Abstract Kawthoolei (defined as all Karen National Union administrative areas and encompassing Karen State, Myanmar), a global hotspot for biodiversity, is increasingly under threat due to deforestation, mining, human population growth, indiscriminate burning, and infrastructure development. Pinpointing biodiversity hotspots to focus conservation efforts is integral given the limited funding and capacity of local conservation actors to undertake activities throughout Kawthoolei. We obtained wildlife presence data for 23 medium-large mammal species of conservation concern from 7 years of camera trapping efforts throughout Kawthoolei and produced species distribution models, which were used to prioritize areas for conservation action. Presence only data were combined with bioclimatic, topographical, anthropogenic, land cover, and biotic interaction variables to produce Maxent models covering 87,612 km2. Species specific maps were weighted according to their IUCN Red List of Threatened Species status and combined to pinpoint areas with high biodiversity, weighing areas higher that harbored Vulnerable and Endangered species. Individual species were predicted present in 1.44–32.17 % of the study area. Priority maps classified 55.91 % of the total study area as having no species present, 25.07 % as low priority, 10.73 % as medium priority, and 8.29 % as high priority. The protected area system currently covers 26.8 % of the high priority habitats available. While most endemic species continue to persist in Kawthoolei, models demonstrated a scattered distribution of high priority areas throughout Kawthoolei, which may lack connectivity. Additional conservation actions that supplement the current protected area system may be necessary to curb extirpation risks, including the demarcation and active patrolling of additional protected areas in high priority landscapes and activities that promote connectivity between high-quality habitats.

中文翻译：

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使用物种分布模型确定缅甸 Kawthoolei 保护行动的优先区域

摘要 Kawthoolei（定义为所有克伦民族联盟行政区，包括缅甸克伦邦）是全球生物多样性热点，由于森林砍伐、采矿、人口增长、滥砍滥伐和基础设施发展，正日益受到威胁。鉴于当地保护行动者在整个 Kawtoolei 开展活动的资金和能力有限，确定生物多样性热点以集中保护工作是不可或缺的。我们通过 7 年在 Kawthoolei 的相机捕获工作获得了 23 种受保护的中大型哺乳动物物种的野生动物存在数据，并制作了物种分布模型，用于确定保护行动区域的优先级。仅存在数据与生物气候、地形、人为、土地覆盖、和生物相互作用变量以生成覆盖 87,612 平方公里的 Maxent 模型。物种特定地图根据其 IUCN 受威胁物种红色名录状态进行加权，并结合确定生物多样性高的区域，权重较高的区域，其中包含易危和濒危物种。预测单个物种存在于研究区域的 1.44-32.17%。优先地图将总研究区域的 55.91% 归类为没有物种存在，25.07% 为低优先级，10.73% 为中优先级，8.29% 为高优先级。保护区系统目前覆盖了 26.8% 的高优先级栖息地。虽然大多数特有物种继续在 Kawtoolei 持续存在，但模型显示整个 Kawtoolei 的高优先区域分散分布，可能缺乏连通性。