absent in environmental predictors alone. Anthropogenic pressures reduced highly suitable habitat by approximately 57 km² (~10%) and degraded an additional ~410 km². Human–elephant conflict was concentrated in high-quality habitat (mean suitability = 0.733 vs. 0.197 landscape-wide), indicating that conflict arises from overlap in productive landscapes rather than displacement into marginal areas. The framework produces a three-tier conservation triage: restoration targets (high Ideal, low Full), mitigation priorities (high both, with conflict), and low-priority areas (low both). This approach is broadly applicable to wide-ranging species with available occurrence and anthropogenic data. Separating environmental suitability from anthropogenic feasibility is essential for effective, evidence-based conservation planning in increasingly human-modified ecosystems. Information & Authors Information Version history V1 Version 1 12 May 2026 Collection Ecological Research Keywords Species distribution modelling Anthropogenic constraint Realized niche Conservation biogeography Human–wildlife conflict serpentine ecology Authors Affiliations Wangdi Wangdi 0009-0007-7726-1742 [email protected] Royal Government of Bhutan, Thimphu, Bhutan View all articles by this author Tshering Dorji [email protected] Royal Government of Bhutan, Thimphu, Bhutan View all articles by this author Jigme Tenzin [email protected] Royal Government of Bhutan, Thimphu, Bhutan View all articles by this author Tashi Choden [email protected] Royal Government of Bhutan, Thimphu, Bhutan View all articles by this author Metrics & Citations Metrics Article Usage 40 views 16 downloads .FvxKWukQNSOunydq8rnd { width: 100px; } Citations Download citation Wangdi Wangdi, Tshering Dorji, Jigme Tenzin, et al. Separating Fundamental from Realized Habitat: A Transferable Dual-Model Framework for Quantifying Anthropogenic Constraints on Species Distributions in Human-Dominated Landscapes. Authorea . 12 May 2026. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22541/authorea.15003033/v1 If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download. For more information or tips please see 'Downloading to a citation manager' in the Help menu . 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