That means habitat loss as a result of deforestation is the greatest threat they face, and conservation plans need to take all of that into account. “Our study shows that predicted future climate stability will be in core areas with extensive lowland tropical forest habitat. "Harpy eagles are difficult to observe and live at low population densities, so there has been limited research into what environmental factors influence their range limits,” said Luke Sutton, a PhD student in the University of Plymouth's School of Biological and Marine Sciences and lead author on the research. Female harpy eagles can be twice as heavy as the males. The researchers urge that in light of this, these areas should be prioritized for future conservation projects centered around Harpy eagles.
Areas which are predicted to remain stable for their resident Harpies include the center-most part of the Amazon, Guyana, eastern Colombia, and Panama. This information can be used to inform areas inhabited by Harpy eagles which may fail to fulfil the required conditions to support these animals. They have been found living in the jungles of Mexico all the way down to Northern Argentina.
by Admin on 10:26 PM in Nature The harpy eagle is considered one of the most powerful eagles of the over 100 different species of these birds of prey. There are several factors Harpy eagles favor when selecting a habitat, but the team’s research highlighted climatic moisture as one of the most influential, followed by habitats with a minimum temperature of around 27 degrees Celsius (80.6 Fahrenheit) in the warmest month of the year. With A Wingspan Of 7 Feet, The Harpy Eagle Looks Like A Person Dressed Up In A Bird Costume. Their model revealed a population estimate that sits at 11 percent below the current estimates published on the IUCN website. Image credit: Everton Miranda/University of KwaZulu?Natal The type of model we have presented here is lacking for many rare and threatened species, particularly in tropical regions, but can be a cost-effective and rapid way to direct conservation planning for threatened species." Harpy eagles are considered by many to be among the planet's most spectacular birds. “So, understanding more about where they choose to live and why should be a critical factor when we are looking at how best to go about conserving raptor populations.
"More than half of all global raptor species have declining populations,” said senior author Dr Robert Puschendorf, Lecturer in Conservation Biology, in a statement. The study combined sightings with environmental data to carry out spatial modeling and analyses that took into consideration the birds’ habitat preferences. Led by researchers from the University of Plymouth, UK, the new study suggests that the existing methodology used to assess the population size of the species' is overestimating their distribution. However, recent research published in the journal Ecology & Evolution has warned that the Harpy could be in more trouble than we realize. As such, they’ve disappeared from ranges encroached upon by human activity and, at the time of writing, they are listed as “Near Threatened” on the IUCN Red List. These top-tier predators are also elusive animals, steering well-clear of human settlements.
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