Most potential habitat models have been built from WorldClim using low resolution variables, even for areas of high heterogeneity with few weather stations. The resulting models can be too general and lead to erroneous decisions when used for conservation purposes. Sciurus aberti is a tree squirrel inhabiting highlands in the SW US and the Sierra Madre Occidental (SMO) in Mexico, where it is considered a species of low concern. We examined the effect of resolution, variables, and algorithms on the predicted potential habitat of S. aberti in Mexico and compared the resulting models against a previous one created from WorldClim variables using GARP (Genetic Algorithm for Rule Set Production). Our best model, using Maxent, 30 m spatial resolution and topographic variables, predicted a fragmented distribution in pine and pine–oak forests, consistent with what is known about the species’ natural history. The area represented only 2% of the SMO (compared to 28% for the GARP model), of which only 0.33% lies within protected areas. The model suggests that the habitat is highly fragmented, which threatens population continuity. Therefore, we propose that the conservation status of Sciurus aberti must be reassessed and that forest management better consider the conservation of arboreal species.

大多数潜在的栖息地模型都是由WorldClim使用低分辨率变量建立的，即使对于异质性较高，气象站很少的地区也是如此。当用于保护目的时，所得模型可能过于笼统，并导致错误的决策。Sciurus aberti是一种松鼠，栖息在美国西南部的高地和墨西哥的西马德雷山脉（SMO），在那儿它被认为是关注度较低的物种。我们研究了分辨率，变量和算法对S. aberti潜在栖息地的影响在墨西哥，并将结果模型与使用GARP（规则集生成的遗传算法）根据WorldClim变量创建的模型进行了比较。我们使用Maxent，30 m的空间分辨率和地形变量的最佳模型预测了松树和松橡树林中的零散分布，这与对该物种的自然历史了解一致。该地区仅占SMO的2％（相比之下，GARP模型为28％），其中只有0.33％位于保护区内。该模型表明，栖息地高度分散，威胁到人口的连续性。因此，我们建议必须重新评估Scuulus aberti的保护状况，并且森林管理应更好地考虑树木栖木的保护。