DOMAIN - A FLEXIBLE MODELING PROCEDURE FOR MAPPING POTENTIAL DISTRIBUTIONS OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS

This paper briefly reviews some limitations associated with the applic ation of existing modelling procedures to conservation ecology, and de scribes a new procedure (DOMAIN) which avoids these problems. The proc edure computes potential distributions based on a range-standardized, point-to-point similarity metric and provides a simple, robust method for modelling potential distributions of plant and animal species. DOM AIN offers advantages over similar methods in its ability to operate e ffectively using only presence records and a limited number of biophys ical attributes. The use of a continuous similarity function gives DOM AIN increased flexibility as an heuristic tool, suitable for applicati on in survey design, reserve selection and potential mapping of rare a nd common species. Potential distributions were computed for two Austr alian marsupial bettong species (Aepyprymnus rufescens 'Gray' and Bett ongia tropica Wakefield) using DOMAIN and two alternative models. Of t he three procedures, the DOMAIN model produced distribution patterns t hat were most consistent with the known ecology of the species, and mo st appropriate for survey design.