Scholarlink

<p>Raptors and their prey occur across broad geographic ranges and perform key ecological functions, making them effective indicators for assessing climate change impacts across ecosystems. The Sooty Falcon (<i>Falco concolor</i>), globally classified as Vulnerable, is subject to multiple pressures including illegal activities, habitat degradation, and climate change. This study used Species Distribution Models (SDMs) to evaluate the effects of climate change on the breeding habitat of <i>F. concolor</i> in Egypt under current conditions and the “middle path” (SSP2-4.5) future scenario for 2050 and 2070. The objectives were to identify potential climate refugia and to assess the effectiveness of Egypt’s protected area network in conserving suitable breeding habitats over time. Model projections indicate a marked contraction of suitable breeding areas, particularly in the southern part of the species’ range, while relatively stable habitats persist in eastern Egypt, notably along the Red Sea coast and in the mountainous regions of Sinai. Although current protected areas encompass only a limited proportion of suitable breeding habitat, their relative contribution is projected to increase under future climate conditions, including coverage of a substantial share of newly suitable areas. These findings highlight the need for proactive conservation actions, including targeted management, protected area expansion, enforcement, and long-term monitoring to support Sooty Falcon conservation.</p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Climate change and raptors: assessing the impact on Sooty Falcon breeding habitats and conservation strategies in Egypt

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年5月18日

查看全文
  • Karim Omar,
  • Ayman Hamada

摘要

Raptors and their prey occur across broad geographic ranges and perform key ecological functions, making them effective indicators for assessing climate change impacts across ecosystems. The Sooty Falcon (Falco concolor), globally classified as Vulnerable, is subject to multiple pressures including illegal activities, habitat degradation, and climate change. This study used Species Distribution Models (SDMs) to evaluate the effects of climate change on the breeding habitat of F. concolor in Egypt under current conditions and the “middle path” (SSP2-4.5) future scenario for 2050 and 2070. The objectives were to identify potential climate refugia and to assess the effectiveness of Egypt’s protected area network in conserving suitable breeding habitats over time. Model projections indicate a marked contraction of suitable breeding areas, particularly in the southern part of the species’ range, while relatively stable habitats persist in eastern Egypt, notably along the Red Sea coast and in the mountainous regions of Sinai. Although current protected areas encompass only a limited proportion of suitable breeding habitat, their relative contribution is projected to increase under future climate conditions, including coverage of a substantial share of newly suitable areas. These findings highlight the need for proactive conservation actions, including targeted management, protected area expansion, enforcement, and long-term monitoring to support Sooty Falcon conservation.