On the Edge: Identifying priority areas for conservation of Fishing Cat, a threatened wetland felid, amidst rapidly altering freshwater landscapes

Abstract

O_LIFreshwater ecosystems have been most severely impacted in the Anthropocene with 27% of its species threatened with extinction. Fishing Cat is a globally threatened South and South-east Asian wetland felid that is also a highly rated Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered (EDGE) species, i.e., it is a global priority for conservation and research. Being an understudied species, knowledge gaps exist on its basic ecology, such as distribution and niche. C_LIO_LITo address this, ensemble species distribution modeling (ESDM) was used to clarify doubts on its potential distribution and niche. To provide a relatable current context, loss of suitable habitat to urbanization (2010-2020) was estimated by analyzing range-wide survey data with environmental and anthropogenic variables (night-time lights and land surface temperature as proxies for urbanization). C_LIO_LIWetlands (18.36%) and elevation (17.15%) are the most important variables determining the ecological niche of Fishing Cat. It was predicted to be mainly restricted to low-elevation (<111 m) wetlands in river basins of South and South-east Asia. An estimated 23.74% suitable habitat was lost to urbanization. C_LIO_LIIncrementally building on the ESDM outputs, high priority movement corridors and landscape conservation units were identified. C_LIO_LISouth Asia holds the core of the global Fishing Cat population with two very important regions - Ganges Brahmaputra Basin and Indus Basin - sharing transboundary areas with highly suitable habitat and many priority conservation units. The former is strategic to maintaining connectivity between South and South-east Asian Fishing Cat populations while isolation effects in the latter need investigation. Coastal wetlands of South-east Asia, though severely impacted, are crucial for the felids persistence. C_LIO_LIMore than 90% of Fishing Cats potential range lies outside the protected area network. Here, the felid can be adopted as a flagship species to conserve rapidly degrading low- elevation wetlands within a socio-ecological framework by involving multiple stakeholders. C_LI